SUMMER IN THE CITY

More high-profile dissent in NYC as the convention continues. The featured speakers at the podium are well to the left of the Bush administration, but fireworks continue around the nominee for Senate from Illinois.

THE STATE OF THE STATE

The Columbus Dispatch (registration required) has a new poll showing the presidential race is a dead heat in Ohio. Downticket, it shows Fingerhut moving up in the polls, though still trailing Voinovich by 14 points. He was down 21 in the last poll, so his walk across the state may be raising his profile as well as blisters.

PEACEFUL AND MASSIVE

The demonstrations against Bush have been successful so far, getting the message into the media and seen as an orderly, peaceful, rational protest. The New York Times analysis is worth reading for David Gergen's comments. As Republican media figures go, he's as reliable and spin-free as any I've read the past 15 years.

"I've been going to Republican conventions since 1972, and I've never seen a convention with as many protesters in the streets," said David Gergen, who has worked for several Republican presidents, and Bill Clinton. "The irony is that was a convention held here because of echoes of 9/11, but it opens with echoes of Chicago and the Vietnam war.

"The protests are anti-Bush, with heavy antiwar overtones, but this is Chicago without the fisticuffs, without the fight, without the bloodshed - so far," Mr. Gergen added. "To interpret this politically is hard, but my gut is that large, peaceful protests are not what the Republicans want. The protesters are stealing the story for the first day and drowning out the Republican message. If there's violence, that could all change."

I hope it remains peaceful and massive throughout the week.

FRESH ALAN KEYES MELTDOWN

On Chicago television is linked here. Anyone who can elicit sympathy for Skippy Jacobson is by definition behaving badly.

IS DAVE MATTHEWS A MENACE TO THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT?

Or can he clear his name?

AND ON THE OTHER TEAM...

...and Scene also has a feature on Jeff Seemann, who's running with the help of Dean for America to win the 16th Congressional District in Canton.

The LINEUP

Scene has a cute summary of hijinks in the Ohio state GOP this week.

MAKE EVERY VOTE COUNT

Provisional ballot counting -- or the lack of counting provisional ballots -- may prove to be a big issue in Ohio this November. I expect canvassers to encourage more Ohioans to cast absentee ballots, much as they are doing in Florida.

MORE AMERICANS ARE UNINSURED AND POOR

So says the Census of Population. If I were running for president or covering the race for a major media outlet, I'd address how this makes the nation more vulnerable to epidemics and violent crime. Getting beyond abstract statistics to articulating what the numbers mean for the present and future good of the nation would get more people involved in the political process.

Cleveland now has the highest poverty rates of any city in the nation. Even Newark. No wonder every third ad I see on TV here has the word "outsourcing" in it.

The LAZLO LETTERS: ILLINOIS 2004 EDITION

The General is a satirical blog that's waded into the mess that is the Illinois Republican Party. The General has now, with this correspondence, entered the territory of comedic brilliance that the Lazlo Letters perfected in the 1970s. The Lazlo Letters were hilarious, impassioned and utterly fake screeds that "Lazlo Toth" (Don Novello, famous as Father Guido Sarducci) wrote to President Nixon, Vice-President Agnew, McDonald's and dozens of other public figures and corporations. He got many responses, some form letters, others not, and published the correspondence in a pair of great books. The General is a bit more scabrous and offensive than Lazlo, which makes the response all the more puzzling.

Whatever else happens this election, the Illinois Republicans have to be commended for providing us all a bottomless well of comedic oddities.

CORONATION STREET?

As George W. Bush prepares to arrive in New York City for the convention he hopes will buoy him to another term as president, his lawyer resigned after being linked to the Swift Smearers and two investigations found the Pentagon bore responsibility for the Abu Ghraib abuses, allowing Bush's opponent to make headlines by calling for Bush's Secretary of Defense to resign. (Looks like a good week for Kerry, even if he was mostly dull and on automatic pilot during his Daily Show appearance.) And the only real anticipation surrounding the convention is whether or not hundreds of thousands of protestors might turn it into chaos. I don't remember the last time such unease greeted a national convention, but then I wasn't alive in 1968.

