Actor Don Knotts dies at 81

In sad news today, we've lost Don Knotts at age 81 to pulmonary and respiratory complications. May he rest in peace. He was a talented actor-comedian who was in The Andy Griffith Show and Three's Company. We all know him as Sheriff Barney Fife.

Evan Bayh is not the only person who believes the party should take back the security issue.

Evan Bayh gets it. Wes Clark gets it. Hell, John Murtha gets it. Bayh, a very likely and strong Presidential candidate for 2008 challenged Bush, Rove, and the Republicans on the security issue. Saying the Democrats long history of protecting our country from FDR, Harry Truman, to JFK, and the Republicans weakness of 9/11, and Hurricane Katrina shows that we know how to protect America. He knows the fact as we know, but our leaders tend to forget that we are better at protecting the homeland. Bayh has introduced legislation this week increasing oversight of business deals with foreign governments to protect homeland security. He requires the national intelligence to review the case before sending the case to the Foreign Relations Committee. Then when dealing with Iran he provided some tough liberal talk of compellence, sanctions, and diplomacy. He said unlike Bush and the Republicans we should be tough and more importantly smart on how we use our tools of compellence.

Democrats and Republicans alike will override the veto that the president says he will do. Why is the port security of American ports being turned over to Arab countries? It makes no gosh-darn sense to me.

Hillary Rodham Clinton is ready for more than just 2006.

Senator Bayh's response to Indiana Congressman Steve Buyer:

"Senator Bayh joined the Armed Services Committee in 2002 to support our troops and help protect the country. Using that position, he's worked with Republicans and Democrats to pass legislation to get our troops more armored Humvees and to help military families facing financial trouble at home."

I thought we already had a full court on the Supreme Court. Apparently, it's not good enough for Ernie Fletcher, who announced he would appoint two special justices.

"It is unprecedented for the governor's office to choose the judges in its own case," Attorney General Greg Stumbo said in a statement. "All parties should disclose any prior contacts with the special justices. I will continue to defend the grand jury's right to reveal government corruption."

My beloved St. Louis Cardinals are looking to regain the pulse that they have had in the past.

Only eight players remain from the Cardinals' '04 World Series roster. First baseman Albert Pujols, center fielder Jim Edmonds and closer Jason Isringhausen are the only remnants of the club jarred in June 2002 by pitcher Darryl Kile's death in Chicago. A team that last summer became greater than the sum of its many injured parts must learn itself all over again.

"The thing you don't do is come to a new team and force yourself on people," said shortstop David Eckstein, who joined the Cardinals last spring after four seasons in the American League. "We walk in here as a bunch of guys but over time we're going to develop into a team. It's going to be interesting to see how it ends up playing out."

General manager Walt Jocketty says he considers personalities when putting together a team. Several familiar with the process maintain reservations about makeup caused the club to shy away from combustible free-agent outfielder Milton Bradley last winter.

Conversely, Jocketty thought well-tattooed infielder Scott Spiezio's reputation as unconventional made him a good fit for a team that shed some of its edginess.

"We've got some reports he can be a little bit off the wall, but he's also a good guy," Jocketty said. "We don't want to bring guys in here who are jerks. It's something we research very heavily before we acquire a player. It's a big part of it."

"I just like to have fun," Spiezio said recently. "You've got to remember it's just a game."

La Russa counted only "4 1/2" teams among his 27 that offered a "bad clubhouse."

Juan Encarnacion's versatilitiness is well-liked and he'll likely make the starting line-up. What about the relievers? Make sure to check out John Sickel's top twenty prospects in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

Joe Lieberman has lined up early endorsements. I hope he had a very happy 64th birthday.

Every statewide Democratic officeholder except Treasurer Denise Nappier, who campaigned with Lieberman the previous day, joined the senator in a union hall in Hartford. Nine politicians and a dozen union leaders took turns singing the praises of Connecticut's junior senator.

Rocco Calo, who leads the Teamsters local on strike at Sikorsky, told the crowd that the house of labor does not forget old friends. Lieberman already has walked the picket line with his members and tried to restart contract talks, he said.[...]

The union hall was full of officeholders who question the U.S. conduct of the war, including Sen. Christopher Dodd and the master of ceremonies, Rep. John Larson. Some shared those concerns with Lieberman, though none from the podium.

"I said to Joe when he came in today, 'Joe, you and I don't agree on the war in Iraq, but you are a great United States senator. You toil every day,' " Lt. Gov. Kevin Sullivan said. "For 99.99 percent of things I think are important in this world, I can stack Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman up against each other and they are both there on the things that count."

It was a common theme.

Dodd, who warmly described Lieberman as a friend and part of the Democratic family, added another reason: Every Democrat who will be seeking office in November is stronger with Lieberman on the ballot.

"You need to have more of a case to make than a disagreement on one issue to justify the kind of effort, expense and cost to divide a candidacy and party," Dodd said. "I don't think that makes a lot of sense."

Bill Henderson of the Communication Workers of America was the only speaker to mention Iraq from the podium. He thanked Lieberman for visiting his son, Sgt. Dan Henderson of the Connecticut National Guard, in Baghdad. The sergeant returned home in December.

Dodd, Sullivan, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, Comptroller Nancy Wyman and Democratic State Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo offered testimonials, as did Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez and the two top legislative leaders, Senate President Pro Tem Donald Williams Jr. of Brooklyn and House Speaker James Amann of Milford.

Others stood by in nonspeaking roles, including Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy, a candidate for governor who opposes the war but supports Lieberman.

"In the Democratic Party, as opposed to the Republican Party, you can actually have differences of opinion and still be in the tent," Malloy said.

The other Democratic gubernatorial challenger, New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr., was missing, but he already has endorsed Lieberman. His campaign notified reporters, including some who didn't ask, that DeStefano was disappointed that a conflict prevented his attendance.

I think I know someone who is working for John DeStefano. I have yet to make an endorsement in the CT race for governor.

There will be a scene with Jon Stewart and George Clooney in the same bed at the 2006 Academy Awards. It is a spoof of Brokeback Mountain.