... And The News

... Busy tonight? Our good friend Rob Bluey of Human Events will be on a panel discussion tonight for America's Future Foundation. The topic: Do Republicans Deserve to Lose? Check it out, then swing by the Clarendon Grill in Arlington, VA to hear Mike Eltringham's stand-up comedy routine.

... Ok, advance staff. I'll go over it again: American flags make a good backdrop. Graves make a bad backdrop ...

... Over at The Hill, Dem pollster Mark Mellman writes: "Pollsters know it instinctively. Commentators debate its nuances, while journalists largely ignore it. Named by Nick Panagakis in 1989, the "incumbent rule" argues that most voters who are undecided late in a race against an incumbent will break toward the challenger."

... Ex-Redskins' QB Heath Shuler (who is running for Congress in NC) will rent ad space on a car in Friday's Busch Series race (AP).

... Words matter. Political leaders have to be very disciplined in choosing which words to use. Here is one example from today's Washington Post: "President Bush has always been a disciplined man, but yesterday he set a new standard for self-control: He moderated an hour-long discussion about the rash of school shootings in the past week without once mentioning the word 'guns."