PLAME CASE HEATING UP

Time's Matthew Cooper had his contempt citation vacated after he agreed to give a statement to Fitzgerald once Scooter Libby (a.k.a. Cheney's chief of staff and the most widely-suspected figure in the scandal) released him from his confidentiality agreement. Why Libby did this, and so soon before the Republican convention, is difficult to say. Libby might be confident that Cooper can't incriminate him, or incriminate him any further than Libby incriminated himself. Or maybe Libby reached a deal with Fitzgerald to testify for reduced punishment? There aren't many people Libby could testify about higher in the chain of command; maybe Rove, maybe Card...the other names are on the ticket.

The story's on the front page of today's web version of the New York Times; if it gains traction in the national media this week it's a big problem for the Republicans as they gather in New York City.

TINY TIM WOULD GO

Bruce Springsteen is singing against Bush. Pearl Jam is singing against Bush. And now some of America's leading ukuelele players are singing against Bush. If you're in New York City during the RNC and need some protest music with little bass response, check out Carmaig de Forest, Peter Stampfel, and company. Carmaig authored the most scabarous political song of the Reagan era with "Hey Judas" (find it on his I Shall Be Released LP from 1987) and also authored "George Bush Lies" (now in two Iraq-centric versions, one for each of the 41st and 43rd presidents), and Stampfel's work (with the Holy Modal Rounders and solo) is about as fun as folk music gets.

STEVE EARLE'S STILL ANGRY BUT HAVING FUN

File under the "music and politics" category, one that is filling up faster in 2004 than in any year I can remember, there's a good Steve Earle piece in yesterday's Sun-Times. DeRogatis interviewed Earle talking about everything from Che to Will Rigby and also gave a promising review of the new album.

Some editing took place to make Earle's comments fit a family newspaper, fitting since he discusses his new song "F the CC." Unedited Earle may be found at his blog.

ANOTHER RUST BELT BUSINESS INSTITUTION GOES DOWN

Just back from the Keystone State, where to my horror I discovered that Chiodo's is closing soon, further transforming Homestead from grimy industrial suburb to sprawly malltropolis. The Pittsburgh region still has many great bars (with the Bloomfield Bridge Tavern a must-visit for anyone interested in local politics, or perogies), but Chiodo's is one of those great places where regulars from mills, hospitals, museums and universities get together and hear Joe tell stories about old customers and Homestead back in the days when it was a steel-producing giant. The place should be a state historical landmark.

In other Pennsylvania news, Kerry's still up in the polls, and Joe Hoeffel's still walking the state in an effort to make inroads against Arlen Specter. No word on who's making more progress, Hoeffel or Fingerhut, but they're both getting exercise.

YE OLDE BACKLASHE

The Republican candidate for Senate in New York is running attack ads against...Bruce Springsteen. My guess is this is being done to attract publicity in her uphill battle against Chuck Schumer; my other guess is this will not turn many fans off of Bruce Springsteen's music.

This time around, Bruce is getting the brunt of flak from the media and right-wingers. The Dixie Chicks are on this tour; has there been any criticism of them, or did they get their full dose last year? Good for them for not backing down.

WARREN HARDING WOULD BE PROUD

Harding couldn't dream of giving his friends handouts this big. In case you know any sentient creatures who still believe there's little difference between the Republican and Democratic parties, both the Washington Post and New York Times are running articles this week describing how the Bush Administration is dismantling regulations for the benefit of its corporate friends. Rules protecting workers's health, the use of scientific research in policy, and the environment have all been transformed or obliterated, with little to no public announcement. Add in Dick Cheney's secret energy commission and Halliburton's no-bid contracts on top of tax cuts that mostly benefit the CEO class (to name just a few of the big ones), and you have corporate giveaways at the expense of the rest of the nation's health and wealth that would have embarrassed Warren G.

Say what you want about Gore's shortcomings, his inability to win Tennessee, etc. Had Nader's votes in just New Hampshire had gone to Gore, we wouldn't be undergoing the blatant corporate abuses of the public interest that we're seeing today. The DNC or a 527 should be running ads on this, as well as the Plame disgrace, to put the "compassionate conservative" nonsense to rest.

JUST TELL ME WHAT WE DID HERE!

David O. Russell is rereleasing "Three Kings" this fall along with a new documentary about the Iraq war. When the film came out in 1999, I was amazed to see Hollywood depict such a sympathetic portrayal of the plight of Iraqis (not the government, but the people caught between Saddam Hussein and the United States with no confidence that either side was working in their interests). Russell's film did that, focused on the strains of being an American serviceman, had some choice critiques of the choreographed media coverage of Operation Desert Storm, and also was, in places, hilarious. Given current events, it should do solid business this fall.

