No one benefits more politically from the needlessly drawn out process of approving the core of the Paulson plan. No one has more to lose by seeing this monstronsity finally pass.

Is it good for the country? Well, yes, in the sense that a poor person would rather have a line of credit he cannot repay that a shanty and a wardrobe of rags. The nation's banks are 700 billion in the red. We do not have 700 billion. So, we borrow 700 billion from China and pay it back some time in the future. We're bankrupting that future, or at least downgrading it substantially. Same with imaginary tax cuts which accompany 500 billion deficits.

Good article. Here are some additional thoughts.

1. This race is so volatile, it is hard to really tell where it stands. The Gallup 3-day track went from 8 to 6 to 4 over the last three days, and according to Gallup, its broader registered voter poll (now +4 Obama) historically runs 4 points left of its tighter, less frequently published but historically dead-on likely voter poll. Could be the race is actually tied again, based solely on movements in the last 48 hours.

2. Assuming the bail-out bill passes, and the stock market recovers, this could take a major bite out of the anxiety fueling Obama's recent rise. Sure, the broader economy may continue to soften, but if the investor class, as a part of that economy (which consists of Republicans, Democrats, and independents) is willing to exhale and start focusing again on which candidate they would like to have a beer with -- or whatever cliche is in vogue today -- that could help McCain/Palin significantly. Obama's humorless but effective, economy-centric "crisis" approach only works when in fact a crisis is perceived to exist.

3. I think it remains to be seen how the average voter will react to an unscripted Sarah Palin. TV Media types are getting used to peeing their pants laughing whenever they put her image up on the screen. Alaska! Tina Fey! Eagleton Option! Seems to me the laughter is just a tiny bit forced.

I had to laugh myself the today at seeing a news article acknowledging Palin is making some good impressions with talk radio interviews -- so naturally, they went back to slamming Palin over various alleged Wasilla improprieties. She's either a laughingstock or a person who was very, very, very, very, very, very dangerous. Don't expect the MSM to make up its mind any time soon.

4. As I posted earlier tonight, I think the Gwen Ifill-gate controversy over her "Age of Obama" tribute could hurt Democrats at the margin, if only because evangelicals who support Palin may blame any weaknesses in her performance at on moderator bias. Better to have those people depressed, not inflamed, on election day.

5. As for the Only Question Which Really Matters -- how will Palin do? If she puts her best foot forward, does not get flustered by the tone and implications of the questions (why do you Republicans suck so badly on Issue X...), and has a sense of humor about it all, I think it will be a good, and maybe very good night for the ticket.

There only two possible headlines for Friday's Washington Post: (1) Tina Fey Will be Back Saturday; or (ii) Breaking Investigation Reveals Palin Slashed, Hacked, Mutilated Petunia Displays, Favored Controversial Marigolds in Wasilla's Public Gardens."

A lot of dream questions have been written up for Sarah Palin, on various web sites. Here are a few I would like to see asked of Biden:

1. Were you honest about your college grades during your presidential campaign in 1988? If not, why not?

2. Is it true that you plagarized an entire paper in college, and were disciplined for doing so? What lessons did you take from that? Had you internalized those lessons by the time you first ran for president in 1988?

3. Speaking of 1988, you described back then how your father took you on his knee and lamented that he "never had a (political) party" of his own. You also described coal miner grandparents who worked in the mines, and played football when they finished. Did any of these things happen? Why did you say they did, if they didn't? Where did your grandparents actually work? Your father was a used car salesman, right, not a coal miner?

4. What lessons, generally, did you take from your withdrawal in 1988 based on serial lies and plagarism?

5. You said recently that you were "forced down" on the "highway of terror" and this experience helped you understand exactly where Bin Laden is hiding. What exactly do you mean by "forced down?" Was gunfire involved? Who or what "forced" you down?

6. You said in your acceptance speech at the DNC that whenever you were beaten up during your upbringing in Scranton, Pennsylvania, you went back and bloodied the other kids' nose so you could walk down Main Street with pride. It has since been revealed that you left Scranton at age 10. How many fights were you in prior to age 10, that you recall, and how many noses did you actually bloody, to the best of your recollection?

7. Do you understand the difference between a lie and the truth? How do you think this distinction plays a role in our political process?

Hey, you can have your way. Last post here for me.

Best wishes, and no hard feelings.