Post-State of the Union

Some Wednesday morning thoughts:

How about Senator Jim Webb's Democratic response to the State of the Union!! I'll quote Newsweek's Jonathan Alter:

For the first time ever, the response to the State of the Union Message overshadowed the president's big speech. Virginia Sen. James Webb, in office only three weeks, managed to convey a muscular liberalism—with personal touches—that left President Bush's ordinary address in the dust.

Well, how do you do?

Rhode Island: Former Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee gave an interview to Brown University's Daily Herald. While he doesn't make any reference to a possible (and remarkably unlikely) 2008 challenge to incumbent Democrat Jack Reed, he is asked about a 2010 bid for Governor. Chafee says that "it's absolutely not something [he's] considering" and that he's focused on his new teaching duties. While Reed's strong popularity in an already-heavily Democratic state makes us very comfortable about his re-election, it'd be nice to have a pass altogether.

Texas: An astute reader passed on this news about Republican John Cornyn's possible first challenger, failed gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman. Nevertheless, I wouldn't mind hearing rumblings about other candidates...