-- The tendency to exaggerate Republican prospects and Democratic woes is among the most consistent biases in American mainstream media -- as yesterday’s coverage of Senate race developments demonstrated -- and will only grow more pronounced as the midterm elections draw closer. All the headlines and analyses depicting a “vicious cycle” of Democrats retiring fell apart upon even a moment’s scrutiny of the Connecticut situation. If the polls leading up to the Dodd and Dorgan retirements were accurate, then both their seats would have leaned strongly Republican next November – and now only one of them does, leaving a net plus for the Democrats today.

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First, a reintroduction of sorts. Nearly every time I’ve gone back to look up a post from the Salon archive of my blog over the past few years, I felt more than a moment’s nostalgia. Writing a weekly column here has always been a privilege, but blogs have come to dominate the Internet for many good reasons that I learned back in the early days of the form. So when Joan Walsh asked me late last year if I would resume Joe Conason’s Journal, the answer was easy -- even though my life is more complicated now, with responsibilities at the Investigative Fund of the Nation Institute, a new book on Bill Clinton’s post-presidency under way, and my column for the New York Observer (plus twin toddlers at home).

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The latest atrocity attempted by Al Qaeda seems to be yet another example of history reprising a great tragedy as farce. What make the misadventure of the underpants bomber on Flight 253 seem darkly ridiculous, however, is not only his incompetence in setting himself on fire, but the hysteria and hypocrisy of the reactions set off on the right by his painful squib. Then again, the Republican exploitative response to terror is as predictable as Al Qaeda’s urge to kill.

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Howard Dean proved long ago that he marches to the beat of his own conscience. Neither personal attacks nor appeals to party -- nor mockery voiced by Washington's media establishment -- will move him when he thinks he is right. So despite a barrage of harsh reaction from the mainstream press, liberal politicians and interest groups and the White House itself, the former DNC chairman remains unswerving in his opposition to the Senate Democrats' healthcare bill.

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By bowing to Senator Joseph Lieberman and his obstructive pals in both parties on health care reform, President Obama has confirmed what Republicans always say about Democrats: They simply aren’t strong enough to govern. Or at least the Democrats elected last year—and their colleagues in the Senate leadership—don’t seem to be.

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The tough report released this week (PDF) by Scott Harshbarger, the former Massachusetts attorney general asked to prepare an independent assessment of ACORN by that organization's leaders, could scarcely compete with the infamous videotapes that sparked cable drama and congressional outrage last summer.

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Evading the challenges of climate change—and the human responsibility to save the planet—is simple enough even for the laziest citizen. Pay attention only to the theories that support the comforting skepticism of the oil industry. Focus on a set of purloined emails that prove nothing except that scientists can be as unpleasant to each other as any other group of people. Get the “facts” from Fox News Channel, the Wall Street Journal editorial page, the Moonie-controlled Washington Times and all the other conservative outlets that are as fair and balanced as an Exxon press release.

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Deep within the jargon-encrusted, repetitive prose of Gen. Stanley McChrystal's official  assessment of the situation in Afghanistan lies a little-noticed clue to the puzzling plan announced by President Obama this week. In a brief section on "reintegrating" insurgent fighters into Afghan society, the commander of the International Security Assistance Force  reviews the most basic reality of counterinsurgent warfare.