• John Kerry is not funny. Neither is the situation in Iraq that Republican candidates are distancing themselves from. [WP, NYT]

• “Tuesday’s vote will deliver a referendum on six years of Bush’s leadership.” [WP]
• Network news anchors — The New Class, face their first prime-time national election coverage ratings battle. Brian, Katie, and Charlie will have support from master sensei Brokaw, Schieffer, and Stephanopoulos respectively. [WSJ]
• Republican leadership’s talking points received loud and clear by average Republicans: “The biggest thing that I’m afraid of is that the Democrats will take power. We’d see an increase in taxes and weaker national defense. Plus, there would be a redistribution of income. Big-time.” [WP]
• Hillary Clinton issued her “most comprehensive criticism” to date on all things Iraq. [NYT]
• The genius of Barack Obama laid bare: every campaign stop promotes his book, his chances in 2008, and the Democratic candidate he is ostensibly supporting. [NYT]
• Tommy Carcetti Martin O’Malley is trying to talk his way to Annapolis. [WP]
• It’s easy! Create your own vicious Campaign ad! [WSJ]

• CBS News reports, “George Bush spends 58% of US Budget on Whiskey and some Bling for his hommies.” [CBS News]

• Proving that August has been “racism month” in politics for decades, it was this day in 1957 that Strom Thurmond ended his 24 hour filibuster of the civil rights bill. [This Day In Mythstory]
• US uses foreign aid as bribe money to countries on the UN Security Council in exchange for pro-war votes, probably. Maybe. Possibly. [Freakonomics]
• Cenus report on poverty and income released today, but administration doesn’t want you to know that everyone is poorer, unless they’re not. [The Carpetbagger Report]
• McCain bored of dry-humping Bush, headed to South Carolina to make love, sweet love. [Pandagon]
• Now you know about secret holds, and knowing is half the battle. [TPMmuckraker]

MORE »

* The big news of the week: according to a new court filing in the Scooter Libby prosecution, Libby testified that he leaked information about a National Intelligence Estimate with the specific permission of President Bush. MORE »

And now, a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the workings of the Wonkette sausage factory. As always, IM screen names are pseudonyms. MORE »

• Reliable Source: John Snow brings entourage of reporters, aides, and security to go holiday shopping. . . D.C. Style magazine believes sex sells. . . Bob Novak, Dan Snyder, Bernard Shaw spotted at Redskins-Cowboys game. [WP]
• Inside Politics: Media Research Center names CBS as the most liberal network in ‘05. [WT] MORE »