Gary Robertson of the Associated Press is offering his analysis of how the 2008 Senate and Gubernatorial races are starting to shape up in North Carolina. In part it is routine fare, and only a survey of what most people who have been paying attention already know: Gov. Easley won't run for anything, Bev Purdue and Richard Moore are strong candidates for the Democratic nomination to replace him, and the Republicans are playing catch up with 2nd and 3rd rate candidates like Fred Smith, Bill Graham and Bob Orr.

But then his analysis verges into the ridiculous as he discusses Sen. Elizabeth Dole. In connection with her upcoming election he tosses out canards that beg the reader to guess whether he's slow, uninformed or simply biased.

Here are a few of his chestnuts...

This just in from The Kansas City Star...

Evidently Tango, the storybook penguin is out on bail and back on the shelves of four Charlotte-Mecklenburg elementary schools. The offending penguin, or rather the book that tells her story, was reported to the authorities by Republican county commissioner, Bill James (pictured left).

It seems that Tango's story starts harmlessly enough when her parents abandon her and she's left to fend for himself. However, after that hopeful beginning the story takes an unsavory turn when she's rescued and cared for by two male penguins.

Among my friends is a source in the Romanian defense ministry. This person tells me that even before the Iraq Study Group had delivered its report, administration envoys were asking the Romanian government to increase their troop commitment in Iraq as a complement to America's decision to do the same.

Despite all the posturing about reaching out for advice, and nothing being off the table, it's long been decided that George W. Bush is going to double down in Iraq. The only question that remains is whether the increase in our number of troops will be 20,000, 30,000 or more. All that argues for the lower end of that range is the reticence of The Joint Chiefs and General Abizaid who seem certain that if the Iraqi government is to become effective, and legitimate, it has to succeed without the promise of an ever larger American crutch.

The sacrifice of more lives for a failed policy is counterintuitive, but we shouldn't be surprised. This new initiative is a spasm born of aggravation and a fatal lack of understanding. George W. Bush cultivates a reputation as the ultimate cowboy, a risk taker who enjoys gambling on long odds. He avoids gray areas, goes with his gut, and never looks back. In the first instance he relies on a sense of entitlement that comes from a lifetime of failure and evaded responsibility. In the last instance he's emboldened by a belief in God so narcissistic that he's convinced the Almighty is obliged to save him from himself.

In yesterday's Greensboro News Record there was a long and complementary profile of North Carolina Democratic State Senator Kay Hagan. She lives in Guilford County and is one of the Senate's chief budget writers. The piece interviews a number of sources including State Party Chair Jerry Meek, Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight and the Senator herself.

The article describes Hagan, who is 53, and has been in the NC Senate since 1998 as "a successful fundraiser" who's considered a "business-savvy centrist."

Meek is quoted as speculating that "if Howard Coble were to step down," she would be an ideal candidate for the Congressional seat in the 6th District. In what may sound like a bridge too far, Meek goes on to hope that, "..she would be one of the folks who would take a serious look at challenging Elizabeth Dole in 2008."

The Senator herself won't be specific about her ambitions except to say that she'll probably be running for "something" in '08.