Big news on Friday evening, folks.

The President intends to nominate Robert D. Lenhard, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Federal Election Commission, for the remainder of a six-year term expiring April 30, 2011. Mr. Lenhard currently serves as Associate General Counsel for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO.

The President intends to nominate David M. Mason, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Federal Election Commission, for the remainder of a six-year term expiring April 30, 2009.

The President intends to nominate Hans von Spakovsky, of Georgia, to be a Member of the Federal Election Commission, for the remainder of a six-year term expiring April 30, 2011.

The President intends to nominate Steven T. Walther, of Nevada, to be a Member of the Federal Election Commission, for the remainder of a six-year term expiring April 30, 2009.

Ok - good news: Thomas and McDonald have been retired to private life - or will, as soon as the nominations get approved in the Senate. The two most anti-freedom (let's call them "regulators") members of the current commission are out. David Mason, a solid vote against increased regulation has been renominated.

As far as bad news? Well, we'll just wait for Allison Hayward (who, by the way, nailed the surprise nomination of von Spakovsky) to get over here and brief us on the new nominees. As a rule - people with practical experience dealing with election laws (party, campaign, or union backgrounds) tend to have a more realistic (read: skeptical) view of regulations.