ARRIVEDERCI or just "Ciao!"

Old Chip and his wife "Chippie" are leaving for Italy this day, and so you won't have us to kick around for awhile. Here's a couple of parting impressions:

Scot-boy and the angel are in exclusive charge of the Arboretum. What could possibly go wrong?

Classy concession speeches: a. Santorum. Who would have thought he was such a gracious man? b. Harold Ford Jr. c. Rumsfeld.

The House of Reps: I think it's going to be in very good hands. Pelosi appears to have her stuff all together. Compare her to Gingrich and you'll see what I mean.

There is nothing that I know of in George Bush's life that would have prepared me to believe he was capable of such a stunning realization of his problem, or that he would have been able to handle it all with such aplomb. This is the only time I've ever admired his behavior. I think it's a temporary enlightenment for him, but nevertheless, appreciated. Maybe he has an eye on his legacy and is worried that he might look bad in the books.

I think the neocons have been ruined! Forever. I think the voters have slammed the brakes on the slide toward dictatorship.

I wish there were someone less death-like than Harry Reid to head the Senate.