Here is another classy move on the part of the GOP. Just when you thought the Republicans couldn't be more classless, the Virginia governor's race came to the fore when a prominent endorser for Republican Bob McDonnell mocked the slight stutter of Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds (pictured).

On "Real Time" Friday night Bill Maher raked climate change skeptics over the coals, particularly those in the GOP, insisting that they must "stop pretending climate change is a future problem." He showed images of Australia with its current host of wildfires, and wondered how those in Southern California would react to such a vista (see above).

First of all, it's an assault rifle, not a machine gun. Secondly, while yes, we have Second Amendment rights, I fail to see why any private citizen would need an AK-47.

Political columnist Robert Novak, died Tuesday after a battle with brain cancer that was diagnosed in July 2008. He was 78.

GOP senator John Ensign, (R-NV), 51, who in mid-June acknowledged an earlier extramarital affair with a former campaign staffer, has now admitted that his parents gave his mistress and her family nearly $100,000 "out of concern for the well being of longtime family friends during a difficult time."

Governor Mark Sanford, 49, of South Carolina, who had reportedly been hiking along the Appalachian Trail, was in fact making a mystery trip to Argentina, as revealed when Sanford told a reporter for The State newspaper he was actually in that country. Why? He was apparently terminating an affair.

Veteran GOP senator Arlen Spector (R-PA), announced on Tuesday his intention to switch parties, to the Democratic party. This brings the Democrats to the brink of a 60-member filibuster-proof majority.

Michael Steele was elected head of the Republican National Committee (RNC) today, the first African-American to hold the position.