Mid-Day Open Thread

• A Republican with a big mouthpiece jumps ship.
  

  So, I'm saying today, I was wrong to have voted for George W. Bush. In historic terms, I believe George W. Bush is the worst two-term President in the history of the country. Worse than Grant. I also believe a case can be made that he's the worst President, period.

  Read the whole thing. Pure gold. (Hat-tip to Armando).

• "Protector of the Constitution." Yeah right. Specter and Feingold have quite the spat in this morning's Judiciary Committee meeting approving a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Says Specter: "I don't need to be lectured by you. You are no more a protector of the Constitution than am I." Uh huh.

• Digby highlights a truly sensible column by George Will in today's WaPo on "values voters." Read both. They're worth it.

• Another new low for W. Rasmussen has him at 36% job approval. Also good news, Democrats now have a 15 point advantage in the generic Congressional poll.

• Even TNR loves the new Gore.