The New Republic

To try and place the amazing Sarah Palin phenomenon, gurus have been reaching for historical analogues: she "embodies the most basic American myth-- Jefferson's yeoman farmer" (Joe Klein); no, she's "the next Ronald Reagan" (Richard Viguerie); no, "she's our Obama" (Jay Nordlinger). But what about Bill Clinton? READ MORE >>

So this is what happens when you accede to adding $150 billion of pork to a bailout bill your constituents disliked in the first place: READ MORE >>

Some commenters asked what the Democratic prospects are in the House in November.  READ MORE >>

That's what John Harwood's interesting piece in the New York Times suggests: Nor do [Republicans] fear Mr. McCain’s defeat. His “maverick” stance has long left Republican regulars ambivalent. As Republicans in Congress learned under Bill Clinton, and Democrats under Mr. Bush, opposing a president of the other party can help legislative minorities refocus message and agenda. READ MORE >>

One interesting metric in today's bailout-bill vote: Republicans as a whole went two-thirds against the bill. But retiring Republicans, the ones who don't have to worry about being re-elected in November, overwhelmingly voted for it, eighteen to four (using this list of retirements, with one no-show). READ MORE >>

The Republicans are blaming Nancy Pelosi's "partisan" speech for the failure of the bailout bill. "The speaker had to give a partisan voice to it, and it caused a number of members we thought we could get to go south," said John Boehner at a press conference. "Right here is why I believe this bill failed," added GOP Rep. Eric Cantor, waving a copy of the text. "This is an instance where you see Pelosi's failure to listen, failure to lead ..." READ MORE >>

Man, how angry would I feel right now if I were an endangered congressman forced to vote for it, practically writing my own attack ads, and then it failed anyway? A tearful caller who describes herself as "just a mother" is on C-SPAN right now, saying that her grandmother told her stories of the Great Depression and that she doesn't want to "eat peas and porridge every day." --Eve Fairbanks   READ MORE >>

The House debate on the bailout bill, just concluding now before the final vote, was the most striking House debate I've ever seen. Because both sides are hemorrhaging votes, it didn't have the usual strictly partisan back-and-forth quality usually found in the House. Republicans lauded Barney Frank for his "noble" work; Steny Hoyer quoted Spiro Agnew to speak in support of the bill. It was -- wonder of wonders -- practically a real debate, rare as a blue moon in the people's chamber. READ MORE >>

Everybody here is saying McCain's bailout gambit was a failure. READ MORE >>

Chris Cillizza reports: READ MORE >>