Down in the Mud

"What's being lost in the semantic game over 'stay the course' is the new set of choices that really confront the administration. They are not tactical. They are strategic and they are all painful: partitioning Iraq into semiautonomous regions, changing the Al-Maliki government, asking for diplomatic cooperation from neighboring countries like Syria and Iran, or adding more U.S. troops."

Speaking of Iraq, my profile of NBC's Richard Engel and how he became the longest-serving American TV reporter in Baghdad is here .

On the campaign front, the scary Halloween music and "Speaker Pelosi" are back:

"Seeking to boost turnout and sway voters, Republicans are issuing dire warnings about a Democratic victory that would make Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi the speaker of the House and put key Democrats in charge of committees with power to raise taxes, launch investigations and impeach the president," says the Chicago Tribune .

"On Web sites, in news releases and on the campaign trail, the GOP portrays such Democratic lawmakers as New York's Charles Rangel, Michigan's John Conyers, California's Henry Waxman and Massachusetts' Barney Frank as political villains who would overturn or trim major GOP initiatives."

Kos is among those spanking Kerry spokesman David Wade in the flap I mentioned over how he was quoted about a campaign, spearheaded by blogger Chris Bowers, to pressure Democrats who are cruising to reelection to give some of their war chest to candidates in tough fights. Said Wade: "Cowards can hide behind anonymous Web sites, but Democrats out in the country, party leaders and real net-roots activists know how hard John Kerry has fought to win these elections."

Responds Kos: "Bowers doesn't look that anonymous to me. Nor am I. But to Wade, here's a hearty '[blank] you.' We have long memories.

"Here's the bottom line -- safe Republican incumbents are ponying up in an effort to keep control of Congress -- to the tune of $2.3 million more than Democrats. It's why they win -- they work harder and sacrifice more than our safe, lazy, entrenched incumbents who would rather stew in the minority than actually extend themselves out a bit.

"Ask any campaign around the country at this stage what they would prefer -- a campaign visit from Kerry (or anyone else save the Big Dog), or cold hard cash, and guess what they'll answer? Money and volunteers will help us close this election strong. Not campaign appearances that is more about Kerry building support and chits for 2008 as it is about helping our guys this year.

"Ante up. It's that simple. Those of us in the rank and file have been doing so, taking money out of our household budgets. We're expected to sacrifice, yet these incumbents act like it's an insult to their honor to expect the same out of them?

"And insulting people like Bowers doing heroic work to change the stultified culture in DC Democratic establishment circles isn't the best strategy." Kos later said Wade appeared to be referring to another blogger who is anonymous, but still finds the remarks insulting.

Rick Santorum's new ad pictures Bob Casey's face next to a mushroom cloud. Could he be worried?