--Several friends of Talking Politics said recently that they were phone-polled about Scott Brown and potential 2012 Senate match-ups. Looks like that was the work of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which, according to Salon, learned that Scotto is as popular as white chowder in the Bay State. His approval rate is at a stunning 73%, and he tops 50% in head-to-heads with top Democrats.

At this point, there is enough speculation about whether Donald Trump has been replaced by a PCP-addicted gardener on the run from the Federales (a Google search for "Donald Trump" +"PCP" returns over 100,000 hits!!!) to beg the question of why, if it's untrue, he doesn't simply put an end to it by submitting to a simple retinal-scan identification procedure.

Like any concerned American, I am on Glenn Beck's promotional email list. So I almost got suckered by the email below, which I received from triple-n glennnbeck@gmail.com (The extra 'n' is for 'nuts'! Sorry, too easy to pass up.) Presumably the sender is trying to scam me into buying my year's supply of storable food to ride out the coming global monetary collapse from eFoods Direct, on the mistaken belief that two-n Glenn Beck approves.

At the tail end of an excellent Wall Street Journal article about Mitt Romney's Presidential fundraising operation, we are told that Romney has a defense prepared for the inevitable campaign-trail questions regarding the Massachusetts health care law he signed in 2006. That is, another defense.

The former governor told donors that the plan he signed in Massachusetts was the best for the state at the time, but that no one plan should be imposed on the nation.

At the tail end of an excellent Wall Street Journal article about Mitt Romney's Presidential fundraising operation, we are told that Romney has a defense prepared for the inevitable campaign-trail questions about the Massachusetts health care law he signed in 2006. That is, another defense.

The former governor told donors that the plan he signed in Massachusetts was the best for the state at the time, but that no one plan should be imposed on the nation.

Salem immigration attorney Marisa DeFranco has filed to run for US Senator in 2012, seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Scott Brown.

"I am running -- not thinking about it, not exploring, I'm running," DeFranco says. "This has been in the works for months."

Admittedly little-known, DeFranco intends to build a grassroots campaign, raising money in small-dollar contributions through her networks of attorneys and Democratic activists.

Senator Scott Brown has just opened a federal political action committee (PAC), called the Brown Victory Committee, to collect large-dollar contributions -- using the exact same approach that Massachusetts Republicans derided Deval Patrick for, and which was barred by state law in 2009.

The Brown Victory Committee, which operates under federal campaign laws, is not subject to the state ban.

After reading Mitt Romney's two-paragraph pledge, on National Review Online, to devote every waking hour as President to fighting the evil menace of health care reform, I have this image of him sometime later this year, late at night, scrawling "Repeal ObamaCare," in Latin, on the side of the White House.

Reg: If you want to join the People's Front of Judea, you have to really hate the Romans.

Boston City Council President Stephen Murphy will support Ayanna Pressley in her bid for re-election this year, even -- or especially -- if Michael Flaherty runs for his seat back.

Murphy and Pressley, two of the four incumbent at-large councilors, had a conversation over the weekend in which Murphy pledged his support.

I did not go up to Manchester to see Rudy Giuliani speak last night because, unlike Michele Bachmann who was in the Granite State last weekend, Giuliani is not a serious political entity.

That's the kind of mockery that should greet Rudy in New Hampshire. So I am really disappointed in my brethren who are reporting on the visit straight.

Thanks to everybody who sent questions! I had a blast, and I hope maybe wrote one or two interesting things along the way.

Just to quickly get to the last few -- "Dougie" asks:

The herald reported some weeks ago that Deval would appoint a new registrar of probate. They mentioned Maureen Feeney was in the mix. Who do you think he will appoint and are there any other names in the mix?

Oh great, right after my blatantly homophobia-laced Scott Brown comments, here's a question from the great gay-rights advocate and reporter Laura Kiritsy:

Sen. Dianne Feinstein has filed a bill in the Senate to repeal the odious Defense of Marriage Act, better known as DOMA. Sen. Kerry is cosponsoring the bill and yesterday published an op-ed in Bay Windows calling for DOMA's repeal.

"DeepThinker" asks:

Will Scott Brown hold onto his base? Can the Dems win without appealing to Scott Brown's base of guys who like guys who drive pick-up trucks? Is Bob Massie too intellectual to gain broad appeal? Is Setti Warren jumping in too soon? Can Mike Capuano recover from the stigma of having lost to Coakley? Is this too many questions?

"Venkman" asks:

Will there be an open mayoral race in Boston in 2012? Will there be a race at all?

"Alan B." asks:

You have alluded to the Boston Mayor's Race in 2013 in a few posts, but would you be willing to put in percentages what you think the chances of Mayor Menino running for a sixth term are? And could you provide reasons and or evidence to support the percentage?

OK, back to the Ask Me Anything Day questions, after that little outburst. The great Tony Schinella of politizine asks:

What are you thoughts on the upcoming Boston city council races? With it be yet another sleepy affair? With all that is going on with the budget, school cuts, will it be competitive? Will ward councilor like Mike Ross escape challenge once again? What, if anything, can be done to increase voter turnout and participation?