https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRJdT_0bDn3cHmYpEk3elccLw_oegQvkAJF3SMv6LAwEypNHqevCg

Yea...

Hard working immigrants..

Sure.... Gotcha....

Michale

Think about it..

Isn't supporting a POTUS SOLELY because he is black as much racism and NOT supporting a POTUS solely because he is black??

Michale

Obama's approval rating has dropped more than 2 points and is continuing to fall...

Is that ALL because of racism??

Of course not... THAT is the point ya'all simply CAN'T acknowledge..

In ya'alls mind, it simply CAN'T be possible that Americans have real and *LEGITIMATE* beefs with Obama and his policies..

Obama is god and if anyone opposes him, it MUST be because of racism...

So who is stuck in the past??

The people who believe that racism colors EVERYTHING??

Or the people who IGNORE race and concentrate on character???

Think about it...

Michale

Of course I know the history..

The Democratic Party was the Party of the KKK...

That IS the history... Denying it is simply illogical..

And of course Obama gets opposed simply because he's black. There are of course legitimate policy differences, but the evidence is just a google search away.

I am not talking about some lame Anti-Obama video from some redneck in BumFuq, Kentucky...

Sure, there are racist people out there who don't like Obama because he is black. Just like there are bigoted people who don't like Republicans BECAUSE they are Republicans. Sad though it is, bigotry and racism are a fact of life..

I am talking about policy makers.. Our "leaders" in Congress who oppose Obama because he is incompetent. I am talking about the claims that were made, EVEN HERE IN WEIGANTIA that the ONLY POSSIBLE reason to oppose Obama's policies is because he is black..

It doesn't occur to you people (have fun with that one.. :D) that Obama MIGHT be opposed because he is doing wrong by this country and it has nothing to do with his race.. This is indicated by his dropping poll numbers. Which continue to drop, I might add..

Slavery and the oppression of black peoples pre-dates the USA and has only STARTED to be corrected within the past 50 years.

Oh bullshit.. "Started" my ass.. Institutionalized racism against any race but the caucasian race is dead... It died the day we elected a black president..

Equality is a two way street, my friend.. One cannot preach equality then demand special treatment for past sins committed by long dead ancestors.

I won't get through to you I fear, you are stuck fervently in a loop that constantly requires you to view all facts and news through one the saddest viewpoints in american history.

Actually, if you look at it, it is you who views EVERYTHING thru the prism of that saddest viewpoint in American history.. It is you who is bound to a past long dead...

I acknowledge the past, acknowledge that it IS the past and move on..

People like you and LD live in that past and it colors everything you say, do and believe..

What is so ironic is that, if you were to travel back to that past and actually LIVE it, the hand that would be holding that whip or that rope would be a DEMOCRAT's hand. Not a Republican's hand..

Which makes your current Political Party choices more than a little strange...

If you DID travel back to that past, YOU would actually be a REPUBLICAN!!!

Howz THAT for a mind-frak, eh? :D

Michale

But to belabor a related point, Lew Dan and I do not play the race card. Race, class and gender are FUNDAMENTAL points of our shared history and society. They exist and influence our every day lives in ways that you simply refuse to acknowledge. But what makes it all the sadder is that I can see you operating within this historical context, open your eyes Michale, the past is not dead, it's not even past. (faulkner, I just can't pretend I came up with so good a phrase)

And of course Obama gets opposed simply because he's black. There are of course legitimate policy differences, but the evidence is just a google search away.

Seriously, google image "obama witch doctor" ctrl c ctrl v http://www.google.com . This stuff exists, it pervades all of american society. It has been a part of America since Jamestown and the 1690s, when the first slaves were brought here to work in the fields of colonists too slothful to grow corn to feed themselves. Slavery and the oppression of black peoples pre-dates the USA and has only STARTED to be corrected within the past 50 years.

Furthermore, I would just like to add, this conversation and history IS NOT a threat to you, it is just a fact, like how we breath in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. America is great not because we have always been the land of the free, but because each generation is confronted with the incontrovertible fact that that is simply not true and only through our work will that stone be moved just a bit further up the hill.

I won't get through to you I fear, you are stuck fervently in a loop that constantly requires you to view all facts and news through one the saddest viewpoints in american history. That of the pathetically angry conservative that denies both history, reality and basic common sense.

