In other news:

Several members of the House of Representatives have requested the United Nations (news - web sites) to send observers to monitor the November 2 US presidential election to avoid a contentious vote like in 2000, when the outcome was decided by Florida.

Recalling the long, drawn out process in the southern state, nine lawmakers, including four blacks and one Hispanic, sent a letter Thursday to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) asking that the international body "ensure free and fair elections in America," according to a statement issued by Florida representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, who spearheaded the effort.

This has my strong support. We've insisted in the past of sending election monitoring in numerous countries. The US (Bush and Supreme Court) refused to allow them in 2000 after fishiness, in no way should we be above our own standards (like we are in so many other ways).