Kerry an embarrassment  —  Memo to John Kerry: The best defense isn't a good offense.  —  As he stumped for California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides at Pasadena City College Monday, the junior senator from Massachusetts said the following:  —  Kerry under fire:

U.S. Central Command Charts Sharp Movement of the Civil Conflict in Iraq Toward Chaos  —  A classified briefing prepared two weeks ago by the United States Central Command portrays Iraq as edging toward chaos, in a chart that the military is using as a barometer of civil conflict.

What's Wrong With The Press Corps?  —  This.  Greenwald comments: … It's not just unseemly, it's unprofessional.  The point of journalism, of punditry, of analysis, is that it's independent.  That doesn't mean it's not ideological, or even totally non-partisan, but that it's not written to attract external approval.

This Is No Fun  —  I just thought I would go on record stating that the last few weeks and months have really sucked for me.  I spent my whole life in the GOP- starting in 1984 with county meetings, going to Teenage Republican camp (my friends called it Hitler Youth Camp …

House control in range for Democrats-Reuters poll  —  WASHINGTON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Democrats are ahead in races for 12 of 15 key Republican-held seats in the U.S. House one week before the Nov. 7 elections, placing them within striking range of winning control of the chamber, according to Reuters/Zogby polls released on Wednesday.

Pelosi's Unintelligent Choice  —  If Democrats win control of the House next week, Nancy Pelosi's first test as speaker will arrive long before the 110th Congress convenes.  Her choice to head the House intelligence committee — unlike other House committees, this one is left entirely …

RANGEL & VEEP IN ALL-OUT WAR  —  REP. RIPS 'S.O.B.' AFTER TAX ASSAULT  —  Rep. Charles Rangel yesterday blasted Dick Cheney as a "son of a bitch" after the vice president said the Harlem lawmaker would raise taxes and destroy the economy if Democrats take control of the House.

Wages, benefits on upswing  —  WASHINGTON — Wages and benefits paid to American workers rose last quarter by the most since 2004, as the unemployment rate matched a five-year low.  —  The Labor Department said Tuesday that its employment cost index rose 1 percent compared with the second quarter.

WHY DID HE DO IT?  —  John Kerry's gaffe yesterday was a self-inflicted wound, greatly compounded by his refusal to apologize and his bizarre attack on the Republicans, as if they had somehow made him stick his foot in his mouth.  One wonders what possessed Kerry to say that soldiers are both dumb and lazy …

Dems hold record 15-point edge over GOP  —  NBC/WSJ poll: Worst may be over for Republicans after Foley sex scandal … WASHINGTON -  —  Mark Murray  —  The final pre-election NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll suggests that Democrats continue to have a significant advantage heading …

The Most Important Senate Race  —  Yesterday, a group of African-American Democrats from Prince George's County, Maryland, endorsed Republican Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele, a fellow black, for the U.S. Senate.  It might be the most important political development in the country this week.

Al Franken, San Francisco, Air America  —  FRANKEN GIVING UP?  —  Stuart Loses SF, Station Suggests Exit Coming Soon  —  *** Check the main page for updates ***  —  Is Al Franken soon ready to hang up his headphones for good?  —  Our friend Stuart Smalley has just been cancelled in San Francisco …