Updated: Feverish speculation about an October Surprise.

Over in Peek, Melissa touched on the piece former White House Counsel John Dean had on Findlaw (I got it via The Smirking Chimp) predicting an October Surprise by the Bush administration as it tries to rescue an embattled GOP:

If anyone doubts that Bush, Cheney, Rove and their confidants are planning an "October Surprise" to prevent the Republicans from losing control of Congress, then he or she has not been observing this presidency very closely.

What will that surprise be? It's the most closely held secret of the Administration.

How risky will it be? Bush is a whatever-it-takes risk-taker, the consequences be damned.

Dean throws out a few ideas. Maybe they'll replace Dick Cheney with someone palatable like Rudy Giuliani. Yes, but I don't think that would be enough to do the trick. Perhaps the administration can achieve a grand coalition of "great powers" that will present a united front against Iranian nukes. But diplomacy? Nah. Anyway, Russia seems set against escalating our pissing match. Of course, he adds, there's always the option of starting another war. I just pray Dean's wrong on that one.

"If there is no 'October Surprise,'" he writes, I would be shocked."

Ok, I think it's a bit early, but I'll play along.