Congratulations to the members of the U.S. and Iraqi militaries for their efforts in finding and killing Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and some of his close associates yesterday. President Bush made this statement about the operation. Iraq the Model expresses, I think, the attitude of most ordinary Iraqis about Zarqawi, who killed thousands of Iraqis in his deadly career, when he celebrates the news. Here are some thoughts by Dan Darling at the Weekly Standard on the news. Instapundit and the Drudge Report also have numerous links to related articles and opinions about the subject.

While the death of Zarqawi, or any individual terrorist for that matter, will not end the war, it must be seen as a victory and will almost certainly impede al Qaeda's efforts in Iraq.

Jay Cost has an excellent analysis of the results in the special election in CA-50. He believes that the results were "normal", which leads him to conclude that it looks good for the GOP in holding seats they need to keep in order to stay in the majority in November.

David Corn thinks that illegal immigration may be a wedge issue for Republicans that will actually work this year. I think he is right. If Republicans bang the drum for border security this Fall, not only will they energize their dispirited base, they will win over independents and working class Democrats who are concerned about security, both from terrorist threats and economic security. I recommend to all House Republicans a strategy of repudiating the President and the Senate on their version of immigration reform, and then trumpet that repudiation in their Fall campaigns.