Want proof of a naïve voting populace? Look no further than the zany antics of Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, who resorts to non-creative name calling about western politicians who speak truth to power.

Yup – Shurtleff still buys into the beat-to-death and entirely untrue argument connecting Iraq, 9/11 and Al-Qaida. He beats on a tired, worn-out drum, and look like a fool doing so. Let’s face it: he’s no Rocky Anderson in terms of conviction, and this silly lip-flapping exercise was completely out-of-character for an AG who isn’t known for taking a stand on anything.

So when he does take a stand, he looks like an out-of-touch dimwit. He doesn’t get what Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM) says in his latest campaign ad: “stubborn is not a good foreign policy.”

Even the people of Utah – the “reddest” state in the union – aren’t buying the “Iraq war is good” mantra that BushCo has been trying to force-feed to the people since 2001.

And a major tip ‘o the hat to the BYU students and other Utahns who protested Vice President Cheney’s commencement speech at the private LDS university. Thank you, dear protesters, for showing that there are free-thinking people behind the “Zion Curtain” – and showing that their numbers are growing.

I can’t wait for 2008….