Thanks as always to Pirate’s Cove, Flappr, The Other McCain, The Daley Gator (who is having computer issues but go have a look anyway), and Bacon Time for the Rule Five links!

Now then; Free Press’s Oliver Wiseman has an interesting piece on what a shambling mess the 2024 POTUS election is becoming, and it’s worth the read.

Suddenly the general election field is starting to look a bit crowded. In addition to whomever is nominated by the major parties, there’s dissident Democrat RFK Jr., who currently scoops up about a fifth of voters in many polls. Add to that the twin challenge from the far left: Jill Stein and Cornel West. Then there’s the possibility of a No Labels “unity” ticket, involving Manchin or some Manchinesque moderate. 

And who can say if that’s where it stops? When I spoke to polling guru Nate Silver last week, he postulated it was possible other credible third-party candidates could enter the race. “I don’t want to mention any particular names and speculate,” he said, “but if you’re a rich centrist, or a rich actor with an interest in politics, you might be saying to yourself, ‘Look, RFK Jr. is at 22 percent. If I can get to 32 percent then I’m tied for the lead.’ It wouldn’t shock me if you have other people who at least feel out running.” 

It says a lot about the electorate that a “rich actor with an interest in politics” is even being considered a possibility; but then, we are in a time where more people can tell you which Kardassian is screwing who this week, than can name either of their state’s Senators.

And those other people?  Hoo boy.

Meanwhile, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, a megastar moderate who has been talked about as a potential celebrity presidential candidate, popped up on Capitol Hill yesterday. He did not give reporters a straight answer when asked if he was running for president.

Just imagine: The Rock vs. RFK vs. Cornel. . . with Matthew McConaughey vying for the VP pick. 

Just imagine the kakistrocacy replaced by… a worse kakistocracy.

Ugh.