Speed Gibson

Nobody saw this one coming. Jane Seymour - safe! Marie Osmond - safe! Sabrina Bryan - gone! It's the biggest upset to date in Dancing with the Stars. Even host Tom Bergeron said he saw her easily being in the finals this year.

Obviously the phones didn't ring for her, no doubt partly because many thought she needed no help. She may not have the (adult) fan base required. But there also may be some reasoning behind this.

For one thing, Bryan has only one dance speed - fast and hard. It's thrilling when the dance calls for that, but out of place when not. The judges called her on it this week, giving her "only" 25 points, not enough it seems.

The bigger problem may be that as a Cheetah girl, Sabrina is as close to being a professional dancer as we've seen in any season. As head judge Len Goodman observed, Americans are all about truth and justice. The truth is, Bryan isn't an amateur and justice was meted out. The "wow" factor isn't all there because we know she had the ability going in. We want another Emmit Smith, a football star, but with no dancing background whatever.

It's a whole new contest now. Not everyone can win, but anyone can lose.

Vote for MOB Mayor using the chad-free ballot along the right sidebar at The Kool Aid Report.

I continue my dark horse campaign by sharing what would be proclamation number two in my realm:

No MOB site shall generate pop-up advertisements.

The music selections and arrangements weren't as inspired this week, maybe because Musical Director Harold Wheeler had the week off. There's no question that Spice Girl Mel was best in show, with a powerful, perfect 30 performance.

In the red zone and getting voted off tomorrow (IMO) is Marie Osmond.

The polls are open at The Kool Aid Report for MOB Mayor. I, of course, recommend you vote for moi.

If elected, my first proclamation shall be:

MOB members shall refrain from referring to Timothy J. Pawlenty as Governor. The title "Prime Minister" is preferred, based on his record.

This week's "The David Strom Show" had two great interviews this week, the first on education, the second with Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek. Regarding his role in the I-35W bridge collapse, Stanek said he got a few minutes with President Bush, and told him how he needed expert divers to recover the bodies. The Navy was on site in 12 hours and in the water within 24 hours.

Meanwhile in California, Lt. Governor John Garamendi scornfully says they'll play the proper host to the President when he tours the California fire areas, but otherwise has no use for him. Imagine if Stanek or others working the bridge site had acted that way.

California burns while Garamendi fiddles.

I remember now what really upset me about the Wellstone Memorial that I wrote about yesterday. It was the repeated assertion by more than one speaker that the Senate seat up for election in a couple of weeks "belonged" to Paul Wellstone and whoever his political heir might be. It was so un-American and I again assert that Wellstone would not have approved.

To my way of thinking, titles are like money when your number's up: you can't take it with you. He stopped being our Senator the moment he died. Dean Barkley was soon appointed to fill the remaining few weeks of the term. Yet, the Memorial was fixated on nothing but that Senate seat, a seat he could never win again. We'll never know if he would have won another term had he lived as the polls were close, but that didn't matter now.

Rick Khan and others kept chanting "Senator" as if that were Paul's only redeeming quality or accomplishment. That's all that seemed to matter. Paul the professor was forgotten. Paul the wrestler was forgotten. Plucky Paul was forgotten. Paul the father and Paul the husband got some attention, but again largely in how his sons and his wife worked on his campaigns.

It was quite the reverse. It was Paul Wellstone who dignified the title of Senator, and we could use a lot more of that today. Did I agree with Wellstone? Almost never. Were his proposals and positions largely liberal fantasy? Of course. But our Constitution says nothing of which way a Senator should vote, merely the mechanics of election and procedure, and the increasingly ignored limits to power.

He wasn't perfect. He was human. He had promised to serve only two terms, for example. But like Kirby Puckett, Paul Wellstone respected the game. Sadly, that cannot be said of many currently serving in the U.S. Senate.

I indulged myself, ordering season one (2001) on DVD of America's Test Kitchen, which I really don't remember. Maybe Channel 2 didn't carry it at first.

I do like this show, and have my DVR set to record every show, including on the tpt-Create channel. I buy a copy of Cook's Illustrated magazine from time to time, and subscribe to their web site.

