Sarah Palin, for all the conjecture as to whether she can reel in disaffected Hillary voters, has already achieved her primary mission: She delivered the conservative base to McCain. Hopeful and enthusiastic again, conservatives have been charmed and heartened by the sensational VP pick.

Obama's selection has met with far less success. Joe Biden's Catholic faith was certainly anticipated to draw that demographics to the Democrat's camp - Obama repeatedly cited Biden's Catholicism while introducing the VP selection. However, Biden suffers from the defect common to all Democrats where Catholic sensibilities are concerned - he supports abortion, and like Obama, he supports it to the point of infanticide.

Such views were known and reviled by ardent Catholics prior to Biden's selection to the ticket. However, since that time, Biden has only made things worse. Biden's first clumsy foray into religious terrain was on NBC's Meet the Press, where Biden lied - not about McCain, not about the Republicans - but about the Catholic Church. Revising Christianity to suit his own moral compass, Biden set himself in direct conflict with the Church, prompting dozens of bishops and Christian groups to disclaim his heresy (that is, his willful misrepresentation of Church doctrine).

Biden seems more a renegade enemy of the church than a faithful communicant. Britain's Telegraph today fronted an article entitled, Joe Biden Loses Barack Obama the Catholic Vote. Abortion has become a nation-wide issue, yet again - awakening Catholic moral conscience and further eroding the once-faithfully Democratic voting-block.

As noted previously: As goes the Catholic vote, so goes the election. Biden's brand of Catholicism has not benefited Obama's electoral hopes.

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This time, Obama is preying upon Latinos, running an ad which falsely smears McCain as anti-Hispanic. The Spanish-speaking ad accuses McCain of "intolerance" and of "insulting" Latinos, of "abandoning" them in favor of "special interest."

The ad quotes Rush Limbaugh in an insincere attempt to link the firebrand commentator to McCain. Firstly, McCain and Limbaugh have long been at odds on immigration and Latino issues, so the comparison is a false one. Also, Limbaugh's words, while indelicate, are both misquoted and taken out of context - one of the two quotes was obviously spoken in sarcasm, in an attempt to express absurdity.

Obama's ad is obviously erroneous, and seems to have been the product of an intentional desire to deceive and smear. However, it follows on the heels of (and was likely inspired by) a preceding McCain ad which laid the blame for failed immigration reform at the feet of Obama and congressional Democrats (though Obama himself voted for the McCain-Kennedy bill). The difference, however, is that McCain attacked policies, whereas Obama smeared character. The difference is substantial.

And so goes the immigration debate: low and dirty and in Spanish - so as not to rile any feathers up north, where the issue has gone stale. But perfectly targeted at the Latino audience which yet counts the matter as paramount. Immigration will soon disappear from the radar again - but the smears and negative ads, I'm afraid to say, are here to stay.

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Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has emerged victorious in the Kadima Party's primary election - paving the way for her to become the country's next prime minister. Livni would become the first female leader of Israel in 34 years, thereby joining the ranks of female world leaders inclusive of 3 queens, 8 presidents and 8 other prime ministers.

A former lawyer, army captain and agent in the Mossad spy agency, Livni favors diplomacy and a Palestinian peace process - but said last week that she has "no problem pulling the trigger when necessary."

Spoken like a true hockey mom - a pit-bull in lipstick! Should they both assume high offices, Tzipi Livni and Sarah Palin would serve as a striking pair in diplomatic talks. Perhaps they could meet in the Alaskan wilderness, hunting moose and showing the good ol' boys how it's done!

If this is a preview of the Age of Women in Politics - bring on the future!

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Sixteen people, including one US embassy guard from Yemen and several Yemeni security officials, were killed today in a well-organized, terrorist attack on the U.S. Embassy in Yemen. The State Department has indicated that the assault bears "all the hallmarks of an al Qaeda attack."

While liberal commentators have castigated Republicans for continuing to keep their eyes on the ball in the Global War on Terror, it seems that conservatives have the better part of valor in this case. The GOP have consistently remained committed to fighting global terrorism, while Democrats have taken every chance to mock continued attention to terrorism and national security as fear-mongering and political opportunism.

