The dingbat of the week award goes to...

... North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole for trying to name an HIV-AIDS relief bill after her predecessor, the late Jesse Helms.

Bear in mind, this was the same progressive-minded Sen. Helms who uttered such pearls of wisdom as "There is not one single case of AIDS in this country that cannot be traced in origin to sodomy" and who opposed re-funding of an anti-AIDS program because they got sick via their "deliberate, disgusting, revolting conduct."

The "revolting conduct" committed by the 12 year old boy after whom the program was named was receiving a tainted blood transfusion.

This is the paragon of progressive thinking on AIDS that Sen. Dole wants to honor.

Then again, in a world where George W. Bush can be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize....