After three years of "stay the course", the news media has recently reported that former Secretary of State James Baker is heading a bi-partisan think-tank to re-evaluate "the course" and to make recommendations for changing it. (We heard this a few months ago, didn't we?) Even the official GOP sound-byte has changed to "adapt to win". Even George Allen has changed his tune. Rumsfeld's message today was that the Iraqi's need to take charge of their own security--18 days before the election.
After W commented that he didn't know where Osama bin Laden was and really didn't care, suddenly, bin Laden is the most dangerous threat to American lives once again---18 days before the election.
More....
Gas prices have fallen for the past couple of months. Which makes today's news even more puzzling. The volatile future's market is suddenly optimistic....you know, those guys who panic when it rains. Seems oil prices dropped again today, even after OPEC announced it was cutting production by 1.2 million barrels per day--18 days before the election.
Kim Jong Il has said he regrets the recent North Korean nuclear tests and shows signs of backing off a nuclear showdown--18 days before the election.
AND....the Archdiocese of Florida has apologized to Mark Foley for abuse he suffered as a teen (as if that's an excuse for inflicting abuse on others)--18 days before the election.
Meanwhile.....
Iraqi witnesses claim that a rogue militia took control of Amara in southern Iraq. The US government says that "Amara is now quiet after tense fighting" today. Jamie McIntyre spoke on CNN from a room with a bookshelf behind him. Noticeably on the shelf? Copies of "Fiasco" by Thomas Ricks, "Cobra II" by Michael Gordon and Bernard Trainor, and "State of Denial" by Bob Woodward--all critical of the war in Iraq.
The Center for American Progress (www.thinkprogress.org) reports that residents of Baghdad are now receiving only 2.4 hours of electricity per day, as opposed to 8 hours a day in May, and 16-24 hours before the US invasion. I'm sure they're happy we're there.
A new RNC ad suggests that a vote for Democrats carries the risk of nuclear incineration. Other ads try to scare seniors by accusing Dems of aiming to shrink their benefit checks.
A Republican candidate for Congress from CA sent letters to Hispanics in Orange County warning them that immigrants who vote could spend time in jail. As I understand, the FBI raided his campaign office today.
The point? The fight is not over---18 days before the election.
I've been encouraged by the growing number of people commenting on the Raising Kaine site, and by the number of protesters at the "rally" yesterday at the Science Museum in Richmond yesterday. And yes, the predictions have been encouraging. BUT...we've still got 18 days until the election. Go Virginia Democrats!