OLYMPIC AD OBSERVATION

VW is using Richard Buckner's "Ariel Ramirez" in a new ad that's getting constant airplay during the Olympics. How constant? In the past day, I've heard Buckner's voice as often as I've heard George W. Bush's voice, and I've heard Bush (in his new concerned-voice over saxophone ads) more than I've heard Bob Costas.

When VW used Nick Drake, his sales -- total sales over 30 years --quintupled within a month. Buckner has the same haunting, stark acoustic vibe on his song, so maybe he'll make a similar impression. I hope he gets a more positive bounce out of the Olympics than Bush does.

SOMEBODY ELSE'S BLOOD

Iowa's heating up. Tom Harkin laments the backdoor draft taking the National Guard to Iraq and takes the gloves off when discussing Cheney.

Harkin also shot back at Cheney, who said in a visit to Iowa on Tuesday that presidential candidate John Kerry lacks a basic understanding of the war on terrorism and cannot make America safer.

He noted that Cheney had several student deferments that allowed him to skip serving in Vietnam.

"When I hear this coming from Dick Cheney, who was a coward, who would not serve during the Vietnam War, it makes my blood boil," Harkin said. "Those of us who served and those of us who went in the military don't like it when someone like a Dick Cheney comes out and he wants to be tough. Yeah, he'll be tough. He'll be tough with somebody else's blood, somebody else's kids. But not when it was his turn to go."

I'm surprised no one has asked George Bush why his daughters aren't serving in the military.

SWINGING

Polls show Ohio is anybody's to take in the presidential election; both candidates and their related organizations are pressing harder here than in any other state to get out the vote -- and to sway votes with a tsunami of advertising.

That's not the only election taking place here. Walkin' Eric Fingerhut is running for George Voinovich's Senate seat, and all of the presidential battlegrounds feature Democratic challengers in House races, like Jane Mitakides in Dayton and Jeff Seemann in Canton. All of these candidates are at funding disadvantages against Republican incumbents, and strong races by all could not only help Kerry win a state which would just about guarantee him the presidency, but could also give Democrats majorities in Congress. If you can help, donate money or time to one or several Ohio Democrats. The link allows for easy, secure donations and also links to individual candidate websites and blogs; most haven't been on the national radar, but these races may have a tremendous effect on U.S. politics.

BIG TIME

Rick James's innovative synthesis of rock & funk was not the first example of trailblazing in his family. I did not know that he was related to former Cleveland mayor Carl Stokes (who in 1967 became the first African American to be elected mayor of a large American city) or Rep. Louis Stokes. Rep. Stokes spoke at his funeral. Pretty large footprints in American politics and culture for one family.

THE GOVERNOR IS OUT

James McGreevey just resigned as governor of New Jersey, which would be pretty remarkable news by itself. But he may also have had the biggest coming out of any American public figure, declaring -- with his wife by his side -- that he is gay.

...my truth is that I am a gay American. And I am blessed to live in the greatest nation with the tradition of civil liberties, the greatest tradition of civil liberties in the world, in a country which provides so much to its people.

Yet because of the pain and suffering and anguish that I have caused to my beloved family, my parents, my wife, my friends, I would almost rather have this moment pass. For this is an intensely personal decision, and not one typically for the public domain.

Yet, it cannot and should not pass. I am also here today because, shamefully, I engaged in adult consensual affair with another man, which violates my bonds of matrimony. It was wrong. It was foolish. It was inexcusable. And for this, I ask the forgiveness and the grace of my wife. She has been extraordinary throughout this ordeal, and I am blessed by virtue of her love and strength.

Speculation has that "consensual affair" was about to result in a sexual harassment suit, which may have prompted McGreevy to act quickly. In that light, the resignation is more expedient than courageous. But the unambiguous language he used on live television is courageous, regardless of context. I don't recall Elton John or George Michael being so frank about their sexual orientation when they first went public, and they weren't Catholic politicians. McGreevey didn't say he was bisexual, he didn't say he had "caused pain in his personal life" -- he said he was gay, and had an affair with a man, leaving no room for inference or innuendo. And he only apologized for the affair, implying that being gay is nothing to be ashamed about. I hope what he said will give strength to others wrestling with their identities.

