Random Late-Night Thoughts

It feels like it's been a big news week so far...

Governor Chet Culver had a math problem. He doubled the amount of money the state was expected to have left over when this budget year ends this month. A staffer later said the gov "misspoke". The gov also said he doesn't expect the state to fall short moneywise when the year ends. Republican leaders and the non-partisan Legislative Services Agency aren't so sure.

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley seems to have a memory problem. He says he can't remember why he opposed Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation to a federal appeals court judgeship 11 years ago. She is President Barack Obama's nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, in case you forgot.

Half of Iowa's power couple just got replaced. Jackie Norris is out as First Lady Michelle Obama's Chief of Staff. Her husband, John, is former Iowa Governor-turned-U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack's Chief of Staff.

Speaking of Vilsack, the Pittsburgh native can't be too happy with his favorite baseball team, the Pirates, dumping their best player to "rebuild" yet again. I guess 16 consecutive losing seasons isn't enough for that pitiful franchise.

Manager Tony LaRussa of my St. Louis Cardinals has a problem with Twitter. Not that he can't use it. Actually, I have no idea if he can use it. But LaRussa alleges someone set up a Twitter account under his name and made a few too many drunk comments. LaRussa has an embarrassing "too much wine and I fell asleep behind the wheel story" and the Cards have also had two players die in alcohol incidents. So he is suing Twitter for what happened.