Fate of Bailout Plan Remains Uncertain  —  WASHINGTON — The day began with an agreement that Washington hoped would end the financial crisis that has gripped the nation.  It dissolved into a verbal brawl in the Cabinet Room of the White House, urgent warnings from the president and pleas …

Thinking About McCain  —  I've been covering John McCain steadily for a decade.  A few years ago, I worked on a book, which I foolishly never completed, on the U.S. Senate with McCain as the central character.  So when I step back and think of McCain, even in the heat of this campaign …

Huckabee Calls McCain Debate Ploy a ‘Huge Mistake’  —  MOBILE, Ala. — Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said Thursday that Sen. John McCain made a “huge mistake” by even discussing canceling the presidential debate with Sen. Barack Obama.  —  McCain's campaign has said the Republican …

Palin Problem  —  If at one time women were considered heretical for swimming upstream against feminist orthodoxy, they now face condemnation for swimming downstream — away from Sarah Palin.  —  To express reservations about her qualifications to be vice president — and possibly president — is to risk being labeled anti-woman.

Away from Wall Street, Economists Question Basis of Paulson's Plan  —  The Bush administration's pitch for a sweeping bailout of the financial system has centered on two simple premises: that the economy could suffer a crippling downturn if action is not taken very quickly and that this action …

SLATE PREDICTS MCCAIN'S NEXT 10 HAIL MARY STUNTS.  —  1. Returns to Vietnam and jails himself.  —  2. Offers the post of “vice vice president” to Warren Buffett.  —  3. Challenges Obama to suspend campaign so they both can go and personally drill for oil offshore.  —  4. Learns to use computer.

Missouri Sheriffs & Top Prosecutors Form Obama “Truth Squads” & Threaten Libel Charges Against Obama Critics  —  More Hope and Change for Missouri...  St. Louis and Missouri Democrat sheriffs and top prosecutors are planning to go after anyone who makes false statements against Obama during his campaign.

President Bush Discusses Negotiations to Finalize Legislation on the Financial Rescue Package  —  THE PRESIDENT: Good morning.  My administration continues to work with the Congress on a rescue plan.  And we need a rescue plan.  This is — it's hard work.  Our proposal is a big proposal.

Four Pinocchios for Biden's Tax Fabrication … Democratic vice presidential hopeful Joe Biden claims that middle class Americans will be slapped with the “largest tax increase in American history” as a result of the McCain health care plan.  It is true that McCain has proposed taxing …

Where Are the Grown-Ups?  —  Many people on both the right and the left are outraged at the idea of using taxpayer money to bail out America's financial system.  They're right to be outraged, but doing nothing isn't a serious option.  Right now, players throughout the system are refusing …

A Second Justice Opts Out of a Longtime Custom: The ‘Cert.  Pool’  —  WASHINGTON — Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. is getting out of the pool.  —  For almost 20 years, eight of the nine justices on the Supreme Court have assigned their law clerks to a shared legal labor pool that streamlines the work of reviewing incoming cases.

Palin on the Bailout  —  Sarah Palin gives her view of the economic crisis:  —  I decline to comment on what this reveals about her fitness for office.