I'm watching episode one, and I'm mildly surprised in a nice way. The show has a "seventies" style PBS feel to it, a very modest set, lighting not quite right, in a word, flat. Honcho Christopher Kimball had more, darker hair, but his assistants Julia and Bridgett look younger now than then.

It was their pilot year, just 13 episodes, but it's a great concept that truly targets the home cook. I suspect I'll be ordering season two pretty soon.

Five years ago, I like most was incredulous at the first reports that Paul Wellstone had died in a plane crash. When it was confirmed, I wasn't sure what to think. The universe was not unfolding as it should.

It was a loss for Minnesota, no question. He had a certain star quality yet always seemed real. He was likable and approachable despite his hard left histrionics. Yesterday, I asked why liberals seemed unwilling to even admit they're liberal, let alone be proud of it. Paul Wellstone was a rare exception, showing courage and honesty we could all respect. If only he hadn't grown that awful "General Zod" beard!

I took my son down to Williams Arena for the memorial. We were early as planned, the doors not open yet, so we went to have dinner at Vescio's. Returning we got in line, only to find ourselves unknowingly shunted off to the Women's side, to watch by closed circuit TV. We could watch that at home I said, but the attendants said no, the live Men's side was already full. I couldn't believe it had filled up that fast, but I believed them, only to see people still streaming in on TV when we got him.

I was really upset that I had been lied to, but we all know what happened. I would have walked out, following then Governor Jesse Ventura's lead. I'm glad my young son didn't see so many thousands of supposed adults behaving so badly. It was so unnecessary, too.

It could have been a wonderful evening of remembrances and tributes, capped by Sen. Tom Harkin's wonderful stump speech finish that gave us all a final Wellstone-like thrill, myself included. But Rick Kahn et al ruined all that, turning it into a political disaster that some say affected the national elections as well.

I also remember how upset the local TV station general managers were, feeling duped by an obviously phony timetable that went way long to maximize coverage. We're still wondering today who ordered what from on high in the Democratic Party - or was it simply Rick Kahn and Mark Wellstone not being ready for prime time?

One thing I'm sure of: Paul Wellstone would not have approved.

I haven't paid much attention to all these Presidential candidate forums / debates, Democrat or Republican. I do notice that the Republicans openly attack each other for either not being Conservative enough or being too far to the Right. No such discussion takes place in the Democratic Party events. The corresponding terms of "Liberal" and "Left" are all but unmentioned.

No Democrat says, "You're not Liberal enough!" They might hint it, should someone dare to think the Mexican border fence is a good idea, for example. But it's usually phrased as a character flaw, not an intellectual disagreement, historical perspective, or point of law.

Where's the pride? Why hide? Where's the reverence on the Left for George McGovern that we have for Ronald Reagan on the Right? I think they're too ashamed to admit that they're Liberals, meaning they view government as first responder for all of life's problems. They might have to explain why. So instead, they call themselves "progressives" as if to suggest we on the Right would be more comfortable in the Middle Ages. (Actually, the reverse is true.)

No, as someone said at NRO, there's nothing progressive about being liberal.

I love short, quick thoughts - "Pragerisms" - only this one I heard on Jason Lewis, from a caller I think, regarding K-12 education in Minnesota. The thought was that you can have good schools and waste money. Said another way,

The concepts of quality education and overfunding education are not mutually exclusive.

The opposite is preached during referendums, a false choice with a tag line like "it's for the kids" or "why do you hate kids?"

So now I know how to succinct parry such arguments, and not with an extended point about how money doesn't buy inner-city happiness. Just say they're separate issues and rush the net.

Are we ready for a rumble? I think it's time. The battleground is North Minneapolis. The opponent is the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS - District 1), and their second, Education Minnesota (EM).

District 1 is losing over half the new students on the north side, who now mostly flock to charter schools. (Hence the bill in 2007 to limit new charter schools, no doubt at EM's urging.) Let's finish the job, and give the remaining parents the option to leave this district.

