Alexi Giannoulias is a Democrat running for Senate in Illinois. Here is the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s anti-Alexi Giannoulias attack ad that is basically season two of the Wire (the Greeks, not the Poles or the blacks) plus the Sopranos finale, minus Journey, divided by Rod Blagojevich. [Ben Smith]

Will Sarah Palin appear at a fancy fundraiser tonight for the National Republican Congressional Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee? No way in hell, unless she changes her mind! First she was invited to headline at the event, and she said yes, but then she said no because she was so “overexposed,” so events organizers booked Newt Gingrich instead because Newt Frigging Gingrich is a less “controversial” speaker. But the drama was just beginning! MORE »

We all know that the Republicans control Twitter, but it looks like they’re working on Facebook now. It would be astonishing, though, if the failed committee responsible for losing more than a dozen Senate seats in the last two elections were to get 2 “supporters” on Facebook. [Twitter via Blue Gal]

Not that Al Franken is any great shakes, but you’d think that if the NRSC wanted to put out a “Hollywood Stars against Franken”-themed ad then they could’ve drummed up a better coterie than a forgotten SNL cast member from 20 years ago, a lesser Baldwin, two other guys we’ve never heard of in our lives, and finally the big showstopper: a cheesy singer famous for stealing rock & roll songs from black people in the ’50s so that they could be repackaged into powdery, “family-friendly” background noise. The NRSC also decided to have this very old Pat Boone appear without a shirt, because he is fishing in his swimming pool. If only we had Lawrence Welk around to do the old flapping dickey, then we’d have a show! [YouTube]

While not quite as powerful as the NRSC’s holiday delight, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) is urging members of its spam list to send a lump of coal to Senate minority leader Mitch “Grinch” McConnell. Because, you know, Harry Reid has been doing just a perfect job trying to give Bush whatever he wants. MORE »

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is trying to get more support for next year’s elections with this play on that famous song, “Twelve Days of Christmas,” or whatever it’s called. Go ahead and watch. We’ll wait. [Pause]. OK SORRY! We knew it was bad and we made you watch anyway. Again, sorry. But yeah, still, basic point: The Republicans are going to lose everything next year by like 20 million points. [YouTube]

* The NRSC and DSCC are raising lotsa dough. [Hotline via Daily Kos] MORE »