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.

Biden: ‘No coal plants here in America’  —  Some great rope line video from Joe Biden's recent Ohio swing, where he was asked by an anti-pollution campaigner about clean coal — a controversial approach in Democratic circles for which Obama has voiced support, particularly during the Kentucky primary.

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. Chuck 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 …

The Establishment Lives!  —  Once, there was a financial elite in this country.  During the first two-thirds of the 20th century, middle-aged men with names like Mellon and McCloy led Wall Street firms, corporate boards and white-shoe law firms and occasionally emerged to serve in government.

EXCLUSIVE: Maliki Suggests Bush Pushed To Extend U.S. Presence In Iraq To Help McCain  —  Last July, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said U.S. troops should be out of Iraq “as soon as possible” and endorsed Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) withdrawal plan.  Obama “talks about 16 months.

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 …

The speech Palin never gave: Ahmadinejad dreams of Final Solution  —  In the speech which Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin was to have delivered at a Monday rally protesting the UN appearance of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, she was to have said that the Iranian president …

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

Paulson Debt Plan May Benefit Mostly Goldman, Morgan  —  Sept. 22 (Bloomberg) — Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Morgan Stanley may be among the biggest beneficiaries of the $700 billion U.S. plan to buy assets from financial companies while many banks see limited aid, according to Bank of America Corp.

Not a surrogate  —  I'd missed “The View” yesterday, but watching now, it's striking how one of the world's great's political salesman is acting as an analyst, and not a surrogate, when it comes to this race, and making no real effort to boost Obama.

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.”