Ah, this week began with such a boom-boom-boom, yet seems to be ending with the familiar low rumble of political attrition warfare. Here are a few mid-day items that stand out:

* TAP’s Paul Waldman vents spleen against the undecided voters who control our fate.

* Dana Milbank decrees “hate group” is term that must be reserved for Nazis or KKK members. Clear he’s neither a woman nor gay.

* DC Circuit Court panel orders restoration of early voting days for five Florida counties subject to Voting Rights Act pre-clearance requirement.

* Geraldo and his Fox buds speculate with great hilarity that Department of Homeland Security is run by “lesbian cabal.” Will the man ever retire?

* 34 striking platinum miners killed by police in South Africa.

And in non-political news:

* Honey Badger heads to rehab.

Back after I peer through fog for a bit.

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Ed Kilgore is a political columnist for New York and managing editor at the Democratic Strategist website. He was a contributing writer at the Washington Monthly from January 2012 until November 2015, and was the principal contributor to the Political Animal blog.