Unfortunately, today's tragedy reminds us that terrorism is an enduring threat. "This attack," stated President Bush, "is a reminder that we are at war with extremists who will murder innocent people to achieve their ideological objectives." Vigilance against evil is a sacred duty and remembrance of the fallen is a service of honor. Those who demean such observances reveal the meanness of their own characters.

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If this story is true, it is the most important revelation of the election.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari has apparently revealed that the centerpiece of Barack Obama's conversation with Iraqi leaders in July was his hope of delaying the draw-down of American military forces in Iraq. Zebari's recounts that Obama "asked why we were not prepared to delay an agreement until after the US elections and the formation of a new administration in Washington." Obama also reportedly insisted that Congress steer negotiations on the time-table of troops withdrawal, rather than the Bush administration, which he described as being in a "state of weakness and political confusion."

Obama's campaign has denied these accounts of his visit to Iraq. Such a private request for delayed troop reductions would run counter to Obama's public statements on Iraq, in which he calls for an immediate withdrawal. Further, an attempt to subvert the executive branch would be contrary to established U.S. foreign policy.

If Zebari's statements are discovered to be true, Obama would be guilty of the most unadulterated political profiteering and moral corruption in modern history. To seek electoral gain on the deception of a nation at war and the blood of American soldiers is nothing less than treasonous villainy - for which the offender ought to be tarred and feathered before being expelled from the country.

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The Washington Post, the New York Times and partisan bloggers all seem to have missed the past seven years of realities in Iraq - at least insofar as their integrity toward Sarah Palin is concerned.

Palin recently spoke before a brigade of soldiers bound for Iraq, stating that they would "defend the innocent from the enemies who planned and carried out and rejoiced in the death of thousands of Americans." Which, of course, is entirely and indisputably true. Soldiers in Iraq are fighting Al Qaeda, and Al Qaeda planned, carried out and rejoiced in 9/11. Hence, Palin's statement is true.

Liberals are insinuating that Palin believes that Saddam Hussein was behind the 9/11 attacks. Of course, Palin said no such thing, and it requires a particularly hell-bent mind to construe her words in such a manner. Liberals have been screaming for years that Iraq is a magnet for terrorists from around the world - including Al Qaeda. Even the NYT belatedly admitted its error (which, of course, nullified its entire smear piece): "But it is widely agreed that militants allied with al-Qaeda have taken root in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion."

So, Palin spoke a universally-held truth, and a liberal media which hates her willfully and disgracefully misrepresented her words. This is just one more example - not the first and not the last. And so much for liberals speaking truth to power. . . .

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Today, The New York Times leads with a smear piece entitled, "Once Elected, Palin Hired Friends and Lashed Foes." Likewise, today's Washington Post competes in the ever-further-downward spiral with its own hit piece, "As Mayor of Wasilla, Palin Cut Own Duties, Left Trail of Bad Blood." Cronyism, lashing out, cutting personal duties and a trail of blood.

NRO cites Jen Rubin's criticism of the NYT's hatchet job, finding that the facts hardly warrant the egregious language and condemnatory tone of the article. The Post article supplies even less substance - by it's rationale, every elected official who fills a cabinet with trusted allies is guilty of front-page worthy scandal.

It bears mentioning that the media have allotted absolutely no time to investigating the myriad "scandals" of Obama and Biden. If the Democratic pair were subjected to the same standard of scrutiny, the front pages of every newspaper in America would run for a week in order to capture their many scandals.

The media hates Sarah Palin. They despise her for routing radical feminism, they curse her for boosting McCain in the polls and they condescend her for the conservatism she refuses to remit. They are willing to shamelessly degrade themselves without limit in order to lend support to the Democratic ticket. Today's leading Washington Post article on Obama, even as he rolls out ads which patently lie about McCain, is titled, "Obama Points to the Issues: Ignore Attacks, Democrat Implores."

