What's in a Name?

Louisiana: The Republican powers-that-be must not be too thrilled with their current crop of Senate candidate prospects in Louisiana, like weak-polling Jay Dardenne and weak-fundraising Richard Baker. Why? Because, as Stu Rothenberg reports on PW, Karl Rove went to the Pelican State to "woo State Treasurer John Kennedy (D) to the GOP and into the 2008 Senate race against Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)." I'm repeatedly told that Mary Landrieu is the most vulnerable Democratic Senator in years, but all indications keep saying "Safer and safer."

South Dakota: Add a second name to the list of Republicans publicly interested in a challenge to the popular, still-recovering Senator Tim Johnson: state rep. Joel D. Dykstra, who says he'll make a decision over the summer. (And, credit where credit is due. It seems like most South Dakota Republicans have been very civil and respectful during Senator Johnson's recovery, rather than exploiting his recovery time for political gain. Kudos.)

Minnesota: CQPolitics profiles Dr. Peter Agre, the Nobel Laureate and Duke professor considering a Senate bid. Given the current administration's war on science, it would be fascinating to have a Nobel Prize-winning scientist directly contributing to the political debate.

New Mexico: Courtesy of NM-FBIHOP, one of Pajamas Pete Domenici's lesser known opponents is already taking out paid advertising against Domenici. Every little bit helps as Domenici's poll numbers continue their free fall.

Massachusetts: Attorney Ed O'Reilly, who is preparing a primary challenge to Senator John Kerry, shares some thoughts via Blue Mass Group. Not that I expect O'Reilly's candidacy to make any significant inroads against Senator Kerry, but, assuming O'Reilly files all necessary paperwork and makes his candidacy official, I do hope Senator Kerry agrees to a primary debate to promote the integrity of the democratic process.

Monica Goodling gave her testimony today regarding the Attorney Purge scandal. Crooks & Liars sums up where the buck stops (or doesn't stop) on the scandal:

Lawmakers asked Kyle Sampson about who drew up the list of U.S. Attorneys to be fired and how those names got on the list. Dunno, he said. They asked Alberto Gonzales. Beats me, he said. They asked Paul McNulty. Ask everybody else, he said. They asked Monica Goodling. Ask anybody else, she said.

Since no high ranking official at the Department of Justice, from the Attorney General on down, seems to have any idea of whose decision it was to fire these U.S. Attorney, then, quite seriously, the fired U.S. Attorneys should simply return to work. Apparently, nobody actually fired them. It was all a big misunderstanding. The fired attorneys should just go back to their offices on Monday like nothing every happened and simply say, "Hey, if they actually want me fired, they should publicly declare it. Apparently, nobody really wanted me fired." Just show up at the office on Monday. Seems like the best way to handle it.