As for the political fallout, I've heard speculation from folks in New Jersey hoping that this doesn't give Bush momentum in the state. I doubt it will -- I've only seen one poll in twenty showing Bush within single digits of Kerry, and that poll was from the spring. How it might affect House races is anybody's guess. McGreevey was already seen as troubled and unpopular before the speech; he may have actually improved his standing in the state, or removed a burden on New Jersey Democratics this fall. The other speculation concerns who might succeed McGreevey as governor. State Senate President Richard Codey will succeed him immediately, but Senator Jon Corzine may run for the office in 2006. I hope he doesn't. Corzine's not a great speechmaker; his great political talent is raising money, which he currently does as chair of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee. I'd rather have him stay there, especially since Frank Lautenberg will step down after his current term and I don't want to see state Democrats struggle to find two viable Senate candidates. Plus, the governor's office in New Jersey is political poison -- it's very hard to leave office there an admired figure.

Proof again that politics is not boring. And with McGreevey's choice of words, not the same old thing.

WASTED COHOS CHEERED THEMSELVES HOARSE

ESPN's Page 3 (yes, the web presence of ESPN gets ever more diversified) has a remarkably thorough recounting of Disco Demolition, interviewing everyone from Steve Dahl to Gloria Gaynor, and putting the event in context with the "We Are Family" Pirates. Good pop culture reading, perhaps in context with my last post on the subject.

HAS NEW BALANCE ENDORSED FINGERHUT?

Their shoes get a mention in the kickoff of his walk across Ohio. He's keeping an online journal during the trek.

TALE OF THE TAPE

Channel 2 and WBBM-AM in Chicago released the first poll on the Obama-Keyes matchup.

The Republican candidate in this race may just be getting started, but according to an exclusive new CBS 2/Newsradio 780 poll, Keyes has a long way to go. 67 percent of Illinois voters prefer Democrat Obama; 28 percent would choose Keyes.

Obama also leads 64-30 among independents; Keyes leads 67-27 among Republicans and Obama has the support of "virtually every Democrat." These are the numbers before Keyes began spouting off on how Obama is like a slaveholder for being pro-choice; I suspect the gap between the two candidates will widen once Illinois gets to know its Republican nominee better. Obama could crack 75% in his first statewide general election.

For the latest developments on Keyes, check out Archpundit. His blog had the most detailed coverage of Obama prior to his primary victory and he's been the most consistent source of information on this race ever since.

ALAN KEYES -- DEBATER EXTRAORDINAIRE

Archpundit has extensive reviews of the strange behavior of Alan Keyes, political candidate. The specifics here bring up meaty opposition research, though you could always just go to his site for countless fringe and hypocritical comments, not least his objection to out-of-state Senate candidates.

PLAME CASE BREAKTHROUGH?

Tim Russert and a Time reporter have been ordered to testify in the Plame investigation. Russert has apparently agreed to cooperate with special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald (whose appointment in Illinois may be soon-to-retire Senator Peter Fitzgerald's lasting legacy), so we may get to the bottom of this scandal very soon.

RUNNING FOR OFFICE

These Rust Belt Senate Democratic candidates must be on a fitness kick. After Fingerhut announced his walking tour of Ohio, Joe Hoeffel's doing his own trek across Pennsylvania. And then this group Run Against Bush is getting into the act. I'm more of a swimmer than a runner, but I like it.

30 YEARS AGO TODAY

Brought the only Presidential resignation in United States history.

UNFORTUNATELY THE ALABAMA DEMOCRATIC PARTY DOESN'T HAVE A VIABLE CANDIDATE

...unless you think Sowell's marijuana legalization plank will play well in Montgomery. But Richard Shelby may be in a bit of trouble.

RIP RICK JAMES

He died just days after news that Dave Chappelle planned to star in his biopic. I wonder if that album he and Neil Young made for Motown back in the 60s will ever be released.

REPUBLICAN OR KLAN? (NOT DAVID DUKE)

Republicans in Tennessee's 8th district voted for eugenics advocate James L. Hart as their nominee for Jack Tanner's House seat. Just in case anyone still thinks there's not a whit's difference between the two parties, this is the second white supremacist Republicans have nominated for a major office (after Duke as Governor in Louisiana) in the past 15 years. If Alan Keyes turns down the Illinois senate nomination, they can always go to Matthew Hale for another proud candidate.

