First of all, there is a little debate brewing right now over Barack Obama's pick for surgeon general. The woman is Regina Benjamin, and Dr. Benjamin is not what you would describe as a "flatbelly." In fact, some people are choosing to describe her as a blubberbutt ... which is a big deal only because she is supposed to be the "public face" of healthcare initiatives in this country. Well .. they have a point. Obesity is a huge problem in this country. I wonder how many Medicare and Medicaid dollars are spent every year to handle obesity-related diseases. Now we have a fat Surgeon General? There is a way through this one. Dr. Benjamin should immediately go on a diet. She should make a public show of admitting her slovenly and self-indulgent eating habits, and pledge to drop about 50 or so big ones. Then she could invite the fleshier part of America to join in. Could turn a negative into a plus and do something about the lardassification of America.

Also, one other little goodie. Looks like some Democrats are feeling the heat for their support of this government-run healthcare scheme. Maryland Senator Ben Cardin hosted a townhall meeting the other night on healthcare. When one particular audience member got upset about this healthcare bill stepping on our ... freedoms ... Senator Cardin's response was, "I just think the overriding public interest is to require you and everyone in this country to have health insurance." So there you go. Now our Senator's are voting based on what they believe would be best for the "public's interest."

Don't you just love it when some political hack uses the word "require?" I'll tell you what the federal government ought to require. It ought to require that every person respect the rights of every other person, and to desist from the use of force or fraud in any attempt to violate another person's right to life, liberty or property. Beyond that, butt out.

Now here's an interesting Obamapointment. CNN's Sanjay Gupta for Surgeon General. In the balance, I like it. OK, so Dr. Gupta was an advisor to Hillary Clinton many moons ago during her health care debacle. Was he the one who suggested to Hillary that Americans should be jailed if they try to use their own private funds to purchase health care? That would be a negative. On the positive side, virtually everyone loves Sanjay Gupta. Dr. Stud. Come on folks .. this guy is covering the war against Islamic terrorism in Iraq for CNN when suddenly he dons the scrubs and is performing surgery on an injured soldier? This comes close to my fantasy of taking over the controls of a commercial airliner full of Miss American contestants on their way to Las Vegas after the flight crew passes out. (Damn right I could land it.) Dr. Gupta would be uniquely positioned to address the health problems facing Americans - especially the obesity epidemic - because of his broad public appeal.

... should be the man who gave him the job. Barack Obama is a smoker. He's also America's principal celebrity at this time. Teenagers are going to want to emulate their celebrity hero. I think that there is no doubt whatsoever that many young people will take up smoking because their hero-celebrity president smokes. Sanjay Gupta could make quite a statement if he made Obama's quitting of the nicotine habit as a condition of his acceptance of the appointment to Surgeon General. That could be an initial victory for the cause of public health.

By the way ... please consider this. I know that ending your addiction to nicotine is a tough job; so is the presidency. If Obama isn't strong enough to quit smoking, how is he strong enough to be an effective president?