Holy Cow! Bobby! Maybe the times are changing:

Republicans have been hit with their third defeat in a row in special elections as a special Congressional election in Mississippi fell to the Democrat even though the Republicans tried their hardest to ignite the race card.

The New York Times reports that the Republican leadership has been trying to ride the coat tails of "straight talking" John McCain, but evidently voters are recognizing that Sen. McCain's "straight talk" is more about "sounding like" straight talk, when in fact, brother John changes his position faster than a rattlesnake can strike.

China Facts: "Last year 29 members of the press spent China's National Journalists' Day behind bars. Foreign reporters feel the pinch too. Says one: 'The aim is intimidation and fear, and it works.' In a recent assessment of press freedom by Reporters Without Borders, China ranked 163 out of 169 nations. Some pundits say censorship will inevitably disappear as coutnries 'engage' China, but others say that's far too optimistic. As James Mann, author of The China Fantasy: Why Capitalism Will Not Bring Democracy to China, observes, 'As other authoritarian leaders around the world seek to stifle political opposition, they look to China as a model.' —Alan Mairson." (Source: ngm.com)

The Dude on gun violence: "For every fatal shooting, there were roughly three non-fatal shootings. And, folks, this is unacceptable in America … And we're going to do something about it." — George W. Bush, Philadelphia, PA, May 14, 2001.