In '08, It's Really the Economy, Stupid

Instead of predicting financial crisis, they hid it

(NEWSER) - The men who should have been warning us about the impending financial crisis were a wee bit off the mark at times. MSNBC rounds up some of the dumbest things said:

• "Subprime market problems seem likely to be contained."—Ben Bernanke, March 28, 2007
• "The fundamentals of our economy are strong."—John McCain, Sept. 15

Party faithful split on politics but united in distrust

(NEWSER) - Vastly different crowds appear at the rallies of the candidates who started their campaigns calling for bipartisan unity, a roving New York Times reporter finds. Republican rallygoers shout to a country-pop soundtrack; the Democratic faithful dance to folk and Motown. Flag pins, pompoms, and patriotic songs define GOP gatherings, while Dems favor buttons and the word "change." More»

Despite polls, "pessimistic" party can't shake that sinking feeling

(NEWSER) - Despite all evidence to the contrary, lots of Democrats "have convinced themselves that John McCain is going to be the next president,” writes Tucker Carlson in the Daily Beast. Having “snatched defeat from the jaws of victory” so many times, Democrats remain superstitious. Or just shell-shocked. “They shouldn't be,” says Carlson, but the sting of the last two elections still seems to smart. More»

And Obama can't make the media look dumb on this one, or it'll get really bad

(NEWSER) - The only way to contain the new power that is Sarah Palin (the power conferred by Democratic attacks) is to start ignoring her and return to the basics, Peggy Noonan advises in the Wall Street Journal. To overcome the "catastrophe" of the last two weeks, Barack Obama needs to focus on giving electrifying speeches, on the actual issues, with Joe Biden alongside. More»

Bipartisan wave could loosen gridlock in Washington

(NEWSER) - With Barack Obama and John McCain continuing to roll out bipartisan rhetoric, this election may soon see the return of the political center, the Wall Street Journal reports. More voters are also registering as independents, and Internet donations from ordinary citizens make pols less beholden to special interests on the right or left. More»