I wasn't paying much attention to the NAFTA debate between Clinton and Obama, other than noting that Clinton was the first to distance herself from NAFTA early on.

Limbaugh wants the Democratic race to continue.

(CNN) – As Hillary Clinton battles to keep her presidential bid alive, she may be getting help from an unlikely source: conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh.

Limbaugh has been actively urging his Texas listeners to cross over and vote for Clinton in that state's open primary Tuesday, arguing it helps the Republicans if the Democratic race remains unsettled for weeks to come.

"I want Hillary to stay in this…this is too good a soap opera," Limbaugh told fellow conservative talk-show host Laura Ingraham on Fox News Friday. He reiterated the comments on his Monday show and replayed the exchange with Ingram.

He also said Clinton is more willing than the Republican National Committee and John McCain's campaign to criticize Barack Obama.

"We need Barack Obama bloodied up politically....

Link...

talk about a kitchen sink mentality: (via CBS)

Hillary prefers McCain to Obama.

"Hillary Clinton told reporters that both she and the presumptive Republican nominee John McCain offer the experience to be ready to tackle any crisis facing the country under their watch, but Barack Obama simply offers more rhetoric.

“I think you'll be able to imagine many things Senator McCain will be able to say,” she said. “He’s never been the president, but he will put forth his lifetime of experience. I will put forth my lifetime of experience. Senator Obama will put forth a speech he made in 2002.”

Clinton was referring to Obama’s anti-war speech he delivered in Chicago before entering the United States Senate."

Sheez.

Bob Tuke formally announces, joining Chris Lugo and Mike Padgett as official Democratic candidates opposing Sen. Lamar Alexander for U.S. Senate.

The Sentinel's editorial yesterday was supposed to be about letting the public vote on appointing the fee officers or not. What it sounded like was a kid kicking and screaming, "we must appoint those offices now you stupid people, now, now, now, now ,now," either that or somebody had waay too much coffee. There are pluses and minuses to appointing or electing.

But, every time I really get a good feeling about the Sentinel's and the "good government group's" quest for voting and openness though, it seems more like what they really want is to assert themselves and their power base into the process. That doesn't sit any better with me than Scoobie wanting to do the same.

I don't feel so good about giving up my right to vote or two commissioners per district just because some do-gooders had some meetings. Everybody has an agenda, no matter how pure they try to come across.

The right to vote is a fundamental right which belongs to all Americans. Unfortunately the justice system has made it very difficult for some five million Americans who are no longer incarcerated but have previous felony convictions to exercise that right. This is an unreasonable limitation on the rights of those who have served their time and has an enormous impact on the national dialogue, limiting the rights of potential voters and skewing the results of elections.

In case you missed it, here's the 60 Minutes report on Knoxville based Remote Area Medical and the recent free clinic they conducted in Knoxville.

See also this column in yesterday's Knoxville News Sentinel by Dr. Tom Kim who operates the Free Medical Clinic in Knoxville. And this article from last week that reports there are up to 80,000 uninsured in Knox County alone.

This is a national disgrace. Dr. Kim describes the scene at the RAM event as a "Third World emergency room." In Knoxville, Tennessee. In the United States of America.

Watch the 60 Minutes report. Read the articles. If you have an ounce of human compassion it will break your heart. If you care at all about social justice you will be outraged that we are allowing this to happen in America.

In the 60 Minutes report, Joanne Ford was hoping to get in to the clinic. When asked what she would do if she couldn't, she said "I don't know. I have a lot of friends and I have a lot of church support. I was very active in my church and I have a lot of friends in church. I just hate to ask. I've worked all my life. I hate to ask."

I hate to ask.

Well, I hate to ask, but if you think this is a disgrace please do a couple of things.

First, go over to Remote Area Medical's website and make a donation. Then write a check to Dr. Kim's Free Medical Clinic or the Interfaith Clinic or one of the other local organizations helping the needy and the working poor who are uninsured and can't afford basic health care.

Second, when politicians ask for your vote, ask if they are committed to fixing America's broken health care system so that every man, woman, and child in America has health insurance they can afford or that is provided for them if they can't.

Read up on HR676 and ask your Senators and Representative why this hasn't been brought up for a vote or at least debated. Ask them if they think it's a good idea, and if not why not. Ask them what their better idea is, and don't accept more empty rhetoric about "market based" solutions and tax credits for employer-provided insurance as the answer. Tell them to watch the 60 Minutes report and get back to you on how that's working out for the poor and the working class people of America.

Las Vegas ricin update:

Las Vegas police said that firearms, an "anarchist-type textbook" and castor beans, from which ricin is made, were found in the room where the poison was discovered. The book was tabbed at a spot containing information about ricin.

Fuhrman said investigators were still trying to figure out why Von Bergendorff would have ricin but said there was no indication of any terrorist activity.

OK, then.