Two finals down

Well, actually one final down since the other is a project but that's completed.

Kentucky State Auditor Crit Luallen is back in the office after cancer treatments. I'm pleased to hear the news. She won't decide til early next year as to what she will run for.

Prior to her latest episode with cancer Luallen was traveling the state to gauge support for a potential gubernatorial campaign.

"Because of what has been going on over the last three months I've put all political decisions on the back burner," she said. "I've put all my energy in fully recovering. But my doctors have told me they see no reason why I can't continue my political career and I'll be making a decision about (the governor's race) early next year."

Other Democrats considering running are former Lt. Gov. Steve Henry and Louisville businessman Charlie Owen. Attorney General Greg Stumbo and House Speaker Jody Richards have also been mentioned as potential candidates.

Guess who will be back on TV for the first time in...a week. Senator Joe Biden will make an appearance on This Week with George Stephanopoulos.

The joke in the mailbox today:

Top Ten Ways to Spot a Jew at a Ski Lodge
10. The people at the table with more tin foil wrapping than actual food
9. Skirt over snow pants is only identifyable way to tell the boys from the girls
8. Person leaves stylish Uggs boots out rather than pay for a second locker
7. Layers upon layers of clothing can not conceal the age-old problem: tzitzit string sticking out of butt
6. The girl who starts weeping at the "Double Black Diamond" sign, primarily because she doesn’t have one on her finger
5. Look for the 10 short guys in the most tranversed area of the lodge....shokeling (Mincha in ski-boots rocks!)
4. 20 Girls stopped in the middle of the mountain asking skiers if they can stop and take their class picture
3. Person who keeps asking super hot ski instructor personal questions about their lineage
2. When leaving you over hear an intense talmudic conversation about the best way to drive to Dougies from Vermont
1. Entire ski attire consist of one item: a trench coat

I strongly denounce the comments made by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dealing with the Shoah and Israel. This past Thursday, the Iranian president commented that Israel should be on Europe soil because of the Shoah. These comments were wrong and uncalled for. I second John Kerry in asking President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to visit Auschwitz or talk to survivors of the Shoah.

AIPAC has come out strong in their criticism of President Bush and the policy on Iran.

Within days of Rice’s interview, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee delivered a rare public criticism of the Bush administration.

"Last week’s decision allowed Iran to win a critical round in its game of cat-and-mouse with the international community," AIPAC said in an email earlier this week headlined "IMPORTANT — AIPAC press statement critical of Administration’s recent decisions on Iran policy."

AIPAC and Israel had hoped that the United States would nudge the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, into referring Iran to the U.N. Security Council last week for sanctions. The IAEA board met last week in Vienna and deferred a decision on whether to refer Iran to the Security Council while Britain, Germany and France — the "E.U. 3" — try to negotiate with Iran.

A senior Bush administration official said Iran was clearly in non-compliance, but the United States wanted to make sure Russia would not exercise its veto if the matter goes to the Security Council.

"We’re satisfied that reporting Iran’s non-compliance to the Security Council will advance the issue," said the official, who spoke anonymously because the matter is still under negotiation. "But because Russia is in a position to veto, we want to make sure Russia is cooperative when we get to the Security Council."

The negotiations are to begin within two weeks, and no one expects the IAEA to consider the matter again until at least February.

But that could be too late, according to an assessment by Maj.-Gen. Aharon Zeevi-Farkash, Israel’s military intelligence chief.

"If, by the end of March," the IAEA board "does not succeed in transferring the issue to the Security Council, it will be possible to say that the diplomatic effort has failed," Zeevi-Farkash reportedly told the Knesset’s Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee this week.

The U.S. official said the Bush administration does not agree with that date. "There’s a difference, it’s not huge," the official said. "But Israel sees it as a bit closer than we do."

Post-Dispatch writer Jeff Gordon believes that, in light of Edgar Renteria's decision last year, that Matt Morris should accept the Cardinals' offer.

Now Morris has an opportunity to stay in St. Louis, remain with pitching coach Dave Duncan and help usher in the new era at new Busch Stadium.

Matt, you ought to take it. Just ask Edgar.