You can have all the Gallups, and Rasmussen's and Quinnipac's you want.  McCain's political death notice came today, and it came by way of the backyard grill.

A question for the Ages, and a question for the Quisling cowards in the House of Representatives, most especially Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Unspeakable Steny Hoyer.

At Memorial Day services for our nation's honored dead, those have have given the last full measure of devotion (a quote from a somewhat superior speech), here's what our Pretzeldent had to say:

The Pentagon's  military educational institute has called the Iraq war a major debacle whose outcome is in doubt:

This just broke as far as I can tell, and it frosted me so bad I rushed out this mini-diary. All I can say is WTF was Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu thinking when he opened his mouth and said . . .

The Dean of the Berkeley Law School has announced he will not fire John Yoo, author of the memos justifying torture by the Bush Administration.

Dean Christopher Ederly, Jr., says as a tenured professor at the University of California, Berkeley, Law School, Yoo has a guarantee of employment that can only be removed in the most extreme circumstances.

In a continuing effort to provide transparency and urgently needed insight into foreign affairs . . .

I'm probably going to be breaking ALL KINDS of Diary rules. . .  but I simply cannot take this shit a moment longer.

If there is one constant, burning silver lining to worst case scenarios I may run secretly in my head when contemplating the upcoming titanic contest for President of the United States, it is the fact that the dumbest gomer of them all is filled with confidence.

In the classic albeit corny comic strip, Dennis "the Menace" Mitchell was the arch-nemesis of Mr.Wilson, the grumpy next door neighbor.  The Dennis who is the subject of this morning's mini-diary is Dennis Kucinich, who has been the bane of the Establishment ever since he took on Cleveland Electric Illuminating as the wunderkind mayor of the Gem of Lake Erie.

And it's not Mr. Wilson he's going after:

The AP reports that the Carlyle Group, a private equity firm that includes George H.W. Bush, has purchased at auction the Magna Carta:

Bearing the seal of King Edward I and dated 1297, it is one of 17 known copies of the historic tract that defined human rights as the foundation for liberty and democracy as it is known today.

. . . or is it just me?

According to CNN, the Big Dawg has boasted:

the first thing his wife Hillary will do when she reaches the White House is dispatch him and his predecessor, President George H.W. Bush, on an around-the-world mission to repair the damage done to America's reputation by the current president — Bush's son, George W. Bush.

As it is the season for candidates staking out their positions on health care, War in Iraq, foreign policy re: Iran, the Unitary Executive, etc., it seems to me we need to ask our Democratic candidates to step up to the plate and weigh in on extraordinary rendition, the process of spriting folks to far away places where the local laws on torture may be more accommodating that our own.

And the reason I'm asking is the disturbing information found below the fold:

I'm probably gonna break all kinds of diary rules, but I had to get this one out quick before a meeting. But this teaser ought to be enough to give you indigestion.

The State Department promised Blackwater USA bodyguards immunity from prosecution in its investigation of last month’s deadly shooting of 17 Iraqi civilians.
As a result, it will likely be months before the United States can — if ever — bring criminal charges in the case that has infuriated the Iraqi government.

This is very close to being the straw that breaks the camel's back.  All of a sudden the Bush Administration . . . and it's idiot henchpersons, like the heavily lacquered John Boehner in the House . . . are running around town like Chicken Little calling for INSTANTANEOUS FISA REFORM LEST THE TERRORISTS WIN!!!!!

Say What??

I have long thought that the rise of agriculture, and with it the creation of surplus, division of labor and profit, was one of the saddest days in human history.  The only sadder moment, perhaps, was when we decided not to go back into the water like our dolphin buddies. Ah well . . . spilt milk.

As every child knows, particle physics interactions can occur at zero distance -- but Einstein's theory of gravity makes no sense at zero distance!!!  NO SENSE I TELL YOU!!!!

Why??

Peruse further, Dear Reader:

When I was in the shower this morning, apparently all those Law & Order episodes I've seen were churning about in my subconscious . . . and I pondered the Felony Murder doctrine.