Top Items:
Washington Post:
Skepticism of Palin Growing, Poll Finds — With the vice presidential candidates set to square off today in their only scheduled debate, public assessments of Sarah Palin's readiness have plummeted, and she may now be a drag on the Republican ticket among key voter groups, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
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Sally Jenkins / Washington Post:
Palin's Strengths Rooted in Alaska — Family and Friends Hope She'll Show Trademark Confidence During Debate — WASILLA, Alaska — The valley where Sarah Palin was raised is vast and tree-packed, and so quiet that once, when Palin's parents left a door open in their antler-festooned house, a moose poked its nose into their den.
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, Townhall.com, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog, Spin Cycle and Political Machine
CBS News:
Palin, Biden Trade Views On Abortion — CBS Evening News: Biden And Palin Answer Katie Couric's Vice-Presidential Questions … Katie Couric: Why do you think Roe v. Wade was a good decision? — Joe Biden: Because it's as close to a consensus that can exist in a society as heterogeneous as ours.
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, The Caucus, Firedoglake, Washington Monthly, Althouse, Achenblog, Law Blog, Talking Points Memo, The Swamp, Hullabaloo, Townhall.com, Don Surber, Emptywheel, MyDD, The Corner, The Anonymous Liberal, Amygdala, No More Mister Nice Blog, Slog, Think Progress, Hot Air, Taylor Marsh, Liberal Values, The Reaction, Political Punch, Liberty Street, unbossed.com, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Donklephant, Patterico's Pontifications, AMERICAblog News, The Debatable Land, Gothamist, TBogg, Oliver Willis, Democratic Strategist, Kevin Drum, Wonkette and MSNBC
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New York Times:
Questions for the Next Vice President — Tonight, Senator Joe Biden of Delaware and Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska will meet in the one and only vice presidential debate of the 2008 campaign. The Op-Ed editors asked people with knowledge of the vice presidency, the candidates and their records …
The Politico:
Vice presidential debate: A barrel of gaffes? — ST. LOUIS - Between Sarah Palin, with her repeated missteps in a series of interviews with CBS anchor Katie Couric over the last week, and gaffe-prone Joe Biden, who also has made for some Maalox moments for Barack Obama's campaign recently …
David Nather / Beyond the Dome:
Obama Makes McCain Very Uncomfortable — Let the record reflect that Barack Obama made the approach to John McCain tonight. — As the two shared the Senate floor tonight for the first time since they won their party nominations, Obama stood chatting with Democrats on his side of the aisle …
Discussion:
Ta-Nehisi Coates, Politics Blog, Democrats.com, Jack & Jill Politics, TPMCafe, MyDD, Political Punch, Firedoglake, Talking Points Memo, Emptywheel and Spin Cycle
Michelle Malkin:
Kill the bailout: Operation Hold The Line — The massive, unprecedented trillion-dollar-plus (remember, they just pulled the figure from thin air) Bailout Crap Sandwich With Sugar On Top returns to the House. A vote is expected on Friday. I keep hearing and reading that public opposition …
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Joe Sudbay / AMERICAblog News:
McCain on the bailout bill he supported last night: “This bill is putting us on the brink of economic disaster” — John McCain was on “Morning Joe” a few minutes ago to talk mostly about the bailout bill. His answers were, as usual, discombobulated as he ranted about Washington (as if he hasn't served in D.C. for 26 years.)
The Caucus:
Not-So-Secret Handshake — It was Senator Barack Obama who crossed the aisle. — On Wednesday evening, as the senators gathered to vote on the $700 billion bailout package, Mr. Obama walked over to the Republican side of the chamber to extend a greeting to Senator John McCain.
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Gothamist, The Impolitic, marbury, Jules Crittenden and New York Times
Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
Ifill: I never told the Commission about the book — The AP has a hidden nugget at the end of its report on the Gwen Ifill controversy. While some have blamed the McCain campaign for agreeing to Ifill as a moderator for tomorrow night's VP debate while writing a book about “The Age of Barack Obama” …
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Krooney / TIME.com:
More Data Shows Obama Battleground Strength — From latest TIME/CNN state polls: — FLORIDA: Obama 51, McCain 47 — MINNESOTA: Obama 54, McCain 43 — MISSOURI: Obama 49, McCain 48 — NEVADA: Obama 51, McCain 47 — VIRGINIA: Obama 53, McCain 44 … Get The Page delivered to your inbox.
