Midday Open Thread

• Via tristero at Hullabaloo, how's this for a college paper editorial?

  The Rocky Mountain Collegian on Friday published an editorial that reads, in total, "Taser this... F--- BUSH," spelling out the expletive, along with an explanation that "this column represents the views of the Collegian’s editorial board."

• Glenn Greenwald uses Dianne Feinstein as a Symbol of the Worthless Beltway Democrat.  

  As Digby said yesterday of Senate Democrats: "it surely seems true that they loathe the Democratic base as much as the Republicans do." Hence, Dianne Feinstein funds Bush's war with no limits while condemning MoveOn. She votes to vest vast new surveillance powers in the President. She defends and vouches for and places blind faith in the whole litany of Bush intelligence officials who have spent the last six years radicalizing this country and breaking the law.

  Plainly, Feinstein does not do this out of political fear or "spinelessness," but because it is who she now is and what she believes. She and those like her are the reason why there is such a gaping disconnect between the Beltway political class and the political views of most Americans.

  Most of these political officials who feed off of Washington year after year become appendages of it and vigorous defenders of nothing other than the Beltway system. They are drained of all belief, conviction and passion.

  You may be reminded of Trapper John's analysis of Tim Russert from last spring.

• Do water and irrigation issues mean the future of American agriculture  lies back East?
• Speaking the unspeakable:

  Republican presidential candidates can't be any more clear: President Bush isn't welcome on the campaign trail.

  -DemFromCT