DRAGGIN' – AT 8:04 A.M. ET:   Welcome to the last week of August, the slowest news week of the year, with the possible exception of Christmas week. 

It is a week filled with anticipation.  In Hollywood, stars, producers and agents anticipate their psychiatrists' return from vacations.  This is a major event requiring parties, wine, and petitions to save various species. 

For us, we anticipate what will start next week – the most important midterm election campaign of our lifetime.  America has a stark choice between the alarming death rattle of our drift toward European socialism, and slamming on the brakes and saying to President Obama, "No you won't."  We hope for victory.  We're encouraged by the trends.  But we also worry about overconfidence, arrogance, and a few inadequate candidates who can do more harm than good.  We must run scared, and run as if we're 20 points behind.  We must also finally recognize the enormous impact that a biased media will have.  You may be certain that, in some newsrooms, the "I'm in journalism to make a difference" crowd is already opening probes of conservative candidates, the better to smear them with the usual, one-size-fits-all charge of, check one, 1) racism, 2) sexism, 3) Islamophobia, 4) homophobia, 5) or that old, sentimental favorite, they'll-take-away-your-Social-Securityism.

Starting next Tuesday, Urgent Agenda will devote a special section every day to the election, as we count down to November 2nd.  So stay with us.  As the great Bette said in "All About Eve," it's going to be a bumpy night.

August 30, 2010