Need a brief respite from ugly presidential politics? Then follow this link and read how Senator Wide Stance's lawyers tried to get his guilty plea withdrawn in arguments made this morning before the Minnesota State Board of Appeals.

Craig was caught last June by Sgt. Dave Karsnia in a sting operation at the airport. Karsnia was in a stall and said Craig peered in for more than two minutes from three feet away - so close the officer could see his blue eyes. When the next stall opened, Craig went in and then tapped his foot and waved his hand under the stall - behavior indicative of an interest in a sexual encounter, the complaint said.

But Martin said Craig was responding to Karsnia’s hand swiping and the senator’s behavior “was invited conduct.”

Geez. I thought he'd said that he was just trying to innocently retrieve an errant roll of toilet paper?  Now, it's entrapment.

Next thing you know, they'll say that the police officer's eyes were warm and inviting as Craig peeped through the door crack.

A MoJo  blog posting that is linked on the TPM front-page needs to be read and trumpeted.

Gov. Sarah Palin is withholding 1100 e-mails from a State Open Records Act Request filed this summer, claiming that they are exempt "because they were covered by the "executive" or "deliberative process" privileges that protect communications between Palin and her aides about policy matters." 

Funny thing, though...in a table provided by the Governor's office,  some of these "protected" e-mails were sent to "First Dude" Todd Palin.  On the first page alone, Todd was "cc'ed" on 6 of 11 e-mails.

The reasons behind for the open file request, and motives for withholding the e-mails are important, but the talking point that can be hammered is this:

Give the governor the benefit of the doubt.  If these 1100 e-mails really are discussing confidential policy matters protected under executive privilege, then why were many of them being sent to the Governor's spouse, who doesn't hold a position in Alaska state government?

The flip side is obvious...if they really aren't covered by privilege, then what is the Governor hiding, why is she violating state law, and how can this be considered change you can believe in?

Sexist disclaimer:  I will berate Senator Obama in the same manner if any of his U.S. Senate "official business" e-mails were sent to his wife.