Today’s edition of quick hits.<\/p>\n
* I fully acknowledge the fact that I’m a sucker for Olbermann’s monologues. What’s more, I just keep enjoying them more and more. Last night’s<\/a> was another gem on the nature of Republican fear-mongering. As with the other special commentaries, don’t miss it.<\/p>\n * Roll Call noted<\/a> this morning that Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has “formally demanded” a briefing from the FBI on the status of its investigation into the 2001 anthrax attacks. “In a pointed, five-page letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, dated today, Grassley attacked the FBI’s ‘blanket prohibition’ on briefing Capitol Hill about the attacks, which included two letters directed at sitting Senators and left five people dead and more than a dozen injured.” Funny how Grassley waited until two weeks before the elections to start showing some backbone, isn’t it?<\/p>\n * No, there doesn’t seem to be a good reason at all why Election Day has<\/a> to be “the Tuesday after the first Monday of November.”<\/p>\n * Remember the Libertarian candidate in Wyoming who was threatened by Rep. Barbara Cubin (R) after their debate? He’s called on Cubin to resign<\/a>. It’s not going to happen, of course, but it should produce another day of headlines in Wyoming.<\/p>\n * When it comes to Reporters Without Borders’s rankings of global press freedom, I’d like to think the United States would do better than 53rd<\/a>. (Worse, we were 17th just a few years ago.)<\/p>\n * Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Iraq: “We’re on the verge of chaos<\/a>, and the current plan is not working.” He’s not going to do anything about this, of course, but his observation is appreciated.<\/p>\n * Fox News must be pretty nervous about the elections — they’re resorting to red baiting<\/a>.<\/p>\n * The Michael J. Fox ad that’s causing a stir? It’s on the air in Maryland<\/a> now, too. * I wouldn’t say Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) has been as wildly inconsistent as his friends in the White House on war-related rhetoric, but he’s getting there<\/a>.<\/p>\n * I don’t know when officials and investigators are going to complete their review of the Mark Foley scandal, but one of these days, someone in a position of authority is going to have to address the credibility of the panel<\/a>.<\/p>\n * Speaking at the American Magazine Conference yesterday, Barack Obama described<\/a> the Bush administration as the most ideologically driven administration in my memory, so obstinate in resisting facts, dissenting opinions … [They entered the White House] with a set of preconcieved notions. I think this administration has done great damage to this country.” He added, “I wouldn’t fit in with this administration [because I think] actually being informed is a good basis for policy.” After the audience laughed, Obama said, “OK, that’s a low-blow.” (It’s really not.)<\/p>\n
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\n* What a surprise, Tan Nguyen knew all about<\/a> the vote-suppression scheme in Orange County, Calif.<\/p>\n