CT Post reports Lieberman wants a five-way debate:

Lieberman is offering to debate his opponents this election cycle, including minor party candidates, as often as they like — a rarity for incumbents, who typically dodge such events, thinking they provide unnecessary exposure to their opponents.

Desperation setting in...? Here's the best part:

He also said the candidates have an opportunity to set "a high standard for a new politics of civil engagement."

For some of Lieberman's high standards of civility, we can go back to the days just after he lost the primary:

“It will be taken as a tremendous victory by the same people who wanted to blow up these planes in this plot hatched in England. It will strengthen them and they will strike again.”

And I'm sure we'll be treated to more of his high standards during the debate. Can't wait for this one.

The Cafe is sometimes so stodgy and stiff, so, as a public service, here's what the kids are into these days.

Now you're hip.

And the trainwreck of the year award goes to...Axl Rose.

Air America's flagship station here in NYC has moved, to 1600AM, and today's the first day of programming. And who do we find, on "progressive radio," but conservative columnist Armstrong "Payola" Williams.

From what I understand, it's only for the next few weeks, but...strange...

Bush tomorrow kicks off a month-long terror publicity tour:

Starting with an address to veterans on Thursday, Mr. Bush intends to outline what one adviser described as the “consequences of victory and defeat.” He will continue making speeches on the subject throughout the month, keying off the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

Expect the usual attacks, on the Democrats who want to leave Iraq tomorrow, the Democrats who appease the terrorists, and the Democrats who don't understand what the threat of terrorism means.

Perhaps somewhere along the way, someone in the fair and balanced tag-along press crowd can find a minute or two in their busy schedules to ask President Bush just exactly which Democrats he's taking about in his speeches?

Perhaps this really is a trend, perhaps the amuse-bouche "has arrived" at dinner parties.

If you come to my place for dinner, though, there will be no espresso cups filled with a puree of seasonal vegetables, or lovely tidbits of meat or fish on a pretty little saucer, or seviche, avocado tartare, or tiny cubes of watermelon and feta delightfully placed on a spoon.

Don't get me wrong: you'll eat well. But home cooking is no place for pretension.

If I want pretension, I'll pay for it, dammit.

Alberto Gonzales, in Iraq:

''This president has been very clear. This government has not engaged in torture,'' Gonzales said.

The Times reports he was there discussing the use of ''extraordinary measures'' for prisoners.

Perhaps he brought a copy of his memo.

Rumsfeld:

In unusually explicit terms, Rumsfeld portrayed the administration's critics as suffering from ''moral or intellectual confusion'' about what threatens the nation's security.

Yes, because torture offers us so much moral clarity.