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.

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.

Governor race a tossup … The Maryland governor's race is a virtual tie less than a week before Election Day, as Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s relentless attacks on Mayor Martin O'Malley's record on crime and schools have eroded the Democrat's support in the Baltimore suburbs, a new poll for The Sun shows.

Letter from Mike Stark  —  The following is a letter to NBC29 from Mike Stark, the man who was tackled for a comment he made at Senator Allen's campaign stop in Charlottesville on Tuesday.  —  My name is Mike Stark.  I am a law student at the University of Virginia, a marine, and a citizen journalist.

Polling Right-Of-Center Bloggers On The 2006 Election  —  Right Wing News emailed more than 230 right-of-center bloggers to ask them about the 2006 election.  The following 62 blogs responded.  —  The Absurd Report, Ankle Biting Pundits (Patrick Hynes), Annika's Journal, The Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler …

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 …

Lazy and uneducated photo of the day!  —  Someone just sent me this.  I think it's too good to be true, but you can inspect the full-sized version yourself by clicking the image.  —  If it is a photoshop, it's awfully well done.  —  Update: Readers think it's real.  I concur.

National Battle Over Abortion Focuses on South Dakota Vote  —  SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — In the downtown headquarters of those opposing a ban on nearly all abortions in this state, there are notes from around the country taped up and down the hallway: "They need to butt out of women's lives" and "Why did S.D. vote for this?"

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.

Partisan Trends: Dems Peaking at the Right Time  —  In the final full month before Election 2006, the number of people identifying themselves as Republicans has fallen to its lowest level since we began reporting this measure of partisan trends in January 2004.

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.

What if We're to Blame?  —  "Towering over Presidents and [Congress] . . . public opinion stands out, in the United States, as the great source of power, the master of servants who tremble before it."  — James Bryce, "The American Commonwealth," 1888  —  The problem of American democracy is (of course) democracy.

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 …

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.

House Democrats Propose More Spending for Military and Education  —  GOP Says Plan Would Imperil Efforts to Balance Budget  —  As part of their midterm election push, House Democrats are promoting a wide-ranging legislative agenda that would add tens of billions of dollars a year …

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 …