THANKS RON: BUSH GAINING ON KERRY (BUT STILL BEHIND)

"The poll numbers reflect a slight improvement for the President. Based on interactive polls conducted June 1-6 by Zogby Interactive of Utica, New York in 16 battleground states around the country, Democratic presidential challenger John Kerry would defeat the incumbent today by an Electoral College tally of 296 to 242. However, races in several states are simply too close to call. Two weeks ago, Mr. Kerry held a 102-vote lead in the Electoral College, 320-218."

I still suspect Abu Ghraib and its many cousins will linger longer than the Reagan halo effect, though Reagan's timely demise kept this atrocity out of the headlines.

And that Monty Python line running keeps through my head: "I'm not sure I like the sound of these here boncentration bamps."