Brazen Bias  —  Byron York yesterday exposed the hilarious “Fact Checker” column by the Washington Post's Michael Dobbs, which accuses the McCain campaign of “clearly exaggerating wildly” in accurately stating in a video news release:  —  “Obama has no background in economics.  Who advises him?

Scaring Seniors  —  An Obama-Biden ad says McCain supports “cutting benefits in half” for Social Security recipients.  False!  —  A new Obama ad characterizes the “Bush-McCain privatization plan” as “cutting Social Security Benefits in half.”  This is a falsehood sure to frighten seniors who rely on their Social Security checks.

Gallup Daily: Obama 50%, McCain 44%  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Gallup Poll Daily tracking from Wednesday through Friday finds Barack Obama maintaining his lead over John McCain among registered voters, by a 50% to 44% margin.  —  Obama has held at least a small margin over McCain in each …

Poll: Racial misgivings of whites an Obama issue  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Deep-seated racial misgivings could cost Barack Obama the White House if the election is close, according to an AP-Yahoo News poll that found one-third of white Democrats harbor negative views toward blacks — many calling them …

Uneasy feelings  —  Details are scarce on the big buyout; but as a few dribble out, I'm getting uneasy.  —  Here's the source of my uneasiness: the underlying premise behind the buyout seems, still, to be that this is mainly a liquidity problem.  So if the government stands ready to buy securities at “fair value”, all will be well.

Transgendered Woman Wins Sex Discrimination Case  —  In Potentially Groundbreaking Case, Court Finds Sex Discrimination Law Applies to Transgendered Woman  —  A transgendered woman, who lost a job offer because of her sexual status, has won a potentially groundbreaking federal sex discrimination lawsuit.

At Least 40 Are Killed in Blast at Pakistan Hotel  —  ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A huge truck bomb exploded at the entrance to the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad on Saturday evening, just a few hundred yards from the prime minister's house, where all the leaders of government were dining after the president's address to Parliament.

Kopp hiring proved Palin's fundamentalist street cred  —  So far Gov. Palin's handling of Alaska's Troopergate has focused on why Commissioner of Public Safety Walt Monegan was fired.  An equally important question is why Chuck Kopp was hired to replace him.

Hale “Bonddad” Stewart: The Death of Republican Philosophy  —  Last week was historic.  It is a week that financial and economic people will study for generations.  It also marked the end of certain elements of the Republican Party's ideology.  Below are statements the Republican party …

Charges Dropped Against DN!  Journalists - Investigation Needed  —  The St. Paul City Attorney's office announced Friday it will not prosecute Democracy Now! journalists Amy Goodman, Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar.  St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman also issued a statement Friday that …

The Palin Effect  —  Her enemies are bellowing like a wounded moose.  —  Now that the dust is beginning to settle from the whirlwind descent of Hurricane Sarah, it may be time to stand back a little and assess in perspective what the moose-hunting beauty from Wasilla, Alaska, has wrought.

Meanwhile, the Other No. 2 Keeps On Punching  —  FLAT ROCK, Mich. — As the economy reels, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. — the Other Running Mate — has been absolutely butchering Senator John McCain across the Rust Belt this week.  It is not clear who has noticed.

Anchorage Paper: McCain Confuses National Guard and Army Troops  —  NEW YORK From David Hulen at the always-valuable Alaska Politics blog at the Anchorage Daily News (www.adn.com) tonight:  —  “Candidates spend a lot of time talking, and they all misspeak sometimes.