McCain on banking and health  —  OK, a correspondent directs me to John McCain's article, Better Health Care at Lower Cost for Every American, in the Sept./Oct. issue of Contingencies, the magazine of the American Academy of Actuaries.  You might want to be seated before reading this.

Linking Obama to Ex-Fannie Mae Chief Is a Stretch  —  “Obama has no background in economics.  Who advises him?  The Post says it's Franklin Raines, for ‘advice on mortgage and housing policy.’ Shocking.  Under Raines, Fannie Mae committed ‘extensive financial fraud.’ Raines made millions.

Uneasy feelings  —  Details are scarce on the big buyout; but as a few dribble out, I'm getting uneasy.  —  Here's the source of my uneasiness: the underlying premise behind the buyout seems, still, to be that this is mainly a liquidity problem.  So if the government stands ready to buy securities at “fair value”, all will be well.

Racial views steer some white Dems away from Obama  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Deep-seated racial misgivings could cost Barack Obama the White House if the election is close, according to an AP-Yahoo News poll that found one-third of white Democrats harbor negative views toward blacks …

Hale “Bonddad” Stewart: The Death of Republican Philosophy  —  Last week was historic.  It is a week that financial and economic people will study for generations.  It also marked the end of certain elements of the Republican Party's ideology.  Below are statements the Republican party …

Exclusive: New Doubts Over Palin's Troopergate Claims  —  Internal Government Document Contradicts Sarah Palin, Campaign  —  An internal government document obtained by ABC News appears to contradict Sarah Palin's most recent explanation for why she fired her public safety chief …

The Palin Effect  —  Her enemies are bellowing like a wounded moose.  —  Now that the dust is beginning to settle from the whirlwind descent of Hurricane Sarah, it may be time to stand back a little and assess in perspective what the moose-hunting beauty from Wasilla, Alaska, has wrought.

Charges Dropped Against DN!  Journalists - Investigation Needed  —  The St. Paul City Attorney's office announced Friday it will not prosecute Democracy Now! journalists Amy Goodman, Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar.  St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman also issued a statement Friday that …

Army Alters Photographs, Issues Them To AP  —  The Associated Press retracted two government-issued photographs last night after a photographer in Texas alerted the agency that the photos in question appeared to be doctored.  —  Bob Owen, chief photographer of the San Antonio Express-News …

The State of the Race  —  There's been a lot of talk about this dynamic race - “game changers” and “moments” and things of that nature.  Regular readers of mine know that I don't subscribe to the view of politics inherent to that kind of analysis.  —  As an alternative to discussing Fannie …

Obama votes ‘present’ on new economic rescue plan for now  —  CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Sen. Barack Obama today met with some of his many economic advisors and made an announcement that he was not going to make an announcement about any new plan to plan plans.  —  Obama did suggest a bipartisan effort …

Democrats threaten to kneecap Jewish nonprofits  —  Why is it, exactly, that so many Jews are Democrats?  That's right.  Because Democrats are the champions of liberal, social causes.  They're against tyranny and all for liberty, freedom, and especially, the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.

Karzai Agrees To Meet With Palin  —  Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin will meet next week with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in New York, on the sidelines of the opening of the U.N. General Assembly, according to Afghan officials in Washington.

Meanwhile, the Other No. 2 Keeps On Punching  —  FLAT ROCK, Mich. — As the economy reels, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. — the Other Running Mate — has been absolutely butchering Senator John McCain across the Rust Belt this week.  It is not clear who has noticed.

High Anxiety  —  We went from playing inflation-era Monopoly to playing depression-era Monopoly in mid-game.  —  Friends and tradesmen, not to mention clients, have all been asking me the same question in the past few weeks.  Is this 1929?  Are we headed for a depression?