The Senate Race in Connecticut  —  The Congressional elections are very much about America's problems in Iraq.  But the campaigns have shed little light on exactly what should happen next.  Nowhere is that more true than in Connecticut.  The two leading candidates, Ned Lamont and Joseph Lieberman …

Webb: Democrats will provide Iraq remedy  —  RICHMOND, Va. - The only remedy to a series of Iraq policy failures by President Bush is a Democratic takeover of Congress in the Nov. 7 election, Virginia Senate candidate Jim Webb said Saturday.  —  The former Republican, who was President …

HOW DO YOU SPELL DESPERATION?  G.O.P.  —  Want to know what desperation looks like?  —  Here's what Bill Frist and Ken Mehlman sent out yesterday in a desperation email fundraiser.  They're scared to death that John Kerry and Ted Kennedy ponied up to elect Democrats.  —  Let's see their $2 million, and raise them.

Safavian Gets 18-Month Prison Term in Abramoff Case (Update2)  —  Oct. 27 (Bloomberg) — Former White House official David Safavian was sentenced to 18 months in prison for lying and obstructing justice in the investigation of disgraced Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Biden, calling Iraq 'rathole' backs Courtney and Lamont, but says he won't campaign against Lieberman  —  U.S. Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Delaware Democrat and a leading critic of President Bush and the war in Iraq, on Friday backed Vernon Democrat Joseph D. Courtney in his rematch with U.S. Rep. Robert R. Simmons, R-2nd District.

Congressman facing ethics flap  —  Staffers accuse Rep. Tim Murphy of wrongly mixing official duties, campaign work  —  By Gary Rotstein, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, who is seeking his third term in Congress, has mixed campaign activities and official government work …

Too Little, Too Late?  —  President Bush made a big show this week of reevaluating his Iraq policy.  It made a difference-but only with his base and only at the margins.  The new NEWSWEEK poll finds likely voters still favoring the Democrats.  —  Marl Wilson / Getty Images  —  Change in the Air?

Debra Dickerson: The GOP's failure to pitch its big tent  —  EXPLAINING INCOME INEQUALITY....It's worth reading Jon Chait's entire article about rising income inequality in the New Republic this week, but for my money here's the most important factoid to lodge firmly in your brain:

Dems spring surprise TV ad on Ryun  —  Washington — House Democrats launched a surprise television attack against Rep. Jim Ryun of Kansas on Friday night, hoping to increase the number of competitive races in the battle for control of Congress.  —  Ryun "voted against a $1,500 combat bonus for our troops …

US Republicans in Crisis  —  TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Tehran's interim Friday Prayers Leader Seyed Ahmad Khatami stressed that the savage and devilish performance of the US President George W Bush has placed Republicans in a very critical condition.  —  Addressing a large fervent congregation …

'Not America's man in Iraq,' Premier says  —  Aides say Maliki warns U.S. to respect nation's sovereignty.  —  Iraq's prime minister sharply criticized U.S. policy Friday during a private meeting with the American ambassador, pointing to the United States' failure to either reduce violence …

Businesses Seek Protection on Legal Front  —  Left to right: Stephen Hilger/Bloomberg News; Hiroko Masuike for The New York Times; Adam Berry/Bloomberg News; David McIntyre/Bloomberg News; and Mychele Daniau/Agence France-Presse-Getty Images  —  Frustrated with laws and regulations …

Ongoing 'intifada' in France has injured 2,500 police in 2006  —  This might have dropped below the radar, but Al Qaida and its allies are literally battling the Crusaders every day in Europe.  And so far, Europe isn't doing so well.  —  "We are in a state of civil war, orchestrated by radical Islamists …

Political foes pull out stops  —  Ex-president backs Gillibrand; Sweeney touts AMD in Malta  —  Click byline for more stories by writer.  —  COLONIE — In the Capital Region's most contentious congressional race Thursday, Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand reached for some national star power as U.S. Rep. John Sweeney got down to earth.

APPEAL FOR REDRESS: ASTROTURFING … And that's what's occurring with the "Appeal for Redress" web site.  —  The missing piece of the puzzle was actually available from the start: … That's from the October 26 New York Sun - kudos to the only reporters in the crowd who had the guts to tell the truth about this.