Michale

There is absolutely NO EVIDENCE that any of the complaints against Obama are based on racism...

NONE... ZERO.... ZILCH... NADA....

On the other hand, there is a BUTTLOAD, a TON of evidence that the complaints against Obama are based on his incompetence, his stoopidity, his shitty leadership and really REALLY bad decisions he has made...

Michale

AND Democrats....

As I am wont to say...

Before ya'all start pointing fingers, maybe ya'all should clean up yer own house first...

Michale

What IS it with you and LD???

Always playing the race card...

Let you in on a little "secret"...

The ONLY reason Obama is IN the White House is BECAUSE he is black...

A white man of Obama's (lack of) qualifications would never have even made the Primary..

If you are honest, you would acknowledge this as fact..

So, if you want to cry "RACIST!!" maybe you should look to your own Party first..

After all, the Democratic Party was the Party that brought us the KKK...

Such inconvenient facts, eh?? :D

Michale

I HAVE no "religious" or "political" beliefs, save that of common sense and mutual respect...

Why are latinos flocking democratic?

Again with the Straw Man arguments..

We're not talking about Latinos.

We're talking about ILLEGAL immigrants.. Criminals..

And yah, until you acknowledge the complete train wreck of the bush administration, you just come off as ignorant and pathetic.

It's all about fixing the blame and nothing about fixing the problem..

EXACTLY as I said..

Obama is in charge now. NOT BUSH..

WHAT IS OBAMA GOING TO DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM?!!

Michale

And yah, until you acknowledge the complete train wreck of the bush administration, you just come off as ignorant and pathetic. I know you don't understand history, context, or basic logic. But sure man keep beating that drum. What's going on in Iraq RIGHT NOW has everything to do with how the current prime minister has completely alienated the Sunni sections of the country. But I know you don't care about the religious and ethnic tensions in the region. Context? It would just get in the way of you projecting all your fear and anger on the black man in oval office.

And the American people are happy to reciprocate...

Obama's approval continues to free-fall... It's down to 42.6 and falling..

Michale

I can tell you what Obama is going to do about it.

Just sit on his lazy and incompetent ass and blame Bush...

Because Obama doesn't give a rat's ass for this country or it's citizens...

Michale

And yet Obama has, UNDENIABLY, made things worse...

{massive hysterical Bush Derangement Syndrome snipped}

What does ANY of that have to do with Obama's incompetence??

Americans are DYING in Iraq as we speak!!

What is OBAMA going to do about it??

Just let them die like they did at Benghazi??

OBAMA is in charge now.. Not Bush..

What is OBAMA going to do??!!???

Michale

True. Obam's responsibility to AMERICA started when he was inaugurated. Obama's responsibility to do what he could to CLEAN UP THE DISASTERS BUSH CAUSED started when he was inaugurated.

NONE of that makes Obama responsible for CAUSING what happens ANYWHERE, unless they're a direct result of OBAMA'S actions.

The lie you keep pushing is that blaming Obama JUST because he's President is the same as all the heat Bush EARNED through his DEMONSTRATED DECEIT and INCOMPETENCE.

Bush CHOSE to start a war in Iraq, and WITHOUT CAUSE.

Bush CHOSE to destabilize Iraq and the ENTIRE MIDDLE EAST.

Bush CHOSE to disregard warnings about Al Queda.

Bush CHOSE to start two wars he had no exit strategy for.

Bush CHOSE to run up a deficit and double the debt, threatening to bankrupt the country.

Bush CHOSE not to regulate Wall Street, allowing them to criminally collapse the economy.

Bush CHOSE to sit on his hands and DO NOTHING while people were dying in New Orleans post Katrina, FOR DAYS.

Bush CHOSE to illegally detain prisoners and deny them their constitutional rights compromising any hope of prosecuting them for terrorism.

Bush CHOSE to inflame the situation and AID AL QUEDA by engaging in terrorist tactics HIMSELF, through kidnapping and torture, VALIDATING terrorists accusations and assisting terrorist recruiting.

I could go on.--And on...

Your nonsense about Democrats blaming Bush for EVERYTHING while he was President is a flat out lie. ANOTHER flat out lie! Democrats SUPPORTED Bush. Supported him after 9/11. Supported him when he went to war. Bush simply BETRAYED that trust.

