Nader pues Nader pues Nader

Quixotic -- to use a nice term -- Presidential candidate Ralph Nader continues to draw a few percent in several swing states, even where he is not on the ballot. A site, votepair.org (courtesy Electoral Vote Map), pairs Kerry voters in hard Kerry states with Nader voters in swing states, so that they may set up an exchange of votes. A Californian votes for Nader while a Floridian votes for Kerry. Nice idea, dunno if it will catch on, but even a few hundred votes can make a difference, as last election so painfully showed.

Today's biggest news story should be this long Knight-Ridder investigative piece whch concludes the U.S. "invaded Iraq without a comprehensive plan in place to secure and rebuild the country." Best quote, from a State Dept. official: "We didn't go in with a plan. We went in with a theory." Best telling moment:

In March 2003, days before the start of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, American war planners and intelligence officials met at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina to review the Bush administration's plans to oust Saddam Hussein and implant democracy in Iraq.

Near the end of his presentation, an Army lieutenant colonel who was giving a briefing showed a slide describing the Pentagon's plans for rebuilding Iraq after the war, known in the planners' parlance as Phase 4-C. He was uncomfortable with his material - and for good reason.

The slide said: "To Be Provided."