quick hits

• Republican media guru Alex Castellanos has an interesting frame on the future of conservatism: Governing is too important to be left to the government.
• KY-SEN: The netroots is touting a Rasmussen poll showing Democrat Bruce Lunsford ahead of Mitch McConnell 49-44. Whether this poll is bogus or the results of Lunsford's post-primary name ID bounce, it's a wake-up call. Being tagged as a Washington Republican/appropriator is a liability everywhere, even in a state that seems destined to vie with Utah/Wyoming for the biggest McCain blowout in November. Still, I'd rather have bad polls in a sleeper race like this first materialize now than after Labor Day so there's self-awareness and time to correct.
• AK-1: Republican primary challenger and Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell is even or ahead of Don "Bridge to Nowhere" Young in AK-1. Parnell is one of the good guys -- a Sarah Palin Republican trying to put away one of Congress's most corrupt appropriators. This could be THE primary race of the cycle. Give what you can.

 Update from Soren: Stu Rothenberg doesn't buy the poll and points to one with McConnell up 11.