Hello everyone. While I would love to use my daily diary to promote John Edwards for President, or Greg Stumbo for Ky Senate in 08, a far more pressing issue has come up. I know there are several dedicated Kossacks that will carry the banner for myself and fellow Edwards supporters today. I would just like to say that I hope anyone that is interested in defeating Mitch McConnell in 08 to go to Greg Stumbo's site, Kentucky's current A.G., who has done an excellent job in that role and learn more. Here is the link:

http://www.stumbo2008.com/

There's more...

Now that our friends in the Senate have finally left the Capitol for the recess, we can use the moment of quiet reflection to work on a realistic understanding of the options that the Dems have in proposing Congressional measures on Iraq.

The last cut here was Chris's piece yesterday, which suggested that the big names in the Senate touting different plans should get together to work up a single plan which could be sold to the voters. (Something I think would be worthwhile.)

And also suggested that

the Murtha-Pelosi plan...actually has a real chance of passing

- with which suggestion I disagree.

There's more...

It's not a surprise at all, given earlier comments of Harry and other senior Dem senators (my piece from Friday).

So take his comments on CNN today as just confirmation that nothing much has moved following the House and Senate votes on Friday and yesterday.

There's more...

A few days ago, Jonathan cited a recent Pew survey for its results on Iran.

Their stuff is always worth mooching around in, and, as early as page 5, pulls up this dispiriting stat:

On the question Will the US achieve its goals in Iraq? the nation is split down the middle (47-46, in fact).

The partisan split, however, is nowhere near as clear cut as you - OK, I - thought.

There's more...

In this morning's media, I see signs that, while S Con Res 63 (House voting at 1600 today, according to the Note) is a no-brainer for all (almost all?) Dem MCs, the Murtha Proviso may be a different matter.

Few around here will be staggered to learn (LA Timespiece) the name of one doubter:

many Democrats worry about the consequences of trying to block the troop increase by tying strings to the supplemental war appropriations bill Bush has requested. These Democrats warn that Republicans will accuse the party of undermining the military because it is difficult to isolate funding for the troop increase without affecting military personnel already deployed.

"It is a Gordian knot," said California Rep. Ellen O. Tauscher (D-Alamo), who supports the nonbinding resolution.

There's more...