As Vote Nears, Stances on War Set Off Sparks  —  For at least a few hours on Tuesday, President Bush had a chance to relive his victorious campaign of 2004, taking a break from a bleak Republican campaign season as he attacked Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts over the war in Iraq.

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

North Korea Will Resume Nuclear Talks  —  North Korea agreed Tuesday to resume nuclear disarmament talks, a first sign of easing tensions since the country's nuclear test this month.  But the talks have dragged on inconclusively for three years, and the chances for rolling back the country's …

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.

Race Preferences Vote Splits Michigan  —  Three years after the Supreme Court heard Jennifer Gratz's challenge to the University of Michigan's affirmative action policy, she is still fighting racial preferences, this time in a Michigan ballot initiative.  —  "We have a horrible history …

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 …

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.

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.

Olbermann: 'Stupid' Bush Team Misinterpret Kerry, Laura Bush in 'Gutter' over Fox Ads  —  On Tuesday's Countdown, MSNBC host Keith Olbermann came to the defense of Senator John Kerry in the aftermath of the Democratic Senator's comment that those who don't study and get an education …

Hezbollah confirms Israel talks  —  Hezbollah's leader has confirmed that indirect talks with Israel on a prisoner exchange are under way, describing them as "serious".  —  Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah said a United Nations mediator had been meeting officials from both sides, but he provided no further details.

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 …