Rich Lowry on Obama’s nuclear non-proliferation speech: “The meme in the press was how the test launch made Obama’s disarmament speech all the more ‘urgent.’ It really makes it all the more childish and dangerous. In setting the goal of ‘Global Zero’ (the program of universal disarmament that sounds a little like a new international Coke product), Obama hitched himself to a project as utopian as Pres. George W. Bush’s ambition to end tyranny in the world.”

The president finally gives credit where credit is due on Iraq.

Jim Tedisco is up by 17, but the absentee vote count starts today. Unless the outcome is really decisive we’ll see lawsuits.

And speaking of lawsuits, Norm Coleman is losing ground in his and is headed for the state Supreme Court. It is unclear how much longer he will be able to keep this up.

Politico reports that Eric Cantor and his caucus are identifying vulnerable freshman House Democrats and engaging — and embarrassing them — on the floor. This is an interesting take: “Democrats are now hip to the scam and rarely take the bait.” So the “scam” is engaging the freshman in substantive arguments for which they are unprepared. Sounds like Cantor found the right targets.

Another horrid poll for Governor Jon Corzine. At some point does he draw a primary challenger?

Larry Kudlow examines whether the Treasury Department is going to allow big banks to return TARP money. ( The inquiry itself tells us how far we have come in the federal government’s intervention in the economy.) He concludes: “How to end the political direction of our banks? Let them get out from under TARP as soon as possible. Let them make their own decisions. Let’s end this sordid chapter of unprecedented government intervention in the market economy.” Easier said than done, I suspect.

Ousted Virginia GOP chairman Jeff Frederick sounds like one angry guy. A good reminder that politics is the art of convincing others it is all about them, not you.

You knew this would follow the announced defense cuts: “Senators and representatives from Georgia, Connecticut, Missouri and other states that house divisions for defense manufacturing were quick to rebuke Gates and said they would fight to retain the programs that have been job engines for their constituents.” I think we finally have an idea of what a “saved” job is — one that is rescued from the Obama Defense Department cuts.

Ted Stevens’s prosecutors are in a heap of trouble.