Washington DC, the most powerful city in the world, was paralyzed last night by a deadly “wintry mix” of frozen water and slightly less frozen water. Upwards of two inches of the mysterious powder descended upon the city like white death, leaving buses running on emergency schedules, trains aflame, and major roads beset with vigilantes on tricked-out motorcycles. MORE »

* After she delights and amuses Judge Walton, Andrea Mitchell will (probably) drag her ass to the Smithsonian for a book promotion/interview with Gwen Ifill. $25 at 8PM. [Smithsonian]
* Learn ballroom dancing in the “Corcoran’s famed interior.” Includes the Fox Trot, the Cha-Cha and the Tango. For you hand-sweaters, free champagne. Cocktail attire is encouraged. $45 solo, $75 for a couple at 7PM. Do it for the Tuckster, “I’m 37. I’ve got four kids. I have a steady job. I don’t do things that I’m not good at very often. I’m psyched to get to do that.” [Corcoran]
* Apples in Stereo, Casper & The Cookies at the Black Cat. $15 at 8PM. [Black Cat]
* Stellastarr and Soft Complex at the Rock & Roll Hotel. $14 at 8PM. [R&R]
* Or just stay in and lock your door and for godssake STAY OFF THE ROADS — there’s SNOW!

Panic! There’s SNOW outside! As the federal government struggles to cope with this strange, cold, slippery water-like substance that’s coated every exposed surface of the city, employees everywhere are being sent home early — so no one’s reading us! MORE »

Ok, we’re going to agree with Howard Mortman. This might be the dumbest press briefing question ever: MORE »

* Don’t read this while eating dinner. [Mr. T in DC]
* Sincerely, please treat yourself to the vodka and vampire lair that is Russia House. [DCist]
* “Why are there so many ‘cunty’ women in DC?” And this, more puzzling complaint: “Bartenders who have no power in life and therefore abuse what little power they have over the distribution of alcohol. I just want a beer bitch. And no, you won’t get a tip from me.” [Attention Span of a Fly]
* Related: “The bartender came right up to our group and said ‘Hey, I’ve been acting like a jerk all night and I’m sorry. I got in a fight with my fiance and it wasn’t fair for me to take it out on you. What kind of shots would you like?’” [WonL]
* How cold is it? [why.i.hate.dc]
* Marion Barry evades taxes, gets lingam massage. [The DC Universe]

The Democrats are having a grand old time at their Retreat today — telling ghost stories, staying up late, falling backwards into each other’s arms — so MSNBC is doing what they do best: wall-to-wall political coverage. MORE »

We automatically tune out the cable-news Daily Weather Freakout because it’s always some trailer park in the south or whatever, but it appears there’s an actual Tornado Watch in DC, right now. MORE »

The great thing about election day is that there will be no news at all until the sun sets, but everyone has to pretend otherwise. So CNN has run a segment on Dick Cheney hunting, Michael J. Fox feasting on babies to cure his made-up disease, the same shot of five guys in line to vote in Ohio, and the weather. So much weather. MORE »

No one will vote in the following states today: MORE »

The heat and Today’s Cartoons have, quite possibly, driven our poor little cartoon expert the Comics Curmudgeon right over the edge. He’s starving them and making them fight — the upside is, whoever loses, we win!

After the jump — Joementum, Iraq, anti-semitic action stars, and the unbearable heat.

MORE »

• Things continued to spiral ever more out-of-control in Israel and Lebanon, with Hezbollah firing 200 rockets into Israel Wednesday and Israel’s ground troops engaging in “fierce fighting” throughout Lebanon. Agreements for an international peacekeeping force are being hashed out. [NYT]

• American Orthodox Jews are being courted by Republicans, who see themselves as being more staunchly pro-Israel than their opponents. [WP
• A number of members of congress have children or close relatives serving in the Armed Forces in Iraq. "A White House aide, who requested anonymity because his information was preliminary, said Wednesday that he knew of no top Bush administration official who had a relative who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan." [NYT]
• The out-going British Ambassador to Iraq warned Prime Minister Tony Blair that civil war is more likely in Iraq than Democracy. He said it would be “messy” for 5-10 years. [BBC]
• Connecticut Senate primary race: “[Ned] Lamont, a political novice, has support from 54 percent of likely Democratic voters in the Quinnipiac University poll, while [Sen. Joe] Lieberman has support from 41 percent of voters.” [AP]
• The Administration will present legislation to Congress giving “clarity” to the Supreme Court’s detainee treatment rulings. [NYT]
• If the Democrats fail to take Congress this year, veteran Representative Charlie Rangel (D-NY) will quit. [NYT]
• It’s hot. [NOAA]