the buzz log

You don’t have to be a cable news-watching, op-ed reading political junkie to have noticed that things haven’t exactly been swinging McCain/Palin's way lately. And events this weekend certainly didn’t alter the trend, as reflected in a small swarm of buzzingly negative news items. But GOP fans may have taken heart by escaping into all things Angelina and Britney, still thriving, as always in the Buzz.

Sarah, smile (if possible)
On Friday, an Alaska legislative committee found Gov. Sarah Palin’s dismissal of the state Public Safety Commissioner to be a violation of state ethics law. On Saturday, news broke of a statement condemning the McCain campaign for "sowing the seeds of hatred and division" from revered civil rights figure John Lewis, a man McCain once cited as one of three wise people he’d consult as president. Lewis, a Democratic congressman, criticized the harsh anti-Obama rhetoric heard mostly at Palin rallies. (McCain called his former wise man’s comments “shocking and beyond the pale.”) And finally, during an appearance at a Philadelphia Flyers’ home game, Palin actually dropped the ceremonial first puck. C’mon, world’s-most-famous-hockey-mom! Get back in the game!

The Comeback
If there’s anyone who knows the path from diva to punchline better than Sarah Palin, it’s Britney Spears. But mandatory hating on the midriffed-one may become passé very soon. The new video of her top 40-hit “Womanizer” is buzzing like mad and drawing favorable reviews, too. While it may be a titch early to describe the pop phenom cum human tragedy as a national treasure, the time may have come for her sneering detractors to take a break.

Thanks, but this doesn’t help
An AP piece getting kicked around the Web explores where, exactly, those trillions of dollars lost in the stock market have actually gone. Economist Robert Schiller says shareholders haven’t really lost all that money because “we’re just recording a measure of what people think the stock market is worth. ….It’s in people’s minds.” Now, if only our mortgage, dentist bill, and tuition payments were all in our minds, too, we'd really have something here...

Also buzzing this weekend…

• In the how does-she-know-until-she's-finished-adopting department, Angelina Jolie says “Obama would be great for my family.”
• More Angelina: Her “W” cover, apparently, will inspire new moms to breastfeed.
• High school senior Megan Reitenour will take part in a NASCAR program designed to show off driving skills in front of NASCAR team owners and execs in South Boston, Va. Monday and Tuesday.