As is being reported all over Left Blogistan, isn't there a certain troubling irony in having Sen. Trent "We wouldn't have had all these problems" Lott take the title of Minority Whip?

And so it turns out the the most divisive figure of the campaign season is none other than Austin actress Johanna Goldsmith. Appearing in the Republican National Committee's smear ad against Tennessee Senate candidate (and African-American) Harold Ford Jr., her sign off at the end – "Harold! Call me!" – was widely decried as needling Whitey's racist fears of black sexual prowess.


On her role as the 2006 Willie Horton (with boobs and a melanin deficiency, natch), Goldsmith told the Statesman "I didn't see anything provocative about it... I've dated every nationality under the sun, so why would there be a problem?"

We hope this quote from her agent is accurate: "She's not a bimbo, but she plays one on TV."

AP has called the Virginia Senate race for Jim Webb. Combined with John Tester's win in Montana, the Democrats now have a 51 seat majority in the Senate, and control of both chambers of Congress.

This is huge.

While Bush blathered, CNN and AP both called the contested Senate seat for the Dem.

A Webb victory in Virginia will give the Senate – and both chambers – to the Democratic Party.

"A superb leader in a time of change," says the president. Former CIA director, and Texas A&M president Robert Michael "Bob" Gates nominated by Bush. Let the Aggie jokes begin. In other news from this press conference, Bush is a contradictory ass.

We wax Rummy with a wealth of his quotes below the fold.

Yes, you read that right: CNN just reported that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld will step down. We were giddy for about 10 minutes, until an astute political observer (my mother-in-law) just posited a way this could turn bad: Bush could appoint pro-war Democrat Sen. Joseph Lieberman as Rummy's replacement. Connecticut's Republican governor could then appoint a Republican replacement for Lieberman, which would take away the Democrats' apparent edge in the Senate. Remember, a 50-50 Senate gives the edge to the GOP, because Vice-President Dick Cheney would cast the tiebreaker on any even votes. Be careful what you wish for. You might get it. EDIT: Thank God, I've already been proven wrong. See the post above about Bush appointing Robert Gates as Rummy's successor.

Granted, it's a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee press release posted on Daily Kos, so take with a grain of salt. But things continue bode well for the D's:

"Both Jon Tester and Jim Webb have won their races in Montana and Virginia but want to make sure that every vote is counted. We expect to have official results soon but can happily declare today that Democrats have taken the majority in the U.S. Senate."

The entire entry after the jump.

Democratic control of both chambers of Congress hang in the balance of two outstanding Senate races, which, as of this writing, are leaning Dem.

In Montana, Jon Tester leads Republican incumbent Conrad Burns 146,449 to 139,675, 73% reporting, according to CNN. Dems are "extremely optimistic."

Which leaves the Webb-Allen knuckleduster in Virginia. Webb, leading as of this bleary-eyed writing at 1:50am, is up by approximately 11,500 votes; he's already declared victory, but this squeaker will likely be in for a recount.

Like Florida in 2000, or Ohio in 2004, the story hinges on Virginia this election. But with Webb in the lead, the shoe is on the other foot this go around.

Pardon my French, but... holy fucking shit!

Sweet dreams, blue dotters...

Dems two seats away from control of Senate - and both chambers!