"Profiles in Disgrace"

That's the apt title of Powerline's devastating dissection of hometown senator Mark Dayton.

The Senate has always drawn intellectual mediocrities, but here's a particularly telling line:

In June 2003 Senator Dayton visited Iraq. At a telephone press conference held with Twin Cities reporters Senator Dayton unburdened himself:

"The contrast between these oil fields, which are just 15 minutes away, and the total poverty of the people living in that region, was just unbelievable. They're now waiting up to nine hours in line to get gasoline for their vehicles, which is pretty absurd when you have all of this oil 15 minutes away."

What's really absurd, Senator, is that Minnesota elected some clown to high political office apparently unaware that automobiles can't run on crude oil.

Statements like this are further evidence that Dayton is despised by his staff. Were he not, they'd pull him aside and whisper something in his ear about petroleum refining.