White House Upbeat About GOP Prospects  —  Self-Assurance of Bush, Rove and Others Is Not Shared by Many in the Party  —  Amid widespread panic in the Republican establishment about the coming midterm elections, there are two people whose confidence about GOP prospects strikes …

Confessions of a 'Defeatocrat'  —  The Republicans are running scared.  In the White House, on Capitol Hill and on the campaign trail, they're worried about losing control of Congress.  And so the administration and the GOP have launched a desperate assault on Democrats and our position on the war in Iraq.

No surprise: Oct. follies arrive  —  Welcome to the spectacular surprises of October 2006.  A tour de force in the political theater of the absurd.  Let's review:  —  North Korea tests a nuke.  It should be shocking and surprising.  But North Korea's nuclear posturing is old news …

Expecting U.S. Help, Sent to Guantánamo  —  Abdul Rahim Al Ginco thought he was saved when the United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001 and overthrew the Taliban regime.  —  Mr. Ginco, a college student living in the United Arab Emirates, had gone to Afghanistan in 2000 after running away from his strict Muslim father.

Allen and Webb in Virtual Tie, Post Poll Says  —  Northern Virginia Voters' Views Differ From Rest of Commonwealth  —  Virginia Sen. George Allen (R) and Democratic challenger James Webb are virtually tied in a race that could shift the balance of power in Washington and which reinforces …

The world - from Algonquin  —  Brother of 'Nightline' anchor the blogger behind Right Wing Nut House  —  In the Internet age, being a voice in the public square no longer requires reputation, pedigree or a D.C. address.  —  It just requires enough gumption to get out of bed at 4 a.m. …

Sen. Reid on the hot seat  —  It didn't quite have the legs to knock the overhyped Foley scandal off the front pages, but another Washington controversy this week at least momentarily threatened the credibility of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid.  —  The Associated Press on Wednesday reported …

Scrutinizing Muhammad's example and teachings  —  REVIEWED BY ANDREW G. BOSTOM  —  Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the former Dutch Parliamentarian and secular Muslim reformer, has courageously identified the taboo discussion which must take place to understand, and defuse, the scourge of modern jihad terrorism:

What about all those purple fingers?  —  David Brooks has incredible access to the White House so when he said this shocker on "The Chris Matthews Show," I believed him.  Bush is thinking about replacing the entire Iraq government.  I kid you not.  —  Video-WMP Video-QT

An election Foley-equipped with frivolity  —  Who is James Vicini?  Well, he works for Reuters, the storied news agency.  By "storied," I don't mean in the Hans Christian Andersen sense, though these days it's hard to tell.  But they have an illustrious history and they're globally respected and whatnot.

Where Do We Find Such Men? … He saw the threat and acted, without hesitation or concern for himself to protect his friends.  No time to consider the alternatives, organize a protest or conduct a poll.  —  That brave young man seized the moment sacrificing himself to save his brothers.

Minnesota Poll: Deadlocked no more: Hatch leads Pawlenty  —  DFL candidate leads 46 to 37 percent, apparently benefitting from GOP's woes.  —  DFL Attorney General Mike Hatch has pulled in front of GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty in what had been a deadlocked race for governor, according to the latest Star Tribune Minnesota Poll.

The flying spaghetti monster  —  Why are we here on earth?  To Richard Dawkins, that's a remarkably stupid question.  In a heated interview, the famous biologist insists that religion is evil and God might as well be a children's fantasy.  —  Editor's note: This is the latest entry …