Were it not for the media's liberal bias and partisan interference, McCain would be leading Obama by twice the current spread. The greatest hindrance to enlightened democracy in America is the ignorance and prejudice promulgated by our media outlets. When every media story is crafted, manipulated or simply invented with an intent to forwarding a particular party or agenda, the free press serves no greater objective than to enslave the free will and reasonable discretion of the voting populace.

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Less than two months out from the 2008 election, it's time to take a look at our present situation. The last major factor in both campaigns was the selection of VP nominations. In the week since McCain evoked the Palin Effect, his numbers have leapt upward and his re-energized campaign has geared up into overdrive. Obama also nominated someone to be his running mate, which added no spark whatsoever to his somewhat flagging, post-climactic campaign.

With a turn toward the negative on both sides as they attempt to gain momentum in the ramp up to the debates, the campaigns find themselves in a virtual dead-heat in nearly every national poll. While Obama had been leading by a handful of points over the last months, McCain will likely surpass his rival this month - almost certainly as a result of Sarah Palin's dramatic effect on his campaign.

The time has come to begin getting serious about statistics and electoral mapping. Exciting stuff! Well, at least, important stuff - as the election turns on a handful of swing states. The best current data is Real Clear Politic's electoral map and chart spread, hosted on Politico.

At present, Politico has the national poll with Obama 45% and McCain 47%, though the electoral count has McCain 265 and Obama 273. Which is to say, everything is pretty much even, and a single state or a single blunder could decide the whole race!

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Democrats attempting to denigrate the McCain campaign for playing fast and loose with the facts should remember that they are living in a glass house. Obama's new ad on McCain and education tosses facts right out the window of that little glass house.

The ad lists five votes in which McCain is said to have "voted to cut education funding." However, well-beknownst to the Obama campaign, one of those votes increased funding, while three others (1, 2, 3) were merely votes against supplemental spending (quite different from funding cuts). The single vote for a funding decrease was part of the sweeping 1995 GOP reduction in all budgetary appropriations - a promise upon which Republicans heavily campaigned and which won them majorities in both houses.

Secondly, Obama claims, "McCain's economic plan gives $200 billion more to special interests while taking money away from public schools." The truth is that McCain has proposed a $200 billion tax reduction on all businesses. Obama thus titles all business in America (particularly small, family-owned shops) as "special interest" groups. McCain's budgetary plan also proposes a one-year freeze (i.e., no increase or decrease) on all government discretionary spending - education is not specifically targeted, and a maintenance of the status quo cannot be classified as a funding cut.

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Back in 2004, citizens of foreign countries protested that they ought to be allowed a vote in the U.S. Presidential race. Since the president (or "Leader of the Free World," as Americans coin the job) has so vast an influence over the entire world, the world has an interest in voting for the president. So goes the logic.

Of course, it is probably precisely because we do not allow foreign opinions, or the ideologies which inform them, to sway our elections that we are the super-power envy of those nations. Nevertheless, the BBC reports that the rest of the world would overwhelmingly cast their votes for Obama. The BBC poll surveyed 22 countries - all of which preferring Obama.

To contemplate this revelation meaningfully, consider an international poll reported by Reuters the following day: No consensus on who was behind Sept 11. Apparently, seven years, two wars and dozens of investigations later, the world is yet utterly ignorant of Al-Qaeda and their activities. Only half of the 17 countries polled and 46% of individuals overall believe the terrorist group conducted the 9-11 attacks (despite Al Qaeda's having claimed responsibility). After Al Qaeda, the country most often cited as carrying out the attacks on America: America.

Before Obama glories in his prestige abroad, he should perhaps reflect that his clueless supporters abroad may not have America's best interests in mind. Do foreigners see their friend Obama as the enemy of their enemy... the United States? Add to Obama's new-found multinational support his previously secured endorsement by the Hamas terrorist organization and Obama could almost certainly run for the UN Sectary General spot should he come up short in November. He would find himself in amiable and like-minded company.

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Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen, speaking on the floor of the House of Representatives:

"Barack Obama was a community organizer like Jesus.... Pontius Pilate was a governor."

