Palin Power: Fresh Face Now More Popular Than Obama, McCain  —  A week ago, most Americans had never heard of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.  Now, following a Vice Presidential acceptance speech viewed live by more than 40 million people, Palin is viewed favorably by 58% of American voters.

MYSTERY SOLVED!  —  A lot of people were asking tonight: what the hell was that mansion up behind John McCain tonight during the first part of the speech?  As I noted below, the TV close-ups only showed McCain's head against the grass in the picture, which made it look like he was reprising his famed green screen performance.

Angry readers dump Us Magazine over Palin  —  Plus: Britney's mom defends self in book; ‘Thunder’ is going down  —  Three celebrity weeklies — OK!, People and Us Weekly — featured Sarah Palin on their cover, but one of those magazines is reportedly losing subscribers because of it.  —  The Scoop

BIG DILEMMA: OPRAH BALKS AT HOSTING SARAH PALIN; STAFF DIVIDED  —  Oprah Winfrey may have introduced Democrat Barack Obama to the women of America — but the talkshow queen is not rushing to embrace the first woman on a Republican presidential ticket!  —  Oprah's staff is sharply divided …

Palin Leaves Campaign Trail.  Flees North.  —  Well this is interesting.  Chuck Todd dropped a little bombshell this afternoon. … Hole up in Alaska?  I was thinking to myself after her polished but snarky performance at the Republican National Convention, “I wonder who will get the first interview?”

John McCain's Acceptance Speech  —  The following is a transcript of Senator John McCain's acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, as recorded by CQ Transcriptions.  —  MCCAIN: Thank you.  Thank you all very much.  Thank you.  —  Tonight, I have a privilege given few Americans: the privilege of

Republicans Lack Heart!  —  Ann and Nancy Wilson are pissed at the Republican Party and have fired off a cease and desist letter to the McCain/Palin campaign.  —  Specifically, the Heart women are upset that the GOP has used their classic “Barracuda” as a theme song for Sarah Palin.

Employment Situation Summary  —  Technical information:  —  Household data: (202) 691-6378 USDL 08-1252  —  Establishment data:(202) 691-6555 Transmission of material in this release  —  http://www.bls.gov/ces/ is embargoed until 8:30 A.M. (EDT), Media contact: (202) 691-5902 Friday, September 5, 2008.

The Resentment Strategy  —  Can the super-rich former governor of Massachusetts — the son of a Fortune 500 C.E.O. who made a vast fortune in the leveraged-buyout business — really keep a straight face while denouncing “Eastern elites”?  —  Can the former mayor of New York City, a man who …

The death of a taboo  —  ST. PAUL — One of the most enduring taboos in American politics, the airing of graphic images from the September 11 attacks in a partisan context, died today.  It was nearly seven years old.  —  The informal prohibition, which had been occasionally threatened …

EXCLUSIVE: In New Book, Woodward Says Bush ‘Failed to Lead,’ Even as Surge Succeeded  —  WASHINGTON — Bob Woodward, who wrote two books praising President Bush and then a third harshly criticizing him, is out with a fourth tome that renders a mixed verdict on Bush, lauding the president's surge …

Rangel Failed to Report $75,000 in Income  —  Representative Charles B. Rangel has earned more than $75,000 in rental income from a villa he has owned in the Dominican Republic since 1988, but never reported it on his federal or state tax returns, according to a lawyer for the congressman and documents from the resort.

Media on the defensive over Sarah Palin coverage  —  After the GOP attacks the media over stories about the vice presidential nominee's family, TV networks and newspapers deny bias and say Republicans opened the door to coverage.  —  NEW YORK — News executives Thursday tried to shake off …