In Dozens of Calls, Palins and Aides Pressed for Trooper's Removal  —  ANCHORAGE — The 2007 state fair was days away when Alaska's public safety commissioner, Walt Monegan, took another call about one of his troopers, Michael Wooten.  This time, the director of Gov. Sarah Palin's Anchorage office was on the line.

Obama on Ayers: ‘I assumed that he had been rehabilitated’  —  In an interview with the sympathetic conservative talk radio host this afternoon, Obama offered the clearest explanation yet of how an extremely careful politician allowed himself anywhere near a former '60s radical who would become …

Anger Is Crowd's Overarching Emotion at McCain Rally  —  There were shouts of “Nobama” and “Socialist” at the mention of the Democratic presidential nominee.  There were boos, middle fingers turned up and thumbs turned down as a media caravan moved through the crowd Thursday …

Moment of Truth  —  Last month, when the U.S. Treasury Department allowed Lehman Brothers to fail, I wrote that Henry Paulson, the Treasury secretary, was playing financial Russian roulette.  Sure enough, there was a bullet in that chamber: Lehman's failure caused the world financial crisis, already severe, to get much, much worse.

Judge rules Ohio Secretary of State violated federal election law; plus ACORN victim on tape  —  Well, there's news breaking tonight — and it's good news for election integrity.  A federal district court judge has found Democrat Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner guilty of violating federal election laws.

McCain Co-Chair Calls Obama “A Guy Of The Street,” Raises Drug Use  —  Former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, a McCain campaign co-chairman, edged up to an explicitly racial attack on Barack Obama on Thursday, describing the Illinois Senator as a “guy of the street” before raising his youthful drug use.

Iceland is all but officially bankrupt  —  REYKJAVIK: People go bankrupt all the time.  Companies do, too.  But countries?  —  Iceland was on the verge of doing exactly that on Thursday as the government shut down the stock market and seized control of its last major independent bank.

The world is at severe risk of a global systemic financial meltdown and a severe global depression  —  The US and advanced economies' financial system is now headed towards a near-term systemic financial meltdown as day after day stock markets are in free fall, money markets have shut …

Obama, Paul net most military workers' campaign donations  —  Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Ron Paul have little in common politically, except their opposition to the Iraq war.  —  Both top a new list of presidential candidates receiving campaign contributions from people who work …

Meet Sarah Palin's radical right-wing pals  —  Extremists Mark Chryson and Steve Stoll helped launch Palin's political career in Alaska, and in return had influence over policy.  “Her door was open,” says Chryson — and still is. … Video: Interview with former Alaskan Independence Party chairman Mark Chryson

Nuclear Aid by Russian to Iranians Suspected  —  PARIS — International nuclear inspectors are investigating whether a Russian scientist helped Iran conduct complex experiments on how to detonate a nuclear weapon, according to European and American officials.

Obama & Friends: Judge Not?  —  WASHINGTON — Convicted felon Tony Rezko.  Unrepentant terrorist Bill Ayers.  And the race-baiting Rev. Jeremiah Wright.  It is hard to think of any presidential candidate before Barack Obama sporting associations with three more execrable characters.

Rothenberg Warns of GOP “Bloodbath”  —  The horizon looks bleak for House and Senate Republicans.  AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite  —  UPDATE, 4 pm: The Cook Political Report is also amping up their predictions of Democratic gains in the House and Senate next month.

Fix the Credit Problem, Not its Symptoms  —  Two weeks ago Monday, markets traded down 300 points at the open.  The sell-off seemed to be in anticipation of what was widely considered to be a poorly thought-out bailout plan.  As it became clear that the $700 billion package was not going to be approved …

Hispanics turn cold shoulder to McCain  —  Despite championing immigration reform in 2007, John McCain is poised to lose the Hispanic vote by a landslide margin that is well below President George W. Bush's 2004 performance.  —  Polls show Obama winning the broadest support from Latino voters …

JOHN MCCAIN'S SUPPORTERS ARE MADDER (AND SCARIER!)  THAN HE IS.  —  At a normal campaign rally, it's the candidate who tries to whip the crowd into a frenzy.  At John McCain's town-hall Waukesha, Wis., Thursday, it was the other way around.  “I'm mad, and I'm really mad,” said one man who'd been called on to ask a question.

Hoover vs. Roosevelt?  —  Hope vs. fear, new vs. old: Barack Obama and John McCain have placed their bets.  These are the terms on which the 2008 presidential campaign will be decided.  —  That's why it's unfair for political bystanders to attack Obama and McCain for offering few specifics as to how they'd fix an ailing economy.

Obama buys half-hour of network primetime  —  Barack Obama has purchased a half-hour of primetime television on CBS and NBC, sources confirm.  —  The Obama campaign is producing a nationwide pitch to voters that will air on at least two broadcast networks.

Debate May Have Helped Obama  —  I don't usually try and prognosticate in which direction the tracking polls are liable to move, but it looks to me like the debate may have been a pretty significant help for Barack Obama.  —  The Zogby-Reuters poll is already out.

The time has come to ask: What might happen to our country if we elect a black Muslim terrorist president?  —  Dave and Hilzoy have noted some concerns on the part of our friends on the Right that Barack Obama may not actually be what he appears to be — a centrist Democrat with the most mild …

We Have the Tools to Manage the Crisis  —  Now we need the leadership to use them.  —  Today, the financial crisis has reached a critical point.  The sharp decline in the stock market and its volatility dramatically make the point.  More important if less visible, the flow of credit through …

Obama's Magic  —  And now, America, we introduce the Great Obama!  The world's most gifted political magician!  A thing of wonder.  A thing of awe.  Just watch him defy politics, economics, even gravity!  (And hold your applause until the end, please.)  To kick off our show tonight …