Cool. As in staying cool. For crying out loud was it hot. Now that it is calming down, how about a little randomous from your ole pal G$. Good, let’s begin.

SMOKE ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM - Got an interesting email from a group today that will sure get Smoker Hating Emily at Battleground all fired up again. A new group called Choose Freedom Iowa is up and going. Learn all about them by checking here. Their goal is to eliminate the smoking ban. While I’m all for it… it just might be a little late fellas.

HELL YES! In case you’re wondering, we’re a little more than a month away from the release of Death Magnetic… the 9th album of the beloved Metallica. So if you’re sick of all the Metallica stuff here… better load up on Pepto Bismol. That thing is gonna shred! Is it September 12 yet?

KRUSTY AND HIS 12 PACK – Ole Hershel did a sort of follow up piece to his 12 pack. He sure seems to have Dewaay and Rastetter on the brain when it comes to 2010. QCI chimed in with our sleeper… Mark Pearson. Don and Bruce are great Republicans and great members of the business community… but you heard it here first, it ain’t gonna happen. I’ve condensed down his list to the QCI Sack of 40s. In no particular order, here’s a more likely set up:

Chuck Larson – According to various reports, he’s been courted
Bob VanderPlaats – Has been running since the end of 2006
Steve King – The 800 pound conservative gorilla
Mark Pearson (and or another wild card) – I still think this is a name you see more than Hershel’s favorites. If he don’t’, another candidate we haven’t heard of yet… but will raise eyebrows.

Truth be told, one or two of these 4 will drop out before the primary. Because #1, it splits up a lot of factions, #2, a 4 way race… is just dumb… well it is. Anyway, that’s just my take. As I usually am... I'm probably way off.

Thoughts QCI-ders? How about trying that comment section on the interweb. Smell ya later.

Ladies and Gentlemen… please welcome back to the stage, Mr. Richard Morgan Fliehr.

Wooooo! Yea sorry, kind of on a Nature Boy kick this week. But you know what? Our party could use a little Ric Flair smack talking when we can. I mean… yesterday QCI spread some TL love around. As we should. Their running a good campaign. Good staff assembled and they are working it. And we predict a win in the 4th.

Now with a little news from the west coast. Joe Trippi has signed on to consult for the guy running against Steve King. While a significant pick up and I’m sure Joe will make some dineros of the deal… Steve King is gonna win. He’s got a good team out there. Loyal following and organization. Much like Cub fans in March… hope always springs eternal for the Dems in the 5th District. Do I need elaborate on this one? Don’t make bring Ms. Shue into this again… oh… alright, you pushed me to the edge.

I have a better chance of spending a wonderful weekend in the Hamptons with Elizabeth Shue than the Dems have a chance of taking the 5th District seat… or taking out King for that matter.

Hmmm… Elizabeth Shue… hearts! …sigh, not gonna happen either.

But, I’ll tell ya, I like Joe Trippi. And totally recommend his book, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. Great read (if you can get past the Bush bashing stuff)… a keen insight from one of the pioneers of online activism.

SOME NEW STUFF – It’s gonna get hot out there this weekend. I’ve stumbled along a few new blogs for you to check out while you are keeping cool and praising the central air gods this week.

Constitution Daily – Was passed along this one. Fire up your inner winger with this one. Worth checking out. Iowa Defense Alliance – A good colaborative work of bloggers… if Constitution Day didn’t bust out your inner winger, the pilot light is out. Also, for you history buff types… as I was catching some of the earthquake coverage in LA, I stumbled upon this golden nugget by Larry Harnisch called The Daily Mirror via the Los Angeles Times. If you dig enough you’ll find a cool time line of articles leading to the Dodgers moving to LA from Brooklyn.

And by request…