Revolt of the Nihilists  —  In 1933, Franklin Roosevelt inherited an economic crisis.  He understood that his first job was to restore confidence, to give people a sense that somebody was in charge, that something was going to be done.  —  This generation of political leaders is confronting …

Biden's strategy: Go easy on Palin  —  If Sarah Palin goofs, flounders, stumbles or blunders during her debate against Joe Biden on Thursday night, Biden is going to let it slide.  —  “If she makes a gaffe, he underplays it,” one of the people prepping Biden for his vice presidential debate told me.

RNC ad, was cut, sent out before package failed  —  The Republican National Committee's new advertisement critical of the the Wall Street “bailout” was produced and sent to television stations in key states before the package failed, officials at two stations said.  —  “Wall Street Squanders our money.

Overnight-Lending Markets Still Flashing Red  —  Min Zeng and Mark Gongloff report.  —  If you only watch the stock market, where the Dow was recently up more than 250 points, you might get the mistaken impression all is well with the world on the Tuesday after the latest Black Monday.

A House Divided Along Twisted Lines  —  The bailout bill was going down to defeat on the House floor yesterday, and Democratic and Republican leaders were desperately trying to twist arms and change votes when a bipartisan group of backbenchers began to heckle them.

Ideal of the Scoop  —  Following are excerpts of remarks by the Editor of the Sun, Seth Lipsky, to the newspaper's staff:  —  It is my duty to report today that Ira Stoll and I and our partners have concluded that the Sun will cease publication.  Our last number will be the issue dated September 30, the first day of Rosh Hashanah.

Bush's Approval Rating Drops to New Low of 27%  —  Decline of 4 points since financial crisis intensified  —  PRINCETON, NJ — According to a Sept. 26-27 USA Today/Gallup poll, just 27% of Americans approve of the job George W. Bush is doing as president, the lowest rating of his presidency.

Commentary: Bankruptcy, not bailout, is the right answer  —  Editor's note: Jeffrey A. Miron is senior lecturer in economics at Harvard University.  A Libertarian, he was one of 166 academic economists who signed a letter to congressional leaders last week opposing the government bailout plan.

With Brokaw as Elder Statesman, NBC Plans Future of ‘Meet the Press’  —  WASHINGTON — Sometime between Election Day and early December, NBC News will make a final decision about who will replace Tim Russert and his interim successor, Tom Brokaw, at the helm of “Meet the Press,” Steve Capus …

McCain And Obama Highs And Lows From Debate Dial Tests  —  During the first presidential debate on September 26, Barack Obama's comments on oil independence, health care, the Iraq War, and Al Qaeda drew the most positive responses from a panel of uncommitted, registered voters who allowed CBS …

IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED, SUSPEND AGAIN!  —  John McCain made the morning show rounds today.  On Fox they were virtually begging him to “suspend” his campaign again in the wake of the bailout failure yesterday on the Hill.  You know, since it worked out so well the first time.