Politics makes strange bedfellows

Democratic incumbent Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) lost his congressional seat last to Marcy Kaptur, a progressive from Toledo. As the Maddow Blog reports, sitting members generally don't lose primary fights. Redistricting was the apparent culprit in Kucinich's downfall.

However, the liberal firebrand may not go quietly into that good night. There's a rumor he may try to run for Congress from the state of Washington. If that's not enough intrigue for you, try this on for size: In the Ohio general election, Kaptur will face -- wait for it -- Republican Samuel Wurzelbacher (pictured). You know him as "Joe the Plumber." Yeah, him. It is amazing how desperately this Ghost of Christmas Past (like all 15-minutes-of-famers) clings to the stage long after the curtains have come down. The limelight is like crack to these folks. It reminds me of Chris Rock's Krispy Kreme riff in "Never Scared":

Krispy Kreme? These donuts are too good! Got me going there at 2 o'clock in the morning going, "Come on, man, open up! Let me have at least one donut. I'll do anything! I'll suck your d#@k!"

Heh. Kaptur's district is heavily Democratic. So Mr. Wurzelbacher will likely be crushed in November. But politics does indeed make strange bedfellows.