Stay Classy, Ron Paul

Ron Paul isn't leaving Congress without a few more outrageous statements: “If the possibility of secession is completely off the table there is nothing to stop the federal government from continuing to encroach on our liberties and no recourse for those who are sick and tired of it.”

Ron needs to go to the movies and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Great Leader Ron Il Sung may be leaving us but Deal Leader Rand Jong Il isn't even waiting for Romney's body to get cold: "'I'm not going to deny that I'm interested,' Sen. Paul tells ABC's Jonathan Karl about his presidential aspirations. While Paul is quick to add that he isn't ready to make a decision about a presidential bid yet, he is not hesitant to say that the Republican Party needs a new message."

Some of that message involves weed. But in Iowa it's Democrats carrying that ball: my own Senator Joe Bolkcom with a medical bill and on the House side Bruce Hunter with a full legalization bill. They're going nowhere, and even if they did Branstad vows a veto, but at least the discussion is starting on finally getting rid of some unenforceable bad laws.

But not in Iowa City where police are still placing way too much emphasis on the drinking crackdown. They must want the justice center to fail on its do-over.

More election follow-up: A handy "Casualty List" of who's leaving Congress. Does not include Florida Republican Allan West, who late last night finally conceded after a recount showed him losing ground.

And THIS is going to be a difficult recount:

The closest election in Minnesota this year was the House District 8B contest between incumbent Rep. Mary Franson, R-Alexandria, and Democratic challenger Bob Cunniff. Franson won by a single vote. But election officials in Douglas County discovered that poll workers may have mistakenly handed dozens of 8B ballots to residents of neighboring House district 12B. The errors occured in as many as five polling places that had split precincts.

Reality: A lot of problems in election are not malice or "fraud" but simple human error. Also explains a lot in Florida. "Other wild cards in the equation: the deployment and competence of poll workers hired for Election Day."

And a couple long reads for you: An excellent look at Obama's data geeks and a rebuttal of sorts decrying the growth of Big Data in politics.