THE SOUND AND THE FURY

More musicians gearing up to get Kerry elected. This is a lot bigger than Rock the Vote in 1992 in terms of the efforts; probably in terms of the results. Ted Koppel asked Bruce Springsteen why people should hear musicans' political opinions, and Springsteen gave a self-depreciating answer. But why? If the media will only give a select few amongst the nation's wide citizenship coverage, why shouldn't those citizens express their First Amendment rights? If Koppel's concerned about people forming political opinions from celebrity comments, perhaps he should get his bosses to do a better job of letting people from all walks of life express themselves. There's a reason low-power FM radio and, well, blogs, are advocated by everyone from religious fundamentalists to Greens, and it's because media consolidation has reduced the number of voices in the mass media. I'd rather see Springsteen or Ted Nugent (or Governor Ahnold, though the next time I hear him voice an actual political opinion will be the first time) talk politics on Nightline than see another nanosecond of the Scott Peterson trial; at least the musicians are discussing topics that might actually affect more than a dozen people, and are they any less substantive than the endless spewing of spin from the cable shows spawned by the McLaughlin Group?

The other reason why the new spate of political activity by musicians is A Good Thing is it will likley increase interest in our political process. Any fan of the democratic process has to want most of the populace choosing to vote, and I don't see voters led to the polls by Bruce Springsteen or the Jurassic 5 to be any worse for the Union than voters coming from their church, union, or employer. Americans grant mass culture and entertainment tremendous importance in our lives and media; if that is the case, why shouldn't it inform our politics?

TOUR DATES

Some provisional dates for the Vote for Change tour. I may try to make it to the October 2 show in Cleveland if it doesn't sell out immediately.

'VOTE FOR CHANGE' >> regional tour schedule

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, R.E.M., John Fogerty, Bright Eyes
Sat., Oct. 2, Cleveland
Sun., Oct. 3, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Tues., Oct. 5, St. Paul, Minn.

Pearl Jam, Death Cab for Cutie
Sat., Oct. 2, Toledo, Ohio
Sun., Oct. 3, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Tues., Oct. 5, St. Louis
Wed., Oct. 6, Asheville, N.C.

Dave Matthews Band, Ben Harper, Jurassic 5, My Morning Jacket
Sat., Oct. 2, Dayton, Ohio
Sun., Oct. 3, Detroit
Tues., Oct. 5, Madison, Wis.
Wed., Oct. 6, Ames, Iowa

Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Keb' Mo'
Sun., Oct. 3, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Tues., Oct. 5, Kansas City, Mo.
Wed., Oct. 6, Des Moines

Dixie Chicks, James Taylor
Sat., Oct. 2, Cleveland
Sun., Oct. 3, Detroit
Tues., Oct. 5, Iowa City, Iowa
Wed., Oct. 6, St. Louis

John Mellencamp, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds
Sat., Oct. 2, Cincinnati
Sun., Oct. 3, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Tues., Oct. 5, Milwaukee

LET YOUR FINGERS DO THE WALKING

Ohio Senate candidate Eric Fingerhut is attempting to generate interest in his campaign by walking across the state. Hey, it's a more fuel-efficient gambit than canvassing by bus.

It's also cheap, which is important because Fingerhut has about a tenth of incumbent George Voinovich's cash. If you'd like to help him make up the difference and maybe advertise on TV rather than blistering his feet, send a few dollars his way. A viable Democratic senate candidate can't hurt the Kerry campaign in Ohio...same is true of Joe Hoeffel in Pennsylvania, Nancy Farmer in Missouri, and whichever candidate wins the nomination in Florida. (I'm guessing that will be Betty Castor.) You can donate to any or all of them here.

KEYES FOR ILLINOIS? (MORE FUN WITH THE ILLINOIS GOP)

The Sun-Times reports on the casting call, and Alan Keyes mulls parachuting into the race as the party has asked him to be their candidate. Keyes reportedly will decide by Sunday; if he enters, it sets up debates in the fall that may be more bizarre than Obama v. Ditka. If he turns down the nomination, who knows what will happen next?

I have a feeling he'll decline.

