• Bush gave speech in Salt Lake City yesterday that, “painted the war on terror as an epic struggle between good and evil.” [NYT]

• Iran’s refusal to halt nuclear program prompts Bush to call them a “grave threat” and declare “there must be consequences.” Sound familiar? [WP]
• Congressional Democrats plan to, “go for a no-confidence vote on Rumsfeld,” when they return to session next week. [WP]

• IRS concludes 2-year investigation into remarks by NAACP leader, allows them to keep “tax-emept” status. [WP]
• NASA issues Lock-Mart a 13-year, $8.1 billion contract to do some outer space stuff. [NYT, W$J]
• Many of the closely contested congressional seats are held by Republicans, including some of our favorites. [USAT]

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• World Cup affiliations as a touchstone for the pitfalls of inter-party dating, and some asshole that actually carries a ” George W. Bush Freedom Credit Card.” [LuLu Dates DC]

• At IRS headquarters any work employees do will not make them free. [City Mouse]
• DC voting-rights activists trudge on, undeterred by the knowledge that plans based on shaming Congress into action are 0-for-the history of time. [Wanderings In DC]
• Washington Times reporter bothers to show up for a DC Council meeting and gets tossed out for taking the last cranberry muffin. [DCist]

So Chuck Grassley wants the IRS to audit pimps. He wants them to file wage statements for those under their employ. Which, sure, will maybe catch a couple more pimps, but won’t anyone please think of the hoes? We want to withhold payroll taxes from them now? MORE »

Will it ever stop? What have we done to deserve… wait, hold on — it’s totally sunny out right now. Kinda pleasant, actually! Still, the Post reports today that the IRS, Justice, and the National Archives are waterlogged and closed. But wait — don’t go trafficking drugs, evading taxes, and not counting your slaves as 3/5ths of your state’s representation just yet! While the IRS remains closed and without a projected date for reopening, their spokesperson promises that “the tax system continues to operate.” Justice is apparently fine too, according to this email we were forwarded earlier today: MORE »

* When we look at Golf Digest’s ranking of Washington golfers, all we see is a whole lot of strokes. [Golf Digest] MORE »

* A new video game that tries to “out-violence” Grand Theft Auto — brought to you by, who else, the Christian Right. [Petroleum Jelliffe] MORE »

* Thanks arcane Massachusetts state holiday! We needed that extra day to sober up and write the little tiny numbers in the little tiny boxes. [IRS] MORE »