McCain Loses His Head  —  “The queen had only one way of settling all difficulties, great or small.  ‘Off with his head!’ she said without even looking around.”  —  Under the pressure of the financial crisis, one presidential candidate is behaving like a flustered rookie playing in a league too high.

Obama and Ayers Pushed Radicalism On Schools  —  Despite having authored two autobiographies, Barack Obama has never written about his most important executive experience.  From 1995 to 1999, he led an education foundation called the Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAC), and remained on the board until 2001.

Before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, U.S. Senate  —  Chairman Dodd, Senator Shelby, and members of the Committee, I appreciate this opportunity to discuss recent developments in financial markets and the economy.  As you know, the U.S. economy continues …

A Second Opinion?  —  Does anyone think it's just a little weird to be stampeded into a $700 billion solution to the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression by the very people who brought us the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression?  —  How about a second opinion?

Ron Paul's Presidential Endorsement.  For Real, This Time.  —  Two weeks after his “third party alliance” press conference, three weeks after the Rally for the Republic, Ron Paul finally dives in and endorses a presidential candidate.  This guy.  —  Paul's reasoning had a lot to do with Bob Barr's snub of the third party presser.

Democrats close gap with GOP in Washoe County  —  Washoe County Democrats are closing in on registered Republicans as the parties focus on the Nevada's battleground county in the presidential election.  —  On Thursday, county Voter Registrar Dan Burk said Republicans had 87,971 registered …

Candidates Keep Their Bailout Stances to Themselves  —  As Senators, Both Will Vote on Plan; Concept Embraced  —  Presidential nominees Barack Obama and John McCain are carefully calibrating the rapidly changing politics — and policies — of the mammoth Treasury bailout plan …

The Story Behind Biden's Emergency Helicopter Landing in Afghanistan  —  “Ladies and gentlemen, where are we now?  Where are we now?”  Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., said to the National Guard Association today, talking about the war in Afghanistan.  —  “If you want to know where Al Qaeda lives …

Playing hooky pays off for Palin  —  Despite all of the discussion of Sarah Palin's performance as governor of Alaska, there has been little analysis of the simplest measure of performance: attendance.  As Woody Allen said many years ago, “80 percent of success is just showing up.”

Anti-Iran Rally Turns Into Anti-Obama Rally  —  Jewish Groups Furious That Protest Against Ahmadinejad Was, At Times, A Pro-Palin, Bash-The-Dems Affair  —  NEW YORK (CBS) ― Politics and diplomacy were not a good mix at Monday's protest rally against Iran at the United Nations.

GOP threatens stingy lawmakers  —  House Republicans are struggling to raise campaign cash from a key constituency - their own colleagues.  And if tight-fisted GOP lawmakers don't pony up soon, sources on Capitol Hill say they could find themselves stripped of plum subcommittee assignments.

How close was the financial system to melting down?  —  I do not work for the Treasury, the Fed, or an investment house, so take this for what it's worth.  But my understanding is really, frighteningly close.  Remember the monster that lived under your bed when you were five?  Actually, mine lived in the closet.

$13 Billion in Iraq Aid Wasted Or Stolen, Ex-Investigator Says  —  A former Iraqi official estimated yesterday that more than $13 billion meant for reconstruction projects in Iraq was wasted or stolen through elaborate fraud schemes.  —  Salam Adhoob, a former chief investigator …

Limbaugh repeats baseless Obama smear: “He's Arab. ...  [H]e's not African-American”  —  On the September 22 broadcast of his syndicated radio show, Rush Limbaugh baselessly claimed that Sen. Barack Obama is “not black,” and went on to ask: “Do you know he has not one shred of African-American blood?”

Millions spend half of income on housing  —  MIAMI - Al Ray is so strapped for cash, the only time he eats out is on Wednesday or Sunday, when the local McDonald's sells hamburgers for 49 cents.  —  Ray lost his engineering job last November, and has been working as high school tutor …

Palin's lawyer meets with independent counsel  —  ANCHORAGE, Alaska (CNN) — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's lawyer met Monday with the independent counsel hired by the state to discuss the investigation into Palin's firing of Alaska's public safety commissioner, campaign officials said.

Biden on Obama's e-mail ad: “I thought that was terrible”  —  Skip ahead to 4:05.  For the second time in three days, Greasy Joe proves himself one of America's most effective anti-Obama advocates.  —  I hope you appreciate his nuance, at least, in hinting that Obama didn't approve an ad that ended with …

NRA Targets Obama  —  It falsely claims in mailers and TV ads that Obama plans to ban handguns, hunting ammo and use of a gun for home defense.  —  A National Rifle Association advertising campaign distorts Obama's position on gun control beyond recognition.

Sitting Room Only for Obama in Green Bay  —  Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin packed the house last week in Green Bay, Wis., at the Resch Center.  —  Not so today in the same arena with Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., as ABC News' Sunlen Miller captured in these photos.  — jpt

Ethan Winner Responds: Claims He Produced Video  —  Ethan Winner responds.  Written like a VP in a public relations firm that specializes in crisis management and grassroots organization.  I'll post the whole thing below.  —  He produced the video?  He paid for the voice-over narration which he found through a talent agency?

The Media Blackout: Nearly 40 Days and Counting  —  The country may have turned its attention to the economic crisis and a staggering $700 billion bailout proposal, but political operatives still have their eyes on other issues.  —  Among them, for the Democrats, is keeping track of how long it's …

Europe rejects US-style toxic asset bail-out  —  By Nikki Tait in Brussels, Ben Hall in Paris and Bertrand Benoit in Berlin  —  European finance ministers and poli­cy­makers on Monday played down the likelihood of mimicking the US plan to prop up the banking sector by acquiring troubled financial assets.

Lobbyists seek change to language  —  Lobbying on the rescue plan for Wall Street intensified Monday as the package moved to Congress, giving advocates another avenue to alter the language in ways favorable to their clients.  —  Up to now, the actions to stem the financial calamity …

Bailout Satire  —  Add your own toxic holdings to the big s**tpile here.  —  I almost missed this email because it was diverted to my spam folder.  But apparently Paulson is sending this around:

Obama, McCain In Tight Race in Va., Poll Shows  —  Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain are locked in an extremely competitive race for Virginia's 13 electoral votes amid widespread public anxiety over the economy and the direction the country is heading, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.