As readers know, I sign most of my posts "speaking for me only." The reason I do that is because it permits me to say some stupid sh*t and sometimes some smart sh*t that other folks may not want to say without it reflecting on two of the nicest, fairest, sharpest people I know, Jeralyn and TChris.

Our contentious blogging colleague John Cole has had some fun at my expense about that phrase. That's fair and funny. But I wish John would credit me when I write one he likes. For instance, Country first my ass about John McCain. What say you John?

This is an Open Thread. And yes, I am speaking for me only.

There will be a hearing Thursday before an Alaskan judge to decide whether the legislative ethics investigation of Gov. Sarah Palin may proceed.

The lawsuit was filed by five Republicans who say the legislative investigation is partisan, a false claim in my view. Palin wants the Personnel Board, whose members serve under her in the Executive Branch, to decide.

Washington Monthly and Atrios have some (albeit not much)sympathy for Gov. Sarah Palin if, as rumored, her next gaffe in the upcoming airing of a new Katie Couric interview shows she couldn't name any Supreme Court cases.

Not me. Lawyers, Guns and Money has a better take.

Oh it's all morbidly fascinating, until somebody gets hurt.

Let's call it what it is: In combination with everything else we know about her, Terrifying.

William Arnone, long-time Democratic party activist and the author of the key state series I've quoted many times, has just prepared an update to his preliminary electoral vote preview and again graciously agreed to let me publish it.

His new electoral map analysis of who would win if the election were held today is here. Key findings are below:

DKos/R2000 has Obama up 10, 51-41. Ras has Obama up 6, 51-45. Gallup has Obama up 6, 49-43. Hotline has Obama up 6, 47-41. Even Battleground has Obama up 2, after stubbornly having McCain ahead for the past 2 weeks.

With just over 30 days to go, unless McCain changes the game, the election is over.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

Yesterday I engaged in an e-mail spat with a prominent Obama Bot/Clinton hater from the primaries about my criticisms of Barack Obama during the primaries. This Obama Bot of course was so blinded by his Obama worship, that he had no idea that I have been criticizing Obama's post-partisan unity schtick since long before the primaries. My first post in the summer of 2006 was titled What Obama Needs To Learn Hofstadter, Lincoln And FDR and argued for, as I have since I began blogging in 2003, a Politics of Contrast. Krugman was on it in early 2007. The other day I wrote about the fact that Even Doris Kearns Goodwin Is For a Politics of Contrast and wants more FDR from Obama:

[W]hat FDR did was to say this isn‘t just an election between two men. It is between two doctrines. He laid out the difference between the Republican and the Democratic party, one concerned about government favoring the few and the other one wanting the masses to be sound and that would help the country. It seems to me Obama is missing a chance. . . . To not argue about the doctrine of the Democratic party. Yes, he wants independents. Yes, he wants to be post-partisan after wins. But right now is the time when the Republican-Democratic brand is so contrasting and I think he has desired to not be in that fight. It‘s not helping him in a certain sense.

Digby, who has been on this issue as long as I have, wrote about it again yesterday:

There is such a misconception about how the American People feel about the mortgage/credit crisis Wall Street bailout. Of course everyone hates it. Who wouldn't? But the American People know the problem must be addressed. The latest WaPo poll demonstrates this:

Most Americans see the current financial situation as a "crisis," and there is overwhelming concern that the failure of the House of Representatives to pass the economic recovery package will deepen the problem, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. . . [N]early nine in 10 expressed concern that the failure of the bill could lead to a more severe economic decline.

From a purely political perspective, something must be done. But what? Here is where the Democratic leadership should grab their chance to enact a progressive proposal. The WaPo poll says:

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, began at Sundown last night and continues to sundown tomorrow. It marks the beginning of the ten high holy days a year for those of the Jewish Faith. It ends with Yom Kippur, a solemn day of atonement, accompanied by fasting. There's usually a celebratory meal called the break-fast when Yom Kippur ends at sundown. Observant Jews go to temple for both days. Others take the day off from work and think about the holidays or do other things. [More...]

The Dow had its worst drop in two decades today -770 points. I don't have any investments, but my mother has a modest amount that is used to pay for her nursing home care. Last week her account was dropping thousands a day, except for the day it was announced an agreement had been reached. Today, she lost many more thousands.

That strikes me as pretty serious. I do believe the market comes back eventually, but how much more can people afford to lose?

Alaska's Senator Ted Stevens would be an entertaining caricature if he were not actually a senator. His trial is suddenly beset with unexpected drama. What did you expect?

Prosecution witness Rocky Williams, "a construction foreman who was involved in renovations on Stevens’s home," contacted defense lawyers over the weekend and gave them critical evidence that the prosecution had not revealed.

Defense lawyers said Williams told them he spent much less time working on Stevens’s home than Veco’s accounting records indicate. That evidence, they said, “gravely undercuts” the government’s argument that Veco spent $188,000 of its own money on Stevens’s house.

[more...]

If you have a helmet -- bicycle, motorcycle, military, safety, whatever -- put it on. Markets around the world are falling, at least for the moment.

Asia Stocks Fall in Worst Rout for 21 Years as Bailout Rejected

Australia Stocks Tumble as Bailout Fails, Sparking Credit Fears

The president announced that the administration's "strategy is to continue to address this economic situation head-on." That is sooooo reassuring. President Bush will make "a statement on the financial-rescue package" tomorrow morning. What could he possibly say at this point that anyone would take seriously? [more ...]

Here is Barney Frank's priceless reaction to House GOP Leader John Boehner saying Republicans voted against the bailout bill because Nancy Pelosi hurt their feelings:

You gotta love Barney Frank.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only