Bob Novak seems to be having a bad week. I first noticed this on Hardball and dug up these interesting articles about my favorite prince of darkness.

<Syndicated columnist Robert D. Novak was cited by police after he hit a pedestrian with his black Corvette in downtown Washington, D.C., on Wednesday morning. </p>

A Politico reporter saw Novak in the front of a police car with a citation in his hand; a WJLA-TV crew and reporter saw Novak as well. The pedestrian, a 66-year-old man who was not further identified by authorities, was treated at George Washington University Hospital for minor injuries, according to D.C. Fire and EMS. Novak was later released by police and drove away from the scene.

"I didn't know I hit him. I feel terrible," a shaken Novak told reporters from Politico and WJLA as he was returning to his car. "He's not dead, that's the main thing." Novak said he was a block away from 18th and K streets Northwest, where the accident occurred, when a bicyclist stopped him and said, "You hit someone." He said he was cited for failing to yield the right of way.

It seems we are having similar fundraising issues across this country. Have we democrats become a little complacent or are we just hitting our financial limits?

Rossi tops '04 fundraising
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/seatt lepolitics/archives/144094.asp

Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi's campaign reported Tuesday that it has topped its fundraising total from the 2004 campaign, having now raised more than $6,254,035.80.

Rossi is again challenging Gov. Chris Gregoire, the Democrat who prevailed in '04 by 133 votes out of almost 3 million cast after two recounts and a court fight.

As of May 31 Gregoire had reported raising about $6.8 million.

I am not suggesting that Gov. Chris Gregoire is not raising money. I am suggesting that she should be doing better, much better! I do not see this as just a fault of her or her campaign, because in my opinion, this is also partly the fault of all of us.

More below...

First a disclaimer: This is not a new clip, it's several weeks old. I think it's still worth watching for several reasons:

1) It's topical. Ms. Logan has some very trenchant views on the war and it's coverage.

2) It's refreshing to see a mainstream journalist that takes her craft so seriously. Cronkite would be proud.

3) Lara Logan has a fraction of the exposure of her cable news counterparts, while deserving much more. The fact that she got the first Obama interview of his junket indicates I am not alone in this opinion. Finally,

4) The lady is just a flat-out badass. (watch her calmly describe her hotel blowing up). We need more like her.

Apologies if you've seen this before, if you haven't, it's 7 minutes well spent - enjoy.

I'm very excited to announce that Swing State Project has upgraded Josh Zeitz's vigorous challenge to Republican and anti-choice House caucus chair Chris Smith. The NJ-04 race has now been dubbed a 'Race to Watch' by the well-respected site.

Blue Jersey has also reported on the upgrade.

In NJ-4, Josh Zeitz got some welcome news as his race has been added to the list of Races to watch. This will certainly be good for the Zeitz campaign as they try to keep up the momentum they've been building.  It's also good to see the continuing expansion of the playing field.

We at the campaign are hopeful that you'll join in the momentum (Josh-mentum?-just kidding). Please come to Josh's website and consider making a contribution. You can also contact ian_at_joshzeitz_dot_com if you want to volunteer.

hris Myers is the GOP candidate in NJ-3rd Congressional district.  Given his lackluster fundraising thus far, you can forgive him for being a little cranky.  But his outright contempt for the progressive Netroots even caught me by surprise.

One of my favorite Disney movies as a child was Beauty and the Beast. From a child who was born with a thrill for taking ugly, mean things and making them beautiful (I was really into painting old furniture), you could see the appeal: a stubborn and self-serving beast was transformed into a sweet, giving prince through the healing power of love. Oh, if only real life was this idyllic.

Unfortunately, in the real world, wealth and power don't magically yield to justice and conscience, even if it's presented as such on the surface. Take oil tycoon and bill-footer of last election's Swift Boat crusade T. Boone Pickens. Pickens has been on a $58 million publicity tour to promote his plan to erect wind turbines in the Midwest.

Well, we have recently been told that McCain is not whining about the media.

Maybe that is so.  

Maybe it is because he doesn't have to bother, since he has Robert M. "Mike" Duncan, Chairman, Republican National Committee to do it for him.

Not only is "Mike" Duncan whining about the media, he is whining about you: "the Democrats and their leftist allies".  Your "radical groups" connected with "Big Labor" and the "liberal Media".

This is what good-ole Mike thinks of you, as of about three minutes ago when it hit my Inbox:

If John McCain is hoping to pick up a running mate from the exorcist/snake handler wing of the Republican Party, it will not be Bobby Jindal. According to Faux News, Jindal has taken himself out of the running.