What a day!

I think I actually got an idea for a song. Not an Evan Bayh song...though that is a good idea if I wanted to get something on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. A man can dream, can he not?

Tim Roemer vs. Dick Lugar? All signs point to a possible race and Roemer would bring it close. If he loses, he could finish Evan's term as a Senator.

Q. Do you think the Lugar poll was an accurate snapshot of what would happen if voters had to choose now between Lugar and Roemer?

A. Yes, for an election right now. It showed these percentages: Lugar, 58; Roemer, 24. Lugar long has been shown in polls and at the polls to be the most popular political figure in Indiana. He remains so. Roemer is not nearly as well known as Lugar in most parts of the state.

Q. Well, is it likely that any professional poll without any pushing to identify Roemer could find him as close as in the Democratic poll: Lugar, 41; Roemer, 39?

A. Is it likely that Russell Crowe will write a book on telephone etiquette, that Paris Hilton will be honored with a best-dressed award, that Michael Jackson will be named father of the year?[...]

Q. OK. Will Roemer run against Lugar?

A. Possibly. Roemer is looking at the race, including such considerations as losing time with his family and, if he won, taking a pay cut. Odds seem against Roemer running, primarily because the odds would be against him in the race. But Roemer wouldn't necessarily have to win in order to be a winner. Lugar in his last three Senate races carried 91 of Indiana's 92 counties and got two-thirds of the vote. Roemer could look good in defeat if he carried 30 or more counties, including some of the biggest, and got 46 percent or so of the vote.

Q. So what? Isn't a loss a loss?

A. If Roemer wanted then to run for governor, he would get strong consideration from Democrats for having taken on the tough race, and he would have high statewide name recognition. If Sen. Evan Bayh was elected president or vice president, Roemer could be in the picture to finish Bayh's Senate term.

Q. Could Roemer actually beat Lugar?

A. Doubtful. But upsets occur. Otherwise they wouldn't have to bother to hold the election.

I'm optimistic. Right now, Lugar has it as a lock.

What about Second City? I'll be there this summer.

Admit it, the comedy is funnier when you get to share the laugh with friends. At Second City they can accommodate groups up to 300 for an individual show at either the main stage or Second City e.t.c. A dinner/show package can be arranged by the staff where you can dine at a nearby restaurant.

Joe Biden says he intends to run in 2008. One, he had to pull out in 1988 over plagarism. That's an automatic loss of votes in 2008. I can see him as a cabinet member in a Democratic administration.

"My intention now is to seek the nomination," the six-term Delaware Democrat announced on CBS' Face the Nation Sunday morning.

Biden has been testing the waters for months now, stumping through swing states and meeting with state party officials and key interest groups to see how his message plays outside Delaware. He said he will give himself until the end of this year to decide whether launching a formal campaign is worthwhile.

"I'm quite frankly going out, seeing whether I can gather that kind of support," he said.

On Saturday, he flew to Cincinnati to address labor leaders. Later this week, he will be in Kentucky to speak to the National Sheriff's Association.

Some advice from writers on how to deal with embarassing situations. Me? I just write comedy. If it were a depressing situation, I'd write a song.

call their bluff
Tell others you can't attend because you have no money or nowhere to stay. The ball's in their court: Unless they're willing to shell out for your transportation or put you up themselves, you won't be able to make it.

The risks are obvious but the potential payoff is huge. If others fail to come through, you'll have a guilt-free weekend. They, on the other hand, might be too guilt-ridden to invite you to the next gathering.

rock solid
With once-in-a-lifetime events like christenings and funerals, you need something rock-solid: the grave illness or death of an immediate family member or, possibly, yourself. After missing your aunt's funeral, tell your relative, "I was deathly ill. It's lucky you didn't have two funerals to go to."

2. being asked to appraise someone's boyfriend/girlfriend
If a guy asks you for your opinion of his girlfriend, it's a bad sign. Nine times out of ten he's looking for a reason to dump her. But that one time can really bite you. Even if you've been pals for twenty years, if he sticks with this loser chick you'll never water-ski at his summer house again.

There's always "damning with faint praise," but for most of the dumb or weak-willed types who want your opinion, such subtlety won't cut it. You'll need something stronger.

The teaser for X-Men 3 will be featured before Ghostrider with Nicholas Cage. X-Men 3 is scheduled for a May 2006 release.

Movie still remembered after 25 years.

