In yesterday's Washington Post, Alec MacGillis wrote:

Mike Gravel is headed to the convention in Denver. No, not that one. The septuagenarian former Alaska senator, who, depending on your viewpoint, was an amusing or aggravating presence in the early Democratic presidential debates, has announced that he is joining the Libertarian Party and will be competing for its presidential nomination in Denver in late May.

... Andrew Davis, a spokesman for the Libertarian Party, said that Gravel was welcome to compete for the party's nomination, noting that the only requirements for running were meeting the constitutional requirements for the presidency, being a member of the party and being willing to accept its nomination. But he said that Gravel might face a tough sell on some issues -- while the party's membership agrees with his stances against the war in Iraq and the military draft, among other issues, it differs with his stances in favor of universal health care and higher spending on public education.

Yeah, I can imagine Libertarians might have a hard time swallowing

a universal healthcare system that provides equal medical services to all citizens, paid for by a retail sales tax (a portion of the Progressive Fair tax). Citizens would pay nothing for health benefits.

[well, nothing but a retail sales tax! How high would that have to be???] or

Senator Gravel believes that global climate change is a matter of national security and survivability of the planet. As President, he will act swiftly to reduce America's carbon footprint in the world by initiating legislation to tax carbon at the source and cap carbon emissions. He is also committed to leading the fight against global deforestation, which today is second only to the energy sector as a source of greenhouses gases. However, any legislation will have little impact on the global environment if we do not work together with other global polluters. China, India and under-dveloped nations all work together fighting climate change can only be effective if it is a collective global effort. As President, Senator Gravel will see that the U.S. launches and leads a massive global scientific effort, integrating the world's scientific and engineering community, to end energy dependence on oil and integrate the world's scientific community in this task.

That's just what we need: an alarmist for president. He considers "the normal state of our accustomed natural world" to be "a matter of national security and survivability of the planet."???

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

Police seized a cache of 35 weapons on Tuesday, including illegally [sic] modified assault rifles and machine guns from the ... apartment of a gun collector...

The State Police Street Gang Unit North and borough detectives found an armory of loaded guns and 3,000 rounds of ammunition in the apartment of Joseph Leone, 57...

Ryan said police turned their attention to Leone, who had no criminal record, when questions were raised about 'whether he's in the right frame of mind to be in possession of weapons.'

Ryan would not specify who raised the questions, or how police were alerted...

Leone has a curios and relics license, which permits him to possess certain rare and novel weapons.

I would love to be on that jury.