Pandagon

John McCain's attempt to relive those glory days of FDR's fireside chats is already paying dividends. Today, bad jokes, tomorrow...more bad jokes.

So, war breaks out involving one of the world's major military powers. Barack Obama responds like a president. John McCain responds like a conservative blogger.

I just wanted to highlight this post by Ezra linking an article about the joys of biking. We've had a very green week in my household---all in one day, I sold my truck and we picked up a bicycle that Marc got for his birthday. Talking to the lady at the bike shop, I discovered that they are overwhelmed right now with more sales than their suppliers can keep up with. Sales have apparently tripled in a year. I was struck by how the oil crisis, if it doesn't complete overwhelm this country, could actually have positive benefits for our sedentary society. Anyway, I won't belabor the point. I've already praised bicycle commuting as more fun than car commuting to the point of tedium.

I've been skeptical about the Edwards story from the beginning, not because I think that any random politician is better than that. To be a successful politician, you have to have the cocky optimism and self-confidence that leads you to think that you can have affairs and get away with it. And probably the flattery-drawn ego that drives you to want that validation. But I was skeptical because the details being touted---the "love child", the hidden names, the wife with cancer, etc.---were too tawdry for real life, like a soap opera plot. Turns out that I was wrong, though Edwards denies that the baby is his.

Is anyone surprised that Texas Talibangelist Joel Osteen's pious spouse might be less a madonna and more like Leona Helmsley? (NYT);