Linked Up

Let's boil down some of the news of the day, shall we?

I'm reading this tonight. Here's a sample: "Above all, this irony emerges: Clinton ran on the basis of managerial competence—on her capacity, as she liked to put it, to 'do the job from Day One.' In fact, she never behaved like a chief executive, and her own staff proved to be her Achilles’ heel."

But there's yet another reason Hillary Clinton was bounced out of the presidential race, according to her former communications director. John Edwards. Some of us consider this an excuse rather than a reason. And, really, Howard Wolfson ignored the available evidence to come up with this one.

Don't look to me for many foreign policy discussions. You'd be better off trying Matthew Yglesias. But on the way home I overheard Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili tell CNN that his country "would never, ever surrender. We're willing to fight to the end." Looks like the time for compromise between Russia and Georgia might have already elapsed; Russia continues to advance and attack despite Georgia's retreat from South Ossetia. Now, I think, would be a good time for Obama to come back to the mainland.

Speaking of Obama, I think some people tend to forget that he's in the lead in every reputable poll taken on presidential contest. Some people like Glenn Thursh at Politico. To expect a blowout victory by any Democrat in any year is silly, given the deep political divisions in this country. The race is destined to be tight because of the simple math of the Electoral College. People should chill out. We've got a loooong way to go.

I had once hoped to cover a cockfight for my old news shop. But it looks like them days are over in Louisiana. I'm sure, however, the bloodsport will live on forever in some corners of the state. And others.

Ever heard of the "Preppy Killer"? Well, he's in the news again. Reminds me that Ralph Wiley once noted the nickname was shockingly inappropriate: "Not the murderer, the beast, the animal but a preppie who let sexual horseplay get a little rough. What power the prisms have!"

It occurred to me that Bernie Mac and the word "motherf*cker" will forever be inextricably linked. Thanks to him, I'll never be ashamed of the word again. Sorry, mom.

And, to commemorate the upcoming football season: the top 20 touchdown celebrations.