On Fridays we usually like to make with a few jokes and keep things light. Today that might not be possible.

I got an email this morning from the Edwards campaign that really surprised me: apparently, they've purchased the airtime on MSNBC immediately following President Bush's address to the nation on Iraq tonight, and Edwards will be responding directly to Bush's speech.

Today President Bush will announce a plan to withdraw some 30,000 troops from Iraq by next summer. If this seems like a sort of ham-fisted compromise in a situation where a compromise should look like something else entirely, it is.

John Edwards' populist message won out over other challengers in the Texas Democratic Party's ePrimary Poll.

General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker are currently testifying before Congress. Reactions have already been offered, as most everyone knew what they were going to say in the first place.

The Democratic presidential candidates had another debate yesterday, and it was groundbreaking. Not because it marked a new record high for number of debates, but rather because, according to the AP, it was the first one ever to be broadcast in Spanish.

The Republicans can't catch a break in Washington. A Senator who is not currently under investigation for bribery or stealing or inappropriate anything is retiring, and one who does happen to be under investigation defiantly decides to stay. Merry Christmas, GOP.

When economists forecast that 125,000 jobs will be added during a given month, you expect some variation in the final figures. When the report for that month instead shows that employment was reduced by 4,000 jobs, you can expect some serious economic introspection to take place.

Today is the last day of the Texas Democratic Party's ePrimary Poll. I already voted, and many of you likely have as well. But if you haven't, you're running out of time. The polls close tonight at 11:59 PM. If you'd like an update on results, you can see them here, and I think they are pretty interesting.

If you've ever argued that the Patriot Act is unconstitutional, congratulations. A US District Court Judge at least partially agrees with you.