Cheney speaks at Ford's funeral

How does it fall to Cheney to be the one at the man's funeral to undertake a rhetorical justification of Ford's pardon of Nixon? I was just starting to like Ford more after listening to all the positive coverage, and here comes Cheney, who is capable of discrediting an argument merely by adopting it.

Also, how about the vaguely spooky correspondence of approaching my 30th and seeing the passing of the guy who was president when I was born? And James Brown too, dead! O muse of youthful revelry! And I just used 'O' to embody emotion. Stands for o-l-d, old.

(Don't worry folks, all sarcasm and no sadness. In fact, I have a plan that will keep me young forever. I am switching to a larger base for my number system, a veritable fountain of youth. Take that "Big Three Oh," knock at this door nevermore!)

Play nice

The Democratic field is so filled with strong candidates that it paradoxically makes me more nervous. Hillary, Obama, Gore, Edwards, Richardson, and more - isn't that already enough for a circular firing squad? Certainly if they go at it the wrong way. I would be overjoyed to see the candidates adopt a sort of collegiality that would strengthen the party as a whole even if it diminishes their ability to score points on each other.

Bush was elected under dubious circumstances

At this moment I feel that if the governor had to appoint a replacement, Republican though he is, he ought to name a Democrat. The midterm was resounding, and this is a fluke, another Butterfly Ballot or idiosyncratic 5-4 call in the Supreme Court. It is so galling for it to come down to such random components.

Anyway, Johnson sounds like he's okay for now on NPR. Still, I can't imagine it's ever totally hunky-dory when you've got circulatory problems in your head. I would check a box on my tax return donating a dollar to his wellbeing.