Feb. 7: Bye, Mitt

*Romney out

Mitt Romney spent millions of dollars of his own money to run for president of the United States, and all he got.......You know the rest. He likely won't get the vice presidential nod from John McCain, either. However, Secretary of Commerce is a possibility, because there's no question that he's good at that.....unless he's running for president.



*It's the economy, stupid


Now Macy's is planning to lay off thousands of workers. And an article at AOL's Web site suggests eight longtime companies, including the venerable Sears, that could go out of business this year. How do the candidates plan to deal with that and the rest of the economic mess? It's not enough to say workers have to be trained for a 21st century economy if they don't like the components of the 21st century economy.




*Kinder and gentler Al Qaida?


USA Today reports about Al Qaida's changing tactics in trying to lure a new generation of terrorists. Heck, maybe those David Letterman skits aren't so far off the mark.......




*Mourning John McWethy


We mourn the death of John McWethy, who was an excellent correspondent for ABC News:


http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_8191591


Bob Steele of the Poynter Institute has his own memories:


http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=137273




*Steroids and cockfighting


OK, why did Brian McNamee hold on to the evidence he says he has on Roger Clemens' steroid use for so long? (I'll avoid the details here in case some of you are eating your meals.) The best mystery writer couldn't come up with possible twists in this plot.


To further chip away at the reputation of baseball as a wholesome game is the news of pitcher Pedro Martinez and Hall of Famer Juan Marichal watching a cockfighting match. I think I'll stick to checkers......


*Go Atlantis

We have liftoff of Space Shuttle Atlantis:

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=6348499&ch=4226713&src=news