Independents Favor Democrats Over Republicans  —  Poll Finds Votes Motivated by War Pessimism, Dissatisfation With GOP  —  Two weeks before midterm elections, Republicans are losing the battle for independent voters, who now strongly favor Democrats on the major issues facing the country …

CBS, AP leave unchallenged Bartlett's claim that Bush's Iraq policy has "never been a 'stay the course' strategy" … In an October 23 interview on CBS' The Early Show, White House senior adviser Dan Bartlett stated that the Bush administration's Iraq policy has "never been a 'stay the course' strategy" …

Rush Limbaugh attacks Michael J. Fox: " ...he was either off the medication or he was acting.  He is an actor, after all."  —  Rush Limbaugh will say anything to attack anyone who challenges George Bush and his policies.  This time, his target is Michael J. Fox.  Meds are something Rush does have a little experience with.

Rice Sees Bright Spot In China's New Role Since N. Korean Test  —  President Bush came into office six years ago deeply skeptical of Chinese intentions, casting doubt on the idea advanced by the Clinton administration that there could be a "strategic partnership" between China and the United States.

Olbermann's Special Comment on GOP Fearmongering  —  Keith issued arguably his most powerful Special Comment yet tonight.  This time he takes on the GOP's newest fearmongering ad which quotes Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri superimposed over pictures of explosions with the sound of a ticking bomb in the background.

New poll shows Allen with narrow lead over Webb  —  RICHMOND — U.S. Sen. George Allen has ended a two-month freefall in voter support and regained a narrow lead in his re-election bid against Democrat Jim Webb, according to a new poll.  —  Allen drew 47 percent support and Webb received 43 percent …

The Economic Miracle as an Economic Mirage  —  WHATEVER happened to the good old days of cradle-to-grave security — of a steady job, a lifetime pension and paid-for health care along the way?  This is the question at the heart of "The Great Risk Shift" (Oxford University Press, $26) …

Richard Nixon versus Joe Lieberman  —  After losing the primary, Joe Lieberman changed his tune and began talking about ending the war in Iraq.  It's a very specific way of talking about ending the war, though, and you can see eery parallels between Lieberman and Nixon when Nixon lied about wanting to end the Vietnam War.

Debate Madness  —  The debate was very high temperature from the get — take a look at the YouTube of Lamont supporters marching with the Kiss Float beforehand.  There were people in the debate hall who were singing and distrupting both Lieberman and Lamont, and they were evidently Lyndon LaRouchites …

Spanning the Web  —  1) I WILL BE RETAKING New England's airwaves tonight to discuss political advertising on Jim Braude's "News Night" at 7:00 p.m. on New England Cable News.  I mention this only for New England-area readers who might need a break from Shep or "Seinfeld."

BEST GOP HOPE: SCARE 'EM SILLY  —  WITH only two weeks left 'til Election Day, Republicans won't save themselves with phony optimism - pathetic claims that, somehow, they're mounting a comeback.  They need to sound a note of alarm and fill the airwaves with specifics of exactly what will happen if the Democrats triumph.

A Jim Webb fib?  —  There's a lot to admire about Jim Webb.  He's a bonafide war hero who parlayed his wartime experiences into a successful career as a novelist and movie producer that made him millions.  He even managed to wrangle a load of Republican political appointments to enhance his stature.

Active-Duty Troops Launch Campaign to Press Congress to End U.S. Occupation of Iraq  —  65 Members to Send "Appeals for Redress" Under the Military Whistle-blower Protection Act  —  Contact: Trevor Fitzgibbon, 202-246-5303, or Alex Howe, or Laura Gross, 202-822-5200, for Fenton Communications

Litigation Day  —  Control of Congress may be decided in the courts, starting Nov. 8.  —  Everyone is speculating about which party will control Congress after next month's voting.  But we may not know for a while.  We could see either party pursue the kind of lawsuits that Al Gore unleashed …