I'm Convinced that Corrine Brown is a Member of MENSA

Our nation's most brilliant legislator strikes again. When speaking out against the movement to end gerrymandering (the practice of shaping districts to favor a particular demographic), Rep. Brown said this:

"Do you know who Gerry Mandering was? He was a white legislator that had a lot of power," she was quoted as saying. "And what we want to make sure is everybody has a fair opportunity to have representation in the United States Congress. In the House, the Senate, the city council and the school boards."

Gerry Mandering? Actually, Massachussetts Gov. and former U.S. Vice President Elbridge Gerry in 1812 signed into law a district that was said to look like a salamander. That's where the term gerrymander took root.

Here is a map of Brown's district, which includes portions of 9 counties. I believe it appears next to the term "gerrymandering" in the common dictionary.

My Man Mitch: Daniels 2012

If you're like myself, or millions of other disillusioned Americans, you are painfully counting down the days, like Tom Hanks in the movie Castaway, until we have the opportunity to vote for a new president in 2012. In fact, I think we're all chomping at the bit to vote for anybody new, anytime soon.

That being said, a lot of speculation and straw polling is going on about who the GOP's presidential nominee will be. Several people have been lining themselves up early to take a stab at it: Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, John Thune, Sarah Palin, Haley Barbour, etc. One name that has been tossed around (and which I've paid particular attention to) is Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. While he has not taken many visible steps to set himself up for a run, I'm going to go out on an early limb: Mitch Daniels is the right man for the job.

Indiana has gone from having a state budget deficit to a budget surplus, created jobs, and expanded capital investment in the midst of a major economic downturn. Although Daniels has the TV-friendly charisma of a bologna sandwich, he has a lifetime of achievements in the public and private sectors. This guy is the anti-Obama, and it's not just for show.

Common Since: Where can we find someone capable of setting straight Washington's gluttonous taxing-and-spending-rollercoaster-of-doom? How about a plain ol' Midwestern governor who has actually already accomplished exactly what needs to be done. My Man Mitch. Let's draft him.

This Weekly Standard profile of Daniels is a MUST READ.