More Note-isms...

According to Romenesko, a story in the LA Times reports that "NBC News is about to debut its "concise and crisp" First Read dispatch. Elizabeth Jensen writes: "In a swipe at how lengthy ABC's missive has become, some NBC insiders are jokingly calling their shorter version the Half Note."

The story also quotes Mark Halperin saying ABC's online political report: "allows us to be on the phone with all kinds of sources.... It builds relationships and proves to people that we're not unsophisticated when it comes to following politics."

Strom Thurmond died.

It's just possible that his ultimate purpose in life was to help ruin Trent Lott's reputation. That achieved, he could exit quietly...