A few observations

Just a few thoughts on recent events ...
Rush Limbaugh is still a big fat idiot. Al Franken's observation remains true 13 years later. Limbaugh and his dittoheads can't comprehend the difference between free speech and consequence-free speech, and so they whine because the obnoxious OxyContin junkie got bounced from a group of investors trying to buy an NFL franchise. And Limbaugh pushed douchebaggery to the limit by saying a slander against him is morally equivalent to defending slavery. What an idiot.
Ben Nelson is a big fat idiot. Not only does the nominally Democratic Nebraska senator continue to obstruct meaningful health-care reform in his country, but he also lauds the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus for its bipartisanship. Maybe he's thinking of these words from a Republican in the sportsmen's caucus: "We hunt liberal, tree-hugging Democrats, although it does seem like a waste of good ammunition."
Conservatives aren't the only fossil fools in Canada. Liberals, with an upper-case L, also behave badly on the global-warming file. Liberal MPs joined the government Wednesday, a few weeks before the Copenhagen Conference on climate change, in blocking the Climate Change Accountability Act. As the NDP's environment critic said, the Libs passed on an opportunity "to join the rest of the opposition to direct the government on Canada’s stance for Copenhagen. Instead, they have chosen to side with Conservatives and delay action.” That's not good for the country's reputation, nor is it good for the planet.
Gary Doer is gonna be a boring diplomat, and that's a good thing. The now-former Manitoba premier arrived in Washington this week to start his new job at the Canadian Embassy. In the past, we've had some ambassadors that could be politely described as "colourful" -- like Winnipeg native Allan Gotlieb, who became known for posh parties and a wife who wrote gossipy newspaper columns and slapped her social secretary at an official dinner. Doer, on the other hand, has a regular-guy public persona and a normal, boring family life. He should represent Canada reliably but unspectacularly. And I reckon spectacle is something diplomats generally should avoid.