After all, what was the MPS response to this vote of no confidence? Retreat, closing schools, not fixing them, for that would mean acknowledging that at least some of their liberal policies don't work. Let's finish the job and push what's left of District 1 on the north side into the river and over I-394.

It's time for a courageous Republican to author such a bill in 2008, vouchers for those left behind in ISD 1. Some will elect to stay, and I have no problem with that. North High School has a wonderful history that it would truly be a shame to lose, not to poverty, but liberal sophistry and union greed.

If Milwaukee is any example, North will respond to the competition. It may be it's only chance left.

It was truly a little scary when Marie Osmond passed out after her dance. This is live TV. But she said this has happened before, and she's fine now.

It was an interesting night of dancing, with Helio falling from grace Spice Girl Mel finally getting it right, with two 10 scores. Jenny was terrific, too, really coming on the past two weeks.

But while he improves a little and drops 5 pounds each week, I'll pick Mark Cuban to go home tomorrow night. He should have gone last week, but apparently he can hire a lot of phone dialers.

My base instincts are to vote no on the Robbinsale School District 281 levy in November, and for all the right reasons. It certainly isn't the best run district for its size. It certainly has been less then honest with the voters in the past. It certainly has other options besides the usual "we'll fire teachers" threats.

Today I remembered that I have posted in the past that this really doesn't solve the problem. First off, they will follow through on their threats, for it's schools first, students second. They are indeed that ruthless. Meanwhile, they'll get started working on the next referendum, wasting more time and money.

Second, we no-voters (of either party) will get the blame, i.e. give them yet another excuse for failure. Even the conscientious staffers, and there are many, will be disheartened, maybe pull up a little. Similarly, students will be told we grinches are too cheap to give them a quality education, giving them a reason to merely get by.

And in the final analysis, the Legislature will eventually give them what they want anyway. That's where the battle must happen, and without making the kids suffer while we sort this out.

So now I'm on the fence, but still leaning no because 281's financial situation isn't all the serious as I read it.

I've lived within the Robbinsdale School District since 1984. This district has a rich, proud history. My wife is one of its graduates, from the old Robbinsdale High School along Highway 100.

We were talking about the upcoming levy and how these were once a formality, easily winning voter approval. The explosion in costs, unimpressive academic performance, and lack of discipline have us all now very skeptical. In Robbinsdale's case, my wife points directly at the closing of her alma mater in 1982.

A little background: District 281 extends far beyond Robbinsdale, to Crystal, New Hope, plus portions of Golden Valley, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, and Plymouth. It expanded to two high schools with the addition of Cooper in 1964, and three high schools when Armstrong opened in 1970. Again, the original Robbinsdale school closed in 1982 amidst much controversy, even anger.

My wife's theory is that the roots of the old RHS school went deep into the surrounding area. These were the parents and families who made 281 great, only to see it move west and abandon them. They no longer have children in these schools and the current families' kids are bussed several miles. Much the same happened with junior high and elementary schools. This makes some sense, given the expansion of the whole area in new housing developments to the west.

But in the case of the high schools, maybe not. If the long term need was for two schools, why build three? Yes, the baby boom enrollments were huge. Some districts toughed it out, like mine in St. Louis Park. Others apparently used it to replace their old, "tired" schools by opening a second, then later closing the first. The new Edina West opened in 1972 and the old Edina (dubbed Edina East) closed in 1982, for example.

Getting back to 281, one could ask, why exactly was Cooper built? That question will draw sharp comments from the established east side residents. The alleged poor quality of its construction is still discussed. The truly strategic vision would have been to skip Cooper entirely, just build Armstrong to serve the west side. The enrollment bulge could have been handled.

It's decisions like these that explain why 281 has ten "learning centers" like the old high school. These are often under-utilized facilities left to placate the abandoned neighborhoods.In effect, at least some of this year's levy request will go to hang on to these marginally useful buildings.

I'll stipulate that the various school boards tried to do the right thing through all these years. But clearly some mistakes were made and it's time to acknowledge and resolve at least some of them.

The consequences of a NO vote are not severe as our NIGP documents. That will be my choice, hoping the district will have to deal with all of its realities.

