“Fear-mongering” is everywhere: “Americans have mixed feelings about the historic climate change bill that passed the House on Friday, but 42% say it will hurt the U.S. economy. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 19% believe the climate change bill passed by the House on Friday will help the economy. Fifteen percent (15%) say it will have no impact, and 24% are not sure.”

It might not have made a difference, but this is one more reminder of just how poorly John McCain was served by his “team,” which sought fit to trash its own candidate’s VP choice. Whatever you think of Sarah Palin, her shortcomings as a candidate pale in comparison to those of  political advisers who were supposed to lead the effort to elect the ticket.

On a related note, Mark Steyn asks,”Is politics some kind of affirmative action program for sociopaths?”

“Franco is still dead,” goes the joke. And Jon Corzine is still very unpopular.

Another bit of data suggesting the public is wary of the liberal legislative frenzy: “A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 41% would vote for their district’s Republican congressional candidate while 39% would choose the Democratic candidate.”

There is apparently a business model for an adversary news organization not devoted to Obama PR: “Since Obama came into office, Fox has continued not only winning, but doing so at unprecedented levels. As the Hollywood Reporter noted last week, the network is having its ‘best year yet,’ with the competition in the ratings shifting from not only the news networks but all of basic cable. Indeed, Fox came in 3rd this quarter, behind only USA and TNT.”

Canadians discover private healthcare is the way to go.

I wouldn’t get your hopes up: “Defense Minister Ehud Barak emerged from a four-hour meeting with US Mideast envoy George Mitchell in New York on Tuesday without any agreement on settlement construction, but optimistic the two sides could “zoom out” of the settlement issue and focus on the wider regional diplomatic initiative.”

Joe Biden, who wanted to divide Iraq in three parts, now has a united and democratic Iraq as part of his portfolio. Biden, who was never right on any aspect of Iraq policy, can now work with Christopher Hill, who has no Iraq experience and whose claim to fame was the ludicrously counter-productive Six Party talks. What, you expected competence?

The Washington Post editors don’t like Obama’s priorities: “The Obama administration is lavishing diplomatic attention and resources on the Israeli-Arab peace process, where there is scant chance of an early breakthrough, while leaving Iraq to a new ambassador with no Middle East experience. If there are to be more days to celebrate in Iraq, this policy of quiet neglect must end.”

The ADL applauds Ricci.

Creigh Deeds gets the SEIU endorsement in the Virginia gubernatorial race; his opponent makes hay out of Deeds’ indebtedness to the union that wants to change Virginia’s right-to-work rules.