How McCain Wins  —  John McCain is on course to lose the presidential election to Barack Obama.  Can he turn it around, and surge to victory?  —  He has a chance.  But only if he overrules those of his aides who are trapped by conventional wisdom, huddled in a defensive crouch and overcome by ideological timidity.

The 3 A.M. Call  —  It's 3 a.m., a few months into 2009, and the phone in the White House rings.  Several big hedge funds are about to fail, says the voice on the line, and there's likely to be chaos when the market opens.  Whom do you trust to take that call?  —  I'm not being melodramatic.

‘Substantive’ Press Is Taken for a Spin  —  OXFORD, Miss. — David Axelrod was surrounded by a pack of camera-toting, mike-wielding, pushing-and-shoving media types, one of whom asked whether his man Barack Obama had been “too nice” in the just-completed debate with John McCain.

O'S DANGEROUS PALS  —  BARACK'S ‘ORGANIZER’ BUDS PUSHED FOR BAD MORTGAGES  —  WHAT exactly does a “community organizer” do?  Barack Obama's rise has left many Americans asking themselves that question.  Here's a big part of the answer: Community organizers intimidate banks into making high-risk loans to customers with poor credit.

Boehner calls bill a “crap sandwich” — but he'll vote for it  —  In a closed-door session with House Republicans, Minority Leader John A. Boehner just called the financial rescue deal a “crap sandwich” - then said he'll vote for it when it comes to the floor Monday.

The Rich Are Staging a Coup This Morning ...a message from Michael Moore  —  Let me cut to the chase.  The biggest robbery in the history of this country is taking place as you read this.  Though no guns are being used, 300 million hostages are being taken.

Citigroup and Wells Fargo Said to Be Bidding for Wachovia  —  Federal regulators on Sunday night were pressing for the sale of yet another troubled bank — this time, the Wachovia Corporation — in a move that would concentrate power within the nation's banking industry in the hands of a few giant lenders.

A BIT MORE ON THE OBAMA “TRUTH SQUAD” IN MISSOURI:  —  (1) Commenter John_R points to a statement from one of the prosecutors mentioned in the news story, who says that “As a citizen, I believe that elections should be about issues.  I also have enormous respect for our First Amendment and freedom of speech.

Buffett warns Congress  —  Lawmakers face “biggest financial meltdown in American history” if they don't act.  —  (New York) — Legendary investor Warren Buffett warned Congressional leaders Saturday night of “the biggest financial meltdown in American history” if they did not act to secure the financial system.

MCCAIN CAMP TO IFILL: GO EASY ON PALIN  —  The McCain camp is saying that veep debate moderator Gwen Ifill will have to answer for herself if she asks too many foreign policy questions Thursday night:

Poll on the economy: Americans gloomier, for now  —  As people on Wall Street and Main Street hold their breath to see if a federal bailout of the nation's financial institutions will work, Americans are starting to speak — not whisper — the word “depression.”

The Media Strategy and Palin's Underperformance  —  A few more thoughts on Palin's underperformance so far in media interviews.  Yes, I think the McCain team has pursued a bad strategy for her, relying mostly on the broadcast networks, with an incomprehensible leaning toward the last-place network, CBS.