I fell asleep on the couch, woke up to see Don Shelby and the channel four 10 pm news on. After a puff piece on the alleged Education Minnesota (nee MEA) workshops came Pat Kessler's Reality Check segment. Today is was about Michelle Bachmann and S-CHIP regarding ads posing a false choice between Iraq and S-CHIP. Kessler played along, as if they were related or mutually exclusive somehow. Even that didn't prepare me for this bit of non compos mentis:

S-CHIP "is not welfare."

And it don't rain in Indianapolis ...

I chanced to see a cute story about a 59 year old Texas man finally playing his senior year of football. Mike Flynt was kicked out of school the first time around, he felt ever since about letting his team down. He was their captain at the time.

When he found out at a reunion that he still had that year of eligibility left, he got back in shape and made the team.

Let's see now, I'm 58, never played the game, but my son is. And I'm losing weight thanks to Weight Watchers. Hmmm...

It was another great week of Dancing With the Stars, especially given the return of co-host Samantha Harris from maternity leave.

Even Mark Cuban picked up the pace a bit tonight, but I fear it won't save him tomorrow night. The boxer or the soap star could join him under the red lights, but this is a formality.

My highlight was Jane Seymour's waltz, beautiful and flowing, and actually taking advantage of her maturity. She left the younger couples who did the waltz far behind I thought.

This is part three of my trilogy, following parts One and Two published earlier.

The majority of the MOB believes the stakes too high to be over-demanding of Republican candidates. The Chief of the Freedom Dogs calls anything else Russian Roulette. Frankly, I agree at the national level, given the clear and present danger from the Islamic terrorists.

But here in Minnesota, I think the reverse is true. Supporting "moderate" Republicans as practiced by our Governor Tim Pawlenty is actually the greater of the two evils in that he provides a false sense of security. What, you want Mike Hatch to be Governor? Of course not, but you have give Hatch credit for this: he would have truly been representing a significant portion of the state electorate, our liberal establishment. There would have been few surprises in a Hatch administration. His base would have been pleased, if not giddy.

Can the Pawlenty administration say that? No, there have been plenty of surprises, like stadium pork, health impact fees, light rail, and his fact-free obsession with bio-fuels. Whom does he represent, i.e., consistently represent? Certainly not the conservative base of the Republican party, just those Hugh Hewitt types that believe in victory at any cost. How can these people even say that Pawlenty represents them when Pawlenty's positions keep changing and his actions are unpredictable?

Pawlenty happens to be the best example of what I'm talking about, but there are many more, dozens in the Legislature. They're not fighting for limited goverment, the core principle of the GOP party. Their records suggest they believe in big government like the DFL, just on the installment plan. As good as we might feel seeing the DFL's huge tax increases go down in 2007, all it really means is that they were postponed. As it is, state spending shot up big again without this new money, over 8 percent this biennium.

This is ultimately a losing play. Soft Republicanism is enabling hard Liberalism, not thwarting it. It either gives them what they want, at worst delayed, or leads to "aren't you for clean air?" campaign attacks. I'm tired of playing defense.

The time has come to take charge, to go on offense. GOP candidates should be talking of shinking government, not slowing the growth, which still means in excess of inflation. Make the other side play defense: why shouldn't we eliminate MN-Care, like Tennessee did with their version?

Yes, this means the true conservatives will stand alone for a while, greatly outnumbered by the Triple Alliance (DFL, RINOs, and Education Minnesota). But now these liberals will now wholly own their failures, like in the City of Minneapolis. Mayor Rybak whines about LGA "cuts", but he's getting no real traction, even in the newspapers. The same with the imploding Minneapolis Public Schools, who have effectively lost those who by liberal thinking should be their biggest supporters - poor and minority families. It is from these ashes that vouchers or the equivalent will eventually rise, not some high level policy recommendation. Take charge, start proposing this next session.

Go on offense, like Sue Jeffers, Jason Lewis, and Phil Krinke. Publish the private vs charter vs public school test scores - and costs. Tell of the many success stories of kids who escaped the public schools and the plight of those left behind, unable to afford the choice that ironically would save the state money. Ask the DFL why they hate kids for a change.

