Yep, I’m still quite a bit under the weather, which is probably why I did an entire post calling Stu Stevens “Stu Spencer.” But I’ll try to get my head screwed on straight. Here’s are some lunch items:

* Chicago teachers strike, thought nearly resolved, heads into second week with Emanual seeking court action.

* Todd Akin’s wife compares her husband’s abandonment by GOP to–you guessed it–rape.

* Erick Erickson begins making case for why Romney lost.

* Elizabeth Warren rebounds into lead in Massachusetts Senate race, per PPI.

* TNR features long Alec MacGillis profile of Paul Ryan’s ascent in Washington.

And in non-political news:

* Scientology losing influence in Hollywood.

Back after an attempt to keep down a meal.

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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.