First official word on the casualties in Iraq that I’ve seen. We’ve had a lot of estimates but finally the government is giving us a number and it’s not good.

Nearly simultaneous car bombs struck two markets in predominantly Shiite areas of Baghdad on Thursday, killing at least 16 people. Iraq’s health minister said about 150,000 have been killed by insurgents since the war started, giving the government’s first overall casualty estimate.

Emphasis mine. Now this is important for one big reason: that’s just from the insurgents. It’s ignoring, for example, how many civilians died at the hands of American soldiers. I would say the total deaths would be considerably over 200,000 if not creeping up toward 300,000.

Cross your fingers, this might get a new direction finally.

Boom baby! It’s official! George Allen has conceded the race, giving the Democrats control of the Senate.

U.S. Sen. George Allen conceded defeat Thursday in his re-election bid, sealing the Democrats’ takeover of the Senate and concluding a dramatic fall for a one-time top-tier presidential contender.

Allen conceded at an afternoon news conference, saying the “owners of government have spoken and I respect their decision.”

There you have it. The Democrats have taken over Congress for the first time in 12 years. Oh happy day. Oh happy, happy day.