Free Republic

Senate Majority Leader John Thune finally got the eight Democrats/Independents he needed to vote in favor of a Continuing Resolution that will allow the government to reopen. Tonight’s vote was just one step — though a critically important one — in a process that could take several days to play out. Among other things, the CR is different from the one that passed the House on September 19 so the House will have to vote on it again.

ATLANTA - Howard Dean, the former presidential candidate now heading the national Democratic Party, says Georgia could "shape up as pretty important" to his party in next year's elections despite its drift into the Republican column. "We've got an important governor's race I think we can win and important congressional races," Dean said Tuesday in an interview in advance of a swing through Atlanta for a "low-dollar," $50-per-person party fund-raiser. Money from Thursday's event will go to the national party, but it won't stay there, he said, explaining it will be used to hire staffers to help in party-building efforts...