The remark is at best too-clever, at worst delusionally offensive. Regardless, in the last few days, the Democrats have called Palin a pig and the murderer of Christ. And she's only been in the national forum for a couple of weeks! I lament for fellow Democrats who hope to compare the honor and integrity of McCain / Palin with that of Obama / Biden.

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Not because she captured enough of the media spotlight that mere proximity allowed McCain to draw more news coverage than Obama for the first time in three months.

Not because she paved the way for McCain to leap ahead of Obama by a 5-point lead nationally and a 15-point lead among critical independents.

Not because she draws crowds of such proportion that they choke entire city centers when once-crowd-starved McCain comes to town.

Not even because she fills campaign coffers at a rate of $5,000,000 / hour - in Obama's home city of Chicago.

But, Sarah Palin is a super-star because she, like the Governator before her, now has a series of action figures!

"Isn't this the most marvelous running mate in the history of the nation?" asked McCain. "Sarah Palin -- she's magnificent," cheered McCain. "I could not ask for a greater partner than the governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin," beemed McCain.

Sarah the Marvelous! Sarah the Magnificent! Sarah the Vice-President - and if so, because she got elected to the position, and McCain may have just been there to round out the ticket!

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Not so long ago, we learned that Barack Obama was a Muslim, took his senatorial oath on a Koran and refused to say the Pledge of Allegiance. E-mail traffic and internet pariahs parroted such libel with glee. Such is the backlash any super-star must expect.

In light of Gov. Sarah Palin's thunderous entrance into the national spotlight, the smear machine could not have been long in gearing up again. Liberal internet mud-holes, like Daily Kos and the Huffington Post, immediately began spreading the purely malicious speculation that Palin's daughter was the mother of the family's fifth child. This ridiculously base attack on Palin's family was trailed by a host of spurius accusations which have muddied the waters of veracity.

In an effort to separate the wheat from the chaff, a brief compilation of rumors and realities follows:

Palin Hates Special Needs Kids - False. CNN and the LA Times both reported that Palin had cut funds for special needs programs by 62%. This lie is particularly egregious in light of Palin's youngest child having been born with Down Syndrome. The truth, as reported by Alaska's Education Week, is that Palin signed legislation which tripled funding for special needs programs (and she had asked for even higher increases). Special needs programs have seen funding increases every year that Palin has been in office.

Palin Burns Books - False. Apparently, this widely disseminated e-mail attributed to Anne Kilkenny accuses Palin of attempting to ban a long list of library books (some of which hadn't yet been published by the date of the alleged incident) and subsequently firing the librarian who dared oppose her Nazi-esque machinations. In fact, Palin never attempted to ban any books and the librarian in question retired three years after the reported firing.

Palin is a Secessionist and Theocrat - False. Various rumors contend that Palin is either a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, a secessionist group, or (far worse in the eyes of the media) a supporter of Pat Buchanan. According to the Independence Party Chairwoman, Palin has never been a member, and merely attended a meeting held in the city of which she was mayor as a courtesy. The closest Palin comes to being a supporter of Buchanan is her having worn a Buchanan button - again as a courtesy - during the latter's 2000 presidential campaign stop in her city. Palin actually worked on the campaign of Steve Forbes in that election.

Palin Hates Science and Indoctrinates Kids - False. Gloria Steinem begins her LA Times rant against Palin by shrieking that the governor would impose the teaching of creationism on all schoolchildren. Yet, as the AP corrects, Palin simply stated that she did not believe there should be "a prohibition against debate if it comes up in class." She immediately added: "It [creationism] doesn't have to be part of the curriculum."

Palin Scares the Hell out of Democrats - Absolutely True! The more a vicious partisan fears an opponent, the more desperate and despicable will be his tactics. Leftists have launched shameful attacks against Palin's character, society and family. They so cover themselves in shame because they fear the energy, ideology and prospects which she has infused into the McCain campaign and the Republican Party. And, it seems that they have reason to fear!

Source Hat Tip: Factcheck.com

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Opinions and politics - they go together like a horse and carriage. Yet the media have set themselves a noble standard of suppressing their punditry in order to convey the news with dispassionate objectivity. A mighty task ... at which they rarely succeed. But, the worst among them now only half-heartedly pretend to even strive for such a goal.

