memeorandum: Biden, calling Iraq 'rathole' backs Courtney and Lamont … (Don Michak/Journal Inquirer)

HOW DO YOU SPELL DESPERATION? G.O.P. — Want to know what desperation looks like? — Here's what Bill Frist and Ken Mehlman sent out yesterday in a desperation email fundraiser. They're scared to death that John Kerry and Ted Kennedy ponied up to elect Democrats. — Let's see their $2 million, and raise them.

Discussion: The Democratic Daily

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Jane Hamsher / Firedoglake:

Thanks, Howie — Howie Klein has worked tirelessly on the Blue America project this year. He has interviewed countless candidates, hosted interviews of those with progressive values in his weekly Blue America column, produced radio and internet ads on their behalf and now working …

Matt Stoller / MyDD:
Blue America and Tony Trupiano

Discussion: Crooks and Liars and DownWithTyranny!

Howie Klein / Firedoglake: Go Blue: Tony Trupiano

Bob Lewis / Associated Press:

Webb: Democrats will provide Iraq remedy — RICHMOND, Va. - The only remedy to a series of Iraq policy failures by President Bush is a Democratic takeover of Congress in the Nov. 7 election, Virginia Senate candidate Jim Webb said Saturday. — The former Republican, who was President …

Discussion: Sweetness & Light, Little Green Footballs, Blue Crab Boulevard, The Jawa Report, Riehl World View and Taylor Marsh

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Andrew Ferguson / Weekly Standard:

Tangled Webb — Cognitive dissonance in Virginia. … Yowie. We don't often hear rude talk like that up here in Arlington, Virginia, straight across the river from Washington, D.C. Here the leafy, winding streets are lined with Priuses and Volvos and the bumper stickers say "Visualize World Peace" and "Goddess Power."

Discussion: Riehl World View, Alabama Liberation Front, NewsBusters.org and Power Line

Don Michak / Journal Inquirer:

Biden, calling Iraq 'rathole' backs Courtney and Lamont, but says he won't campaign against Lieberman — U.S. Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Delaware Democrat and a leading critic of President Bush and the war in Iraq, on Friday backed Vernon Democrat Joseph D. Courtney in his rematch with U.S. Rep. Robert R. Simmons, R-2nd District.

Discussion: Blue Crab Boulevard

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Jane Hamsher / Firedoglake:
Kicking Ass and Taking Names

Discussion: Hullabaloo

Matt Browner Hamlin / My Left Nutmeg:
Why did Joe use all this cash?

Discussion: MyDD and Ned Lamont for Senate

Marcus Mabry / Newsweek:

Too Little, Too Late? — President Bush made a big show this week of reevaluating his Iraq policy. It made a difference-but only with his base and only at the margins. The new NEWSWEEK poll finds likely voters still favoring the Democrats. — Marl Wilson / Getty Images — Change in the Air?

Discussion: Eschaton and Daily Kos

Ezra Klein:

Power — I can't recommend Jon Chait's new article on the failure of pro-growth economics highly enough. It's not merely the best, but possibly the only, primer on why the current economic moment seems so unsettled, the once-discredited labor-liberals so ascendant, and the Clinton crowd so quiet.

Discussion: TAPPED, Matthew Yglesias and Pandagon

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Congressman facing ethics flap — Staffers accuse Rep. Tim Murphy of wrongly mixing official duties, campaign work — By Gary Rotstein, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, who is seeking his third term in Congress, has mixed campaign activities and official government work …

Discussion: Comments From Left Field

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Jonathan Weisman / Washington Post: Ethics Report on Foley Not Expected Before Elections

Kristin Jensen / Bloomberg:

Safavian Gets 18-Month Prison Term in Abramoff Case (Update2) — Oct. 27 (Bloomberg) — Former White House official David Safavian was sentenced to 18 months in prison for lying and obstructing justice in the investigation of disgraced Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Discussion: TalkLeft and Left in the West

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Matt Apuzzo / Associated Press:
Safavian Seeks Leniency in Abramoff Case

Discussion: TPMmuckraker

SilentPatriot / Crooks and Liars:

Letterman vs. O'Reilly...Round Two...Fight! — David Letterman didn't try to hide the fact last night that he just plain doesn't like Bill O'Reilly. He wasted no time bashing FOX News and doing what few people can do — ridiculing O'Reillys ratings (Letterman's audience is more than 2x as large .)

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Discourse.net, Ezra Klein, Shakespeare's Sister and The Reaction

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Lefty / A la Gauche:
David Letterman v. Bill O'Reilly Part II

Discussion: PSoTD

NEWS.com.au:

Muslim cleric linked with terror groups — ASIO warned authorities 20 years ago that Sheik Taj al-Din Al-hilaly could inflame communal violence in Australia. — Court judgments show ASIO initially believed the controversial mufti posed a risk to the community because of his alleged propensity to cause or promote violence.

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Little Green Footballs:
Rape-Supporting Sheikh: No One Can Sack Me

Discussion: Wizbang

Neil A. Lewis / New York Times:

Furor Over Cheney Remark on Tactics for Terror Suspects — The White House found itself fending off questions on Friday about what Vice President Dick Cheney meant when he agreed with a talk-radio host that there was nothing wrong with dunking a terrorism suspect in water if it saved lives.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice and Liberty Street

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Talking Points Memo: We're darn near six years into this nonsense, but still …

David Espo / Associated Press:

Dems spring surprise TV ad on Ryun — Washington — House Democrats launched a surprise television attack against Rep. Jim Ryun of Kansas on Friday night, hoping to increase the number of competitive races in the battle for control of Congress. — Ryun "voted against a $1,500 combat bonus for our troops …

Discussion: MyDD and Swing State Project

World Tribune.com:

Ongoing 'intifada' in France has injured 2,500 police in 2006 — This might have dropped below the radar, but Al Qaida and its allies are literally battling the Crusaders every day in Europe. And so far, Europe isn't doing so well. — "We are in a state of civil war, orchestrated by radical Islamists …

Discussion: A Blog For All and Blue Crab Boulevard

Digby / Hullabaloo:

He Said/She Said Woodshed — A number of commenters have objected to my characterization of Katie Couric's interview with Michael J. Fox. yesterday. Obviously I need to explain why I think it was wrong. — First of all, this is not actually a "controversy" in any legitimate sense.

Discussion: CBS News, The Mahablog and NO QUARTER

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Captain Ed / Captain's Quarters:
Michael Steele Corrects The Record

Discussion: The American Street

Kevin Drum / Political Animal:

Debra Dickerson: The GOP's failure to pitch its big tent — EXPLAINING INCOME INEQUALITY....It's worth reading Jon Chait's entire article about rising income inequality in the New Republic this week, but for my money here's the most important factoid to lodge firmly in your brain:

Stewart Bell / National Post:

Al-Qaeda warns Canada — Quit Afghan mission or endure attack like 9/11, threat says — OTTAWA - An al-Qaeda strategist has warned Canada to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan or face terrorist attacks similar to 9/11, Madrid and the London transit bombings.

Discussion: Hot Air