The Nightowl Newswrap

The first woman elected to the Wisconsin State Senate endorses Obama-Biden Former Republican State Senator Barbara Lorman, who sdervd 14 years in the Wisconsin state lege, announced today that she was endorsing the Obama-Biden ticket. In issuing her support, she cited Obama's willingness to reach across the partisan barrier to bring people together from the left and the right to solve problems and work toward what's right for America. "I'm a lifelong Republican, but Senator Obama is the right leader for our country and will deliver the change we need," said Lorman. "After taking a careful look at the qualities of both McCain and Obama and who would be best for our country, I found that Senator Obama's ability to bridge the partisan divide to work toward solid solutions that will get our nation back on the right track meant he is the right choice this November."

Andrea Mitchell's ass is permanently affixed to the tireswing Doing her bit for the cause of promoting false equivalencies in the interest of pretending it's a horserace, Mrs. Greenspan told the viewers, with a straight face, that the Obama ad, in which John McCain says, in his own words, that he has voted Bush's way 90% of the time, even more than his republican colleagues, and done so proudly, is "remarkably negative." How the hell so, Andrea? Can you explain that one? I mean, it's McCain's own words! How is that "remarkably negative"? The dumbassery is blistering in it's scope.

Our friend Hilzoy cuts through the crap surrounding the ACORN bullshit. Go read her concise summary of what, exactly, has been going on and just how ridiculous the whole manufactured-outrage fiasco really is.

Mitchie's going down? Survey USA has Bruce Lunsford tied with Mitch McConnell, R-KY, 48-48. Among moderates, Lunsford is up 62-38. I've been predicting a Mitch victory all year, and he might still pull it out, but damn!

We predicted this back on Labor DayThe new NBC/Wall St. Journal poll finds that the single biggest concern voters have about the republican ticket is - wait for it - Sarah Palin.: "Now, Palin's qualifications to be president rank as voters' top concern about McCain's candidacy -- ahead of continuing President Bush's policies, enacting economic policies that only benefit the rich and keeping too high of a troop presence in Iraq."

One Down, Umpteen GOP Vote-Caging Schemes to Go: In September, Michigan Republicans devised a scheme to use foreclosure lists to challenge votes in a state where the housing market has been hit particularly hard by job losses. The party whose modus operandi is "government by and for the wealthy" was rightly concerned that people who'd lost their house would vote for the party most committed to helping them get it back: that being the Democratic Party and Barack Obama. After suit in Federal Court the kibosh was put on the Republican scheme and the enemies of democracy were forced to admit their duplicity in a settlement.



Yahoo! cuts workforce: Mired in a deep slump, Yahoo Inc. will fire at least 1,500 workers to cope with a crumbling economy that dented its third-quarter profit and turned up the heat on the Internet company's management as investors stew over a missed opportunity to sell to Microsoft Corp. for $47.5 billion. The purge outlined Tuesday represents a 10 percent reduction in Yahoo's payroll of about 15,000 employees. It's the second time in nine months that Yahoo has resorted to mass layoffs in what so far has been an ineffectual effort to rebound from a financial funk that has left its stock price near a 5½-year low.

Biker gangs...biker gangs...what year is it again? Dozens of burly, tattoo-covered Mongol motorcycle gang members were arrested Tuesday by federal agents in six states on warrants ranging from drug sales to murder after a three-year undercover investigation. At least 61 members of the Southern California-based Mongol Motorcycle Club were arrested under a federal racketeering indictment that included charges of murder, attempted murder, assault, as well as gun and drug violations, said Mike Hoffman, spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Another problem on the horizon: Russia, Iran and Qatar made the first serious moves Tuesday toward forming an OPEC-style cartel on natural gas, raising concerns that Moscow could boost its influence over energy markets spanning from Europe to South Asia. Such an alliance would have little direct impact on the United States, which imports virtually no natural gas from Russia or the other nations. But Washington and Western allies worry that closer strategic ties between Russia and Iran could hinder efforts to isolate Tehran over its nuclear ambitions. In addition, the United States opposes a proposed Iranian gas pipeline to Pakistan and India, key allies. In Europe — which counts on Russia for nearly half of its natural gas imports — any cartel controlled by Moscow poses a threat to supply and pricing.

Three billion for Iceland: Britain is planning to lend about three billion pounds to Iceland to repay Britons with savings in a stricken Icelandic bank, a newspaper reported on Wednesday. The Financial Times, quoting unnamed officials in Iceland, said a British delegation hoped to wrap up the deal -- worth about 30 percent of the island nation's gross domestic product -- during a trip to the country this week. The Treasury announced Tuesday that the delegation would be heading to Iceland to finalise a compensation deal for British savers with Icesave, a subsidiary of Landsbanki. After talks between the Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling and Icelandic Prime Minister Geir Haarde, "officials from the Treasury and Bank of England are going to Iceland to work on finalising an agreement that aims to compensate UK depositors and ensure fair treatment for creditors", a statement said. The freezing of thousands of British-held accounts following the collapse of Icesave came close to provoking a diplomatic incident earlier this month.

What the hell's going on here? At least 30 letters containing suspicious powder have been mailed to Chase banks in nine cities but so far appear to be harmless, authorities said Tuesday. The FBI said it was investigating "a series of letters sent to banks around the country." "These threat letters contain a powder substance," the FBI said in a statement. "At this point, field tests on the powder have been negative. Additional testing will be completed. Even sending a hoax letter is a serious crime."

Now a Republican claims "politically motivated" vandalism: Baltimore county police investigating a case of vandalism that the victim thinks is "political violence." On Monday Morning, Harriet Baverman walked out to the driveway of her home on Hidden Trail Drive in Owings Mills, and found some unusual damage to her car. "Some entity or person....took a dog and spread the dog feces all over my car," Baverman told WBAL News. The bumper of Baverman's car is covered with McCain Palin, Ehrlich and other bumper stickers for Republican candidates. Pictures Baverman provided to WBAL News show scratches and paw prints on the front of the car, which police say is a 2001 Chevy Monte Carlo. A Monte Carlo? Are you sure THAT wasn't the reason for the vandalism?

Yeah, well, tough...we are not in a forgiving mood Sarah Palin apologized today for making those ridiculous "real America" and "pro-America parts of the country" comments on the campaign trail last week. "I don't want that misunderstood," Palin said in an interview with CNN today. "If that's the way it came across, I apologize." By the way, Dumbass - real apologies don't have the word "if" in them.

India shoots for the moon India launched their first unmanned lunar mission a few hours ago, hoping to achieve high-resolution images of the moon's topography and diving into the international space race.

McCain's age and judgment are an issue for many voters A new poll from the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, a widespread loss of confidence in McCain appears to be the most significant factor in the race at this point. Many more voters express doubts about McCain’s judgment than about Obama’s: 41% see McCain as “having poor judgment,” while just 29% say that this trait describes Obama. Fewer voters also view McCain as inspiring than did so in mid-September (37% now, 43% then). By contrast, 71% of voters continue to think of Obama as inspiring.

He's just a sad, pathetic joke and everyone really, really hates him and can't wait for him to just go the hell away. Is it January yet? The sitting president has managed to raise $146 million dollars for his party this election cycle - forty million less than he pulled in last cycle and four million less than Obama pulled in last month alone.