Bush LIED about Iraq possessing WMDs.

Bush LIED about Iraq refusing to cooperate with inspectors.

Bush lied about the budget--year after year! First submitting phony official budget requests. Then submitting "emergency appropriations requests" for the wars, as soon as the budget was approved.

Bush illegally spied on tens of thousands. Then Republicans shut down all inquiries and prevented ANYONE seeking justice by RETROACTIVELY granting full immunity and legalizing Bush's misconduct.

Democrats didn't fight Bush when he said we had to go to war. Democrats didn't blame Bush for 9/11. Democrats didn't fight the war authorization Bush wanted. UNTIL they discovered Bush was lying, mismanaging, incompetent, bankrupting the country, AND GETTING AMERICANS KILLED.

Democrats' legitimate and measured complaints about Bush were NOTHING like the current six year effort by Republicans to delegitimize Obama's Presidency and obstruct ANYTHING he attempts to do in order to MAKE Obama's Presidency a failure which began THE DAY Obama was inaugurated!

Republicans have amply demonstrated that they are perfectly willing to damage America and punish Americans JUST to create incidents they can propagandize to defame Obama.

And you, Michale, have amply demonstrated your eagerness to assist them in that effort. Which is why you just won't stop lying.

Benghazi all over again..

The Obama Administration is leaving those Americans to die...

Michale

"Most TRANSPARENT Administration EVER!!"

My ass.....

Michale

Yea, I thought that was too much to ask...

I also noticed how you failed to acknowledged Democrats culpability for the 2nd Iraq War...

Michale

That is SOLELY, COMPLETELY, UNEQUIVOCALLY and 1000% on Obama and the Democrats..

All you have is fixing the blame and ignoring the problem..

Obama is in charge now.

WHAT IS HE GOING TO DO ABOUT IRAQ???

Michale

That's funny..

Because when Bush was POTUS, ya'all blamed him for EVERYTHING..

Ahhhhh I get it..

The POTUS is only responsible for everything when it's a REPUBLICAN POTUS...

I get it now.. How silly of me...

Bush's culpability for the results of his actions didn't end when Obama was inaugurated.

But Obama's responsibility STARTED at his inauguration..

At least it did for those not suffering from Obama Derangement Syndrome...

Michale

Bush's culpability for the results of his actions didn't end when Obama was inaugurated. But the desperate need to discredit and demonize Obama coupled with the futile attempt to erase the fact that Republican rule proved the most incompetent and disastrous in American history, in order to sell the lie that Republican's know how to govern and Democratic rule is "destroying America," is the "big lie" on steroids. And a MASSIVE inversion of reality.--Its also predictably Michale, who never stops trying to sell his rightwing lies.

Obama hints at action
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2014/0612/Obama-hints-at-military-action-in-Iraq.-Are-airstrikes-the-only-option-video

I feel another "RED LINE" coming on!!!

The idea that Obama thinks that the region actually CARES about anything Obama says is what is so sad about this entire affair...

Michale

Agreed...

The current policy doesn't work..

Amnesty will cause a BUTTLOAD more problems. Higher unemployment for minorities.. Ya know.. The people that Democrats CLAIM to care about..

No one is saying that reform isn't needed..

But if the debacle in the SouthWest has proven ANYTHING, it's that amnesty is the WRONG answer..

Border security MUST come first...

THAT is the only reform that is worthy...

But, you see.. Democrats don't CARE about reform..

All Democrats care about is minting millions and millions of fresh new Democrat voters...

Michale

Ok. Republicans should support immigration reform because the current policy doesn't work, isn't just, and causes problems instead of solving them.

Republicans only think the law is sacred when it comes to immigration. The same people who cheered Cliven Bundy for "defying the federal government" are the ones who claim people illegally immigrating to feed their kids are inexcusable because THEY'RE breaking the law! But when the la gets in THEIR way suddenly its all THEIR "rights" to do as they please! Once again their hypocrisy demonstrates the issue is prejudice, not ideology.

But they won't tolerate reform. BECAUSE its bigotry and not rational policy considerations. And its that bigotry that's going to cost them votes for generations to come.

Common ground once again... :D

Michale

Good song, btw. Kenny Rogers was so much better before his face lift.

-David

Lead From Behind is not leadership..

It's an abdication of leadership...

