TIMEOUT: Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson's call for staffers to receive innoculations prior to attending a NASCAR event might offend race fans if they assume the Chairman thinks they are contagious, but he doesn't. 
OFFISIDES: Senator Larry Craig continues to annoy the general public and outrage his own party by his unwillingness to resign his seat. The Senator so longs for the trappings of power that come with being a US Senator that he is willing to live in the haze of constant shame from the general public, his own colleagues and his own party. Few scandals demonstrate how intoxicating the power that those in Washington possess can be. He continues to offend and is therefore offsides. A poll of Iowans shows that they want him to retire. Greg Smith and Associates, 
FALSE START: The Democrats constant claims that renewing FISA will endanger the civil liberties of Americans is premature and unbalanced. Nothing in the law threatens the civil rights of Americans without legitimate national security concerns balancing out that intrusion. The Democrats do not mention this and the fact that this exception is recognized in law. 
INTERFERENCE: While Dan Bartlett's commentary on the current GOP field definitely inspires interest, the Bush administration should avoid advising the GOP politically. They are hardly in a place to recommend poltical moves right now. At this point in 1999 George W. Bush looked like a lightweight. Having fellow Republicans point that out at that time did not help, nor does this help now.
PERSONAL FOUL: Chris Matthews asked Fred Thompson to name the Prime Minister of Canada, presumably hoping that Matthews either did not know the name or could not immediately think of it. This would play into the caricature that NBC (SNL and MSNBC tandem) is trying to paint of Thompson as an intellectual lightweight who doesn't really want to be President. Yet again, Matthews and NBC cannot contain their overwhelming bias.
ZEROEING IN ON THE PLAY: The Political Ref will be watching today's debate closely to see how usually hostile to Republicans Chris Matthews moderates this debate. Check back soon.
FIRST DOWN: Hillary's recent showing in the Iowa Caucus polls put her ahead. This state is critical to Hillary's inevitability strategy. If she takes Iowa, she will probably take it all. See the polls October 15, 2007
Political Headlines
- Al-Quaeda in Iraq Reported Crippled- Thomas E. Ricks and Karen DeYoung,
- An Internet Jihad Aims at U.S. Viewers- Michael Moss & Souad Mekhennet, NY
- Times
- Bauer Urges 'Open Mind,'- Ralph Z. Hallow, Washington Times
- Bush Warns Protectionism Will Cost U.S. Jobs- MSNBC, AP
- Candidates Spar Over Who Is a Real Republican- Marc Santora, NY Times
- Giuliani Highlighting Rivals' Records- Philip Elliot, AP
- Giuliani Sells New York as Town He Tamed- Adam Nagourney, NY Times
- Gore Gets a Cold Shoulder- Steve Lyte, The Sydney Morning Herald
- Hillary's Hidden Inspiration- Paul Kengor, Washington Times
- NASCAR Fans Don't Take Kindly to Immunization Alert- Fox News
- NASCAR Flap Raises Caution Flag for Dems- Mike Baker, AP
- No Guarantees With Nearly Three Months to First Primary Votes- Fox News
- Obama Links Faith and Enviro Protection- Amy Lorentzen, AP
- Presbyterian (USA) Losing Conservatives- Bruce Schreiner, Washington Times,
- AP
- Rush Limbaugh Earns Big Money From Senate Letter Chastising Him - Fox News
- Sanchez: Media's Reporting of Iraq War Endangered Soldiers' Lives- Fox News
- Thompson's Absence Noticed in N.H- Philip Elliot, AP
- Washington Post
- White House Is Leaning on Interim Appointments- Philip Shenon, NY Times
For Daily Edification and Relaxation
- View a Spectacular Slideshow of Hubble Telescope Photos,Hubblesite
Italian Dinner Shows Lighter Side of Giuliani, Akron Beakon Journal, AP Video- A View of the Earth and the Moon from the Shuttle, NASA.gov
- Auroras: Paintings in the Sky, Exploratorium.edu
- A Pictoral History of Abraham Lincoln, Picturehistory.com
- A Few Seconds of Music and Relaxation, Politicalref.com
Political Editorials
- If Obama is ever to soar, he's got to chill first, Akron Beacon Journal
- Cop: 'We're basically policing Mexico,' E.J. Montini, azcentral.com
Al Gore Photo copyrighted by Brett Wilson In Good Company; Nobel Peace Prize Committee Rewards Another Visceral Bush Critic for Suspect Accomplishment Perhaps if so many of the "facts" the movie An Inconvenient Truth had not been proven to be false this award might be merited on the grounds that it inspired a great deal of interest in environmental issues. Because the movie is so suspect factually the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Al Gore should be viewed in the same way Carter's is, as a condemnation of the Bush Administration.
Piercing the Hillary Dam of Inevitability: The Coming Bloody Battle in Iowa HIlliary leads nationally by over twenty percentage points and in every state. But one state eludes Hillary's dominance and that state happens to be one of the most important in the election, Iowa. Obama's only hope seems to rest in Iowa. See the Iowa Democratic Caucus poll averages here. Considering the unmatched level of media hype surrounding the Obama candidacy, a win in Iowa would no doubt pierce the air of inevitability that currently hovers over the Democratic primary. Expect an all out battle over the Hawkeye State. The Washington Times agrees as demonstrated in its article, Democrats See Iowa as a Golden Chance, by Christina Bellantoni.
Chris Matthews Attempts to Sabotage Thompson Candidacy: In Tuesday's Republican debate moderated by NBC's Chris Matthews, Mr. Matthews asked Thompson for the name of the Prime Minister of Canada. No other candidate was put on the spot like this. Thompson knew the answer but if he hadn't Matthews would have claimed his victim. Chris said later on his 7:00 PM Hardball show, "That might have been unusual knowledge on his part," clearly demonstrating that Matthews intended to make Thompson look foolish at best, and sabotage his candidacy at worst.
Bush Advisor Slams GOP Field: Washington Post, Bartlett on the GOP Field: A Hick, a "Dud" and a "Flip-Flopper," Peter Baker
Could Mike Huckabee Throw a Wrench Into Romney's Masterplan? Fox News, Mike Huckabee Predicts Win in Iowa, Associated Press
The Media Never Misses a Chance to Mention Romney's Faith, What About Obama's? Fox News, As Obama Talks Religion, Questions Surround His Controversial Pastor, Cristina Corbin
Edwards Questions Hillary's Lead, AP Edwards says Dean looked inevitable, too, Amy Lorentzen
Democrats Stiffarm Michigan, Good for the Dems in General Election? Newsmax, 4 Democrats Out of Michigan Primary, Associated Press.
Thompson to Make Debate Debut at 4:00 PM on CNBC. RUNDOWN: MSNBC, GOP's 6th debate is Thompson's 1st; Washington Post, For Thompson, It's Showtime, Michael D. Shear; New York Times, A Crucial Debut for Thompson, Jim Rutenberg. 10/9/07