So, I've got MSNBC on (as ever) and I look up from writing a column on this ridiculous concept, and what should I see, but Bush, on TV, at the Heritage Foundation, speaking out in favor of AG nominee Mukasey!

While I don't want to sound overly high-minded or deprecating of the President, I am wondering however if I might offer him a suggestion. George, given that just about everyone in the whole country hates you right now, if you want to get Mukasey confirmed, perhaps the smarter move would be to go down to Heritage, stand up and say "I hate Mukasey, I think he's an idiot, I don't want him anywhere in my administration, but I can't be bothered yanking his nomination, so Democrats, please just do the dirty work for me and don't confirm him because he'll be trouble for me and I don't want to work with him."

That would almost certainly do more to progress this nomination than whatever chit-chat the President is currently engaged in.

And, for the record, I don't personally think that if I were in the Senate, I'd vote against confirming Mukasey, but some of his comments on subjects like waterboarding have looked a little dubious. Personally, I don't think the issue is whether or not the AG thinks waterboarding is torture or not, or even legal, but rather whether he thinks it is endorsable as an interrogation technique. Clearly, he doesn't think we should be doing it, and I'm minded to side with the likes of McCain and Graham on this one. Confirm the dude, even though he could have put up a better show and probably there are people I'd rather see in the job (for the record, since this has been suggested to me before by readers, no, I do not think Rick Santorum is one of them). Get it over and done with. And please, Mr. President, just quit talking about this subject. You have zero credibility with about 70% of the population. Reco...

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I'm sure everyone heard the deeply saddening (< / sarcasm >) news that Tom Tancredo won't be running for Congress again. So, you might be wondering, who will the GOP run in his stead?

Turns out it could be the Republican Secretary of State, Mike Coffman-- and that he's causing everyone a lot of heartburn by virtue of his decision.

Basically, the problem is this. Coffman's replacement will be decided by Gov. Bill Ritter if he leaves his current job. The problem? Bill Ritter, like, well, most elected officials in Colorado these days, is a Democrat. So, he'll probably appoint a Democrat to fill Coffman's shoes. And the Colorado GOP isn't happy about that because a) they'll suffer a net loss, no matter what, to the ranks of Colorado elected Republicans and b) Democrats are into voter fraud or somesuch, so the state will get even more Democratic because, well, maybe Coffman's replacement will let Mexicans or dead people or horses vote.

Jesting aside, this is a bit of a concern because, from what I understand, Colorado has had some seriously weird stuff go on with elections in recent years (for details on 2004 problems, see page 37 here). But I also have to point out it wouldn't be a concern if the Colorado GOP had been doing a better job of electing Republicans than they have in recent years, something which I continue to see as fundamentally connected to the party's inability to take stock of dominant voter attitudes in the state when selecting Republican candidates for office.

Mention of which leads me to another discussion. Will Coffman be an improvement over Tancredo, so far as I am concerned? Certainly, if you look at his bio, he looks like a really well-educate...

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Late in the day, I know, but here's wishing you a good one, and briefing you on all the politically-related Halloween news!



John Tabin has news of dolts in Iowa taxing pumpkins.

Russian schools are banning Halloween or somesuch.

Chuck Hagel went to the Senate as Joe Biden today (note: anyone who's ever been into the big meeting room in Hagel's office knows that this costume is a poor substitute for his Colin Powell and John McCain costumes)

Some people would rather have their kids dressed as Joe Biden than, er, naughty nurses.

Someone's going Trick-or-Treating as a Ron Paul girl.

Hagel also has a witch in his office (seriously, dudes, how can we let this guy leave the Senate?)

RedState's Erick Erickson will be dressed up for Halloween as the 69th most influential conservative, and a Councilman-elect.

Bush will be Trick-or-Treating right up until bedtime dressed as a cheapskate (H/T Andrew Sullivan).

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