Michale

Ms Rice further claims that the Iraqi Army served with honor and distinction.

Michale

http://thehill.com/policy/defense/209253-white-house-faces-worst-case-scenario-on-iraq

Anyone read EXECUTIVE ORDERS.. Looks like fiction is becoming reality.

Iran is going to swoop in and save the day, leaving America looking utterly incompetent with it's thumb up it's ass...

Hysterical whinings of "It's all Bush's fault!!" won't fly..

Obama OWNs this new crisis...

Michale

Why not just make it easier and say Obama is the POTUS that lost the entire Middle East... About the only relationship that the Obama Administration can point to is Jordan.. But that's only because the King is a Trekker.. :D And HE is holding on by the slimmest of threads right now, due to Obama's bungling of Syria..

There isn't ONE SINGLE allied relationship that has gotten better under Obama..

And, considering how low those relationships were under Bush, the fact that those relationships are LOWER under Obama says quite a bit...

Michale

"I am very optimistic about -- about Iraq. I mean, this could be one of the great achievements of this administration. You're going to see 90,000 American troops come marching home by the end of the summer. You're going to see a stable government in Iraq that is actually moving toward a representative government."
-Joe Biden, 2010

Iraq is one of OBAMA's greatest achievements...

It's typical of those suffering from Obama Derangement Syndrome..

ODS sufferers want to give Obama ALL the credit when things are peachy keen wonderful, but blame BUSH (and to hell with fixing the problem) when it all goes to hell...

Funny how that is, iddn't it? :D

Michale

Yes, but THOSE certain groups are LEGAL immigrants..

Not criminals...

THAT is my entire point..

Michale

What did I tell ya, David?? :D

When the Republicans are perceived to be at fault, then it's ALL about the blame.. :D

Newsflash for ya, YoYo.. Democrats are as much at fault for Iraq as Bush is, don'tcha know..

But, like I said.. When it's a GOP POTUS, it's ALL his/her fault..

When it's a DEM POTUS, **NOTHING** is his fault...

Yes, you seem to forget that both catholic religiosity and family values aren't exactly hard sells to certain groups of Latinos, especially if you throw in negative perceptions of leftist governments, Venezuela for instance is not doing so well popularity wise.

Catholicism has very little to do with ILLEGAL immigrants..

By definition, they are criminals. And criminals will ALWAYS flock to the Free Ride Party, the Party Of Free Stuff...

Michale

U.S. has been gone for four years, and what happens in Iraq is obviously all about Obama, and not, say, the rule of the current prime minister and his policies. Also spill-over from syria, and the fact that it was Bush's invasion that created Al-Qaeda in Iraq, now known as ISIS. I mean it's just soooooo obvious if you ignore every relevant fact and piece of information.

Yes, you seem to forget that both catholic religiosity and family values aren't exactly hard sells to certain groups of Latinos, especially if you throw in negative perceptions of leftist governments, Venezuela for instance is not doing so well popularity wise.

Also read this bit.

http://www.vox.com/2014/6/12/5803062/why-republicans-cant-ignore-the-growing-power-of-latino-voters

Ignore the title, it's just click bait, and actually read the thing. Basically it's saying that the important bloc of latinos is and will be 2nd generation voters. These people CANNOT be deported away as you would so fervently wish Michale. So in essence republicans have a choice, deal with latinos votes as something that must be courted and the best way to do this is not to run on on a campaign of: elect us We'll deport your parents, destroy your family, and tell you to your face that you deserved it.

Also, Cantor lost because he ran a bad campaign, and the thing the tea party hates most is the leadership, which they rightly or wrongly see as the establishment, regardless of voting records. Add in a bit of flip-flopping, a tone deaf campaign, seriously bad internal data, and just plain old bad imagery, holding your "victory" party IN Washington D.C. will not endear you to the republican primary voter. And we get a scenario that looks almost obvious in hindsight.

With Obama, it's always HIMSELF first, PARTY second and the country a very VERY distant third...

What's happening in Iraq is a perfect example of Obama's complete and utter incompetence..

Michale

Republicans have ALWAYS been ready to discuss REAL reform..

But all Obama and the Democrats are interested in is giving amnesty to criminals so they can mint millions of fresh new Dem voters..

