Forgive our lack of posts for today and tomorrow

Please forgive our lack of posts for today and tomorrow, but we have been tied up with other responsibilities and some travel to a swing state for a possible story. We will be back up and running in time for the vice presidential debate.

BAILOUT FAILS IN HOUSE; DOW DROPS 778 POINTS

The headline explains it all as the House voted 228 to 205 against the bailout legislation, effectively killing it.

Obama ad “Zero”

Obama on Face the Nation

Part 1:

Part 2:

Putin rears his head

Opinion: Obama & McCain should vote for the bailout

One of the most enduring photographs of the Great Depression

Let’s face facts: the bailout is not good for the country, but the country needs it because without it, the alternative could very well be the complete collapse of the worldwide financial system. Right now, we have not read the exact text or details of the bailout legislation, but from what we have heard, we are more comfortable with it than the first draft of the legislation.

Tonight, all sides involved in the negotiations over the bailout seem to have reached an agreement over a bill and the language of the bill is now drafted. The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the bailout package on Monday and the Senate is supposed to follow suit on Wednesday.

However, the Politico is reporting that both Senator Obama and Senator McCain might not even be in Washington to cast their vote. This is quite troubling, especially since Senator McCain made such a big deal about returning to Washington last week  on his “white horse” to work on the bailout legislation, fly to the debate in Mississippi on Friday and return to Washington immediately after to “continue” working on the bailout legislation (evidence seems to suggest that the only thing that McCain did was help kill the first agreement reached on Thursday). At the same time, Senator Obama has stated that he has the judgment required to make the tough choices that a president has to make.

The majority of the country does not like this bill and probably will not smile kindly on those who vote in favor of it, but it is important that senators and representatives not cave to the popular will of the people, but do what is right for the people. John McCain, Barack Obama and Joe Biden should all return to Washington to cast their votes in favor of the bailout legislation. It is the right thing to do for the country.

First debate wrap-up & a note on the VP debate

Just a quick wrap-up on the first presidential debate. Neither Senator Obama nor Senator McCain can claim to have scored a knock out blow, but at the same time, neither of them had a major gaffe. After taking the weekend to think about it, the debate has to go to Obama because of what he accomplished. Senator Obama officially introduced himself to the “low information voter” and did so in a manner that showed he is able to lead as President of the United States. The “low information voter” already knows who John McCain is, but Barack Obama is new to them (even with the over twenty months of 2008 election coverage that has bombarded their TVs nightly). Obama’s answers spoke much better to this key group than McCain’s, as the “low information voter” wants to hear that Obama would send troops into Pakistan to get al Qaeda; they don’t want to hear McCain’s scolding response. At the same time, they don’t want to get into earmarks, which really don’t seem to mean much to this voting group at all.

Finally, a note on the upcoming vice presidential debate. Sarah Palin has been bombing her interviews and McCain aides have been privately expressing concern over how she will fare against Joe Biden on Thursday. She really could perform terribly, or all of these missteps and leaks of performance anxiety could be the greatest political trick ever pulled.

In memorium: Paul Newman

We here at the Centrist Voice would like to offer our deepest condolences to Joanne Woodward and all of Paul Newman’s family. Mr. Newman, a talented actor, philanthropist and political activist, passed away this weekend at the age of 83.

If you would like to see some of Newman’s best films we recommend the following:

• Cool Hand Luke
• The Hudsucker Proxy
• Slap Shot
• Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
• The Road to Perdition
• Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
• The Hustler

NY Times: McCain has extensive ties to gambling lobby

The New York Times will publish an article in tomorrow’s edition highlighting John McCain’s ties to the gaming industry. Pointing out that McCain has over forty gambling lobbyists as advisers or top fundraisers, the article states that no lawmaker has done more to shape the laws regarding the gaming industry. Some excerpts:

Mr. McCain portrays himself as a Washington maverick unswayed by special interests, referring recently to lobbyists as “birds of prey.” Yet in his current campaign, more than 40 fund-raisers and top advisers have lobbied or worked for an array of gambling interests — including tribal and Las Vegas casinos, lottery companies and online poker purveyors.

Hillary Clinton responds to first debate

The following is a statement from Senator Hillary Clinton about the first presidential debate:

Tonight Barack Obama displayed beyond a doubt that he understands both the gravity of the financial crisis facing America, and the challenges we face in Iraq and around the world. Senator McCain offered only more of the same failed policies of the Bush Administration. America deserves better.

I stood next to Barack Obama in 22 debates and tonight epitomized why millions are joining me in standing with him and working hard to ensure he is the next President of the United States.

Gearing up for the VP debate McCain aides think Palin could be disaster

This could either be setting the bar very low or the truth. Ed Schultz has the details:

Capitol Hill sources are telling me that senior McCain people
are more than concerned about Palin.

The campaign has held a mock debate and a mock press conference; both are being described as “disastrous.” One senior McCain aide was quoted as saying, “What are we going to do?” The McCain people want to move this first debate to some later, undetermined date, possibly never. People on the inside are saying the Alaska Governor is “clueless.”

McCain’s words about Iraq used against him

CNN’s Jack Cafferty goes off on Palin

The entire first presidential debate

Obama to McCain “You were wrong”

A clip of tonight’s debate being circulated by the Obama campaign:

First presidential debate: initial impressions

John McCain and Barack Obama participate in the first presidential debate moderated by PBS' Jim Lehrer

The first presidential debate has ended and here are our first impressions:

• Senator McCain seems to have gotten a slight edge over Senator Obama for the night as a whole
• Obama passed the “Commander in Chief” test
• McCain could not look at or directly address Obama
• McCain came off as conceited in repeatedly scolding Obama
• Jim Lehrer did not do a good job moderating the debate
• Overall the debate was boring and probably did not hold the interest of the low information voter
• Neither candidate really wanted to touch the bailout issue
• McCain opened himself up to several attacks, but Obama declined to throw a punch
• McCain’s body language was awful with the smirking and such
• Obama outperformed McCain on the Afghanistan topic of the debate
• McCain had the best line of the night when he said he has looked into Vladimir Putin’s eyes and seen three letters “K G B”

Franken ad “Shameful”

Note on the first presidential debate

Due to a previous commitment, we will not be liveblogging the first presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama.

BREAKING: Ted Kennedy taken to hospital

CNN and Fox News are both reporting it but not linking to it yet.

First update: Now the AP has it.

Second update: A statement from Senator Kennedy’s office:

Senator Kennedy experienced a mild seizure at home in Hyannis Port today and was taken to Cape Cod Hospital for examination. Doctors believe the incident was triggered by a change in medication. Senator Kennedy will return home tonight and looks forward to watching the debate.

Third update: MSNBC has reported that Senator Kennedy has returned home.

National Review columnist says Palin “out of her league” & should “bow out”

Were it a columnist in the New York Times, this piece would not mean too much or cause such a stir, but Kathleen Parker’s piece in the National Review is truly stunning. Some excerpts:

As we’ve seen and heard more from John McCain’s running mate, it is increasingly clear that Palin is a problem. Quick study or not, she doesn’t know enough about economics and foreign policy to make Americans comfortable with a President Palin should conditions warrant her promotion.

[snip]

Palin’s recent interviews with Charles Gibson, Sean Hannity, and now Katie Couric have all revealed an attractive, earnest, confident candidate. Who Is Clearly Out Of Her League.

[snip]

Only Palin can save McCain, her party, and the country she loves. She can bow out for personal reasons, perhaps because she wants to spend more time with her newborn. No one would criticize a mother who puts her family first.