Ja, das ist die Liechtensteiner Polka, mein Schatz!

Our football travels took us to New Ulm on Saturday. We were already in a good mood having picked up a couple of freshly baked pies and other goodies along the way at the yellow barn just this side of Belle Plain.

Sadly, our Minnesota Morris Cougars got drubbed by Martin Luther College, but afterward the Oktoberfest downtown was a real treat. A polka band (with tuba, very important) was playing, some costumed characters were dancing, and we ate genuine New Ulm style brats and Schell's beer as we watched. We strolled up the street and found the town's Glockenspiel quite by accident, just in time for its last show of the day.

I think my last visit was at least 25 years ago, and it has stayed true to that faint memory. This is a beautiful town, somewhat tucked away in a Minnesota River valley. It looks like they're doing OK, with far less blight or shrinkage than we see all too much of these days in rural America.

Next time, we'll get there before the sauerkraut runs out.

When did we lose control of our home computers?

We ran the show for a while, with Altair's, TRS-80's, Apple II's, DOS, Windows (3.3), meaning we bought it and it ran. We didn't need IT types (I resemble that) to configure things. In fact, we need support just to get the damn things running.

My Linksys network actually reconfigured to my new cable modem the first try. I thought I'd give it test drive, upgrading my McAfee anti-virus/firewall software that comes with my Comcast service. Gee, that only took six hours or so, finally discovering that somehow two obsolete modules had disappeared. The current version didn't use them, but the upgrade wouldn't proceed unless it could delete them.

For my next trick, I'll get Firefox to start without trying to apply non-existent updates. I could also uninstall some junky software I tried and didn't like.

Thoughout it all, I'm even hearing the calls of the dark side again, the Mac world. But I finally met someone who went Mac and did go back, unhappy with its environment for Web development. I have also heard stories about Mac OS upgrades being no easier or reliable than Windows upgrades.

Mac or PC, we've lost control, with Gates and Jobs smiling as we resort to simply buying a new computer.

My cable modem went out Tuesday, just got a new one today. Now comes the hard part - reconfiguring the wireless portion using the brain dead Linksys approach of making you start over and making needless temporary connections even if you know what you want and assuming your main computer is in the same room as the router and ...

Next post from home I hope.

The proponents of socialized medicine point to an alleged 30 percent or so of wasteful administration. Were that they were as curious regarding socialized education, i.e., our public K-12 schools.

Reading the "Citizens' Report on Accountability and Financial Information" (follow links at Truth vs Machine)from the Anoka-Hennepin school district, it's clear that the definition of "administration" needs clarification.

In this report, Anoka-Hennepin claims to spend 75 percent of their money "directly in the classroom." Do the math and you quickly realize there is more than just a teacher's salary and non-payroll expenses in that number. I haven't had much luck finding District 11 figures, but using District 279's (Osseo) figures, this 75% would be at least $150,000. Subtract $30,000 non-payroll leaves at least $120,000, about two teachers, not one. Don't forget: your child can listen to one teacher at a time.

I'm not saying my numbers are right, but the surprising lack of comprehensible data gives me full license to speculate. We just can't get the real figures, presented for general consumption, and clearly identifying the head count on the front lines vs support staff.

Week 2 had many tough acts to follow, so an otherwise good week 3 somewhat paled by comparison. The judges were in good spirits, though, so the scores didn't suffer.

Somehow Wayne Newton escaped the red spotlight last week, apparently because his fans rang those phones. But I suspect he'll being seeing red again tomorrow, along with Mark Cuban, and soon be back with his dozens of Arabian horses.

This week's game for Minnesota Morris was in Watertown, Wisconsin, about 310 miles, mostly in Wisconsin. I found out two things: gas is more expensive and Wisconsin drivers may actually be worse than our own.

Over and over again on their freeways, a car would pass us and then move over, a car length or two in front of us. A couple even slowed down. So we had to back down to reestablish a safe interval. (I use the 2 second rule.) In effect, we had to finish their passing maneuvers for them.

