LET'S DROP SOME BIG ONES NOW, BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS... A GUEST EDITORIAL FROM JOHNNY WENDELL

A cursory stroll down Blogosphere Lane reveals varying levels of breathless anticipation and nervous trepidation, as per 11/7's upcoming midterms. Although the various projections in Democratic (and other opposition groups) gains span an enormo spectrum, from Chris Bowers' mild 15-25, to Kos' 7-10 seat gains, to DWT's own Howie, who speculates on a 30-40 seat gain, the general sentiment is more or less upbeat, but with a caveat.

Namely, it ain't exactly a Paul headed to Damascus revelation that Herr Rove und Die Media Korporate will be working overtime to divert and obfuscate. That the gears of the Ugly Hate Machine, from lowly mouth-breathers like Little Green Snotballs and Hindlicker all the way to the perilous radio summits of Slant-Head and Viagra-Contin man will be grinding out horror missives around the clock, like the smug Vichy/Tory wannabees they've always been

This barrage of ceaseless Chimp/Cheney fellation has been less effective by the news cycle and has fewer teeth than a trailer-bound Toby Keith fan and no one knows this better than the master baiter Cheney himself. Mired in miserable poll numbers with a cratering housing market and wage depression swirling about his ankles like effluence in the streets of Fallujah, a Hail Mary move right before the midterms would not only be in the works as we speak, but very bloody (pun intended) likely.

Some might say (a tip of the mug to Fox, so sue me) that a bogus Orange to Red alert on the Isle of Manhattan that culminates in massive arrests of dark-hued Asians is a possibility. Foiling the destruction of the Holland tunnel, the GWB (the bridge, not the monkey man, be still your perverted imaginations), mebbe the Empire State (to satisfy the atavism of various King Kong fans), perhaps a westward ho, from the DC ho's, as in saving LA or San Diego (not San Francisco, as much of America would be happy to see Sodom By The Sea disappear). But those are small potatoes (or is it "potatoees," Mr Quayle?)--a terraist plot foiled lacks the all-encompassing pizzazz of 9/11 and any homegrown or CIA remake risks one lowly whistle-blowers approbrium.

What they can control is the American military and the news cycle. Therefore, the military will carry out their whims, as they must do. And despite the fact that the Pentagon blunted their desires back in 2004, as per air-raids and bombings of Iran, it's a good bet they'll roll the dice and go for it, a week before the midterms, appropriately upon All Hallows Eve, for maximum symbolism.

Claiming a clear and present danger posed by the "madman" Ahmanidijad and a "refusal to allow inspections" of the newly proposed heavy water facilities (which Iran is entitled to as signatory to the NPT, their rivals in Tel Aviv aren't, natch), Cheney n' Co let forth with a blast from the sea, from aircraft carriers and subs, despite the dispersal of supposed nuke facilities all over Persia.

This carnage drives Iraq and Lebanon off the front pages. It re-asserts the doctrine of pre-emption. It defangs reason and brings it all back home to Die Partei Republikkkanische's favorite mode of entertainment-- air war as videogame for chubby couch pomme du terres.

With only one week to go before the midterms, the skyrocketing rise in gasoline prices will not kick in. Nor will the severing of American supply lines between Doha and Baghdad or the quite likely "Little Big Horn" like attacks on the Green Zone from Iraq's own Crazy Horse, Muktada Al Sadr.

They'll cross those bridges when they come to them. The wind will be out of the sails of the opposition, red, white and blue banners will fly from Fox to shining CNN, once again decals will proudly be attached to SUV's and neo-cons will be sucking down snifters of victory brandy by the gallon. All that counts is keeping the House and Senate and so what if the country is boarding the hand-basket to Hades on the 8th?

People say that I have a hyperactive and paranoiac imagination and they're right as rain. But I put nothing past these animales with their track record intact of treasury piracy via military outlay plus public hysteria and acquiescence. They have gone to any lengths and will continue to do so, to dominate and demolish our beloved land--moderation in the pursuit of think-tank based madness is not in their quiver.

We'll talk on 11/1, ok?

(Johnny Wendell is on KTLK-AM1150, in LA, Saturdays and Sundays, 10A-12, PCT. He has been a punk rock musician, columnist, actor, TV talking head on CNN and Court TV and playwright, too--one day, he'll have to get a real job).