Why the Dems won't impeach President Bush

“Two words; Dick Cheney.”

Incoming Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV).

Close, but only half a cigar

It'll be good, but not quite good enough - that appears to be your view on what the Democrats can hope to get out of tomorrow's US mid-terms.

A whopping 80% of those who have so far voted in the poll over at my other gaff reckon the Dems will do enough to win control of the House of Representatives, but fall short of snatching the Senate away from the Republicans.

There is, of course, one other scenario which my poll doesn't allow for - the Senate could be tied at 50 each. Indeed, that is the result predicted by the latest Polimetrix poll as reported on Political Wire, which would be a throwback to the position which pertained (for a few months) in 2001.

The Republicans would still retain control, but only on Veep Cheney's casting vote. (Which might at least keep in check his propensity to go human quail hunting.)

Clash 'n' Kerry

This clip has been seen 706,846 times since it was uploaded to YouTube just two days ago.

This is the moment - in fact, just 10 seconds - when Senator John F. Kerry torpedoed any extant hopes he might have had of running for the Presidency again in 2008, by appearing to imply that US troops are doofuses. (Though I’m sure he will have been buoyed by my colleague’s support of him.)



Mr Kerry’s office has now released the text of what the Massachusetts senator meant to say:

“I can't overstress the importance of a great education. Do you know where you end up if you don't study, if you aren't smart, if you're intellectually lazy? You end up getting us stuck in a war in Iraq. Just ask President Bush.”

It’s still a glib, wise-ass dig, which is fine if you’re David Letterman or a blogger, but the man who would have been JFK II is better than that.

However, it’s worked to the Democrats’ advantage. Not only has it guaranteed the last few days of mid-terms campaigning continues to be dominated by Iraq - a subject the President would prefer to dodge (like the draft) - but it ensures the uninspiring Mr Kerry is off the 2008 ticket.

Over 9,000 people have so far commented on that YouTube clip. But the sassiest take I’ve yet read was uttered by Vice-President Dick Cheney (though I don’t suppose for a moment he originated it):

"Senator Kerry said he was just making a joke and he botched it up. I guess we didn't get the nuance. Actually, he was for the joke before he was against it."