The new line on the failure of Republicanism from the David Brooks right, wrapped in pretty words and "compassion," is well delivered here by Ross Douthat, it is "liberalism's" fault. Reprising the debate between George Bailey and Mr. Potter in It's A Wonderful Life, Douthat blames Baileyism run rampant:

[T]he fact that Baileyism may have gone too far doesn't meant that the Bailey vision isn't worth defending in the long run.

Apparently Potterism (greed leading to income inequality) had nothing to do with it. It was all Mr. Martini's and George Bailey's fault. Douthat uses the pernicious Brooksian device of playing the "reasonable conservative" all the while adopting the divisive and fallcious world view of the most extreme conservatives, in order to attempt to discredit progressivism. During the last 8 years, it toook many on the Left a long while to realize that David Brooks was a mendacious cretin. I wonder how long it will take for them to see the same things in the new Brookses sure to emerge. Hopefully, not as long.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

"You gets no bread with your one meatball."

"One Meatball" has been around at least since the depression. Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters and Josh White sang it during WWII. I really like the versions by Baby Jane Dexter and Ann Rabson, but I couldn't find videos of them. Here's the lyrics:

Despite writing for the traditional print media, Richard Cohen tells us today that he joins Sarah Palin in not having "a very high opinion of the mainstream media." Palin has been dutifully mouthing the standard, unimaginative Republican attack on the "librul media." Cohen hints at the more responsible point (although not in these words): a double standard governs much of the corporate media, one that lets Republicans avoid serious scrutiny while magnifying Republican smears that are leveled against Democrats.

Take, for instance, the GOP's insistence that Sarah Palin is qualified to be vice president because she's a regular gal, a hockey mom who raised a family while gaining some modest political experience. What would happen if Democrats ran a candidate who winked at the camera in lieu of giving straight answers to difficult questions?

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The Washington Post Online has the most incredible headline I have seen in some time - NOTE - WaPo changed the headline (I take full credit for the change):

Fed Moves To Assist Main Street Businesses

Central bank will buy up commercial paper, the short-term debt that large companies across the country use to fund their day-to-day operations.

(Emphasis supplied.) That's helping Main Street? Only in the Beltway cocktail party set could that possibly be the headline for handouts to Fortune 500 companies. And you can't blame the headline writer. Here is the first graf of the story:

McCain/Palin: They are Desperados now, Running on Empty.

McCain's options are dwindling, the electoral map is not favoring him. This is an open thread.

I happen to not care about the Keating 5 scandal myself but who am I to tell voters what to care about? But in a world where William Ayers and the Weather Underground is a topic of discussion, it seems to me that tomorrow's debate moderator, Tom Brokaw (via Atrios) has compromised himself to some degree when he agrees the Keating 5 is "ancient history:"

MR. BROKAW: John—we have to keep explaining to everyone—that Charles Keating was the Arizona developer with whom John McCain had an, a, a strong relationship, and then he got in a lot of trouble. He was prosecuted by the Feds, and John McCain said, “I made a terrible mistake here.” Yeah.

MR. YEPSEN: And it’s all ancient history, Tom.

MR. BROKAW: Yeah.

More...

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.

larger version here.

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

Gail Collins writes:

[Sarah Palin] appeared to agree with Dick Cheney’s manic theory that the vice president is a member of both the executive and legislative branches . . .

Um, Article 1, Sections 3 of the Constitution (Titled "The Legislative Branch, The Senate") states in part:

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.

More . . .

Matt Yglesias catches George Will blaming LBJ (for privatizing Fannie and Freddie in 1968(!!)) for the Wall Street credit crisis actually caused by the reckless, feckless, rampant Republicanism of the Bush years (the same philosophy McCain promises for the next 4 years.) I was struck by this bit of mendaciousness from Will:

The rising generation of thoughtful Republicans was represented on both sides of Monday's vote. Virginia's Eric Cantor, 45, and Wisconsin's Paul Ryan, 38, supported the legislation because they had helped to achieve substantial improvements in it, such as requiring financial institutions to help finance their bailout, giving the Treasury potentially valuable equity in firms revived by public funds . . .

(Emphasis supplied.) To put it bluntly, Will is lying. That was a Democratic initiative contained in the Dodd bill. The "thoughtful Republican idea" that Cantor wanted and got was the ludicrous government insurance plan that is simply a joke. No reasonable premium could be charged that would make sense or help in this crisis. The "thoughtful" Republicans OPPOSE the government equity plan and wanted the equity plan out. George Will is either ill informed or lying or both.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

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

The clip should be making the Internet rounds shortly. A very funny version of last night's Obama-McCain debate -- with Hillary waiting in the wings to debate Obama in case McCain didn't show.

It mocked them both, but I think McCain came off worse. What did you think?

Update: I only tuned in at the debate point and missed the opening skit. Here's the opening skit with Tina Fey as Palin and Amy Poehler as Katie Couric. It's very , very funny. Palin could not seem dumber. The musical guest who came on after the debate was just terrible, I thought it was a joke. Someone named Duffy who had one move, throwing one arm in the air, couldn't sing and had the same hairstyle as Sarah Palin, only blonde. Paris Hilton has more talent.

This is an open thread.

larger version here.

[Hat tip to a Daily Kos diary that also has lots of video links and photos of Barack and Michelle Obama and detailed CBS poll analysis.]

Late Night music: If I never hear the word precondition again, I'll be just fine:

From the Big Lebowski soundtrack, Kenny Rogers and the First Edition:

I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.