I could go for a Sobelman's hamburger right now

Patrick McIlheran got a phone call from an owner of another "troubled" location, a pub and grill with a history of problems, to discuss Muhammed Nasir Khan's hot dog stand that is being blocked by Milwaukee Alderman Bob Bauman.  Art Sobelman believes, "Businessmen can be politicians," he said, "but politicians can't be businessmen."

What frosted Sobelman is that Khan wasn't the restaurateur who ran Judy's badly. He had a good record, yet Bauman wasn't giving the guy a chance, saying that as long as Khan sold hot dogs or even kept the building, the project was a non-starter. "Demolishing the structure and starting from scratch," was what the alderman wanted, and probably a sit-down restaurant, "a place with a little class."

"If my alderman would have had the same bad attitude as Bauman, none of this would have happened," said Sobelman.

"This" being his bar's conversion from one that showed up on the front page into one that makes it onto dining-section lists. Sobelman's hamburgers and atmosphere draw lawyers, newscasters, restaurant critics and the mayor, with children in tow.

Must be the warm Montana weather

Patrick McIlheran comments on the pregnant refugees fleeing to America to escape state-run health care. Canada's answer? More central planning.

He was born in Babylonia, endorsed a Senator from Arizona

I have to agree with Charlie Sykes on this. Pat McIlheran's explanation of the difference between Senator McCain receiving an endorsement from Hagee and Senator Obama having the Rev. Wright as his spiritual mentor is definitely a "must" read.

So you have to conclude that Obama was pretty much jake with the whole U.S. of the KKK A bit, the stuff about how awful America was. And here’s where the really big difference is, the part that the libs yapping on about Hagee get utterly wrong.

They think the problem with Wright is that he’s incendiary or provocative or offensive or insulting. They think the problem is
Wright and that he insulted some group of people.

No. The problem with Wright is really a problem about Obama, who gives every indication of having, for years and years if not still now, pretty much believed Wright. The problem with Wright is he’s a window into Obama’s view of America.

Is Hagee a window, too, into McCain? Well, probably not. You don’t choose to send your kids to Whore of Babylon Academy, usually, suggesting McCain doesn't buy into Hagee's views of Catholicism.

I'd only add that I think Hagee would be a wonderful opening act for Bill Maher.

(Apologies to Steve Martin for the title.)