"We'll have a big dog in that fight"

Last week, we very confidently nominated the Gret Stet in TPM's tounge-in-cheek "Most Corrupt State" contest. If you're a regular TPM reader, you've no doubt been following the discussion as residents of various states make the case for their home-grown hero-Dragons.

Today, USA Today sort of got in on the act publishing a lame corruption per capita index. The flawed method (think of it as the electoral college of corruption) leads USA Today to the dubious conclusion that North Dakota is the nation's "most corrupt" state.

Meanwhile, back at TPM, a reader called "BB" lays down the law in an email:

Look, if you want, the New Orleans bloggers can put together a comprehensive file for you. But you need to know it will be thick.

In the many categories that people argue for (cash involved, historical entrenchment, recent scandal, profile, fed/state/local), each of your wannabe states points out that the category they happen to be strongest in really matters the most. And that's why they're wannabes...they need special consideration.

Louisiana will let any state in the union pick the turf and the time. You want state level corruption? Local? Bring it. Historical tradition? Game on. Recent scandal? Easy money. You name the category, any category, and we'll have a big dog in that fight. And that is why Louisiana is the all time champ.

Too true. These people know not with whom they are messing.