Auditions for the new season of American Idol begin airing this week–and I’m happy to say that I’ll be helping out Karen Untereker of Unterekless.com with her show commentary. Look for posts on Fridays at first, and once the heart of the season gets underway, our rankings and comments will run before the results shows on Wednesdays.

Political Ad Guy came across this gem, and I couldn’t resist sharing it with each of you. In the video featured below, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich talks about his accomplishments from his first term and his ambitions for his second. It’s worth a watch, if only to laugh a little. Nevermind the fact that he misuses the word “hopefully.” We’ve all been there [...]

Bristol Palin gave birth to her son Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston on Sunday. The infant boy weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces. Thanks to Gateway Pundit for posting the happy news. Bristol is doing well, but–as much as I hate to say it–Grandma Johnston can’t say the same thing: “This week, Levi mother, Sherry Johnston, was charged with six felony counts of misconduct involving a controlled substance, described by an Alaska State Troopers spokeswoman as being ‘Oxycontin.’”

Here’s what I imagine might have been on Blagojevich’s On-The-Go playlist: “Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson, “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down” by Fall Out Boy, “Mo Money, Mo Problems” by Notorious B.I.G., “Dirty Little Secret” by Sarah McLachlan, “I Have Confidence” from “The Sound of Music” Soundtrack and “Have I Got a Deal For You” by Reba McEntire.

All eyes are on my hometown, St. Louis, Mo., today because of the vice-presidential debate tonight.
(For those of you in St. Louis for the event, head to Favazza’s restaurant if you’re looking for a great place to eat. Ask for Mark Favazza, my brother, and tell him you read about the place in a blog post [...]

Politics

Democrats to Let Offshore Drilling Ban Expire: “If true, this capitulation by Democrats following months of Republican pressure is a big victory for Americans struggling with record gasoline prices.” — House GOP leader John Boehner
Obama Ad Distorts McCain’s Record on Stem Cells: No surprise on this one. Read this one carefully; you won’t want to miss [...]

When I asked my readers last week if they thought Lieberman’s support of John McCain would swing Jewish voters to McCain, 476 people responded. 65 percent said yes (311 votes total) and 35 percent said no (135 votes). One reader, using the screen name ssaglia, commented on the poll like this:
This whole switch with Lieberman is so [...]

Today is Constitution Day. How will you celebrate?
(I’m celebrating with my friend’s band–Detox Retox—tonight.)