Oscar-Winning Performance

Now

Sunny, warm. Reflecting the fickleness of the season, temperatures are as much as 30° warmer this afternoon than yesterday in the Washington metro area. Readings in the mid 70s in many locations are providing a nearly perfect spring weather performance. Some showers may arrive tonight along with a weak cold front approaching from the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley.

Tonight and Tomorrow

Clouds increasing, chance of showers, cooler. Clouds will increase this evening, and there is a 40% chance of showers overnight. Lows will be mainly in the low 50s. Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy with some showers likely and cooler with highs in the mid to upper 60s.

For the outlook through the weekend and beyond with Larson's Long-Range, scroll down to Josh's post below.

Political Science

Yesterday's latest performance of the Capitol Hill Climate Follies was reviewed with trademark snarkiness by the WaPo's inimitable Dana Milbank. The Academy Award for best quote goes to Republican Roscoe Bartlett from right here in Maryland:

"It's possible to be a conservative without appearing to be an idiot."

Note to the clueless: Yes, it is an "observational column about political theater", not a news story. That's why it has a title, "Washington Sketch". (And while we can only aspire to the snark level of the pros here in the nerve-enclosed glass center of PM Update, we also clearly separate the science from the opinion. See the subtitle up there? It says, "Political Science".)

Also providing reviews were the NYTi, SFChron, ChiTri, and Beeb, as well as the usual suspects, such as the AP (via BoGlo and others).

Photo: Inhofe gives Gore a finger after giving him the figurative Finger in Senate hearings yesterday, from the WaPo. Destroy the decor of any room with your own copy suitable for framing. (Offer void for Netscape users and where otherwise prohibited.)