memeorandum: The signers of the Declaration of Independence were "brave people … (Mike Huckabee/PolitiFact)

10:55 AM ET, October 23, 2007

Top Items:

McCain: 'Seven Or Eight Months' More Until We Can Start Iraq Withdrawal — In an interview with the Nashua Telegraph editorial board, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said yesterday that the "next eight months" will determine whether the Iraq war can be "won":

Kevin Landrigan / Nashuatelegraph.com:

McCain: Next eight months may decide war — You need to upgrade your Flash Player — Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., predicted the next eight months will reveal whether the battle against insurgents in Iraq will be won, and, if not, the American people will demand we withdraw American troops short of that victory.

Discussion: The Carpetbagger Report

Washington Post / The Trail:
A GOP Race That Refuses to Narrow

Discussion: MSNBC, National Review Online, OxBlog, Neocon News, Central Sanity, Right Wing News, Power Line and Ankle Biting Pundits

Editor and Publisher:

Stephen Colbert Moves Ahead of Richardson, Closes in on Biden, in National Poll! — NEW YORK He's been "in" the race for less than a week, and already faux-pundit Stephen Colbert has surged ahead of longtime candidate Gov. Bill Richardson in one national poll gauging the race for the Democratic nod for president.

Discussion: Shakespeare's Sister

Mike Huckabee / PolitiFact:

The signers of the Declaration of Independence were "brave people, most of whom, by the way, were clergymen." — 1 out of 56 equals 'most'? No, it doesn't — During the Republican debate, Mike Huckabee said he believes one of the defining issues facing the country is the sanctity of human life.

Discussion: Comments from Left Field, The Carpetbagger Report, The Van Der Galiën Gazette, Alternate Brain and Rising Hegemon

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
Mostest — I've sort of gotten tired of explaining that, no …

Discussion: All Spin Zone and Shakespeare's Sister

Jake Tapper / ABCNEWS:

Thompson's Daughter's Death Informs Right-to-Die Stance — Thompson Says End-of-Life Decisions Should Not Become 'Political Football' — In a moving, pointed and rare response to a question about the Terri Schiavo controversy, former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee Monday afternoon described details …

Discussion: Redstate, Buck Naked Politics, race42008.com, Central Sanity, Political Radar, Right-Thinking … and Pandagon

Marc Santora / New York Times:
Thompson Finds Reason to Discuss Schiavo Case

Discussion: St. Petersburg Times, National Review, TIME and race42008.com

Jed Rubenfeld / New York Times:

Lawbreaker in Chief — AT his confirmation hearings last week, Michael B. Mukasey, President Bush's nominee for attorney general, was asked whether the president is required to obey federal statutes. Judge Mukasey replied, "That would have to depend on whether what goes outside …

Discussion: Prairie Weather, Law Blog, Brilliant at Breakfast and The Heretik

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:

Islamofascism — Did you know it was Islamofascism Awareness Week? And have you thought about what you're going to do to raise awareness about this concept the loss of which would be such a devastating blow to the vanity and intellectual pretensions of countless right-wing bloggers …

Discussion: The Carpetbagger Report, Kesher Talk and Eunomia

Christopher Hitchens / Slate:
Defending Islamofascism — IT'S A VALID TERM. HERE'S WHY.

Discussion: Left in the West, Three Wise Men, Vox Popoli, IDS - NEWS WEB SITE, No More Mister Nice Blog, Gateway Pundit, The Van Der Galiën Gazette, Armavirumque, Liberty Street, Right Voices, Aljazeera, The Heretik, Indybay newswire, The Volokh Conspiracy and Sister Toldjah

Jonathan E. Kaplan / The Hill:

Pelosi to launch PR blitz to beat '08 media frenzy — Nearly one year after recapturing control of Congress, House Democratic leaders will embark on a publicity blitz starting in November to combat a dismal 25 percent approval rating. — Democratic leadership aides huddled with rank …

Discussion: MSNBC, The Van Der Galiën Gazette, JammieWearingFool and CNN Political Ticker

New York Times:

Even Closer to the Brink — The news out of Iraq just keeps getting worse. Now Turkey is threatening to send troops across the border to wipe out Kurdish rebel bases, after guerrillas killed at least a dozen Turkish soldiers. This latest crisis should have come as no surprise.

Discussion: Jules Crittenden, TigerHawk and Prairie Weather

John McCormick / The Swamp:

Obama going on offensive on Iran — Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama is going on the offensive in Iowa on Iran. — The Illinois Democrat's campaign is sending out a color mailing today in the early voting state that includes the headline, "While others went along, Obama opposed Bush's war plans."

Discussion: The Politico

Katharine Q. Seelye / The Caucus:
Obama Criticized Over Singer

Discussion: CNN Political Ticker, The Carpetbagger Report, Election Central and Facing South

Pundit Review Radio / BLACKFIVE:

ISLAMO-FASCISM LAMENESS- HOROWITZ SUCKED HOOVER — What a let down. My buddy Ebo and I attended Horowitz' opening night of Islamo-Fascism Awareness week and if this is our answer to sharia, then I guess Dirka Dirka Mohammed Jihad it will be. — Both of us were predisposed to agree wth …

Discussion: Althouse, Bookworm Room and michellemalkin.com

Gary L. McDowell / Opinion Journal:

The War for the Constitution — The anniversary of Robert Bork's failed nomination reminds us what's at stake in the coming election. — Twenty years ago today the United States Senate voted to reject President Reagan's nomination of Judge Robert H. Bork to the Supreme Court.

Discussion: Blue Crab Boulevard

Cindy Horswell / Houston Chronicle:

Liberty outraged over grave desecration — Police seek suspects for the damage done at Marine's plot — LIBERTY — To Jeremy Burris the word "liberty" was more than the name of his hometown. It was something worth fighting for. — An all-American kid from a little all-American town …

Discussion: NewsBusters.org, Stop The ACLU, Weasel Zippers and Moonbattery

Roy / alicublog:

NO GUARDRAILS. Today's crackpot statement: … You might think Responsible Conservatives would either ignore this or give it the Coulter's-gone-too-far treatment. That's pre-October 22 thinking, buddy: … Just some nut, right? Like this one, right? Surely the Serious People among them will go another way.

Discussion: On Deadline, Orcinus and Lean Left

Ertugrul Ozkok / Watching America:

Let the Americans Try and Stop Us! ... "What if American F-16s come in front of us to block us? Let them try, that's their business. ... Our targets will be on Barzani's military and economic targets. Our goal will be to transform the 'Kurdish dream' into a 'Turkish nightmare.'"

Discussion: The Newshoggers, Reuters, The Van Der Galiën Gazette, The Glittering Eye, The Moderate Voice, Death and Associated Press

Amy Merrick / Wall Street Journal:

More Debtors Use Bankruptcy To Keep Homes — Chapter 13 Filings Gain — In Popularity Because — They Halt Foreclosures — With loan defaults rising along with many mortgage payments, fast-growing numbers of homeowners are gambling on bankruptcy filings to try to stay in their homes.