MICKEY KAUS: Amnesty’s Last Chance? “Is it good for Obama’s health care effort that this comes out now? Doesn’t it potentially make 2010 midterm voters more uneasy about Dem overreach? Maybe it placates Hispanic lawmakers who might be upset at the treatment of illegals in the health bill itself–but that’s Obama again playing the inside game of keeping Congress’ factions happy. His problem is the outside game of keeping the public on board, no? . . . Are Democrats going ahead with immigration legalization in 2010 because they realize the way things are going they will have no chance in 2011?”

JENNIFER RUBIN IN THE L.A. TIMES: Misrepresenting the ideology of Islamic terrorists.

IT DOES SEEM THAT WAY: Dual roles as athlete, businessman present tough balancing act for Heath Shuler. Oh, and also that role as “Member Of Congress.”

FORT HOOD: Stephen Hayes connects the dots.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG? Corzine to take over Bank Of America?

OBAMACARE: Revolt Of The Seniors.

JULES CRITTENDEN: Courtroom Jihad. “This KSM trial thing looks to be endlessly fascinating.”

Hmm. Everyone’s expecting disaster, but when a bunch of Chicago pols do something that looks iffy on the surface, couldn’t it just mean that the fix is in?

UPDATE: Reader Jack Moody emails: “It could, but remember that everyone thought that the fix was in on the Olympic bid. That looked iffy too.” Good point!

BIGGOVERNMENT.COM: Union and Whistleblower Complaint Documents SEIU Ballot Fraud.

FOOLISH PEOPLE IN THE SEVERANCE ECONOMY. “Hefty severance packages, while intended as a safety net, can lull the unemployed into a false sense of security. Some people continue spending as before.”

TIME ASKS why Americans are so cheery during a recession. Well, all that positive press spin probably helps. I mean, it’s almost worth having a Democrat in the White House just to be spared all the lugubrious coverage we’d be getting with a Republican. . . .