As we speculated, Canada's Parti Quebecois will vote in favor of the Softwood Lumber Agreement, making a $450 million slush fund available to Bush well before November 7. Sweet! Bloomberg:

The Bloc Quebecois, Canada's second- largest opposition party, plans to back an accord to end a four- year dispute with the U.S. over softwood lumber tariffs because Quebec companies support it.

The Bloc's support guarantees that legislation on the accord will pass.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said last month that he'll introduce the law in the parliamentary session that starts Sept. 18.

Maybe the mysteriously unavailable list of "meritorious initiatives" which were to be "determined" September 1, according to the agreement, will shake loose in today's Friday document dump.

Because "meritorious initiatives"--loophole, meet truck--are where the $450 million are going. No congressional oversight, a board appointed by Bush... And guesses where the money will go?

I'd say Bush will allocate the money according to the Endangered Republican Incumbents Act. Wouldn't you?