Three and a half more years, minimum

U.S. Reps. John Conyers, D-Mich., and Artur Davis, D-Ala., haven't given up on the idea of universal health care. As Conyers said, "We want health care as a matter of right, and not a privilege." In a sign that their quest faces a sizable uphill battle, though, only about 50 people attended the congressmen's forum about the issue Saturday in Davis' hometown of Birmingham. Still, turnout could have been worse on a big day for college football in the state.

On another note, here's a disconcerting statistic from The Birmingham News' coverage of the event: "Only 58 percent of the blacks eligible to vote in Alabama are registered."