This happens a little everywhere, but in Wisconsin, this seemed to be the rule, not the exception. The only question was why, and I developed a theory.

Wisconsin as you hopefully have only heard, not experienced, is fussy about speeding. We saw several cars pulled over, in fact. Between that and their keep right except to pass law, maybe their driver are a bit more cautious, feeling exposed in the left lane doing 3 mph over the limit.

I see its election season inside the MOB, and I could be talked into being the next mayor. If elected, I'll adopt another nom d'post, that of Stanley Blackburn of AWA fame.

Gary Gross at True North tells how to win liberal friends and influence progressive people. He thinks he can reason with them. I don't.

Liberals have skillfully woven many layers of insulation from reality. They can hide from feedback in institutions like the media, academia, and many government agencies. There are few direct consequences of their foolish policies, or so they think. It's true: being liberal means never having to say you're sorry.

You can't win a debate with a liberal because they don't debate in the traditional way of developing a logical argument based on facts and stated precepts. No, "it's for the children" we're told regarding government run schools and increasingly socialist health care. "How dare you question my patriotism!" they blurt when cornered with their own testimony on Iraq.

In the final analysis, a liberal only listens to one person: himself. If there's going to be a debate capable of changing a liberal mind, you have to get that liberal talking to himself. The sooner you stop talking, the sooner that can happen. Making long, detailed analysis and arguments won't do it. That's what they're expecting you to do.

You need an intellectual rabbit punch, what Sheriff Buford T. Justice would call an attention-getter. That takes research, preparation, and practice as Gary correctly points out.

If you're right, this will be the first time in world history that socialized medicine has worked. What will your solution be doing right that every other attempt got wrong?

We were discussing illegal aliens, not immigrants. Does your argument depend on blurring the obvious differences?

I have asked you three times for even one medical study that justifies these smoking bans. Let the record show your inability to cite even one as conceding my point.

Notice that each of these rejoinders has an annoying little challenge to their ego, so they can't just let it drop. In fact, they less they think of you, the more they'll be annoyed.

Thats how Briggs, Phelps, and Hunt did their IMF work, getting their victims to do their work for them.

This is through September.

Pundit               Weeks Runs Hits Errors



Phil Krinke             3    12   18    0

Fritz Knack             4    10   17    1

David Strom             2     6   10    0

Sarah Janacek           2     4    9    1

Ember R.-J.             2     3    6    3



Jane Ranum              2     2    4    7

Dan Dorman              1     1    4    0

Wes Skoglund            1     0    1    4

Taryl Clark             1     0    0    3

Javier Morillo-Alicea   1     0    1    4



Wy Spano                1     0    0    7

Mary Jo McGuire         2     0    4    8

Andy Dawkins            3     0    5   11

I decided I'll just do these once a month, so here's "At Issue with Tom Hauser" through September.

Pundit            Weeks Runs Hits Errors



David Strom         5    9    17      1

Dave Thompson       4    7    12      0

Ember R.-J.         6    4    13     13

Blois Olson         2    2     5      0

In my previous post I took stock of the future of Minnesota and its Republican Party. As critical as I often am of the GOP, Minnesota’s future is bleak if the Republicans continue to lose ground.

Republicans could (and do) point to “externalities” like Iraq, increasing voter fraud, and the almost always hostile media. We are the ones that truly have trouble getting our message out. Fortunately, the DFL has its own problems like Mike Hatch and Larry Pogemiller or the GOP would be in still worse shape.

Ultimately, though, only Republicans can fix this waning party, starting by taking full responsibility for the situation such as it is. These numerous little tirade press releases regarding the opposition aren't going to do it.

Of course the GOP should take on the DFL just as surely as the DFL should take on the GOP. It's a two party system. But the "Party of Pawlenty" is shooting too low, lest a stray barb catch a "moderate" in an awkward vote. Instead of throwing itself roses for holding off the Hole in the Head Gang in the 2007 session, ask why state spending growth continues unabated. It will subsume the entire state economy well before the end of the century at this rate.

