Politics and other nightmares

OK, I know some presidents (such as LBJ) have been legendary for their tempers, but John McCain's is said to be uncontrollable -- you know, in the Bobby Knight, pathological range. According to a new book, it isn't just confined to being "passionate about the issues." He even goes off on his wife(warning -- very vulgar):

Who in the world could be against the Golden Rule?

A resolution that established the golden rule among other procedures at Muncie City Council meetings passed Monday by a 5-4 vote.

[. . .]

What a strangely constructed story this is. Roughly the bottom two-thirds hints around at the truth about ethanol, which is that it is a "solution" that will make things far worse:

First Amendment tomfoolery:

AUSTIN, Texas - A $5-per-customer fee on strip club patrons dubbed the "pole tax" has been declared unconstitutional.

A state district judge ruled that clubs can't collect the fee. The charge went into effect in January and was expected to raise about $44 million for sexual assault prevention programs and health care for the uninsured.

Congratulations, Hoosier lawmakers. South Carolina is now less backward than Indiana:

For the first time in Columbia, stores were able to sell beer and wine on Sundays. Some people didn't waste anytime getting in line to buy.

"You might want to sit back, watch a game or something and drink a nice cold one. Sales will be picking up," said Dennis Best.

The Indianapolis Star's Matthew Tully likes Jill Long Thompson's chances:

At the start, Schellinger got support from the likes of Mayor Bart Peterson (before he was tossed from office) and U.S. Rep. Julia Carson (before she died, of course). Indiana Democratic Party honchos claimed neutrality, but behind the scenes they backed Schellinger. Some even went to work for him.

It should come as no great shock that people are starting to talk about the breakup of the GOP-libertarian coalition:

It should come as no great shock that people are starting to talk about the breakup of the GOP-libertarian coalition:

The law of unintended consequences:

Enacting city smoking bans appears to increase drunken driving, a study of arrests conducted by Wisconsin researchers asserts.

A national study to be released by the Journal of Public Economics found an increase of fatal accidents involving alcohol after communities prohibited smoking, compared to arrests in communities without a ban.

This is the best news I've heard in a while:

Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards said on Thursday he would not accept the nomination for U.S. vice president as he did four years ago.

On the other hand: