What is it with Rob Lowe and joints named Mothers? 

Washington Post’s “Reliable Source” has this item today:

“I only play somebody smart enough to ask those questions.”  Former “West Wing” actor Rob Lowe, asked what he would say to President Bush and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin about the city’s Ninth Ward, still devastated a year after Hurricane Katrina hit. Lowe, who’s shooting a movie in New Orleans, happened to be at Mother’s restaurant Monday night when Bush and Nagin dined in the next room.

If you’ll forgive this reminiscing about syrupy ’80s sappy movies, wasn’t “Mothers” the name of Rob Lowe’s hang-out in “About Last Night”?

In fact, The Original Mothers is a famous Chicago bar.

Ken Rudin’s Political Junkie reminds us:

This day in campaign history: The America First Party endorses Gerald L.K. Smith, a strong isolationist and anti-Semite, as its presidential candidate at its convention in Detroit (Aug. 30, 1944).

(Doonesbury, Washington Post, 8/30/06)

This just in to the Extreme Mortman newsroom:

Rev. Jesse Jackson is scheduled to tour Israel’s northern border Thursday morning by helicopter, courtesy of The Israel Project. Jackson will arrive in the Israeli border town of Kiryat Shmona at about 10 a.m. to tour areas damaged by Hezbollah rockets and meet with the town’s mayor. At about 12:15 p.m., he will receive a briefing and tour of Haifa’s Rambam Hospital. Jackson arrived in Israel Tuesday and is scheduled to stay until Saturday. He is on a humanitarian mission accompanied by a group of Muslim, Christian and Jewish leaders.

Good.  It’s been awhile since Jackson’s visited the Middle East.

Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell participated in a live blog Tuesday hosted by Vivian Paige.

Hey made this nice newsmaking announcement:

Extreme Mortman:  Which blogs do you read? What do you think of them? What role will the online community play in the next governor campaign.

Bob: Howard, of course I never miss Extreme Mortman! My favorite blogs are the ones that say nice things about me……a little joke there. Actually between my staff and I we regulary peruse just about every blog out there on the right and left. This gives us a good pulse on what’s going on among grassroots activists in both political parties. On the left, Vivian has a great blog here, and was kind enough, at the Sorenson conference, to invite me on today. On the right Commonwealth Conservative on which I have live-blogged twice, is an old favorite.

The only thing left to do after that nice shout-out is this:

Pennsylvania’s race between Sen. Rick Santorum and Bob Casey is one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country.  Every angle matters, every observation has an impact.

Which is why this report by the Centre Daily Times’ (State College, PA) Mike Joseph gives such fascinating insight — into Arlen Specter. Quick backstory: Specter, who is backing Santorum’s re-election, happened to run into Santorum at a local fair.  Now, excerpts from the report of the chance meeting:

Santorum’s campaign RV pulled into the West Kurtz Street gate right behind Specter’s limousine … Santorum wore cowboy boots to the fair and a blue denim shirt, while Specter dressed less casually. … Specter did not criticize Casey and said the Santorum-Casey debate Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” with Tim Russert will be crucial.  “I think the ‘Meet the Press’ debate is going to be very important,” Specter said.  I would not say anything bad about Mr. Casey, but I would say very positive things about Rick. I’ve learned to say positive things.”

Everything about that is stunning:

• How they pulled up, RV vs. limo
• Dress, cowboy boots and blue denim shirt vs. suit
• What Specter said

After Santorum saved his ass two years ago, this is the gratitude Specter could muster in return, “I’ve learned to say positive things” about Santorum?

But here’s the kicker — Specter maintains the “Meet the Press” debate is going to be very important.  It is?  To whom?  Sure, Russert’s a big hit inside the Beltway, but how many Pennsylvanians will watch it?

Three dynamics at play here: Casey is doing everything he can to blow this race.  Santorum (like him or not) is a proven closer.  And Specter is giving everyone more reasons to hate him.

Norfolk Virginian-Pilot editorial headline today: “Bloggers remaking Va. political rules.”  Excerpt:

If it was not already obvious to everyone, the Macaca fracas has cemented the Virginia blogosphere’s role in the center ring of the political circus. … Judging by their traffic and their traction, Virginia’s blogs are only going to grow in influence, a trend more than a few lament as they point out the blogosphere’s penchant for fierce partisanship and fact-free opinionizing.  But judging the blogosphere by its worst members is like judging The New York Times by Jayson Blair, a foolish oversimplification. Over time, blogs will be judged by readers. Those who keep their facts straight and their analysis honest will thrive, while others will wither into obscurity. In the meantime, the more voices that are part of Virginia’s debates, the better off we all are.

Hat tip to Vivian Paige for spotting, and kudos for getting plugged.

We’re in the last days for the national treasure hunt fundraiser sponsored by ThanksUSA.org — a great non-partisan charity that raises money to provide education scholarships to families of Americas’ troops.  If you haven’t signed up yet, there’s still time. Click here.  Donate.  Spread the word.

Extreme Mortman recently interviewed the amazing young ladies who came up with the idea — eight-year-old Kelsi Okun and 10-year-old Rachel Okun.  See them for yourself this Saturday at 7:50 a.m. on “Fox & Friends.”

Jokes at the expense of Kyra Phillips — CNN’s life of the potty –  are still being flushed out.

Here’s beyondthepunchline’s deposit: