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.

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.

Economic ‘heart attack:’ Warning signs  —  The message of the private session that the Federal Reserve chairman and secretary of the Treasury had with congressional leaders late last week is playing out in public today, where Sen. Chucks Schumer said they have been warned of an economic “heart attack.”

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 …

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 …

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.”

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.

Obama Carries Uneven Record as Debater to First Contest With McCain  —  Senator Barack Obama has shown himself at times to be a great orator.  His debating skills, however, have been uneven.  —  Some of his chief strengths — his facility with words, his wry detachment, his reasoning skills …

Obama Scales Back His 50 State Strategy  —  Barack Obama has never been particularly shy about his hope to reshape the political landscape of a country deeply divided between red and blue.  To much fanfare earlier this year, his campaign launched into General Election mode pledging …

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.

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 …

Close Contests in Four Key States:  —  The presidential race between John McCain and Barack Obama in four key battleground states remains remarkably stable despite a month of politically significant developments, with the Illinois senator running ahead of or even with his Republican rival according …

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.

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.

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.

Focus on the Merits  —  Josh Marshall sums up the blogospheric conventional wisdom: … I think all those esteemed bloggers may be right.  Still, I think the intensive concern over this particular point is a little bit misplaced.  Or, rather, that it should be strictly dominated by concern over the merits of the plan that's passed.

Limbaugh repeats baseless smear that Obama is misrepresenting his ethnicity*  —  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?”

$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 …

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 …

Palin skips fundraisers; focuses on prep, crowds  —  John McCain's campaign is scrapping, rescheduling or offering surrogates for nearly every one of the fundraisers Sarah Palin was to hold this month, instead having her campaign jointly with McCain, prepare for her sole debate next month and get some foreign policy exposure.

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.

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 …