Think respected conservative intellectual George “Dungaree” Will’s biweekly phlegm-hocks for the Washington Post are bad, but maybe not quite Richard-Cohen-bad? Well they are, and so are his Newsweek columns! Maybe. His most recent one tackles Transportation Reform. Will chastises Republican Ray LaHood, the Transportation secretary, for “wanting” to “fix” America’s “infrastructure” problems, which is his “job.” Will truly despises anyone who walks or bikes or takes a train anywhere, and he wants them to die, DIE DIE DIE, in a ditch, in Portland. MORE »

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority now has its own fancy Facebook page. Change has come! MORE »

PARADE OF BIPARTISAN STARS: Obama is picking Peoria (Illinois!) Republican Congressman Ray LaHood to be the transportation secretary. LaHood is our nation’s new Norm Mineta! Here is a picture of Obama and Ray LaHood. [Peoria Journal Star]

• WOMAN, YOU ARE TOO RICH TO ACTUALLY EXIST: In case you haven’t heard about this yet, here’s what Cindy McCain said on CNN yesterday: “In Arizona, the only way to get around the state is by small private plane.” Uh, uh… and Michelle Obama drives a hybrid that doesn’t love its country! *RUNS TO PRIVATE PLANE* [Huffington Post]

• Congressional Republicans all about the wire-tapping, but still hassling over details. [WP]

• Bush speech yesterday focused on terrorism and the continuing threat to America, plus Hitler. [WP]
• Former Highway Administration official Mary Peters nominated for Transportation Secretary. She wants Americans out of traffic and into “quality time with their families.” [NYT, WP]
• Criticizing Rumsfeld now a favorite campaign sport of both parties. [NYT]
• Army to release new “types of torture you’re not allowed to use” manual today. [LAT]
• She won! Katherine Harris won! Just a primary, but still, congratulations Katy! [WP, NYT]

For all those suffering sleepless nights since Norm Mineta fled town under cover of darkness, the White House finally found a new Transportation Secretary. MORE »

Washington may no longer be the nation’s murder capital, but at least it’s moving up the “most congested cities” list. MORE »