OT: Akin, Hoekstra (R-MI), and some other gop US Senate candidate are all running on a platform that includes repealing the 17th Amendment. The joke practically writes itself: “Vote for me and I’ll make sure you never have the right to do that again. Hoekstra 2012!”

Seriously, though, this is a position completely inconsistent with the modern conception of democracy in the West. How do these clowns expect to sell this to the voters, most of whom like their right to, you know, actually cast a ballot? Hoekstra is in a virtual dead heat, and the only reason Akin’s not winning is his caveman remarks about rape. If the Dems can’t use their opponent’s effective support of disenfranchisement as a decisive issue, there’s something wrong with their campaigns. This should be like hammering a pinata.