There's an interesting special election today in California for a California Senate seat made vacant when incumbent Abel Maldonado was appointed Lieutenant Governor. Turnout is expected to be under 20% since the election follows on the heels of the primary elections held only two weeks ago.  The registration advantage in the district has switched to the Democrats since Republican Maldonado was elected in 2004.

What makes this election noteworthy is the former occupation of Sam Blakeslee, currently a Republican Assemblyman. Blakeslee was an employee of Exxon and a big supporter of offshore oil drilling.  His Democratic opponent, Assemblyman John Laird, has managed to put the issue front and center.

On the one hand, California is desperate for cash, some of which might be extracted from the oil companies.  On the other hand, California has beaches that Californians seem to love.  Will voters come out of the water long enough to vote against oil?

Tags: oil spill, California, special election, California Senate, campaign issues

Dr. James Hamilton, 44, a gastroenterologist, said that soon after Father Karadima chose him at 17 to be part of his Catholic Action youth movement, the priest began kissing him on the mouth and touching his genitals. On a retreat at a seaside town west of Santiago when he was 18, Dr. Hamilton said, the abuse went much further, and it continued for nearly 20 years. —Pascale Bonnefoy and Alexei Barrionuevo reporting in "Chilean archbishop refers child abuse case against priest to Vatican"

"When will it all end?" he wondered as he received his medical degree.

Tags: child sex abuse, Catholic Church, Catholic priests, Chile, scandal, weird