ALLEN'S REVENGE: EXPOSES UNDERAGE SEX SCENES IN OPPONENT'S NOVELS  —  Sen. George Allen, R-VA, unleashed a press release late Thursday that exposed his rival's fiction writing, which includes graphic underage sex scenes.  —  The press release, as provided by the Allen Campaign:  —  WEBB'S WEIRD WORLD

Rumsfeld Tells Iraq Critics to 'Back Off'  —  With his chorus of critics expanding deeper into Republican ranks, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told detractors yesterday to pull back as U.S. and Iraqi officials grapple with the uncertainties of laying out Iraq's course.

"UNCOVERED MEAT IS THE DISASTER"  —  Sheik Sheik Sheik!  —  Sheik Sheik Sheik!  —  Sheik Hilali!  —  Shiek HiLAli!  — KC & The Sunshine Band of Decadent Western Dancing Unpeople Who Must Die  —  IS IT possible to Sheik and spin at the same time?

Good Morning, Creep  —  This Michael J. Fox controversy is making me more angry than I can remember being in a long time.  There is something wrong with people who think like this: … If Michael J. Fox could still act he would be making millions of dollars acting in paying TV commercials, films or sitcoms.

In Iraq, Journalist Richard Engel Sticks to the Story  —  NBC Correspondent Has Made War Coverage His Life  —  NEW YORK — After struggling for years to make it as a Middle East journalist, Richard Engel was living in Cairo, married to his college girlfriend and itching for a new adventure.

YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT.  Ezra, I really, really don't like disagreeing with Peter Bergen on al-Qaeda.  You generally should be extremely wary of telling a guy who interviewed bin Laden that he's off-base.  But, dude, you asked.  Thanks, Ez, you're a good friend.

2006: THE BIG PICTURE  —  We've been through a lot together this election cycle, and now we're headed for the last round-up on November 7th.  Your Crystal Ball staff will be tweaking our predictions right up until election eve, taking into account last-minute shifts, scandals, and surprises.

Barack Obama Writes Emails [17]  —  Barack Obama Writes Emails  —  (Barack Obama sent out an email to his CT list supporting Ned Lamont earlier today - Tim)  —  Ned Lamont has waged an impressive grassroots campaign to give the people of Connecticut a choice in the November Senate election.

GOP retires 'Playboy' ad in Tennessee  —  Day after Mehlman defended anti-Ford spot, party says it's 'run its course' … Norah O'Donnell  —  The Republican National Committee said Wednesday it was taking off the air an attack ad that critics said was a racial slur against Democratic …

Andrew Sullivan on The Conservative Soul  —  The Hugh Hewitt Show  —  HH: Joined now by Andrew Sullivan, author of The Conservative Soul: How We Lost It, How To Get It Back, in bookstores everywhere.  I will link it at Hughhewitt.com a little bit later.  We've got Andrew for the next hour and a half.

A Match Made In Washington: It's A Quote Off!  Round 1...  (H/T to Steve Clemons for the pix.)  —  It's down to the final decisions on the Match Made in Washington Quote Off.  But I need your help to determine the winners.  Voting begins now, and will continue until tomorrow …

Seven Reasons Why Karl Rove Is Optimistic  —  Ok, well, actually, we can't break into Rove's head and we don't know why he's personally confident.  Many speculate that the veneer of hope masks unalloyed fear.  But here are seven reasons cited by people who also read "THE polls" …

Cheney calls 'water-boarding' a valuable interrogation tool  —  The vice president confirmed that an interrogation technique that simulates drowning and has been called 'cruel and inhumane' was used on al Qaeda suspects.  —  jlanday@mcclatchydc.com  —  WASHINGTON - Vice President Dick Cheney …

The Year Of Playing Dirtier  —  Rep. Ron Kind pays for sex!  —  Well, that's what the Republican challenger for his Wisconsin congressional seat, Paul R. Nelson, claims in new ads, the ones with "XXX" stamped across Kind's face.  —  It turns out that Kind — along with more than 200 …