NATIONAL & WORLD DIGEST - September 30, 2008

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Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-An array of forces lined up against bailout
In the end, the financial markets didn't stand a chance against voter antipathy, partisanship and election year politics. The defeat of the extraordinary $700 billion financial rescue package represented a perfect collision of the forces of modern politics _ a fast-moving Internet campaign, vulnerable incumbents, a weakened and unpopular president, and a roiling presidential campaign _ all working against the so-called Titans of the Universe.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/30/AR2008093000337.html

-Palin Gets Ready For Eagerly Awaited Debate With Biden
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin flew yesterday to Sedona, Ariz., where she will spend the next two days at Sen. John McCain's ranch preparing for Thursday's vice presidential debate, a potentially pivotal event in what has been a whirlwind since she joined the Republican ticket.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/29/AR2008092903439.html

-Vote Underscores Bush's Loss of Influence
President Unable To Persuade Many In His Own Party
At 7:34 a.m. yesterday, President Bush strode onto the south driveway of the White House and urged Congress to approve his $700 billion Wall Street rescue package. "With the improvements made to this bill, I'm confident that members of both parties will support it," he predicted.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/29/AR2008092903360.html?hpid=topnews


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Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/public/us

-How Voter Fury Stopped Bailout
Left-Right Combo By Opponents Put Plan on the Ropes
The defeat in Congress of a proposed $700 billion economic-rescue package followed an intense outpouring of voter anger, fanned by politicians, interest groups and media on the left and right, that overwhelmed calls from the president and top lawmakers to pass the deal.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122273395169288417.html


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Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Skip the line -- vote early or absentee
OUR OPINION: Avoid the crowds, predicted 85 percent turnout on Election Day
A daunting 85 percent turnout is expected at Florida's polls Nov. 4, decision day for deciding the next U.S. president and many other contest. Registrations are way up, keeping election departments busy even as they make preparations for the actual vote. Now some political officials, Democratic and Republican, are worrying that the record turnout will overwhelm Florida's polling system, once again disgracing the state -- as happened in the 2000 presidential election.
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/707020.html


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Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Minds made up, millions voting early
Confident in their choice, won't wait for Election Day
If you have already made up your mind in the presidential race, is there any point to waiting until Election Day to vote?
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/2008/09/30/minds_made_up_millions_voting_early/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+Today%27s+paper+A+to+Z

-McCain blames Democrats for bailout failure; Obama says look at the record
The failure of the economic rescue plan in the House, and the stock market losses that followed, presented a challenge to both major presidential candidates.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-campaign30-2008sep30,0,5361460.story?track=rss

-The Beltway Crash
Congress lives up to its 10% approval rating. America has survived a feckless political class in the past, and it will again after this week. But Monday's crash and burn of the Paulson plan on Capitol Hill reveals a Washington elite that has earned every bit of the disdain that Americans have for it. This crowd can't even make sausage.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122273257698488295.html

-Palin still excites GOP and conservatives,
but she dips in polls and comedians take aim
Has Sarah Palin become a liability for John McCain? Since joining his ticket, the overnight political celebrity has seen the shine come off her poll standings and doubts surface among some conservatives once excited about her candidacy.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-bc-palinseffectiveness,0,4903120.story

-Investigating the Gonzales era
A report on the firings of nine U.S. attorneys is scathing in its portrayal of ex-Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales. U.S. Atty. Gen. Michael B. Mukasey wisely has accepted a recommendation by two watchdog agencies that he name a special prosecutor to determine whether laws were broken in the firing of nine U.S. attorneys. But even if there is no finding of criminality, the report released Monday by the Justice Department's office of inspector general and office of professional responsibility is a devastating judgment on one of the worst attorneys general of modern times: Alberto R. Gonzales.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-report30-2008sep30,0,93150.story?track=rss

-Our view on Fiancial rescue: At critical moment of crisis, irresponsibility wins the day
GOP ideologues fail test of leadership, block their own president's
proposal. So, at a pivotal moment of severe crisis for our country, here's what passes for leadership: finger-pointing. No sooner had the House of Representatives surprised everyone by voting down a plan to shore up the nation's financial markets, then out came the accusations and blame shifting.
http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/09/our-view-on-f-1.html?csp=34

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