BOSS POLITICS

Bruce Springsteen explains his participation in Vote for Change in an op-ed column for the New York Times. Sez Bruce:

Like many others, in the aftermath of 9/11, I felt the country's unity. I don't remember anything quite like it. I supported the decision to enter Afghanistan and I hoped that the seriousness of the times would bring forth strength, humility and wisdom in our leaders. Instead, we dived headlong into an unnecessary war in Iraq, offering up the lives of our young men and women under circumstances that are now discredited. We ran record deficits, while simultaneously cutting and squeezing services like afterschool programs. We granted tax cuts to the richest 1 percent (corporate bigwigs, well-to-do guitar players), increasing the division of wealth that threatens to destroy our social contract with one another and render mute the promise of "one nation indivisible."

It is through the truthful exercising of the best of human qualities - respect for others, honesty about ourselves, faith in our ideals - that we come to life in God's eyes. It is how our soul, as a nation and as individuals, is revealed. Our American government has strayed too far from American values. It is time to move forward. The country we carry in our hearts is waiting.

I'M RICH!

Dave Chappelle just signed a big deal with Comedy Central. Two reasons (other than Chappelle's Show being one of the best things on TV) why this is good include:

1) Chappelle may star as Rick James in a movie. If you've seen the Charlie Murphy True Hollywood Story on Rick James, you will look forward to a film-length version.

2) This ensures that the Wayne Brady episode of Chappelle's Show (a.k.a. one of the funniest episodes of television since SCTV went off the air) will be released on DVD.

MUSIC AND POLITICS

America Coming Together is organizing a tour this fall with acts from a variety of genres, including REM, Bruce Springsteen, Jurassic 5, and the Dixie Chicks. Proceeds will benefit ACT's get out the vote efforts in several states, including Ohio.

MORE PEABODY AWARDS ARE ON THE WAY

Want to read a transcript of Jon Stewart laying into Republican Rep. Henry Bonilla for spinning that Kerry and Edwards are the 1st and 4th most liberal Senators? Go here. Stewart's discussion of Republican talking points being used to shape news coverage -- not just on Fox but in all major media -- was worthy of inclusion in the Columbia Journalism Review. It's bizarre that a comedy show (one that happens to be as funny as anything on television now, even Dave Chappelle) has over the past four years morphed into perhaps the most astute analysis of media behavior that anyone actually sees in this country. The media is paying attention; it's not a coincidence that people like Wolf Blitzer (interview available at the show's site) go on the show to take their lumps -- they know the show resonates with a lot of people (though they may not understand that the resonance isn't simply because the show is funny) and what Stewart, Stephen Colbert and the rest say affects perceptions of the news.

This is good. Print and broadcast news have been affected over the past 15 years by right wing media (radio, then Fox News), leading to loony coverage of Vince Foster, Whitewater and more recently Chalabi and just about everything out of Cheney and Ashcroft's mouths. Getting blasted from popular media with another perspective -- if it's sustained -- should cause another shift in how stories are framed.

INSERT YOUR NAME HERE

The latest trial balloon floated in the media is that goofy Presidential candidate Alan Keyes will be Obama's opponent. Nevermind that he is not from and does not live in Illinois -- that didn't stop speculation about Ted Nugent. The longer this goes on, and the more acclaim Obama gets nationally, the more I think he won't have a Republican opponent in November.

Here in northern Ohio, the senate news is less promising. There doesn't appear to be a lot of enthusiasm -- or media coverage -- for Eric Fingerhut in his campaign against Senator Voinovich, and since this is the Cleveland media market, if he's not doing well here he's not going to get much traction in the rest of the state. Maybe a late ad campaign may help -- if you think so, give him some resources to get on the air. On the other hand, people here are charged up to defeat Bush. (And the sentiment is more anti-Bush than pro-Kerry.) Despite the absolute saturation of both campaigns here over the past few months, there is no sense of wanting to be done with politics. Instead, there is a focused, sustained anger at Bush. Again, this is near Cleveland, but more rural, and it sure isn't a bad sign for Kerry.

ON

Getting settled here in Ohio and will begin regular postings shortly. Any comments about the happenings of the last week? Let's see...the White Sox traded for Jose Contreras and lost a week's worth of games to dim their chances...nah, let's not talk about baseball. Politics? There's all of the convention doings, some of which I caught on motel TVs. I missed Obama's speech, though I just saw it on his website and thought he did a fine job. My favorite political development has to do with Jerry Springer, who's got a blog for Ohio Democrats and may run for governor here in 2006. Hey, not every state can have Arnold.