Punchposts 21st Oct.

Stuff I saw in the early morning after being woken by a happy toddler.

Am I the only one who thinks this headline doesn't bode well for Kentucky Dems? "Democrats bank on Biden to raise money".

Likewise in the category of cut-my-own-throat comes this:

Tom DeLay's fate could hinge on a Stetson-wearing defense attorney who not only represented Waco cult leader David Koresh and helped a cross-dressing millionaire beat a murder rap, but is also a Democrat. WTF???

Rove and Libby have been told they are in "serious legal jeopardy". Charges of perjury, obstruction of justice and false statement are being considered by Fitzgerald, according to lawyers in the case. Those same charges would fit anyone in the Bush administration for everything from Iraq to the economy. Maybe that should be Fitzgerald's next case.

A lawyer for Saddam Hussain who was abducted after representing one of Saddam Hussein’s co-defendants has been found dead in Baghdad.

"Seven senior Syrian officials, including President Bashar al-Assad's brother and brother-in-law, are suspects in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, United Nations investigators said in a report likely to increase tensions between the U.S. and Syria." (Bloomberg) How's that for journalistic understatement? Its liable to blow the fricking roof off Lebanon! Want to bet there's a whole bunch of wannabe-Chalabis waiting in the Lebanese and Syrian wings just egging the U.S. on to intervene?

Largely forgotten by the blogosphere already, but not gone - The United Nations said yesterday the earthquake in Pakistan was a worse disaster than last year's tsunami but it has received just a fraction of the $312m pledged to its emergency appeal, in contrast with 80% of pledges at the same stage after the south Asian disaster. The death toll is already almost 80,000 and 3 million face harsh winter cold without homes. That US blogs have largely dropped this story should be a matter of shame for us all. You can donate here.