UPDATE! On the off chance McCain chooses Sen. Lindsey Graham instead of Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the "Team Diarrhea" name needn't be lost, thanks to an image highlighted by Politico.com.

Go Team Fudge House!

Gentle readers,

I am just a humble purveyor of blogs, occasional commenter, less occasional diary poster -- surely no one of note. Yes, I had some experience as a political reporter, but that was long ago, when I was much, much more mature.

Today, however, I have a simple request. To explain it, I must show you something courtesy of Newseum.org: The Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune -- which had a front-page, right-side article about the possibility that Sen. John McCain might pick Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Now, if you look below that article, you'll see a fascinating look at how public health officials responded to the salmonella scare that sickened so many people.

That the public health team went by the name "Team Diarrhea" certainly shows their gallows humor at a time of great health risk to themselves and others. But this is also a time of great political risk. After all, would these salmonella scares even happen if America had leaders who cared about health regulations?

But that is a conversation too elevated for me. Because, thanks to a Page Layout editor who I'm sure is a lovely man or woman to whom we all owe our thanks, we now have this image -- McCain, Pawlenty, and the term "Team Diarrhea."

Again, I am but a humble purveyor of blogs. I carry little weight outside of my belly, and my political heft extends no farther than my stubby fingertips. Yet I have dream.

That dream: In the likelihood that McCain choose Pawlenty as his veep -- as so many speculate -- that they come to be known as "Team Diarrhea." As in: "Vote for Team Diarrhea!" or "Look! Team Diarrhea is running an explosive new ad campaign!" Or maybe "Team Diarrhea strained to hold on to their slipping poll numbers." Or if there is a kind and loving deity, "Team Diarrhea's Leaks New Gas Plan."

So, please, help this immature husk of a once somewhat respectable reporter finally achieve something noteworthy. Rec this diary, forward it to your friends. Put a sticky note (not too sticky) on your computer saying: "FYI, If McSame choose Pawpaw as VP, Make Poo Joke."

After all, there likely wouldn't need to be an article about "Team Diarrhea" had we had responsible leaders minding the store the last eight years, and the only way to see regulation that keeps people from dying-by-vegetables is to see a Democrat in office.

So, please, join me in calling John McCain and Tim Pawlenty "Team Diarrhea" should the urgent need arise. Together, we can answer nature's call of the "Fierce Urgency of Now."