This weekend, the pitiably liberal MSNBC finally reached the tipping point, recognizing that it had so strayed into the woods of liberal hysteria that the ruse was up. Facing explosive pressure from on high at parent NBC, unrivaled lows in viewer rating and the general disavowal of all audiences but the fringe left, MSNBC was forced to make a gesture of self-examination. Following the deplorable performance of Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews during the party conventions (Olbermann apologized to viewers for Republican views and lamented that they were unworthy of television), the radical hosts have been canned for the remainder of the political season.

Well, not canned, but removed as the leading co-anchors of the campaign trail. David Gregory, a liberal made moderate by comparison to his predecessors, has been tapped to cover the debates and election. Olbermann and Matthews will be relegated to the roles of analysts, in the hopes that their biases will be somewhat justified by a change of titles and off-site location.

In a more just world, the very retention of such overt partisans on a news staff would be scandalous. Yet, as regards MSNBC, this tiny submission is a great sacrifice and pivotal moment. It might be seen in days to come as the event which halted the pendulum's leftward swing - though any hope for a counter-swing to the right (or even toward the middle) is probably an effort in futility.

When the rogue Fox News Network polarized (and conquered) the media world by portraying itself as a foil to the 30-year dominance of liberal bias in the other networks, many in the media, rather than seeking legitimacy by shifting to the middle, dug in and barricaded themselves in the trenches of liberal journalism. MSNBC led the race to the left.

Deplorable ratings have now enthralled MSNBC to the odious Keith Olbermann and the small coterie of followers on the lunatic left he has attracted as a result of his gradual meltdown during the Bush administrations. Countdown with Keith Olbermannn, admitted by even the New York Times as "a liberal institution," devotes nearly 90% of its "The Worst Person in the World" segments to conservatives. Olbermann has never found reason to criticize the likes of Michael Moore, Howard Dean or Hillary Clinton - though he labeled those who investigated her husband as Nazis.

As the sole lifelines of a drowning corporation, Olbermann and Matthews are a blessing and a curse for MSNBC. They provide the only meager ratings enjoyed by he starving network, yet eviscerate any hope of the news company escaping its liberal stain. No doubt, MSNBC blames the public for its shortcomings - I cannot imagine that they have ever questioned their politics or ethics. And hence, the disease will continue, though a band-aid was applied today.

The other networks should heed MSNBC's example. The shameful disease of righteous liberal bias is hardly quarantined within MSNBC. "CNN Lies" bumper-stickers dot the highways of Washington, DC and Dan Rather still haunts the halls of CBS. The winner of all this, of course, is Fox News - and the loser, most likely, is the American populous.

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In a prelude to the highly anticipated presidential debates, McCain and Obama recently answered a number of personal inquiries on pop culture. And the answers may just reveal more about the candidates' characters than any polished, televised, issue-oriented network debate.

Comic Book Character

McCain: Batman.

Obama: Spider-Man and Batman.

Winner: McCain. Hands down, McCain wins this contest on principle. Obama identified with Spidy and Bruce Wayne for the typical, whiny, lame generation X reason that "they have some inner turmoil." McCain, displaying the grit and indomitable spirit of a red-blooded American, chose the Dark Knight as a quiet hero who pursues justice "against insurmountable odds." That's an American president speaking!

Music

McCain: ABBA, Roy Orbison, Linda Ronstadt and Usher.

Obama: Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan, Sheryl Crow and John Coltrane.

Winner: Obama. ABBA pretty much begs for defeat ... but linking ABBA and Usher, that's just wrong. While i might have kept Dylan in a closet if I were Obama, the rest of his list is choice material. What can I say? The man's got soul.

Television

McCain: Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Dexter.

Obama: M*A*S*H and The Dick Van Dyke Show.

Winner: Obama. M*A*S*H: The Greatest Television Show Ever. Nothing more need be said.

Last Movie Seen in a Theater

McCain: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Obama: Shrek the Third.

