John Zogby

Cable a la carte, anyone? According to a new Zogby poll, 52 percent of cable subscribers say they would prefer to purchase cable channels individually rather than the in bulk packages. It's possible they might someday get their wish.

Current FCC Chairman Kevin Martin supports "a la carte" cable, arguing that it would bring down costs for individual subscribers. But heavyweight programming providers like Disney typically oppose the idea because the current system gives them more leverage to pile multiple channels into every subscriber’s package. In the same poll, 82 percent of subscribers said they thought current cable bills were too high, and 71 percent said they disagree with having to shell out money for channels they never watch.

Other FCC commissioners, most notably Democrat Jonathan Adelstein, have argued that an a la carte system would actually end up increasing individual cable bills, because networks would be forced to spend so much additional money on advertising.

Our legal reporter, Anna Schneider-Mayerson, has a must-read about the odd relationship between the job of Attorney General and the lawyering experience of the people who want it.

So who are these people? Can the office of the Attorney General, presently held by a man whom some have called the most important politician in the country outside of Washington, really be a consolation prize for politicians with previously higher ambitions? If it's the "capstone" of a legal career in New York, why don't more New York lawyers -- real lawyers -- want the job?

Also a rundown of when the candidates actually last appeared in court, and Andrew has what sound to the untrained ear like less-than-adulatory words for Eliot.

Meanwhile, I play the expectations game with Hillary's 2006 numbers, and ask John Zogby, in passing, what happened to those 2000 polls of his that gave the race to Lazio. Eve Kessler has an optimistic take on Hillary's appeal to Catholic voters.

Also: Conason on Scalia and Brookhiser on the Mormons.