Christmas comes earlier . . . and earlier . . . and earlier

Are you one of the dozens of Americans who will miss this year's negative attack ads? Take comfort -- the presidential campaign is only two years away.

Here's a sample of some of the e-mail we get here, and how little is known until, you know, the votes come in. BetUS, an on-line gambling site, says it's handicapping the 2008 race. Now, remember that two years ago:
1) The Republicans looked invincible;
2) Bob Riley looked doomed;
3) Britney Spears was happily married.

The site gives Hillary Clinton 5/4 odds to be president; John McCain 3/1 and Al Gore 8/1. But it also gives former Virginia governor Mark Warner a 7/1 to one chance to be president and a three-to-one chance to be the Democratic nominee, which a) gives him a better chance to be the nominee than the bettors' favorite to be president and b) ignores the fact that Mark Warner has said he will not run in 2008.

In other words, no one knows anything.