LIGHTNING ROUND: YOU CAN CALL ME AL.

• With little fanfare in this country, U.S. forces have began withdrawing from Iraqi cities as part of a status-of-forces-agreement negotiated during the Bush administration. In Iraq, they're understandably much more excited about this. It would be wise to remember on this milestone that the benefit of toppling foreign dictators comes at the cost of the humiliation of occupation and the blood of thousands.
• Norm Coleman conceded to Al Franken today in a quickly-arranged presser following the Minnesota Supreme Court's decision ruling against the Republican. Franken followed up with brief, graceful remarks, and Governor Tim Pawlenty has said he will sign the certificate "as directed by the court and applicable law."
• The day of reckoning has arrived for all but four U.S. states as their fiscal year comes to an end. Thirty-two states, in fact, do not have budgets prepared for 2010, which could lead to widespread government shutdowns and cessation of services unless state legislatures draft emergency funding measures. Meanwhile, this might be a good time to start rethinking fiscal federalism.
• I don't understand this fascination with reliving the 2008 presidential campaign -- once was enough for me. But the temptations of gossip and insider information are too great to prevent Vanity Fair from running a 9,000+ word piece on the Republican vice-presidential candidate from last year who shall remain nameless here. The picture that emerges is that of a hybrid: the vindictiveness and obsessiveness of Nixon and the lack of any intellectual curiosity and incompetence of Bush. Not a exactly a flattering combination.
• I've heard that Thomas Sowell has a reputation for being some sort of public intellectual. Reading this rant deemed publish-worthy by National Review, one wonders how he acquired that reputation. What difference is there, exactly, between believing that the president is going to institute Sharia law in the United States and birthers handing out typo-laden "Citizen’s Grand Jury presentments" on Capitol Hill (while Congress isn't even in session) accusing Barack Obama of treason? An editor to remove the typos, apparently.
• Remainders: Sen. Olympia Snowe is skeptical about the public option because it might (gasp) lower costs; Sen. Robert Byrd leaves the hospital; yes, the pro-life movement is largely made up of people who don't believe women can make moral decisions regarding their own sexuality; oh, Jonah Goldberg, you're so cute when you try to sound smart; debauchery economics makes a stunning debut in Oklahoma; and more tea parties are coming this Independence Day.

--Mori Dinauer