Your morning outrages

Well of course it is: Saddam Verdict Is Expected on Nov. 5. Meanwhile, election day in the U.S. is expected November 7. Any connection? None that AP bothers to mention.

* * * * * * * *

The gentle rolling of the waves, the graceful flight of the birds, the rattle of automatic weapons fire--The Coast Guard is using open water in the Great Lakes as firing ranges for their new machine guns:

For the first time in memory, Coast Guard members plan to use a stretch of water at least five miles off this Michigan shore--and 33 other offshore spots near cities like Cleveland; Rochester; Milwaukee; Duluth, Minn.; and Gary, Ind.--as permanent, live fire shooting zones for training on their new 7.62 mm weapons, which can blast as many as 650 rounds a minute and send fire more than 4,000 yards.

* * * * * * * *

Michigan's Republicrat senatorial candidates had a debate last night, but I can't find a transcript anywhere. However, WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids offers this excerpt:

Stabenow: "We absolutely need a balance between going after the terrorists, which I support. ... But there is a critical balance between our personal freedoms as Americans and what makes us great, and making sure we are safe. And I have voted in a way that allows us to do both."

No, Debbie. Habeus corpus is probably our most important freedom, and you voted to kill it. Debbie argues that she has initiated or supported some bills which have accomplished this or that for Michigan, but we all know that no bill of importance has been passed by the Senate since she arrived in 2001 without the support of the Repugs. Tell us instead, Debbie, how many neanderthal judicial nominees or Constitution-trashing outrages you have filibustered in your six years. I thought so.