Even the movie's climax transcended the farcical car chase on the screen. Former Mayor Jane Byrne says that by allowing the Bluesmobile to plow through Daley Plaza and crash through the glass walls of the Daley Center lobby, she was striking a blow at the heart of the Democratic machine.

Landis said in light of how Chicago Police treated protesters at the 1968 Democratic convention, "it gave me great pleasure to drive through the Richard J. Daley Center."

Despite that knock on his father, the current Mayor Daley calls the movie "classic" and "fun."

But while the Daley Plaza scene occurred at the center of the city, the movie also took viewers around the world to parts of Chicago rarely seen on the big screen before. Many will never be seen again. The original Maxwell Street Market, prominently featured, is gone. The Plymouth Hotel, where the Blues Brothers slept as L trains rumbled by, was demolished in 1991, signaling the end of the Loop's seedier side. Most of Harvey's closed Dixie Square Mall, site of an over-the-top car chase, has been undeveloped for a quarter-century.

It also showed off the dark streets below the L, Lower Wacker, the steel mills, Lake Shore Drive and that funny-looking Picasso.

"Chicago is one of the stars of the movie," said Dan Aykroyd, who played Elwood and co-wrote the movie. "We wrote it as a tribute."

It also hailed rhythm and blues. It was the first feature for Aretha Franklin and John Lee Hooker. It showcased such blues favorites as "Sweet Home Chicago."

The movie is the sixth-highest-grossing musical of all time, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com. And the $400 million House of Blues live music empire can be connected to the characters' popularity. There are dozens of Blues Brothers tribute bands around the world.

The Blues Brothers began while Aykroyd and Belushi were at Second City.

Four new shows are family friendly. I'll give them a chance.

In addition, the networks ultimately picked up to series a record of four forum-backed shows for next season: Commander-in-Chief, which stars Geena Davis; the Chris Rock-produced comedy "Everybody Hates Chris; the WB Network's drama Related; and CBS' midseason comedy Old Christine, starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Ringo Starr will be on Jon's show tonight. Starr is not my favorite Beatle (McCartney is) but he drummed in my favorite band!

David Spade quick to get a new job. He was on 8 Simple Rules.

The Showbiz Show with David Spade, slated to premiere in September, is billed as Comedy Central's satirical answer to such syndicated TV programs as Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood.

"It will do for Hollywood and the entertainment media what The Daily Show does for news and politics," Comedy Central spokesman Steve Albani said, referring to the network's popular newscast satire hosted by comedian Jon Stewart.

The new half-hour series aims to skewer the inflated egos, shameless self-promotion and mediocrity of Hollywood with a mix of on-location field pieces, actual footage, celebrity guests and a cast of faux critics and correspondents, the network said.

My condolences go out to the family of Richard A. Sutphin, 61, who died this week. He was a partner in the St. Louis Cardinals ownership.

Tony LaRussa has passed Bucky Harris for the sole spot of 4th place in all-time managerial wins (2,158). LaRussa needs 2 games to pass Sparky Anderson for forth place with regards to all-time games managed (4,030). LaRussa needs 36 more wins to tie Sparky for 3rd all-time managerial wins (2,194). Tony will take care of that this season or next.

Sad news today. Democrats were accused of creating a war...

Earlier in his remarks, Hostettler discussed the drive by Democrats to erase every "vestige" of Christianity from America; he also prefaced his remarks by noting that "The long war on Christianity today continues on the floor of the House of Representatives." During a meeting of the House Armed Services Committee on May 18th, while debating a similar amendment by Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), Hostettler referred to "the mythical wall separation (sic) between church and state that's been erected by the courts."

"Enough with the religion-bating already; the GOP and conservatives must stop attacking Democrats as being against Christians and against faith in America. Such ludicrous assertions and stereotypes coarsen our political debate, they have no place in civil discourse in this country, and they are utterly beneath one of America's two major political parties," said National Jewish Democratic Council Executive Director Ira N. Forman. "The heroic efforts by Representatives Obey and Israel supporting religious expression by people of all faiths at the Air Force Academy -- including people of no faith -- are hardly an attack on Christians, as Mr. Hostettler disturbingly alleged.

"In fact, Reps. Obey and Israel are working to protect the religious liberty of every American, which is exactly what our military has fought to protect again and again. If anything, Rep. Hostettler's shocking display demonstrates just the type of religious intolerance that Reps. Obey and Israel were seeking to address. But the GOP has had their say today, and sadly voted down the Obey amendment.

Sorry for not ending on a happier note.