Aside from just being a loony dingbat distraction during today’s hot-ticket Finance Committee markup, what other fucking insane things has Chuck Grassley been up to? “Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is blocking the all-important nomination of Alan Solomont, the president’s nominee for ambassador to Spain.” He is literally standing in the doorway, blocking all traffic, crowing. [Wash. Independent]

MOOOOOM, CAN… CAN MY IRANIAN DIPLOMATIC EQUIVALENT SPEND THE NIGHT, PLEEEEASE?: “In a new overture to Iran, the Obama administration has authorized U.S. embassies around the world to invite Iranian officials to Independence Day parties they host on or around July 4th. A State Department cable sent to all U.S. embassies and consulates late last week said that U.S. diplomats could ask their Iranian counterparts to attend the festivities, which generally feature speeches about American values, fireworks, and, of course, hot dogs and hamburgers.” Slip ‘n’ Slide? Super Soaker proxy war? SPARKLERS? Don’t get cheap, embassies. This is Iran. Pressure. [AP/TPM]

The State Department announced Monday that it had filled its vacancies at the Iraq Embassy, so, ugh, *fine*, there’ll be no mandatory service — for now. This comes in the wake of massive bitching from members of our prestigious diplomatic corps, who were worried they’d be forced to serve somewhere that could actually use them. MORE »

The State Department recently announced that it would order some diplomats to serve at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq due to a lack of volunteers, what with it being Iraq and all. As a 22-year-old, I prefer the idea of a diplomat-draft over that of a draft-draft, but these emissaries ain’t feeling it. The State Department held a town hall yesterday to run through the gripes (it’s all “dangerous” over there or something), and it’s pretty clear now that our diplomatic corps is just a bunch of pussies. MORE »

* Jim Webb faces a dilemma — will his new book have as many father/son blowjob scenes as the last one, or does he want to be vice president? [Political Wire]
* Yes. Americans unequivocally have a right to as much porn as they can possibly consume. [Blogs for Bush]
* Voters are already sick of all the actual presidential candidates. [Hit & Run]
* Diplomats in Tehran think the U.S. is just crazy enough to do it. [Jerusalem Post]
* Jon Stewart vs. John Bolton ends in a hit, a palpable hit. [C&L]
* Ohio Governor Ted Strickland loves the sexing. [ Pandagon]
* Norah O’Donnell: so perty yet so braindead. [Think Progress]
* Riding in cars with presidents. [Rude Pundit]

Diplomatic immunity is possibly the greatest legal invention of all time. Just ask Tsuriel Raphael, who is leaving his post in El Salvador after the cops found him all tied up to sex-bondage devices — other than the straps and sex toys and gag ball in his mouth, he was naked. And very drunk.

We’ll continue this very important political story, after the jump.

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No one ever won a war with a bad attitude, guys.

The U.S. Embassy in Iraq, demonstrating an admirable unwillingness to aide in the President’s PR blitz, sent a memo to Condoleezza Rice last week on the day of Bush’s surprise Baghdad trip detailing just how much fun everyone’s having in the Green Zone these days. It raises the question: Why doesn’t the U.S. Embassy ever tell the State Department the good news from Iraq? (Will we ever get tired of that line?)

Our exclusive hungover and cranky analysis, after the jump.

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Pictured: The hell on Earth that is State Department housing in Berlin

The life of State Department Official posted overseas is not an easy one. Forced to live in Europe with free accommodations, living the degraded and stressful life of a diplomat with a fat government paycheck, who can blame them when they snap and send out mass emails to everyone in Berlin full of petty complaints?

From: [Redacted]
Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 12:45
To: [Redacted], Berlin Hegewinkel Residents
Subject: RE: I heard you are removing trees from Hegewinkel today

As a residing tenant of Am Hagewinkel, I am a bit resentful of “A select few” speaking for the masses. I unfortunately, in this case, am also the Deputy [Redacted] here in Berlin. I get nothing special and have to be the last in line for anything received, to ensure there is “fair and equitable” distribution of any perks given.

Solely speaking as a resident, I resent ALL the problems you, your husband, Mr. [Redacted], and [Redacted] have caused some of the residents such as myself. Mr. [Redacted] made a point of speaking about the dog issue. I have sent my dog through a search and rescue school in Florida, which cost me a lot of money. She is trained on command and likes to run freely OFF leash. Having a fenced in compound was a great safety net for her to not encounter outside animals. She would do her “business” outside of the perimeter, then freely play on compound. This was a privilege that we (you, [Redacted], myself and several parents of furry, four legged animals residing there) were enjoying. I now have to walk her through the grunewald to avoid any appearance of my pet or myself, of being “special”. BUT, I do notice that your husband DOES NOT clean up after your two puppies. I have also notice that I have not seen [Redacted]’s dog walked ON LEASH. As a matter of fact, not long ago, while conducting a fire inspection at the Am Hagewinkel property, I noticed [Redacted]’s husband skateboarding freely during the day, and their dog was completely unattended off leash. Personally, I think this is great that their dog is also trained off leash. That they consider, as most of us who have chosen not to have children, their pet as a family member. It is wonderful to walk outside with your dog and watch it play freely in a safe environment without a leash. But through your and [Redacted]’s complaints, you have RUINED it for us all.

Full angry, craigslist-ready rant, after the jump. It eventually rises to a brilliant, beautiful fever pitch.

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• Congressional Research Service determines that the administration should have notified all members of the House and Senate intelligence committees about NSA eavesdropping. [WP, NYT, USAT]
• Dems up the ante against the “culture of corruption”; their proposed limitations on lobbying are stricter than GOP plan. [WP, NYT, W$J]
• Republican Rep. Jerry Lewis steered $160m project through Congress after firm donated $110,000, USAT alleges; congressman denies wrongdoing. [USAT]
• Longest independent counsel inquiry ever accuses Clinton administration officials of a cover-up. [NYT]
• Human Rights Watch says the administration makes a “deliberate policy choice” to abuse detainees. [NYT]
• Costs of the war and rebuilding the Gulf Coast will exacerbate this year’s budget debate. [USAT]
• State Department will shift hundreds of diplomats to the Middle East, Asia, and elsewhere from Europe and Washington. [WP, NYT]
• Democrats urged to vote against Samuel Alito. [NYT, LAT]
• Republicans try to reassure seniors about new drug plan. [WP]
• Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) “is back!” [WP]
• Larry Wilkerson’s criticisms of the administration caused an estrangement with Colin Powell. Wilkerson: “This is not a Republican administration, not in my view. This is a radical administration.” [WP]