Kaus refines act, now wants to beat Boxer

Probably not really, but political blogger Mickey Kaus's previous statements that he didn't intend to actually win against Sen. Barbara Boxer in the Democratic primary have been used by the party to deny him a speaking spot at the upcoming state convention. "I’ve changed my mind,” Kaus told Lloyd Grove in the Daily Beast. "Now I want to beat her!” Yes, the story is another example of Kaus benefitting from being a media guy with connections — Grove acknowledges that he probably voted for Kaus for student body prez when they were at Beverly Hills High School together. As Kaus quips in the piece, "I’ve gotten more attention than I deserve and less than I need." Noted: the L.A. Times editorial board is going to interview Kaus on Friday as a serious candidate. Editorial page editor Nick Goldberg is "a Kaus pal," says Grove.

Further noted: Hollywood producer Brian Quintana is also running.