With the midterms behind us and President Obama's next talk on Afghanistan just ahead, Republicans find themselves hamstrung by 48 words. They're found on page 355 of President Bush's new memoir, Decision Points, and they concern a September 2006 conversation he had with Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky).

Mitch has a sharp political nose, and he smelled trouble.

"Mr. President," he said, "your unpopularity is going to cost us control of the Congress."
. . .

"Well, Mitch," I said. "What do you want me to do about it?"

"Mr. President," he said, "bring some troops home from Iraq."

We'll have much more about this on the show tonight at 9 Eastern. Help us welcome the new workweek and the lame-duck Congress, too. Fun.

(Photo: Gage Skidmore)