In the never-ending saga of the Michigan primary, another twist has surfaced here.

This 11th-hour proposal is being championed by Govs. (and Clinton supporters) Jon Corzine of New Jersey and Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania. Corzine and Rendell say that a handful of rich Clinton donors (including baseball team owner Peter Angelos, investment banker Roger Altman, supermarket magnate John Catsimatides, attorney Calvin Fayard Jr., and philanthropist Brooke Neidich; see Page 2) are willing to put up $12 million to cover the cost of a new state primary.

 It is inexcusable for this news to be presented by the Boston Globe, and not in the committee meetings with Gen. Petraeus himself.  

 Based on the data presented in his written report, the Iraqi military is rapidly regressing and cannot be relied upon to take a more active role in the security of that country.  Considering that this has happened while the surge has been in place, it is difficult to imagine a scenario where it would be corrected in time for the promised troop withdrawals later this year.

Don't tell the President, but when he puts ink to paper on the blank-check handed over by our Democratic leaders.. he may just be signing the withdrawal order.

Too good to be true?  Probably.  But I have a feeling that the importance of this particular detail may slip past even Cheney's sensitive snout.

The bill also for the first time explicitly states that the U.S. would leave Iraq if asked by the Baghdad government.

You think a majority of Americans want us out of Iraq?  That's nothing when compared to the percentage of Iraqis who want us gone.  Anyone not living in the Green Zone won't sit quietly when presented with the opportunity of ending the war.  The parliamentary makeup of Iraq's government means that the dangled hope of a meaningful vote on American participation would be an overwhelming tidal wave from every political direction.

The moment this bill becomes law, I wouldn't be surprised if millions of Iraqis were marching before the sun went down, with one demand.

A demand that our President would be forced to obey.

By his own signature.

But dear Lord, don't anyone tell him.

  Unlike many DKos contributors, I don't want President Bush to be impeached for the recent NSA spying episode, based on the evidence we have currently available.

  Such a process would immediately become a monstrous stage for Republicans to wrap themselves tightly in the American flag, with Bush standing proudly on their shoulders.  The framing would be easy.. the Democrats don't want us to spy on Osama!  The Democrats want another 9-11!  It would be exactly the same rhetoric we hear on fright-wing radio and Faux News.. except it would be shown in prime time, on network TV, for weeks.

[voice-over]: Tonight.. on the Factor.  "The War On Sunlight!"  Many Americans have noticed that the sun has steadily been growing less bright as evening approaches.  Are New Age progressive liberals attempting to force everyone to live in the dark and worship the moon?  Bill O'Reilly will get to the truth on The Factor.

Bill:  Folks, there's a war going on.  Some people say that crazy, moon-worshipping liberals are plotting to explode the sun with Iraqi WMDs that were hidden away in Syria and Hollywood prior to the invasion.  Is this really their goal, or are they planning to consign America to a permanent night in some other way?  Regardless, the forces of darkness will never triumph over goodness, light, and moderate Republican values, now that The Factor is watching.

Yes.. yes.. I know it's hard to believe.  But Jean Schmidt continues to lie about her statements regarding dear Jack Murtha.  She is now claiming she didn't know that Murtha was a Marine.  Unfortunately, there is documentation on record that she did indeed know of his status, and in a conference she attended only one day prior to her 'statement'.