Kerry/McCain?

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apelection_story.asp?category=1131&slug=Kerry%20McCain

I don't know what to make of these reports. No matter what this is really about it seems kind of strange that McCain was even willing to admit he'd entertain the idea. Is McCain trying to push Bush on the Iraq intelligence investigation? Is he really willing to run with a Democrat? Does he just want to be the Republican nominee in 08 (in which case, would he rather be VP for Kerry or have Kerry beat Bush with someone else then run against him)? Would he switch parties, run as an independent or remain a Republican? Would Democrats who have been trumpeting Kerry's electability run away from McCain (even though by most accounts this really would be a dream ticket by electability standards)? If McCain really wanted to switch parties, wouldn't he have done it two years ago and ran for the Democratic nomination himself? Anyone got any ideas about what's going on here?

Tomorrow in Minnesota, look for many children to be left behind

Tomorrow all of Minnesota's 4th, 6th and 8th graders will take their federally mandated comprehensive achievement tests. Depending on how they do (and as numerous studies have shown: the amount of other kids in the room with them, the quality of their handwriting and whether recess or something boring follows the test) next year's 4th, 6th and 8th graders may receive decidedly less money for such pointless (and untested) activites as ESL, art, sports, theatre, field trips, computers, teacher aides, etc.. But rest assured, according to our intrepid leader, these children won't be left behind. So for all the kids out their (who hopefully are asleep right now, after all, tomorrw's the big test day), lets pray to the God that gave us Paul Wellstone and Paul Westerberg, please, please, allow these kids to do well, by any means necessary (and yes, that means cheating)--the future of other kids depends on it.

Maybe I'm paranoid...

but does anyone else really buy this "the next three months are going to determine this election" crap. I mean, if I were a Bush worker and knew that my candidate had a slight learning disability, was already behind in the polls and had a tremendous monetary advantage that allowed him to run a national campaign well before federal funds kick in to help John Kerry (who I'm no big fan of), wouldn't I REALLY want to sell such wisdom to the media and pundits. I mean, if you listen to the Post, the Times or any other major daily, it seems as if the entire election will be decided well before the conventions and debates. Well before John Kerry gets the first chance anyone's had in four years to actually ask Bush a direct question. Well before New York in August ends up looking eerily like Chicago in '68 (though I doubt Bloomberg is an ingenious at crowd control as Daley was). Well before most voters have even paid attention to anything. Well before one can tell the efficacy of the GOTV operations that will in all likelyhood decide this election. If I didn't know any better, I'd think mainstream reporters were being hustled by a campaign that desperately wants to sell its candidate as presidential and determined before most Americans get only their second chance to see him without the production values of a Jerry Bruckheimer film.