"Oh, nobody understands what you're saying, however true." Well maybe it will take a few election cycles, but take responsibility. "When will you be working for the State?" might be one message. "Whose lives will you get to control when you do?"

Personality politics and nuance are not GOP core competencies; quite the opposite. To the extent Republicans try to play these games only enables the Democrats who can. Look how they finagled Light Rail into the new I-35 bridge design while the Pawlenty administration gets the black eye for the runaway spending.

Ultimately, taking responsibility means that the needs of the many (Minnesotans) outweigh the needs of the few (the Legislature) ... or the one (the Governor). More on that in the final installment, Taking Charge.

It was worth a look we thought, the debut of "Cavemen" on ABC, a spinoff of the famous Geico commercials. We watched maybe five minutes. The commercials are better in every way including make-up, funnier, and just the right length.

Bill O'Reilly was surprised to find people eating with a knife and fork in a Harlem restaurant. Rush Limbaugh called troops who disagree with Republican policy "phony soldiers." Or so "Media Matters" reports.

Before I continue, know that I subscribe to Limbaugh's Rush 24/7 and O'Reilly's Radio Factor premium web sites. I listen to every hour of every show, except for repeats and most substitute hosts of course. (Walter E. Williams is a hoot!) I therefore heard both the "offending" remarks and their rebuttals.

Only I never knew they were offending until they each reported on these non-scandals later. I went back and listened to those programs again. Their respective fisks of their Media Matters accusations were spot on. Others have come to their defense as well.

As they and Mark Levin all said, everything was there on the web sites for anyone to hear first hand. Rush has put his remarks via Dittocam on YouTube, in fact.

There are no secrets here. Just how bad do you have to be to get stories like these wrong, maliciously wrong in fact? Where was the fact checking? Who was the second source - The Daily Kos?

Those who blindly picked up on either of these stories, one of them possibly libelous, can afford the web subscriptions if I can afford them. They can certainly afford a phone call or two. But as Rush observed, nobody called his office, neither the Washington politicians nor the reporters who falsely took him to task. It fit the proverbial template and they ran with it.

Given what happened, now imagine what could happen if the "Fairness" Doctrine ever comes back.

Like I said, this is the best season to date, at least so far. I should also note that the band singers were apparently upgraded, turning in many fine performances already and nothing even close to a klinker.

This week we saw another solid round, but with a clear runner up that I think will be voted off tomorrow: Wayne Newton.

There's a lively open thread on the new smoking ban over at Anti-Strib. But I have to say that today's page one story in the Minneapolis Star Tribune is pretty good. The entire article is devoted to the affected owners' plight, and without any pithy rebuttals from politicians or the usual suspects.

What's striking is that the reporters clearly show genuine concern for that plight. Call it bias if you like, but at least it starts to balance all of the scant, cold, even huffy treatment these people received from the "drive by" / "dinosaur" / "mainstream" media leading up to this day.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press also did a nice job today. Essentially, it was an extended and accurate FAQ covering the who / what / when / where details, a nice complement to the Star Tribune article. What's going on here?

I think it's a set up for a snowstorm of "positive" articles to come. "Oh, it's so wonderful now! I plan to go out much more often!" "I used to dread coming to work, all that smoke, you know. I had to wash my uniform, like, every day."

We'll get a little a blowback on Saturday, maybe some blog reaction, but then will come the big "See?" Op-Ed on Sunday.

I had counted on a good NASCAR race on this gloomy Sunday. After all, we're in the final 10 race "chase" for the Cup Championship and we only see Kansas once a year. The weather caused two mid-race red flag delays, but that wasn't the only problem. It wasn't the worst race I've seen since I began following this sport a few years ago, but certainly the worst Chase race ever.

It should have been stopped after the second rain delay. But no, they restarted and sure enough the newly washed track had no grip. Cars slid on the first two restarts, and a good many Chase drivers wound up finishing in the bottom ten.

Other than perhaps the NHL, only NASCAR allow everyone into its playoffs. You only need qualify to make the usual field of 43 cars and not even that if you're in the top 35 going in.

Dear NASCAR: Either drop this Chase format or get the some of those also-rans off the track.