1.  While the media was going overboard with lavish praise for Senator Ted Kennedy, the Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, Richard A. Viguerie, set the record straight.

In his blog, Viguerie wrote, "Kennedy was highly partisan and even mean-spirited.  He had acid on his tongue and pen, which he would, without hesitation, use against conservatives." 

The word, "bork," which means an excess of vitriolic political rhetoric, arose from the confirmation hearing of Judge Robert Bork.  Within minutes of President Reagan's nomination of Bork to be an associate justice of the Supreme Court, Kennedy went to the floor of the Senate and said in part:

"Robert Bork's America is a land in which women would be forced into back-alley abortions; blacks would sit at segregated lunch counters; rogue police could break down citizens' doors in midnight raids; schoolchildren could not be taught about evolution; writers and artists would be censored at the whim of government; and the doors of the federal courts would be shut on the fingers of millions of citizens for whom the judiciary is often the only protector of the individual rights that are the heart of our democracy."

Viguerie believes that Kennedy may have been "America's most effective socialist ever.  His use of government power was not merely socialist, but often disregarded and contravened the Constitution."

2.  President Obama and the Democrats are declining in the polls, while Republicans continue to rise.

During the month of August, Rasmussen Reports indicates that Obama had a minus 9% approval rating among those persons with salient opinions on his performance in office:  39% strongly disapproved, while 30% strongly approved. 

Adding in those with less passionate feelings, 50% disapproved of Obama's job performance, 49% approved, and 1% had no leanings either way.

The Rasmussen average for the last seven days was minus 9.7% among those with definite views.  Among everyone, 51.3% disapproved and 47.7% approved.

If Congressional elections were held today, another Rasmussen poll shows the GOP would win 43%-36% with 21% unsure.  If the 21% did not vote, which is likely in lower turnout non-presidential elections, Republicans would capture 54.4% of the nationwide vote, with Democrats at 45.6%.

In commenting on the poll, in which the GOP has held the advantage for the 10th straight week, Rasmussen Reports said, "This represents the lowest level of support for Democrats in recent years."

Voters appear to be in a mood to throw out all incumbents.  One more poll by Rasmussen found that an astounding 57% of voters would like to replace the entire Congress.  Only 25% would keep the current members of the House and Senate, while 18% were not sure.

Two other polls may point to potential problems for the GOP.

In terms of party identification, a Rasmussen poll indicated Democrats still hold a 4.7% edge over Republicans, 37.3% to 32.6%.  Independents were at 30.2%. 

And a Rasmussen poll of Republican voters showed that 74% believe their representatives in Congress have lost touch with their constituents.  Only 28% think their elected officials have done a good job of representing the base.