Statement of Senator John Kerry  —  As a combat veteran, I want to make it clear to anyone in uniform and to their loved ones: my poorly stated joke at a rally was not about, and never intended to refer to any troop.  —  I sincerely regret that my words were misinterpreted …

Bush says Rumsfeld, Cheney should stay  —  WASHINGTON - President Bush said Wednesday he wants Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Vice President Dick Cheney to remain in his administration until the end of his presidency, extending a job guarantee to two of the most-criticized members of his team.

Rush's Interview with President George W. Bush  —  RUSH: Mr. President.  —  THE PRESIDENT: Hey, Rush, how are you?  —  RUSH: Never better.  It's a thrill to have you on the program today and many thanks for making time for us.  —  THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, sir, for giving me a chance to visit with you.

In Lamont Race, Bitter Democrats Do Pre-Mortems  —  Lieberman Seems to Hug Big Lead in Connecticut; Ned Speaks in Past Tense; Lefties Blame Wolfson; Brazile: Bloggers 'Give You Wind But Not Sail'  —  Ned Lamont, Connecticut's Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, crossed the rainy street alone.

Poll Shows Iraq War Is Voters' Main Concern  —  A substantial majority of Americans expect Democrats to reduce or end American military involvement in Iraq if they win control of Congress next Tuesday, and say Republicans would maintain or increase troop levels to try to win the war if they hold …

Dobbs misrepresented Kerry's remarks, as CNN ignored AP report supporting Kerry's explanation … Leading off the October 31 edition of CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight, host Lou Dobbs misrepresented Sen. John F. Kerry's (D-MA) remarks during an October 30 speech at a campaign rally in Pasadena, California.

Republican House leader blames troops for Iraq mess  —  According to the #2 Republican in the US House, Congressman John Boehner, the Iraq mess is all the fault of the US troops on the ground in Iraq.  Boehner only moments ago had the following to say about who is to blame for Iraq:

US issues Lebanon 'plot' warning  —  The United States has said there is "mounting evidence" that Syria, Iran and Hezbollah are planning to topple the Lebanese government.  —  The White House said Syria hoped to stop the formation of an international tribunal to try suspects in the killing of former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri.

MARYLAND COURT'S INTERPRETATION OF RAPE LAW IS PREDICATED ON THE NOTION OF WOMEN AS CHATTEL  —  Yesterday a mid-level state appellate court in Maryland interpreted Maryland's common law in such a way as to preclude women from withdrawing consent to sex after penetration has occurred.

Allen's Fumbles, Romney's Gain  —  Even before the votes are counted, over the Republican Party a "thick darkness broodeth" — words from a Victorian hymn, for a party with a Victorian tendency.  But one Republican, who is not running for anything this year, will emerge from this bruising season with enlarged prospects.

Nearly half of Americans uncertain God exists: poll  —  Nearly half of Americans are not sure God exists, according to a poll that also found divisions among the public on whether God is male or female or whether God has a human form and has control over events.

Massachusetts' botched joke  —  It's hard to know where to start with our junior senator's botched joke, about dumb people getting stuck in Iraq.  —  The first person who comes to mind for me is Marine Cpl. Matt Boisvert.  When I met him at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in late 2004 …