<div><A href="http://billmon.org/archives/002830.html">http://billmon.org/archives/002830.html</A></div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <DIV class=title>Paranoia Watch</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE>Some Republican strategists are increasingly upset with what they consider the overconfidence of President Bush and his senior advisers about the midterm elections November 7 -- a concern aggravated by the president's news conference this week. <div>"They aren't even planning for if they lose," says a GOP insider who informally counsels the West Wing.</div></BLOCKQUOTE> <div align=right><B><I>U.S. News and World Report</I></B><BR><A href="http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/061013/13bush.htm">Bush Is Said to Have No Plan if GOP Loses</A></A><BR>October 13, 2006<BR> <div><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE>The aircraft carrier <I>Eisenhower</I>, accompanied by the guided-missile cruiser <I>USS Anzio</I>, guided-missile destroyer <I>USS Ramage</I>, guided-missile destroyer <I>USS Mason</I> and the fast-attack submarine <I>USS Newport News</I>, is, as I write, making its way to the Straits of Hormuz off Iran. The ships will be in place to strike Iran by the end of the month. It may be a bluff. It may be a feint. It may be a simple show of American power. But I doubt it.</BLOCKQUOTE> <div align=right><B>Chris Hedges</B><BR><A href="http://www.alternet.org/story/42774/">Does Bush Think War With Iran is Preordained?</A></A><BR>October 10, 2006<BR></div> <div><BR><B>Update 10/14 11:40 AM ET:</B> <A href="http://cookpolitical.com/overview/default.php">Charlie Cook</A>:</div> <BLOCKQUOTE>"If I were a Republican, I'd start praying that something happens to take the spotlight away from Iraq and scandals, because this current issue mix is lethal."</BLOCKQUOTE> <div>Will the war gods hear their prayers? <BR></div><A name=more></A> <DIV class=posted>Posted by billmon at October 13, 2006 09:29 PM </DIV><p>  <hr size=1>Get your email and more, right on the <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=42973/*http://www.yahoo.com/preview"> new Yahoo.com</a>