The Ugly Side of the G.O.P.  —  I applaud the thousands of people, many of them poor, who traveled from around the country to protest in Jena, La., last week.  But what I'd really like to see is a million angry protesters marching on the headquarters of the National Republican Party in Washington.

Columbia's Conceit  —  Exactly what would it have accomplished to "engage in a debate" with Hitler?  —  On Saturday John Coatsworth, acting dean of Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, made the remark that "if Hitler were in the United States and …

The Center Holds  —  In the beginning of August, liberal bloggers met at the YearlyKos convention while centrist Democrats met at the Democratic Leadership Council's National Conversation.  Almost every Democratic presidential candidate attended YearlyKos, and none visited the D.L.C.

The Right Fight for Democrats  —  This week's showdown over children's health insurance is the first skirmish in the new battle for universal health coverage.  It is also the first confrontation between the president and Congress fought out almost entirely on terms set by the new Democratic majority.

Two girls, the Saudi Religius Police, a mobile phone and a can of pepper spray  —  Jules Crittenden and Blue Star Chronicles have it:  —  Saudi Religious Police Attacked by Girls (emphasis added) … Notice how the crowd didn't take the Religious Police's side, either. … It gets better:

23% Approve of MoveOn.org Petraeus Ad, 58% Disapprove  —  Twenty-three percent (23%) of Americans approve of an ad run in the New York Times "that referred to General Petraeus as General Betray Us."  A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 58% disapproved.

Call Him an Oddball if You Must, but Do Call  —  Assuming that they have even tuned in to this interminable presidential campaign, many Americans just caught a glimpse of a Rudolph W. Giuliani long known to New Yorkers.  —  Note that we said a Rudolph Giuliani.  There are several versions of the former mayor.

Kevin Spacey Meets Venezuela's Chavez  —  CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Actor Kevin Spacey met privately Monday with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, one of Washington's most outspoken critics in Latin America.  —  Neither Spacey — who has won Academy Awards for roles in "The Usual Suspects" …

Clinton Camp Raises Q3 Money Expectations for Rival  —  Clinton Camp Puts Own Q3 Haul at $17-20 Million; Predicts Obama's Over $30 Million  —  In the last week before the third quarter fundraising totals are due, the presidential campaign of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y. …

Court grants 17 new cases; voter ID, death penalty review  —  The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to add 17 new cases to its new Term's decision docket, including a pair of appeals on the constitutionality of requiring voters to show a photo ID before they may vote (Crawford v. Marion County Election Board …

SO HARD?  —  Now, was that so hard?  —  As you know, Iranian President Ahmadinejad spoke yesterday before a raucous crowd at Columbia University.  The president of the university excoriated him.  He backtracked a bit from his statements about Israel, perhaps as some commentators have noted …

Democratic Party Maintains Solid Image Advantage Over GOP  —  Public Prefers Democratic Party to Republican for handling terrorism, military security  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Public attitudes toward the two major political parties have not changed much in recent months.