I also noticed Herr Schmidt is getting a bit porky of late. You would think someone who's family business is vegetables would be slim and trim (Huh! Like Sen Wyden, who is so healthy and loaded with mojo he's still fathering children!) Maybe he puts a lot of butter, cheese and sour cream on his peas and taters. I suggest he try to limit his caloric intake and also stop using the golf cart - try walking the 18 holes at the golf course. Honest Gordy, you look like crap! On the bright side, he'll have plenty of time to slim down come January '09!

Seriously? If I want to read posts like this or the responses that follow, I'll blow some time on Perez or Wonkette. Its mean and small spirited. That's part of what's wrong with the body politic today. Edgy does not have to cruel. Ya'all sound like a weirf version of the trio in "Heathers". Now, making our own Oregon list of hot pols would be fun and avoid the above middle school shenanigans.

Well on second thought...our own list would indeed still be middle school shenanigans but nicer. Not necessarily good but nicer.

Harry: So why is Kari so fixated on Smith's fat ass? Is Kari not a dude (dude = male)?

Yes, I'm male. And did I say something about his posterior? Didn't think so.

Harry: And speaking of Kari, I admit I have never seen him (thank God) in person, but I am willing to bet (after seeing his picture right above) that Kari is no slim pickens himself. Kari may not be as large as Fat Albert, but then again, maybe he is almost there.

Oh, I could certainly lose some weight. No argument there. Then again, no one has put me on any list of "Most Beautiful People" of any sort.

Dena: Its mean and small spirited. That's part of what's wrong with the body politic today.

As for Dena's complaint, yeah - you're right. It's a little snarky. Then again, it's the weekend. I've certainly written plenty of thoughtful items about the politics and policy of Gordon Smith.

Dena: If I want to read posts like this or the responses that follow, I'll blow some time on Perez or Wonkette.

Which is sort of the point, right? If you don't want to read this post, don't read it.

"Which is sort of the point, right? If you don't want to read this post, don't read it."

Touche Kari. I don't mind snark here and again. Just some of the follow up responses rubbed me the wrong way. Ironically, I felt a little protective of you. Not that you needed nor asked for protection. So on with the games.

As Dena says, Kari doesn't really need protecting or defending. He is, after all, more than capable of doing that for himself.

Can anybody confirm how fat Kari really is?

It's an old pic, Harry. I have no idea why he doesn't replace it with a more current one, but that's his choice and I presume he has a good reason for it. He'd certainly not be the first person to deliberately use a less-than-glamorous pic for unfiltered public consumption.

Suffice to say that if you were inclined to stalk Kari then he's pretty safe if that pic is your only clue what he looks like.

Rick Hunter, you must be the classiest guy ever to post here. I mean, such insight, such wit, such... coolness. And what a great name, just made for TV. Your parents must be very proud. Ya know, you should have your own TV Show. On Fox. It's the perfect fit.

This has come up repeatedly since the stupidly weird application of the term to Hillary Clinton, in response to other stupid misogynist weirdness, no doubt. You've finally broken me.

So here goes: personally I don't find the concept of cojones all that appealing. As a way to describe some good qualities, there are better alternatives that don't end up praising the drawbacks of machismo.

But if you must use it, at least have the agudeza to spell it right, for pity's sake.

FWIW, cajon means crate or drawer, according to the University of Chicago Spanish Dictionary.

I thought you folks supported the concept of making obesity a protected class under disability and/or discrimination laws. At the very least, it's insensitive and politically incorrect to make fun of fat people, right? But it's okay as long as you're making fun of Republicans...

Note the SOP: make shit up about what all "liberals/Democrats" are supposed to think, believe or have as a motive, criticize for hypocrisy for failing to conform to made up image, rinse, repeat.

Rick, this isn't "our" hypocrisy, it's your mistaken overgeneralization. Your adeptness at making or perceiving that distinction betokens the degree of your intellectual honesty.

Personally I doubt the "hot list" matters much to Gordon, at least in election years. As far as I can tell, becoming a "bipartisan" seems to entail doing your best to look like Mr. Rogers. Am I wrong about the sweaters?

I like Mike's idea. We should figure out some way to make a contest out of it, maybe extra points for identifying crap votes not duplicated more than twice on other people's lists? and then have a vote for top ten.