Happy 193rd anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans!

Fun fact about Andrew Jackson, the "Hero of the Battle of New Orleans" -- he was the second United States president to ever have been a prisoner of war. Washington had briefly been a prisoner during the French and Indian War, and Jackson was held by the British during the Revolutionary War (he had joined the military at age 13, as a courier). A good omen for John McCain, perhaps, on New Hampshire primary day?

The other interesting thing about the Battle of New Orleans is that it was fought weeks after the war was actually over. The Treaty of Ghent (which ended the war) had been signed on December 24th, but the news didn't reach New Orleans until February, weeks after the battle was over. Now, I don't say this is another omen for New Hampshire, but feel free to read those tea leaves however you want. I just mention the fact to point out how far we've come in communications since then, as we all watch the New Hampshire returns in real time tonight!

Sorry for the short column today, but since New Hampshire is the center of the political universe today, nobody's really paying attention to anything else anyway. If you want something fun to do while watching the returns come in tonight, head over to the McClatchy news site, where they're having a cartoon caption contest.

Here would be my entry: "What's the use, kid? When you're my age a year from now, they'll be headed out the door anyway."

But I'm sure someone can top that with a funnier line....

-- Chris Weigant