Winner: McCain. While both are iconic heroes of a memorable and charming sort, the ogre's got nothing on the fedora-wearing, bull-whip wielding, Sean Connery spawned Indy. And, McCain's rational was perfect: "I enjoyed that [movie] so much. The old guy wins!"

Actor In the Role of President

McCain: Dennis Haysbert from 24.

Obama: Jeff Bridges from The Contender.

Winner: Neither. Both picks are shameful and undignified. No one compares to Harrison Ford in Air Force One. "Never again will I allow our political self-interest to deter us from doing what we know to be morally right. Atrocity and terror are not political weapons. And to those who would use them, your day is over. We will never negotiate. We will no longer tolerate and we will no longer be afraid. It's your turn to be afraid."

First Movie Memory

McCain: "Bambi."

Obama: "Born Free."

Winner: McCain. "When his mother was killed," McCain admitted without shame, "Oh, yeah, I cried." It takes a man to say that in public. You gotta give McCain credit. We all cried. McCain wasn't afraid to admit it.

Final Tally: In a 3-2 victory, McCain takes the Political Machine Presidential Pop Culture Award! Hail to the Chief, Baby!

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Fresh out of jail with a $50,000 bond and an electronic tether (for violating his previous bond, imposed for perjury, misconduct and obstruction of justice), Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was immediately charged with two felony assault charges. It seems that Kilpatrick assaulted a public officer attempting to serve a subpoena on a friend of (and potential witness against) Kilpatrick. The charges carry a possible two year incarceration penalty.

Kilpatrick has become a comic embarrassment to political service - a thug masquerading as a mayor. The people of Detroit and the Democratic party bring shame upon themselves for allowing this hooligan to continue in high office. While I appreciate the wellspring of bloggable material and the humorous distraction provided by Mr. Kilpatrick, the time has come for the responsible parties to divest themselves of this political parasite.

Mayor Kilpatrick will either be deposed of his position and serve as a lesson of just consequences following from one's actions, or he will remain in office (at least until his likely incarceration) and further confirm that no shame is too great for a politician to bear with a haughty laugh and a mocking smile.

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Barack Obama's campaign has announced that Hillary Clinton will headline the second night of the Democratic National Convention. Michelle Obama's is slated to headline the opening night, while the third night is reserved for the to-be-named vice-presidential pick (though Bill Clinton is expected to share a bit of the evening). John Edwards has, it seems, been officially discarded from the event.

While the convention line-up is noteworthy, far more interesting is the means by which news of Clinton's role has been released: the Obama campaign. After speaking of catharsis and pent up desire, Clinton seems to have begun to defer to Obama. A joint statement softened her original remarks on her role in the convention - though Clinton's inclusion in the roll call vote for the nomination is a matter of continuing speculation.

Clinton is a wildcard dynamic which is surely causing Obama a fair degree of heartburn. A roll call vote would cast a shadow over the claim of party unity. A single, venom-tipped word from the one-time competitor could rouse bitter sentiments among her clinging supporters - many of whom still hope that Clinton will also claim the headlines on day 3, as the VP pick. But the current arrangement seems to presume against such a double-header. Clinton's prominence at the convention is likely to be her final curtain call. Obama needs Clinton to take the stage on day 2, sing his praises, unify the party ... and go away (i.e., fundraise quietly).

That final act, of course, has proved exceedingly difficult for Clintons in the past.

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The New York Times is suggesting that Barack Obama has a "Catholic Problem," pointing out that Clinton far exceeded Obama in Catholic returns during the primary season and noting that the problem extends to the Democratic party as a whole. Whereas the Catholic vote was once a bedrock Democratic block, a number of factors have chiseled away at that support.

Chief amongst the factors which have cost Democrats the full support of the Catholic vote is abortion. Catholics have not forgotten the slight of denying Bob Casey, Sr. a speaking role in the '92 Democratic convention due to his pro-life position. Abortion is, literally, a life or death issue for many Catholics - and those Catholics are hard pressed to continence the murderous platform of a condescending "culture of death" party.

