The Dish

Charlottesville, Virginia, 5.45 pm.

We are constantly told that there is no religious test for high office in the Bush administration. No theocrats there, we’re assured. All hysteria. Calm down. And then you read stories like this in which a Texas Supreme Court judge gave over 120 interviews on the down-low to leading Christianists reassuring them of Harriet Miers’ evangelical credentials. Money quote:

When asked by an unnamed White House adviser, Hecht also agreed to speak to James Dobson ‚Äî an influential social conservative, radio host and head of the organization Focus on the Family ‚Äî about Miers’ views on religion and abortion, the [State Commission on Judicial Conduct’s] admonition says.

Sworn into office in 1989, Hecht is the most-senior member of the Texas Supreme Court, the state’s highest civil court. His reputation as one of the body’s most conservative justices also lent credence to his views.

As many conservatives rebelled against Bush’s nominee, Dobson became one of Miers’ most vocal supporters, cryptically hinting on his radio program that "when you know some of the things that I know, that I probably shouldn’t know, you will understand why … I believe Harriet Miers will be a good justice."

So Rove got Hecht to persuade Dobson that Miers was theologically correct. And these people expect us to believe that their sole crietrion for the highest court is judicial restraint. Hooey.

Washington, DC, 7.30 am.

Topeka, Kansas, 5.45 pm today. It’s from the press room at Heartland Park during the NHRA Summer Nationals.

Dorian Yates is a big guy. Really big. Big and strong. Check out his quads. He’s been Mr Olympia several times. But, alas, he hasn’t tried Pat Robertson’s protein shake. And he hasn’t accepted Christ as his personal savior or donated to the 700 Club. So he’s stuck with a maximum leg press of a piddling 1,265 pounds. 76-year-old Robertson can leg-press 2,000. And he wouldn’t lie. He’s a Christian. I tell you. When God is on your side, anything is possible.

(Photo: DorianYates.net.)

Cambridge, England, 3 pm.

I’m in favor of high levels of immigration and also in favor of providing a way for current illegals to gain citizenship. But even I can see the political obtuseness of comparing illegal immigration to a traffic ticket. Tony Snow just enraged his president’s base. Lou Dobbs is having a foaming-at-the-mouth fit. The Malkin Meter, like Spinal Tap’s, just went to eleven. And the prospect of any compromise went from fuzzy to damn-near invisible. Good going, Tony.

How Focus on the Family generates fake, plagiarized letters to the editor to express phony hysteria on the Federal Marriage Amendment.

A lefty magazine acknowledges it wouldn’t be an easy endeavor. I wish more of the anti-war left – yes, Arianna, I’m talking about you – would grapple with these realities. (Hat tip: Garance and Jonah.)

A reader writes:

I’ve found your window picture project pretty interesting, particularly because you have a knack of including pictures of most of the places I’ve lived in 23 years. So far you’ve gotten every place I’ve lived since I was 8, including Atlanta GA, Durham NC, Moshi Tanzania, Accra Ghana, and Brooklyn NY. Add in Chicago and Pittsburgh, and you’ve got me covered.

Do I believe him? But why would he make this up?