That's not reform and the Republicans would be COMPLETE morons to agree to ANY form of amnesty...

The problem is Obama has proven time and time again that he simply cannot be trusted to do right by this country...

With Obama, it's always HIMSELF first, PARTY second and the country a very VERY distant third...

Michale

So, you have a logical and rational reason why the GOP should support illegal immigrant amnesty...

By all means, lets hear it...

Michale

Any glee over Republicans coming fully out into the open as hostile to Latinos and Hispanics IS "long-term thinking." Republicans are throwing away influence with GENERATIONS of Latinos and Hispanics, whether immigration reform passes or not.--And it WILL be enacted eventually.
Republicans are the ones suffering a lack of long-term thinking! It comes of their desperate desire to roll back the clock and maintain a solid white majority.--And it ain't ever gonna happen.--Republicans are too terrified of being treated by minorities the way they've always treated minorities, should minorities become the majority, to accept that and respond proactively by addressing immigration reform.

Hay now! What a damn minute!! You can't....

Wait, huh..?? Whaaa?? What you say now??? :D

Michale

Here, I couldn't agree with you more, Michale.

The sense of glee that someone further to the right ousted Cantor is seriously misplaced.

The reason, obviously, is that Cantor is a senior Republican and I also believe Democrats think this might open up a chance for them in November.

I think this view is misguided. What the Dems seem to miss is that the country is lurching even further in the wrong direction.

I mean ... another Randian ... it wasn't too long ago that Rand was a fringe cult.

Good call on the Dems, Michale. Sometimes they really do seem to miss the long view.

-David

Which is also supported by events in Iraq..

Who knew that, after the US tripped out of Iraq, Al Qaeda forces would move in...

Oh wait..... :D

Michale

Not realizing that, with Cantor's loss, there ain't a snowball's chance in hell of Immigration "reform" passing and, by logical extension, no millions of freshly minted Dem voters for the upcoming mid-terms..

Which re-enforces what I have always said about Democrats.. They ain't long-term thinkers.. :D

Michale

I think the issue is that the spittle-flecked-ones are always hyped up and will show up to vote, especially if they can take someone down, while everyone else is lukewarm and unexcited by the alternatives. I don't think the Tea Party is growing but it is motivated and few others are. Whatever remains of "reasonable republicans" have no real options -- they can be morons like their far-right cohort, or they have to go Democrat or something else, if there is a something else option. Will be interesting to see if/how they turn out in November.

Cantor didn't lose JUST because of immigration.

But it was, undeniably, a large factor and the factor that attracted the most attention...

Michale

I don't buy that Cantor lost because of immigration either.

Gerrymandering did probably hurt him though. Especially in the primary where typically only the most political turn out.

I also think this district will be an interesting race come November because neither candidate is an establishment candidate.

You would think that a conservative would have a decided advantage given the district, but Brat will likely have to move to the center for the general election. (In other words, hide the Ayn Rand and Austrian eco-mumbo-jumbo books).

This might present an opportunity for his opponent.

The other thing I like about this race is that I think there's the possibility for a very clean race. One that actually talks about beliefs and positions rather than goes negative.

The reason for this is that both are professors at the same college.

Here's to an interesting race!

-David

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSM7wcVcoOCSIDoZQvf0S-cvYy5FCpoW6B0SMz-Cnt9p4cgcPU3Kw

If true, then this country HAS no future...

Michale

Your Aftershock column is the most insightful of all the many "instant analyses" of Cantor's upending that I've seen in the last 24 hr. You make a persuasive case that gerrymandering was the underlying factor, or should I say fault line, in keeping with your earthquake analogy.

My own 2 cent addition.

Overall, VA is evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. According to my own rough analysis, VA gerrymandering is designed to create 4 battleground congressional districts and 7 safe districts; 3 Democrat, 4 Republican. The battlegrounds are statistically dead heat races, the safe districts tend to be weighted about 60:40 towards one major party affiliation or the other (statistically a near lock in November), except for one ultra safe Demographic bunker weighted 70:30 Dem (very little added statistical safety). The ultra safe district is the tradeoff the Republicans made to get their one additional safe district. Advantage Republicans at the US House of Reps level.

