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 …

Joe Lieberman In No Man's Land  —  A Longtime Democrat, Now In Opposition, Is In Strange Company  —  Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, a lifelong Democrat and student of politics, blanked when asked if America would be better off with his party regaining control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

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 …

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.

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.

Displease a Lobbyist, Get Fired  —  E-mails show Jack Abramoff's ability to influence White House staffing decisions through his highly placed friends.  —  WASHINGTON — For five years, Allen Stayman wondered who ordered his removal from a State Department job negotiating agreements …

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 …

Iowa Poll: Culver takes 7-point lead over Nussle  —  Race is fluid, although many independents back Democrat  —  Democrat Chet Culver has moved ahead of Republican Jim Nussle in a hotly contested governor's race that was tied a month ago.  —  A new Des Moines Register poll shows Culver leading Nussle …

Iraq Sectarian Spree Kills 83 in 2 Days  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq — At least 83 people were killed during a two-day spree of sectarian revenge killings, as Iraq's government said Sunday it was indefinitely postponing a much-anticipated national reconciliation conference.

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

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:

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.

With Eye On 2008, Kerry Goes After Bush  —  MANCHESTER, N.H. — Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) barely said hello to the New Hampshire Democrats who filled a banquet room here Friday night before unloading on President Bush.  —  "This war in Iraq is a disgrace," he said in the second sentence of his speech at a party fundraising dinner.