You said, "If the free market were actually allowed to work, then mortgage lenders would not have been forced to lend massive amounts of money to unqualified, risky borrowers. It was regulation that caused this."

Point out to me the regulations that forced the mortgage lenders to lend any money to unqualified, risky borrowers. Point out to me the regulations that forced lenders to create complex, incomprehensible forms of financial packages based on those unqualified loans, which inflated the housing bubble that has now burst and is dragging down these wonderfully unregulated financial institutions.

Oh, well, a true believer is a true believer. You sound like those true believers who still support Bush, and will support McSame and his caribou Barbie.

Lord, help us.

"No market for old men"? How do you know how old the posters are? I'm old, but I don't favor all the unregulated free-market crap. But then, I'm poor. I used to be part of the middle class. And when my husband and I bought houses, we had to prove that we were qualified to repay the mortgages. And we always found out how much it would cost, and whether we could afford it, before we signed those papers.

Thanks for mentioning the free e-book, "The Conservative Nanny State"

I've downloaded it, and for sure will read it.

Yes, "The more I listen to McCain, the more it scares that the polls are close." What an embarrassment it would be to have that senile old fool as our president. And his VP, what a joke!

If this bill passes, our descent into fascism -- a "corporate state" -- will be complete. We need some radical changes in our political and economic systems. I suggest at least some of those described by Dean Baker in The Conservative Nanny State (link at sig). It's an e-book you can download for free.

It's too long for me to summarize here. It's also very repetitive. It adds details as it goes along. I thank whoever posted a link to it in the letters responding to another article.

You commented, "a truly free market is the only fair system of human society."

If you want to know what a truly free market would look like, read The Conservative Nanny State (link at my sig). It's an e-book you can download for free.

As I've been looking around, listening and reading these last few days, I've seen and heard a lot of outrage, not from McCain, of course, but even from some Republicans.

Yes, we the people need regulation of financial entities. And as far as I'm concerned, these "investment banks" that we're supposed to bail out can just crash. Read the transcript of Glen Greenwald's interview with a professor of economics (I forget his name). Just jump into Glen's column today and follow the links.

As Redshooz mentioned, McCain's health problems seem significant. I think he shows early signs of Alzheimer's disease, just like Reagan, the hero of the Republican party. That's a topic I think is well worth a letter to an editor. Like others, I would never write a fake letter for a person or cause I did not support. But I think I'll write some factual letters to several editors, about McCain's unhealthy-seeming behavior.

You said you recently moved in together. Did you move into his place, or did he move into your place, or did you both move into a new place together?

I've never been a jealous person, but I wouldn't tolerate this. If you possibly can, get yourself out of there before he returns. Or else, if you possibly can, move all his stuff outside, and have the locks changed.

You said, "McCain, as always goes to the fight, your guy hides in the weeds."

McCain goes to the fight? Didn't you read the article? McCain's the one who wants to postpone the debate.

Yes, McCain is unfit for the office of President of the U.S.A. He's a doddering, senile, old man, with clear signs of Alzheimer's disease. Just like Reagan, the Repugs' hero. Except McCain doesn't even have Reagan's charm.

You said, "Swear to God I'm starting to wonder what sort of fighter pilot McCain was." Well, he crashed six, or was it seven? planes.

You said, "It's hell out there if you're a woman who is anything less than young and at least reasonably attractive. It's hell. So naturally we settle, we cling, we let guys push us around. Because once we're out there in the meat market, competing, we quickly find out what we're worth."

You'll get over it. Menopause happens.

You said, "Newt' used to be Speaker and fortunately is no longer the Speaker." And unfortunately, Pelosi is. What a disappointment.

This first debate disappointed me greatly. I was hoping for Obama to shred that doddering, senile old fool, but he didn't. The doddering, senile old fool looked pretty good, in spite of his age and senility. He must've been very well coached, and somehow managed to commit to memory many talking points and so on.

I'm afraid I've become prepared for President Obama to disappoint me. But I'm not prepared for President McCain's endless wars and economic foolishness. And the prospect of President Palin terrifies me.

I was very disappointed that Obama didn't shred that senile, bumbling old fart.

And I was very disappointed that McCain seemed fairly competent and "real."

I hope for better from Obama next time, and I have big hopes for the Vice-Presidential debate next week.