Sup friends? Welcome to Thursdays, welcome to magazines, etc. Today it’s INTERN’S CHOICE, as it is your Intern Juli’s last day here at Wonkette (for the time being??)—and of course, with respect to our current understandings of the terms “Intern”, “Juli” and “Wonkette.” Cliff-hanger!

Anyway: back to the Atlantic, which is your Intern’s Choice, because they’ve published another one of their famous Let’s Do Something Zeitgeisty! Issues. And the centrifugal force powering our round table today? Happiness. MORE »

A recent flurry of articles has named the South Pacific island of Vanuatu the happiest country on Earth. It’s easy to see why that is: “Their culture is based on centuries of polygamy, dancing and drinking kava,” writes Tom Shields in Scotland’s Sunday Herald. Which sounds a lot like Washington, D.C., except for the dancing. MORE »

• The Mexican Presidential election is too close to call, with both Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Felipe Calderón claiming victory. The actual results may not be announced until Wednesday. Each candidate has promised to respect the final results. [LAT, WP, NYT]

• President Bush and Senator John McCain have forged an uneasy political bond, with McCain visited the White House regularly to advice the President and the White House tacitly helping his ‘08 bid. “”He calls me Johnny Mac,” McCain says, though they can’t actually stand each other. [NYT]
• You can’t buy happiness. [WP]
• The Democratic plan for retaking the Senate involves a big push in rural areas, especially in the midwest and south. Also, text messages. [WP, WP]
• Republicans have done an about-face on political 527 groups. After initially proposing legislation banning them, they’re now finding them a useful political tool. [WSJ]
• An LA Times survey confirms: Americans still won’t vote for weirdo religions. 37% wouldn’t vote for a Mormon president, and, unsurprisingly, 54% wouldn’t vote for a Muslim. [LAT]

Good hedging with “recently,” there, Matt, considering the story’s a couple weeks old. MORE »