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, The Swamp, Hullabaloo, Don Surber, Townhall.com, Emptywheel, The Corner, MyDD, Amygdala, The Anonymous Liberal, 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, 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, MyDD, Democrats.com, Jack & Jill Politics, TPMCafe, Political Punch, Firedoglake, Talking Points Memo, Emptywheel and Spin Cycle
Glenn Reynolds / Pajamas Media:
EARLIER, I promised some thoughts on what to do about the news media's outright campaigning for Obama. (And that's what it is. Media bias used to mean that they would slow-walk stories that reflected badly on their candidate; now they just flat out ignore them, or even try to shoot them down.
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Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
Ifill: I never told the Commission about the book
Ifill: I never told the Commission about the book
Discussion:
The Campaign Spot, Commentary, GINA COBB, Political Machine, Top of the Ticket and The Jawa Report
The Hill:
LEADING THE NEWS — Despite furious grumbling about Senate tactics, House leaders said they expect the House will finish its business on Friday by approving a slightly modified version of the $700 billion Wall Street bailout it rejected earlier this week. — The new bill will include …
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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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Jonathan Martin / Jonathan Martin's Blogs:
The Palin Supreme Court stumble — Tonight's installment of Katie Couric playing Roger Mudd to Sarah Palin's Ted Kennedy features the much-anticipated Supreme Court non-answer. — The bad news for McCain: This offers yet more evidence that Palin has thought little about many policy issues facing the country and world.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, The Swamp, Macsmind, pandagon.net, Donklephant and Top of the Ticket
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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, The Impolitic, Gothamist, marbury, Jules Crittenden and New York Times
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.)
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.