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 …

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.

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.

Boehner's gamble: Could it cost him his job?  —  No one risked more — for himself and for his party — on the bailout bill than House Republican leader John A. Boehner.  —  The result: He lost.  —  The Ohio Republican went all in for the $700 billion economic rescue package.

The best and worst case scenarios  —  The best case scenario: The bad banks continue to be bought up, there is no run on hedge funds next Tuesday, only mid-sized European banks fail, money market funds keep on buying commercial paper, and the Fed and Treasury continue to operate on a case-by-case basis.

Gallup Daily: Obama Holds 6-Point Lead  —  Two weeks since McCain's had any advantage in voter preferences  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Barack Obama continues to hold a significant lead over John McCain in Gallup Poll Daily tracking, 49% to 43%.  —  This is based on interviewing conducted Sept. 27-29 …

Why more briefings won't help Sarah Palin  —  Adam Nagourney has a good story in the New York Times about growing Republican fears that Sarah Palin, the GOP's vice presidential nominee, is going to crash and burn in Thursday's debate with Democrat Joe Biden.

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.

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.

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.

Hugo of Arabia?  —  A Democrat sends over this clip from John McCain's economic forum just now, in which McCain, talking about energy policy, stresses the importance of “ensuring that America is secure, and not dependent on oil from people like Hugo Chavez or other parts of the Middle East which is …

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 …