Bill Ayers

Dear Big Daddy,
If Obama’s Senate seat is worth half a million, what would Dianne Feinstein’s seat go for if she resigns in 2010 to run for governor?
--Curious in Cupertino

Dear Curious,

Ah, Chicago-style politics. Not only is that phrase descriptive almost to the point of being redundant—sort of like “malignant-style tumor”—it’s also the source of one of my favorite sayings: “If absolute power corrupts absolutely, then even the relatively meager power of the Illinois governorship does a pretty darn tootin’ job of it if you have hair like a Lego person and are kind of an idjit in the first place.”

What, you don’t believe that’s a real saying? Well, er, you don’t know your Chicago-style politics, my friend.

With Republican leaders across the country worried that John McCain's presidential chances are slipping, Colorado GOP Chair Dick Wadhams has urged McCain to highlight Democratic nominee Barack Obama's ties to controversial figures Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Bill Ayers, the New York Times is reporting.

Wadhams told the Times that he was surprised McCain didn't mention either name during last week's presidential debate.

"I actually do think he should raise as an issue Senator Obama's association with Ayers and Reverend Wright," he told the Times. "I think those are legitimate insights into who Senator Obama is. I do not think it is irrelevant to this election."