The Gist

Moralist-o-crite finalists

Hundreds of listeners from across the country tried to participate in our Moralist-o-crite contest today, and only a few dozen were able to get through. Below is a list of the finalists, and I'm sorry I can't list the callers and their locales (but rest assured our producer has the full tally) as it would take me forever. We'll make sure to declare a winner once Larry Flynt releases the next name or someone comes forward.

A few of these don't fall in line with the hints Flynt has offered and are thus long-shots -- particularly those who are no longer members of the Senate. But on more than a few of them listeners had some good reasons -- from hunches to gossip they've heard for years in their hometowns and states. (And in big empty red some states, everyone knows everyone). But I have to be honest: I think a couple of likely suspects were missed.


Ted Stevens (R-AK)
Larry Craig (R-ID)
Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
Sam Brownback (R-KS)
Pat Roberts (R-KS)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Norm Coleman (R-MN)
Trent Lott (R-MS)
Mike DeWine (R-OH) [no longer in Senate]
George Voinovich (R-OH)
James Inhofe(R-OK)
Tom Coburn (R-OK)
Rick Santorum (R-PA)[no longer in Senate]
Lindsay Graham (R-SC)
Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Robert Bennett (R-UT)
John Warner (R-VA)
George Allen (R-VA)[no longer in Senate]
Robert Byrd (D-WV)


The winner will receive a copy of Al Gore's The Assault on Reason, Stephen Prothero's Religious Literacy and Anthony Romero's In Defense of Our America.