Top Items:
New York Times:
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.
RELATED ITEMS:
The Free Press, Mankato, MN:
Kerry cancels Mankato appearance — The dueling rallies scheduled for Mankato today on behalf of Republican congressman Gil Gutknecht and Democratic challenger Tim Walz lost some of their pizzaz Tuesday night when Sen. John Kerry pulled out of the Democratic rally.
Bill Brubaker / Washington Post:
Kerry Remark Draws Sharp Criticism — A comment Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) made about getting "stuck in Iraq," which he later said was a botched joke about President Bush, prompted sharp criticism today from Bush and other Republican leaders. — Bush accused Kerry of insulting American troops …
CNN:
After remark, Kerry curtails campaigning for Democrats … WASHINGTON (CNN) — Sen. John Kerry has canceled plans to campaign for several fellow Democrats after controversy over his comments to college students about getting "stuck in Iraq." — President Bush's 2004 presidential rival …
Discussion:
Captain's Quarters, Associated Press, The Huffington Post, Right Wing News, The Allen Blog and Bill's Bites
Michael R. Gordon / New York Times:
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.
RELATED ITEMS:
The Daily Dish:
Abandoning An American Soldier — While the media is obsessed parsing the ad libs of someone on no ballot this fall, something truly ominous has just happened in Iraq. The commander-in-chief has abandoned an American soldier to the tender mercies of a Shiite militia.
Kirk Semple / New York Times:
Iraqi Demands Pullback; U.S. Lifts Baghdad Cordon — Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki demanded the removal of American checkpoints from the streets of Baghdad on Tuesday, in what appeared to be his latest and boldest gambit in an increasingly tense struggle for more independence from his American protectors.
Discussion:
Taylor Marsh, Informed Comment, Bull Moose, the talking dog, Whiskey Bar, FP Passport, The Heretik, Democrats.com and The News Blog
John Cole / Balloon Juice:
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 …
Ruth Marcus / Washington Post:
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 …
Geoff Earle / New York Post:
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.
Ezra Klein:
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.
Hindrocket / Power Line:
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 …
Bloomberg:
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.
Discussion:
Hotline On Call
Mark Murray / MSNBC:
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 …
John Whitesides / Reuters:
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.
Discussion:
Ankle Biting Pundits
Jay Bryant / Real Clear Politics:
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.
Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Video: New RNC ad calls on Kerry to apologize — Note to the RNC: stop coding your embedded ads to auto-start. — They've got an online petition going, too. — Kerry hasn't yet released the full video or transcript of his speech at the Angelides event so it's still unclear if he was referring to the troops or to Bush.
Brad Wilmouth / NewsBusters.org:
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 …