But, gerrymandering only indirectly affects primary races (money, prestige influence), which are in theory, internal party contests. Virginia, is atypical in that primaries are open, any voter can decide to jump parties at a whim. If an incumbent cheeses off enough voters AT LARGE, they are potentially vulnerable. All the gripes are additive, immigration, not conservative enough, not Christian..... out of touch "what have you done for me in my district lately." I'm betting that no single issue did in Cantor. People enjoy sweeping narratives, but I don't see one here, except that all politics is local, especially primary politics. Mind the store! Cheesed off people are extra motivated to vote and are disproportionately important in low turnout primary contests. Cantor was unperceptive, but mostly unlucky. He bet the farm on money, prestige and influence, accepting some local risk to get more power and prestige. 95% of the time that's a safe political bet.

"Cooter" recognized the geological instability in VA, and made some media snark with it, but I doubt it contributed much organized cross party mischief. Ex rep Cooter is probably as surprised as anybody, but smiling more than most! That said, it will be interesting to see how much cross party voting actually occurred....and whether Virginia power brokers (R and D) decide to wall-off the cross party voting threat.

Remember a long time ago (couple weeks back??: :D)

Hypocrisy, thy name is Democrat

Michale

What do you think the chances are of Cantor pulling a "Murkowski"??

This won't just be for the rest of this year, either. Immigration reform is likely dead until at least 2017. The Republican Party is not going to be forced to address the issue at all until they see the demographic breakdown of the next presidential vote. In 2012, over 70 percent of Latinos voted Democratic. In 2016, that number will likely be even higher. If it tops 80 (or even 90) percent, then Republicans will have the choice of moving on meaningful immigration reform or kissing their hopes of ever taking the White House again a bittersweet goodbye, for the foreseeable future. But it's going to take actually seeing that vote breakdown before the Republican Party is ever going to act on immigration reform -- that's pretty easy to see, at this point.

Here's what I don't get..

You seem to think that the GOP will be forced to provide amnesty to illegals to appease the Latino vote..

Do you HONESTLY believe that Latinos will flock to the GOP if the GOP pushes amnesty???

I cannot come up with ANY reasonable scenario where Latinos will actually forsake the Party Of Free Stuff to vote GOP, regardless of ANYTHING the GOP does...

There really is NOTHING in it for the GOP to push amnesty for illegals... Not one damn thing...

Michale

What do you think the chances are of Cantor pulling a "Murkowski"??

This won't just be for the rest of this year, either. Immigration reform is likely dead until at least 2017. The Republican Party is not going to be forced to address the issue at all until they see the demographic breakdown of the next presidential vote. In 2012, over 70 percent of Latinos voted Democratic. In 2016, that number will likely be even higher. If it tops 80 (or even 90) percent, then Republicans will have the choice of moving on meaningful immigration reform or kissing their hopes of ever taking the White House again a bittersweet goodbye, for the foreseeable future. But it's going to take actually seeing that vote breakdown before the Republican Party is ever going to act on immigration reform -- that's pretty easy to see, at this point.

Here's what I don't get..

You seem to think that the GOP will be forced to provide amnesty to illegals to appease the Latino vote..

Do you HONESTLY believe that Latinos will flock to the GOP if the GOP pushes amnesty???

I cannot come up with ANY reasonable scenario where Latinos will actually forsake the Party Of Free Stuff to vote GOP, regardless of ANYTHING the GOP does...

There really is NOTHING in it for the GOP to push amnesty for illegals... Not one damn thing...

Michale

Troo...

And, as I am wont to do every time this subject comes up, I hasten to point out that NOTHING to date comes even close to the rancor and hatred of the 2008 Dem primary...

When you have Democrats hurling charges of "racist!!" at the Big Dog hisself, you KNOW things are bad...

Michale

As they are every primary season. Not going to make any more difference this time than it has every even-numbered year since 1856. (I exaggerate, but still ... .)

"Ding Dong! Amnesty's dead.
Which old Amnesty? The Wicked Amnesty!
Ding Dong! The Wicked Amnesty's dead."

Thanx for the attribute assist before, CW.. :D

Yea, illegal immigrant amnesty is DOA.... There can be no doubt about that...

Which makes the issues in the Southwest border so much more damaging for Democrats..

Add to that a resurgence of "decimated" and "on the ropes" Al Qaeda in Iraq and elsewhere...

Democrats' chances of holding onto the Senate are fading and fading fast...

Michale