This bit of news made me ponder again the importance of having Paul Krugman as a NYTimes columnist and public intellectual. Maureen Dowd has been banned from the McCain campaign plane and frankly, I could not care less. Honestly, who even cares what Maureen Dowd writes about anything?

But for nearly 8 years now, Paul Krugman has been writing honestly, intelligently, oftentimes brilliantly, about the important issues of the day. His Cassandra calls on the housing bubble/crisis for years have of course, been vindicated, sadly for the country. But it is not just on that issue that Krugman has illuminated us. He has been the public intellectual who would tell the truth about the Bush Administration, long before anyone in any Media Establishment organ would (he was known as the "Shrill One" for many years.) The Obamabot favorite Andrew "Bell Curve" "Fifth Column" Sullivan would write contemptuously of Paul Krugman for years (often citing the dumbest man on the planet Donald Luskin for support.) Sully's apologies to Krugman should be continuous for years. Don't hold your breath.

So I take a moment to thank Paul Krugman for all his work these past 8 years. To me, his is the most important voice in the public debate. Those of us who believe in Democratic and progressive principles are lucky to have him.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

I have to give Mike Pence, the Republican representative from Indiana, credit. He is a man of principle. Of course, his principles are reckless and have been proven conclusively wrong. But he sticks to them. They are the principles of Republicanism. In his speech this morning on the TARP (Troubled Assets Recovery Plan) bailout plan, he argued for a no vote and in favor of the House Republican plan, the one John McCain championed - the one that argued for solving the mortgage/credit Wall Street crisis by lowering corporate taxes, loosening regulations and for the government doing less for Main Street. That is Republicanism in a nutshell. [More...]

To me, the key feature of the debate was that Barack Obama looked like a President and John McCain did not (I am not unaware of the irony of my assertion, given the fact Obama would be our first African American President. Nonetheless, I truly believe it.) A Bloomberg/LATimes poll (caveat, I am not a big fan of the LATimes poll) confirms my view:

One potentially important finding among these debate watchers is that while McCain retained his advantage on experience, voters said Obama seemed more presidential by a 46 percent to 33 percent margin. Among those uncertain about their vote -- those who are either undecided or declaring they may change preference -- Obama was more than 2-to-1 ahead of McCain on this question."The thing that helped Obama slightly is that he seemed more presidential," said Susan Pinkus, who conducts the poll. "He passed the presidential test."

(Emphasis supplied.) Here Pinkus demonstrates one of the reasons I do not care for her as a pollster/pundit. To say that it helps Obama "slightly" that he was viewed as more Presidential and "passed the Presidential test" is the understatement of this election. If Obama passes that test, he wins the election easily. McCain knows this. Obama knows this. Apparently Pinkus is the one person who does not.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

The first poll of the day, the DKos/R2000 poll (9/26-28) shows Obama breaking this race open - Obama now leads by 9, 51-42. The two days of R2000 polling in since the debate have Obama +9 on Saturday and +11 on Sunday. Ras (9/26-28) has Obama up 5, 50-45. Gallup (9/25-27) has Obama up 8, 50-42, with a big Saturday post debate result. The last Hotline tracker (9/25-27) has Obama up 5, 47-42. For McCain supporters, there is one ray of hope in the polling, the strangely unmoving (in any direction) Battleground poll (9/22-25, 28) which has had McCain up 2 unvaryingly for a week, 48-46 (and up consistently for 2 weeks.) That seems impossible. No other poll has McCain even within 5 points of Obama. Either everyone else is wrong and Battleground is right and we are headed to a Dewey Defeats Truman situation, or Battleground is utterly wrong.

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The New York Times had a long feature article this week about women prison guards in New York.

Women make up 45 percent of about 9,300 uniformed employees of the department, according to the agency. From guards to wardens to the four-star chief, Carolyn Thomas, they fill almost every rank. And in many respects, they are changing the culture of the city’s jails.

Walk down the corridors of any of the city’s 11 active jails, and it is clear that not only are there a high number of female officers, but a majority of those women — 75 percent — are black, said Stephen Morello, a department spokesman. They are former soldiers, beauticians and bank tellers. They are single mothers who took the job to support their children.

It's hard to think of a more stressful (or from my point of view, sadder) job. [More...]

Rep. Paul Ryan, an "admired conservative" who in reality is getting by on his good looks, was against the bailout bill before he was for it. He expresses a view of the bailout upon which liberals and conservatives can all agree:

"It sucks."

So would the heralded economic collapse or the lesser catastrophes that are predicted by many in the absence of action. Having jammed a face-saving insurance program into the bill, key Republicans are showing reluctant support for its passage. House Minority Leader John Boehner is among them. Boehner recognizes that some Republicans who face tough reelection battles can't come on board, and that some will refuse on principle. He encouraged "every member of our conference – if their conscience will allow them to -- to support this bill." [emphasis added]

Predictions? Will Boehner and his buddies find enough loyal Republicans to get the bill passed? Will Democrats follow their leader?

Sarah Palin on science:

Soon after Sarah Palin was elected mayor of the foothill town of Wasilla, Alaska, she startled a local music teacher by insisting in casual conversation that men and dinosaurs coexisted on an Earth created 6,000 years ago -- about 65 million years after scientists say most dinosaurs became extinct -- the teacher said.

On how to teach science:

During an October 2006 debate in the Alaska governor's race, Palin urged that evolution and creationist ideas be taught together in state schools. "Don't be afraid of information and let kids debate both sides," she said.

On war: [more...]

Jerri! Happy Birthday to one of the toughest, sharpest and sweetest bloggers in the sphere! I miss you, being 2500 miles away in NYC. It was great to spend the DNC with you at your home where you showed me the ropes in that crazy world of blogging mania. You're an inspiration to so many of us women (and men). Thank you! I'll toast to you in New York tonight and I hope you have a fantastic fun evening you deserve. I love you and will call asap.

XXXXAnita

Krugman's take:

Section 113, MINIMIZATION OF LONG-TERM COSTS AND MAXIMIZATION OF BENEFITS FOR TAXPAYERS, is where the rubber meets the road — it’s where the plan says something about how the deals will be done.

As I read it, Treasury can
(1) conduct reverse auctions and suchlike
(2) buy directly — but only if it gets equity warrants or, in companies that don’t issue stock, senior debt

. . . The plan’s real traction, if any, is in (2), which is a backdoor way to provide troubled firms with equity — and the bill seems to say that taxpayers have to own this equity, although I wish it was clearer how much equity will be judged sufficient. Not a good plan. But sufficiently not-awful, I think, to be above the line; and hopefully the whole thing can be fixed next year.

Obama and Dems should run on how they will take care of ordinary middle class American homeowners if and when they win the election.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

Flowers from the TL Kid. (Larger version here.)

Your turn, all topics welcome.

DEA Agent Lee Lucas recently torpedoed a drug conspiracy case in Mansfield, Ohio. Turns out, it wasn't the first time for Lucas.

Federal drug agent Lee Lucas, whose rogue informant botched a major drug conspiracy case in Mansfield, had the same problem in Florida. And it could cost taxpayers $356,000.

That's how much a Miami businessman spent defending himself in a case with a bad informant Lucas handled 15 years ago. This month, a federal judge is expected to decide how much the businessman's family should be reimbursed for legal bills related to the case, though prosecutors are likely to appeal.

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On Face the Nation this morning, Sen. Barack Obama said John McCain deserves no credit for the bailout proposal. He also said he's likely to support it.

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama said Sunday his Republican rival deserves no credit for helping to forge a tentative agreement on the $700 billion bailout of Wall Street.

On why Obama deserves credit: [More...]