McCain on Palin  —  A tough interview with a Maine reporter yesterday, in which McCain speaks on Palin's national security experience.  Uncharacteristically, he's much more at home on the domestic policy side.  —  At one point, he says that Palin “was right” on Russia and on Iran.

Critics: Under Palin, Wasilla charged rape victims for exam  —  Two state leaders lashed out at the public record of Gov. Sarah Palin on Wednesday as witnesses in a new “Alaska Mythbusters” forum coordinated by supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Former GOP senator calls Palin a ‘cocky wacko’  —  PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Former Rhode Island Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee has called vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin a “cocky wacko” and said her selection as John McCain's running mate has energized supporters of Democrat Barack Obama.

Kagan: Knowledge Is Elitist  —  Robert Kagan says it's elitist to expect a President of the United States to be knowledgeable about national security issues: … Based on the structure of the situation, it's plausible that Kagan is just being opportunistically dishonest here and trying to say something useful to the Republican ticket.

Palin May Move to Block Subpoenas in Trooper Case  —  Sept. 11 (Bloomberg) — A top law enforcement official in Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's administration is considering steps to block a legislative probe into allegations she improperly fired the state's No. 1 police official.

Palin's experience OK: Illinois's Dem guv  —  Gov. Rod Blagojevich.  Chicago Tribune photo by Michael Tercha.)  —  by Rick Pearson  —  Illinois' Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich admits he can't field dress a moose and his hunting targets tend to be more along the lines of state legislators in his own party who don't trust him.

What's the Matter with Michigan?  —  Why Obama is faltering in a state that should go blue.  —  Democrats have grown accustomed to winning Michigan by relatively comfortable margins.  Bill Clinton flipped the state in 1992, bringing home the Reagan Democrats and giving the party its first win in the state since 1968.

McCain and Obama Call Truce for 9/11  —  John McCain and Barack Obama suspended their political advertising today and left the campaign trail for events marking the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, with both men expected to make a joint appearance this afternoon at ground zero.

Reports that Track Palin vandalized school buses aren't true, says pal  —  Despite snowballing reports and rumors, Sarah Palin's eldest son, Track, was not part of the gang of four teenagers who criminally vandalized  —  44 Alaska school buses in 2005, a key culprit told The News.  —  “Track wasn't with me.

Obama Can't Win Against Palin  —  Of all the advantages Gov. Sarah Palin has brought to the GOP ticket, the most important may be that she has gotten into Barack Obama's head.  How else to explain Sen. Obama's decision to go one-on-one against “Sarah Barracuda,” captain of the Wasilla High state basketball champs?

Obama's woes have nothing to do with ‘lipstick’  —  Howard Fineman on the candidate's pride, strategy and stump speak  —  Democratic Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. gestures as he speaks during a town hall meeting in the library of Granby High School in Norfolk, Va., Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2008.

McCain's Health Care Tax Increase  —  A new rule here: Rather than do the McCain campaign's bidding by wasting space on Senator Honor's daily lies and bilge—his constant attempts to divert attention from substantive issues—I'm going to assume that others will spend more than enough …

Sarah Palin's Myth of America  —  Sarah Palin has arrived in our midst with the force of a rocket-propelled grenade.  She has boosted John McCain's candidacy and overwhelmed the presidential process in a way that no vice-presidential pick has since Thomas Eagleton did the precise opposite …

Gallup Daily: McCain 48%, Obama 44%  —  McCain has held significant lead for last four days  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Registered voters continue to express a slight preference for John McCain (48%) over Barack Obama (44%) in the latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking presidential trial heat.

Republicans have hijacked 9/11  —  An American tragedy made into a political commodity  —  SPECIAL COMMENT  —  As promised, a Special Comment about our sad anniversary tomorrow.  —  Or, more correctly, what our sad anniversary tomorrow has been turned into by the presidential administration …

Lipstick on a pig  —  One wonders how much lower this election can sink.  The furore over “you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig” sets a new benchmark.  The idea that Barack Obama seriously intended to call Sarah Palin a pig is surely absurd.