I can't tell you how bored I am with the current, endless, ridiculous, if occasionally hilarious, GOP nomination process. Oops, I just did.

So with that, I'll note here that I've been predicting for months --- long before anybody seemed to be mentioning it (as I now hear it more and more each day), and when I was even ridiculed for the suggestion --- that there was a better than 50% chance we'd see a brokered GOP convention in Tampa this August. I have long been further suggesting that there was also a better than 50% chance that the ultimate nominee would be someone other than the 10 or so lead candidates running at the time of my original prediction.

I see no reason to modify any of those fairly conservative and, I think, pretty reasonable, predictions now. But let's see what you guys think. We can look back at your thoughts once the convention rolls around...

Majority leader Sen. Harry Reid and the rest of the Senate Democrats have long said they'd refuse to seat anybody that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed to fill Obama's seat.

But as of yesterday's Meet the Press, Reid stated that "he's always ready to negotiate."

Will Harry Reid fold on Burris nomination, and allow him to be seated after all?

• Yes, he always folds
  35883% of all votes
• No, he'll stick to his guns this time
  246% of all votes
• I haven't a clue
  4811% of all votes

Total Votes: 430 Started: January 5, 2009 Back to Vote Screen

(Hat-tip RAW STORY)

(NOTE: Spoilers at all the linked URLs)

We agree with Frazier Moore of AP. We do not agree with Nikki Finke of Deadline Hollywood. We also agree with Charlie McCollum of Mercury News, who said:

What did you think?

I thought Al Gore's appearance on last night's Daily Show (video here), ostensibly to promote his new book, The Assault on Reason, was interesting.

While it served, for me at least, as a reminder of his very good humor --- which I always found him to have, even when he was, in my opinion, tarred by opponents/media as being stiff, wooden, and humorless --- it also served to remind that he's still Al Gore. Meaning, he still describes everything as if he's speaking to first-graders, which, although also opportunistically used against him by opponents, is still an issue available to them should he decide to run again. As are most things such folks used against him in the past. Just to keep that in mind.

But with Democrats sure to take a well-deserved pummeling for their ill-considered capitulation to Bush over Iraq War funding, the choices currently available to Democrats for 2008 remain grim indeed, even if some consolation can be taken from a John Edwards statement yesterday in which he said, "After tonight, one thing is now perfectly clear: No one else is going to end this war for us. Bush will not listen. Congress will not fight. There's no one left to lead the country now but we the people."

Then again, those are just words in an email to supporters. So with that said, here's today's question:

If yes, what makes you think so? If not, tell us why not. If you don't know, you can also 'splain yourself in comments.

Please feel free to 'splain your vote in Comments below...

Beyond that, consider this an Open Thread and/or describe the reasons for your vote below...

I've been mostly quiet this weekend. Catching up, finally, with some much overdue blog maintenance. A busman's holiday perhaps, but --- for me --- a holiday nonetheless. The other side of my brain was begging for excercise. It still is.

You may have noticed some of the tweaks I've been making to The BRAD BLOG if you've been paying attention. Other tweaks are still in the works. For now though, one of the most oft-requested changes has been for a Dark text on Light background version of the blog. I was finally able to find the free hours needed to complete such a version.

You may now select the "Dark on Light" scheme from new "SELECT COLOR SCHEME" choice near the top of our right sidebar. Your selection will be remembered the next time you return to The BRAD BLOG and switching back is as easy as selecting the other option. Hopefully, it's a no brainer that works for everyone. If you have any problems, please let me know here in comments and tell me what browser and OS you are using.

There will be tweaks to come on both color schemes (and I welcome anyone who knows CSS and may wish to create yet another choice for readers!), but for now, please let me know what you think here in comments, and by trying out this nifty new poll gizmo below...