Mike Allen / The Politico:
33 days - Chuck Todd sees race ‘at a tipping point’ — Newsday cover: “Senate to House: BAIL'S IN YOUR COURT - Sweetened rescue bill clears hurdle, but are there enough votes in the House?” ... The Obama Channel (really) ... Debate Day II ... Phish reuniting
Marc Ambinder:
So Why's Huck An Early '12 Frontrunner? — It's very early to assume that Obama wins, but if he doesn't, expect the GOP to engage in a circular firing squad. Who's the frontrunner? — The betting money is on Mitt Romney for his governing experience, talented pool of political operatives …
Discussion:
Townhall.com
Ryan J. Donmoyer / Bloomberg:
Bailout Bull's-Eye for Kids' Arrow-Makers' Tax Break — Oct. 1 (Bloomberg) — Rose City Archery Inc., an Oregon company that makes arrows used by children, hit a bull's-eye with Senate legislation that would rescue Wall Street banks. — Senators attached a provision repealing a 39-cent excise tax …
Discussion:
Threat Level, Political Machine, Dealbreaker, Corrente, skippy the bush kangaroo and Calculated Risk
Stephen F. Hayes / Weekly Standard:
New “Choreography” on North Korea — Do you ever get the sense that if North Korea actually used a nuclear weapon in an offensive attack that Chris Hill and the State Department would still be trying to make a deal? — In response to the latest provocation from the North Koreans …
Wall Street Journal:
First, Let's Stabilize Home Prices — We are in a vicious cycle: falling housing values cause losses on securities, which reduce bank capital, thereby tightening lending and causing house prices to fall further. The cycle has spread beyond housing, but housing is the place to fix it.
Face the State:
DEMOCRACY ALLIANCE MEMO DETAILS DEM PLAN TO “EDUCATE THE IDIOTS” AND TARGET MINORITIES — In a confidential internal memorandum obtained by Face The State (PDF), the Colorado Democracy Alliance outlines a roster of “operatives” who worked for Democratic victory in the 2006 general election.
Glen Johnson / Associated Press:
October remains the month for political surprises — Featured Topics: — AP - In this Oct. 26, 1972 file photo, then presidential adviser Dr. Henry Kissinger tells a White House news ... BOSTON - Heading into the final weekend of the 2004 presidential campaign, John Kerry was feeling …
Discussion:
www.redstate.com
Ann Scott Tyson / Washington Post:
Commander in Afghanistan Wants More Troops — The new top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said yesterday that more American troops are urgently required to combat a worsening insurgency, but he stated emphatically that no Iraq-style “surge” of forces will end the conflict there.
Discussion:
Think Progress
New York Times:
An Everyman on the Trail, With Perks at Home — For the millions of voters getting to know him, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, portrays himself at times as an average guy who takes the train to work, frets about money and basically has led a middle-class life.
Discussion:
Stop The ACLU
Firedoglake:
9 Grand Loan At Less than Prime from WaMu = Credit Crisis? — So Monday morning my PC laptop crapped out right as I'm about to delve into the Oxdown Gazette for some mmm-good read'n and maybe some write'n. Being as naturally superstitious as John McCain trying to roll a 4 …
Discussion:
Angry Bear
Martin Kady II / The Crypt's Blogs:
Senators who voted No — Here's the quick list of the senators who voted NO on bailout/economic rescue. — Allard (R) — Barasso (R) — Brownback (R) — Bunning (R) — Cantwell (D) — Cochran (R) — Crapo (R) — DeMint (R) — Dole (R) — Dorgan (D) — Enzi (R)
Discussion:
Clayton Cramer's BLOG
Carrie Johnson / Washington Post:
Report Implicates White House — E-Mails Hint at Involvement in Prosecutor Firings, Officials Say — In 18 months of searching, Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine and Office of Professional Responsibility chief H. Marshall Jarrett have uncovered new e-mail messages hinting …