While the Times points to a number of anomalous pro-life supporters of Obama, and stresses the alibi of voting on a full spectrum of Catholic issues, Obama's egregiousness on the issue of abortion merits particular attention. As I noted previously, Obama voted against the "Born Alive Infant Protection Act," a law requiring physicians to provide medical care to infants born alive during an attempted abortion.

The Times advises Democrats to allow Bob Casey, Jr. to speak at the convention this year, hoping the gesture will act as an olive branch to scorned Catholics who have been jumping ship over the past elections (recall that Kerry, a Catholic, lost the Catholic vote to Bush in 2004). Yet I'm stunned by the arrogant assumption that Catholics will be assuaged by the Democrats merely by the latter allowing one of them to speak in public. If a shop owner offers to take down the "Irish need not apply" sign hanging in his window - though makes no allusions that the policy will not stay firmly in place - he can hardly feign wonder when his Irish custom fails to increase. Democrats scorn Catholic ideas and beliefs - it is a very short distance to offending Catholics themselves. Obama is facing an uphill battle.

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Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has been sentenced to jail for taking a trek up to Canada - in violation of the terms of his bond. Kilpatrick and a former (female) top aide are presently charged with perjury, misconduct and obstruction of justice. It seems that a sneaky little provision of Kilpatrick's bond held that he would not venture out of the country.

Kilpatrick portrayed himself as a martyred civil servant at his bond-violation hearing. In fact, the mayor was in Canada on official business - attempting "to save the city and close a $300 million deficit facing the city." Placing himself in legal peril for the benefit of his city could be construed as a noble sacrifice. Of course, resigning in favor of a person able to both govern and abide by the law would also seem a potential option. No doubt, Kilpatrick questions the ability of any other man to lead with his effectiveness. Humility does not seem to have taken verdant bloom within the good mayor.

Nonetheless, the judge was underwhelmed by Kilpatrick's pleas and sentenced him to jail. It is now for the citizens of Detroit to evaluate their leader and act appropriately. The residents of Washington, D.C. were once given such an opportunity, when Mayor Barry was found to have exaggerated in stating that he was no longer a crack fiend. The good folks of D.C. failed that particular test, electing their erstwhile mayor to another term. I wish the Detroitians better discretion in their conclusions.

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Following up on Dave's previous coverage, I'm wondering if the GOP is going to gain any traction with the after-hours protest going on in the Capitol building. Enraged that Sen. Pelosi adjourned Congress without allowing a vote on the American Energy Act (and sensing an opportunity for positive prime-time exposure) , House Republicans have staged what they are calling the House Republican Uprising.

The Minority leader's webpage is chronicling the entire event. In short, the GOP demanded continued debates and a resolution to address the critical energy crisis. Pelosi, sensing an increasing demand for drilling and heightened media coverage as the House extended beyond the normal end-of-session, declared the House in recess and sent everyone packing. The GOP refused to abandon the issue, and showed up to work the next day, demanding a solution to the energy issue before Congress closed its doors. Pelosi went so far as to turn off the lights and cut off the microphones in the House. And yet the GOP show up each morning, demanding congressional Democrats return to the capitol and address the issue.

Are the Republicans situating themselves as the party which speaks truth to power, which endures against the censorship of a distant ruling class, which carries the message of the people to the halls of government? If they can pull it off - if the Democrats don't find an alternative solution or abandon their paranoid aversion to drilling for oil - the GOP may be in a position to win over a segment of the population and stave off the massacre they'd been bracing for in November.

This principled stunt could be the turning point for the Republicans. All they need is a little visibility and continued cooperation from the frantically discordant Democrats. The GOP has the upper hand on the merits of the energy issue - if the electorate sees this, as well as the Democrats' obstruction of a promising energy solution, the backlash may eviscerate the November gains which Democrats have been so eagerly anticipating.

Note: Last night, as the Republicans continued to debate options to confront America's energy problems and called upon Democrats to return to work, Sen. Nancy Pelosi was at a book signing for her newest venture into feminist literature, "Know Your Power: A Message to America's Daughters." I'm anxious to read the chapter on work ethics.

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