I'm reading a lot of Conservative bloggers poo-pooing this today. While acknowledging that it is pretty sick stuff, Michelle Malkin says "if this what Republican Senate candidates need to do to win elections, I don't think any of us should be cheering". While I agree with the sentiment you can't overestimate the visceral reaction that the average Joe will have to this.

I didn't think Webb would win anyway, but this pretty much wraps in up for Allen. At the least, Webb will be off-message defending/explaining himself to voters over it.

The real interesting thing to watch will be the Dems and the MSM who's mock-indignation over Mark Foley set-up this slam dunk for Allen's campaign.

Hmph. Malkin can get stuffed, as far as I'm concerned. It would be one thing if Allen dished up some sleeze out of the blue in an otherwise high-minded campaign battle. But after all the crap he's endured? I say he's perfectly entitled to a free punch like this.

I agree, tho, that he was probably going to beat Webb anyway.

Patrick O'Brian seems to have written a wee too much about pederasty. Kinda creepy.

Just sayin'.

Don't tell me you haven't noticed, Robbo.

Heh. I've heard all about rears and vices.

I wasn't joking. He's mentioned pederasty to an odd extent. I don't know if it's just historical accuracy or a reflection on the author. Kind of creepy.

'Matter of fact, from what I recall reading of him off the top of my head, PO'B was something of a shite in his personal life. Something about falsified identities and beastliness to the first Mrs. PO'B, I believe, although I'd have to look it up to refresh my memory.

Certainly not somebody you'd want running the country. But how many authors would you want to do so when you think about it?

Only one comes to mind, and he's dead.

Um, it's called fiction. A writer is not obligate to endorse every action of every one of his/her characters. Literature would be drab indeed if that were the case. What Allen has said and done is reality.

If you disagree, I assume that the condemnations will commence for Scooter's lovely bear-on-girl scene...

"Um, it's called fiction."

Yeah well, if Robbo didn't put on an early nineteenth century British Naval uniform and prance around jabbering about "avast" and "athwartships" and "flying studding sails" and "the dewey beauty of the midshipman," I wouldn't be so worried.

Good point.

Oh, wise guys, eh?

[Insert sound of noses being pulled and heads being knocked together.]