Random sports thoughts - the Gators were not great, but they don't stink either. Love the Cubs tanking. Rooting for the Angels to get off the deck and beat the Red Sox. Kimbo Slice is a fraud.

Your turn.

Glenn Reynolds keeps writing about the constitutional role of the Vice Presidency issue that came up in the VP debate. Reynolds wrote about the issue in 2007 (I was unconvinced by his argument, but hell, maybe lots of other people were convinced) and now points to Josh Chafetz's piece at TNR. Chafetz gives a historic rundown of the original view of the Vice Presidency in the Constitution:

Another day, another round of tracking polls telling us McCain's goose is cooked. DKos/R2000 has Obama maintaining a 12 point lead, 52-40. Ras ticks Obama up 1 to a 7 point lead, 51-44. I'll add Hotline and Gallup as they post their results during the day.

What can McCain do? I know the personal trashing of Obama will come - Ayers, Wright and whatever else they can find in the kitchen sink will be thrown. Of course, thanks to the extended primary, that is all old news (thank Hillary for the exciting, extended contested primary - Obama is teflon on these things now I think.) Here's a selfish (for me) idea - how about McCain flank Obama with a bold plan to help the middle class and homeowners instead of Wall Street? How about fighting for and promising a new HOLC? Just a thought Sen. McCain.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

Bruce Springsteen at a voter registration drive in Philly for Sen. Barack Obama today. An excellent speech, delivered while strumming, no notes, no "uh's" and great words and imagery. He ought to run for office.

The song: An acoustic version of "The Rising." This is an open thread.

Whether or not the United States is spying on Bolivia, it is wasting its money in efforts to suppress native farmers who try to make a living by growing coca.

President Evo Morales said Saturday that Bolivia does not need U.S. help to control its coca crop, stepping up his anti-Washington rhetoric days after rejecting an American request to fly an anti-drug plane over the South American nation's territory. Morales also compared U.S. counter-drug efforts in the country, including Drug Enforcement Administration flights, to espionage.

"It's important that the international community knows that here, we don't need control of the United States on coca cultivation," the president told a gathering of coca farmers. "We can control ourselves internally. We don't need any spying from anybody.

Both countries have played politics by booting out the other country's ambassador. The United States placed Bolivia on an anti-narcotics blacklist. Other than encouraging anti-American rhetoric in South America, what does this failed policy accomplish? Nada. [more ...]

The Wisconsin Badgers are losing to the Ohio State Buckeyes 7-0 at the end of the first quarter. [Update: 10-7 Badgers, end of half] [Final: 20-17 Ohio State grumble] The legendary UW Marching Band isn't helping the team to victory tonight, having been suspended for hazing.

No details were immediately released about the behavior, only that it involved inappropriate alcohol use, hazing and sexualized behavior. Leckrone said it involved only a small number of band members, but it was significant enough to warrant the suspension.

UW football players are suspended once or twice a year, usually in conjunction with criminal charges. It would be remarkable to see the entire team suspended for a game, particularly in light of the revenue loss a team suspension would generate. Is it reasonable to suspend an entire band of 300 (I don't know how many of those perform at a home game) for the actions of an admitted few?

[more ...]

Update: The judge released jury questionnaires today.

Jury questionnaires released Saturday show that five of the 12 jurors disagreed with the 1995 verdict that cleared Simpson of murdering his ex-wife and her friend in Los Angeles.

****

O.J. Simpson is sitting in the Clark County, NV jail today, undoubtedly wondering whether he has any strong grounds for appeal of last night's jury verdict in his Las Vegas robbery/kidnapping trial.

Jury selection sounds like a fertile area. Not only did the prosecution excuse the final two African American members of the jury (leaving two alternates who didn't get to serve) but here's what one juror said today:[More...]

Forcing John McCain to play defense on a second front, Barack Obama shifted his attack today from the economy to health care, giving a crowd in Newport News, Virginia a detailed comparison between his health care plan and McCain's. Perhaps too detailed.

Obama's speech was more loaded with policy than most, and he seemed to realize that many in the crowd wanted a pep rally more than a detailed examination of health care practices. "You still with me?" he said halfway through.

McCain's campaign responded by trying to associate Obama with the actions of William Ayers, a distraction that Obama defused long ago.

"On a day when new reports have surfaced about Barack Obama's long association with a domestic terrorist, our Democratic opponent had the audacity to call John McCain's health care plan 'radical.' The American people know radical when they hear it, and John McCain is not the candidate in this election they should be concerned about," [McCain spokesman Tucker] Bounds said.

Another example of John McCain's "respectful" campaigning.

Sarah Palin today on the campaign trail:

Palin told a group of donors at a private airport, "Our opponent ... is someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect, imperfect enough, that he's palling around with terrorists who would target their own country." She also said, "This is not a man who sees America as you see America and as I see America."

The Obama campaign called Palin's remarks offensive but not surprising in light of news stories detailing the campaign's come-from-behind offensive. "What's clear is that John McCain and Sarah Palin would rather spend their time tearing down Barack Obama than laying out a plan to build up our economy," Obama campaign spokesman Hari Sevugan said in a statement.

More desperation to come. The New York Times reports McCain said yesterday at a rally in Pueblo, Colorado "the gloves will come off" against Obama Tuesday night. Meaning, during the debate and in the ads to follow.

Part One of NBC's Brian Williams on David Letterman last night. Part Two is here.

This is an open Thread

Big Tent Democrat disagrees with Bob Herbert who points out that a McCain/Palin victory is dangerous because if something happens to McCain, we'd have the clueless wonder as President.

I agree with Bob Herbert and it is the single most important reason to defeat McCain/Palin. The prospect of her assuming the presidency if need be, even temporarily, is terrifying and unacceptable.

Nothing better shows the poor judgment of John McCain than his Hail Mary pass of choosing Sarah Palin, a politician with no relevant national experience, serious knowledge gaps on important issues and questionable ethical judgment to be his running mate. By putting his personal quest to be President over the well-being of our nation, he has demonstrated he lacks the character to be President. He sold us out for the sake of his own ambition. The radical right is now in a position to propel McCain/Palin to victory and then McCain will owe them. [More...]

All polls for the 9/30-10/2 period. Dkos/R2000 has Obama up 12, 52-40. Ras has Obama up 6, 51-45. Gallup has Obama up 8, 50-42. Hotline has Obama up 7, 48-41.

Two of the three days of polling in these polls came the nights after the Biden/Palin debate. It clearly was a nonevent. McCain's last stand comes Tuesday night - in his townhall/debate with Obama. Absent a miracle, this Presidential election is over.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only.