* Paul and Shaha rock each other’s worlds like a bomb-belt in a crowded market. [Liberal Avenger]
* Republican bloggers “declare war on the Republican Leadership of the United States House of Representatives.” [Red State]
* Hilary is stealing all Barry’s best zingers. And by zingers we mean pointless clichés. [Election Central]
* Sam Brownback ends up in tears when his memorized sports analogy backfires. Stick to the show tune metaphors, Sam. [AP]
* Navy still thinks Muslim pilot is dangerous, but will let him be a wingman anytime. [Blackfive]
* White dudes run shit, jam up your teevee on Sundays talking about it. [Media Matters]

As a public service, we bring you the latest mental bulimia from Ann Coulter: MORE »

We didn’t actually want to get caught up in this controversy, but since Fishboy brought it up, re the origin of the sobriquet that Washington is “Hollywood for ugly people”:

An infamous Hill aide fired from her entry-level job for blogging about her sexual partners who cashes in for a trashy novel deal [we think he's talking about Jessica Cutler -- ed.] or a hugely-talented and storied writer for Vanity Fair [no clue -- ed.]?

Helpfully, someone with minimal (or at least free) research skills was able to trace it to a 1999 Paul Begala column. We put the massive resources of the Gawker Media Empire to work and our shared Nexis account came up with a citation from 1995, a citation which seems to indicate that even then, it was an old joke. From, er, the first issue of “George” magazine (September 30, 1995):

George tries to present politics in the glossy way in which Vanity Fair, Esquire and their ilk present the worlds of fashion and entertainment. The people in those worlds strive to be charming and beautiful. Washington? As one comedian has put it, Washington is a Hollywood for ugly people.

We may never get to the bottom of who said it first, but if we see that phrase cited as proof of anyone’s original wit, we will make that person listen Paul Harvey segments ’til that person head explodes. MORE »