No deal  —  I hate to say this, but looking at the plan as leaked, I have to say no deal.  Not unless Treasury explains, very clearly, why this is supposed to work, other than through having taxpayers pay premium prices for lousy assets.  —  As I posted earlier today, it seems all too likely that a …

Lobbyists Scramble to Sway Deal  —  WASHINGTON — Titans of the financial industry are battling to influence the government's financial rescue plan, a package that will create new winners and losers in the sector.  —  Democrats in Congress want a rescue package that benefits homeowners at risk for foreclosure, not just Wall Street.

Pact on Debates Will Let McCain and Obama Spar  —  The Obama and McCain campaigns have agreed to an unusual free-flowing format for the three televised presidential debates, which begin Friday, but the McCain camp fought for and won a much more structured approach for the questioning …

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 …

Oh, That Joe!  (No. 14 in a Series) - Biden Says Obama Won't Take His Beretta  —  Sen. Barack Obama better not mess with his running mate Joe Biden's guns...or else.  —  In an out-of-nowhere attempt to re-assure a southwestern Virginia labor crowd about gun owners' rights, Biden …

Obama's Social Security Whopper  —  He tells Social Security recipients their money would now be in the stock market under McCain's plan.  False.  —  In Daytona Beach, Obama said that “if my opponent had his way, the millions of Floridians who rely on it would've had their Social Security tied up in the stock market this week.”

Cheney must preserve records, judge orders  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — Vice President Dick Cheney must preserve a broad range of records from his time in office, a federal judge ordered Saturday, ruling in favor of a private watchdog group.  —  U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly found …

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 …

BEFORE WE JUMP IN  —  There are subjects I know a lot about and others I know very little about.  And the high-wire financial mess we're currently in falls clearly into the latter category.  But I know enough to be troubled that we appear ready to give upwards of a trillion dollars in unfettered …

Same-Sex Marriage Ban Is Tied to Obama Factor  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Could Senator Barack Obama's popularity among black voters hurt gay couples in California who want to marry?  —  That is the concern of opponents of Proposition 8, a measure on the November ballot that would amend …

Rachel Maddow's ratings are incredible  —  If only MSNBC would have listened to us months ago, but at least she's there now.  Move over Larry King, there's a new girl in town....Her ratings even beat Countdown a few times.  —  It's nice to see and we hope you will continue to tune in.