For Some Kerry Fans, No Joy in Mudville

Cullum: "I would love it because, you know, I'm out there on TV a lot, and I'm one of your biggest allies. I stick up for you all the time."

Rumsfeld: "Good for you. Thank you. I appreciate it."

Cullum: "Take care, Mr. Secretary, and bless you. Thank you very much."

Rumsfeld: "Thank you."

Note to Pentagon transcribers: Probably best to cut these things off after the first "thank you."

Peddle It Somewhere Else, Kid

Greg Baker, an Iowa teenager, has been raising money to attend the Republican National Convention next month in New York. He's been doing things such as selling cookies at the Madison County fair to gather the $1,800 he needs.

He's also sent a "To whom it may concern" fundraising letter. Some were less concerned than others, especially County Attorney Martin Ramsey.

"Good luck with your fundraiser," Ramsey, a Democrat, wrote in response, according to Des Moines TV station KCCI. "I think my money would be better spent purchasing tickets to Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11."

Asking for money from a Democrat to help "your president and his gang," Ramsey said, "is very similar to asking me for a book of matches because you are going to a cross-burning."

A bit rough? "I don't think it's harsh," Ramsey told KCCI. "I don't regret anything I said in it."

Probably felt better, too.

Can't Be Too Careful With Those Democracies

President Bush, chatting with reporters Monday about Iran's alleged aid to the 9/11 terrorists, said: "I have long expressed my concerns about Iran. After all, it's a totalitarian society where free people are not allowed to, you know, exercise the -- their rights as human beings."

Hmm . . . But here's Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage, telling a colleague of ours in February 2003: "The axis of evil was a valid comment, [but ] I would note there's one dramatic difference between Iran and the other two axes of evil, and that would be it's a democracy. [And] you approach a democracy differently."

So it's a totalitarian democracy?