NATIONAL & WORLD DIGEST - October 03, 2008

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New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-House Approves Bailout on Second Try
Rescue Bill Passed By Safe Margin
By a vote of 263-171, the House of Representatives on Friday accepted the Senate's revised version of the $700 billion plan for the Treasury to intervene in financial markets.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/04/business/economy/04bailout.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

-U.S. Sheds 159,000 Jobs; 9th Straight Monthly Drop
Government data showed the worst month of retrenchment in five years, enhancing fears that the downturn has entered a more painful stage.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/04/business/economy/04jobs.html?hp

-Palin and Biden Are Cordial but Pointed
Gov. Sarah Palin used a steady grin, folksy manner and carefully scripted talking points to punch politely and persist politically at the vice-presidential debate on Thursday night, turning in a performance that her rival, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., sought to undermine with cordially delivered but pointed criticism.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/03/us/politics/03debate.html?hp

-Video: Vice-Presidential Debate
Watch the debate, analyze the transcript, check the facts and share your thoughts.
http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/debates/vice-presidential-debate.html

--McCain Abandons His Efforts to Win Michigan
Senator John McCain is giving up on his efforts to win the state of Michigan, his campaign said Thursday, in the latest sign that the faltering economy has reshaped the presidential race and cost Mr. McCain support in crucial states.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/03/us/politics/03michigan.html?_r=1&oref=slogin


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

-Banned Books, Chapter 2
Conservative Group Urges Libraries to Accept Collection
During a week that librarians nationwide are highlighting banned books, conservative Christian students and parents showcased their own collection outside a Fairfax County high school yesterday -- a collection they say was banned by the librarians themselves.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/02/AR2008100203644.html

-Candidates spar on energy, taxes, war
Republican Sarah Palin and Democrat Joe Biden sparred over taxes, energy policy and the Iraq war in a high-profile debate in which Palin sought to reclaim her identity as a feisty reformer and Biden tried to undercut the maverick image of GOP presidential hopeful John McCain.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/03/AR2008100300289.html

-Vice presidential debate quotes from Biden, Palin
Quotes from Democratic Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware and Republican Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska during their vice presidential debate Thursday at Washington University in St. Louis:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/02/AR2008100204685.html

-Calif. Gay-Marriage Ban Appears to Lose Support
Backers of a referendum to ban same-sex marriage in California are winning the fundraising race, but analysts and public polls suggest that voter sentiment appears to be turning against them.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/01/AR2008100103037.html


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Biden, Palin on First Amendment
First Amendment Center Online
The First Amendment Center Online has added Democratic Sen. Joe Biden and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to its series of First Amendment profiles of the 2008 candidates for president and vice president. The new profiles, by First Amendment Center intern Courtney Holliday, examine areas of the vice presidential candidates' records, votes, statements and other actions pertaining to any of the five freedoms of the First Amendment. In addition, we have recently updated the profiles posted earlier of the Republican and Democratic candidates, Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama.
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=20632


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Pew Research center
http://pewresearch.org/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Obama Boosts Leadership Image and Gains Significant Lead Over McCain
The Illinois senator, helped by the debate, has been able to erase concerns about his ability to lead, to widen his advantage on economic issues and to move to a significant lead in swing states. There has been a broad-based decline in the number of voters who view Palin as qualified to become president. Read more

-A Media/Public Debate Disconnect?
Political pundits, seeing no knockout punch, scored a tie. But viewers awarded the win to Obama. Read more

-Coverage Centers on Volatility in Economy and McCain Campaign
The week's drama suggested that a national crisis and campaign for president do not easily mix; the candidate who tried harder to seize the moment may have had the tougher week. Read more

-Uncertain Times
In every recent election the public has accurately picked the final winner by this time in the cycle. This year is different. Read more

-Money and Politics
Public Support Declines but a Plurality Still Favors the Financial BailoutPlan
A new poll finds little partisan difference in views of the overall plan.
Republicans, however, are less concerned about protecting homeowners although they are not particularly worried about excessive government involvement in the nation's financial markets. Read more

-Interest in Economic News Surges
Public attention to news about the U.S. economy skyrocketed last week, with 70% of Americans following economic developments very closely, up from 56% the previous week. Very close interest cuts across partisan lines with Republicans, Democrats and independents equally engaged. Read more

-Religion and Government
Faith-Based Initiatives Can Expect Further Expansion
Two experts discuss how and why partnerships between governments and religious social service groups are likely to continue to grow no matter which party controls the White House. Read more

-Daily Number 52% - The Best Policy
Fully 52% of the public say it is "absolutely essential" that a political leader be honest and an additional 44% say it is a "very important" quality, making it the most sought after trait in political leader. Check back every weekday for another number in the news. Read more

-A Changing America
Undocumented Immigration Now Trails Legal Inflow, Reversing Trend
Estimates now show that the unauthorized immigrant population grew more slowly from 2005 to 2008 than it did earlier in the decade, although its size has increased by more than 40% since 2000, and now constitutes 4% of the total U.S. population. Read more

-Non-Citizen Immigrants Suffer Sharp Recent Decline in Household Income
The current economic slowdown has taken a far greater toll on households headed by non-citizens than it has on the U.S. population as a whole, according to a Pew Hispanic Center analysis of new Census data. Read more

-Pocketbook Polls
The Bad Rap on the Bailout Bill
Members who voted against the original House bill are said to be responding to strong opposition to the rescue plan from their constituents, but that's not what most Americans are saying. Read moreFaith-Based Politics

-Religious Vote: Much like 2004 but Economy Now Tops Social Issues
A national survey finds remarkable stability in the candidate preferences of major religious groups compared with the last presidential campaign. But issue priorities among all religious groups have changed with possible implications in November. Read more

-Daily Number 37% - Ready on Day One? In
advance of tonight's vice presidential debate, fewer than four-in-ten (37%) Americans say Sarah Palin is qualified to serve as president if necessary, while a majority (63%) say her opponent, Joe Biden, is qualified for the job. Check back every weekday for another number in the news. Read more


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

-Obama Adviser Suggests Gates As Possible Holdover
Senior Defense Adviser To Obama Says Gates Might Be A Good Choice To Remain As Pentagon Chief
A senior adviser to Sen. Barack Obama said Thursday that the Democrat might see Defense Secretary Robert Gates as a candidate to remain at the Pentagon if Obama wins the White House.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/02/ap/politics/main4494315.shtml

-Stevens loses bid for mistrial
Prosecutors draw a rebuke from judge
A federal judge yesterday rejected a request by Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska to dismiss the charges or declare a mistrial because prosecutors withheld possibly exculpatory evidence from the defense.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2008/10/03/stevens_loses_bid_for_mistrial/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+Today%27s+paper+A+to+Z

-Months later, Obama strikes new tone in Mich.
The financial meltdown is hardly news in Michigan, which has been mired in its own economic crisis for some time and has the highest unemployment rate in the nation.
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/2008/10/03/months_later_obama_strikes_new_tone_in_mich/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+Today%27s+paper+A+to+Z

-Alaska Probe of Palin to Go Forward
Judge Won't Block State Investigation of Firing of Police Official
An Alaska judge on Thursday refused to block a state investigation into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power when she fired her public safety commissioner this summer.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/03/AR2008100300061.html

-CBS Poll: Uncommitted Voters Say Biden Won
But Voters Also Say Their Perceptions Of Palin Improved
Uncommitted voters who watched the vice presidential debate thought Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden did the best job by a margin of more than two to one, according to a CBS News/Knowledge Networks poll taken immediately following the debate.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/03/politics/2008debates/main4497138.shtml?source=RSS&attr=HOME_4497138

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