What Caught My Eye Today

Economy - Here's a recap of today's episode of "Without a Trace: What Happened to the Economic Bailout?" In a vote that shook the government, Wall Street and markets around the world, the House defeated a $700 billion emergency rescue for the nation's financial system, leaving both parties' lawmakers and the Bush administration scrambling to pick up the pieces. Dismayed investors sent the Dow Jones industrials plunging 777 points, the most ever for a single day. Does anyone besides me appreciate the irony here? How long have trip-7s been considered lucky? I'm betting that little tradition goes by the wayside. In a remarkable display a majority of House members slapped aside the best version their leaders and the administration had been able to come up with, bucking presidential speeches, pleading visits from Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and urgent warnings that the economy could nosedive without the legislation. The bill went down, 228-205. In the face of thousands of phone calls and e-mails fiercely opposing the measure, many lawmakers were not willing to take the political risk of voting for it just five weeks before the elections. So just out of curiosity, did these guys vote "no" because the legislation was truly bad, or were they just looking to bolster their chances for re-election in November. I really hope--and I sincerely mean that--it was the former. These folks are elected to do what's in the best interest of the country, not their next election campaign.

2008 Presidential Race - The first debate between John McCain and Barack Obama, seen by an estimated 52.4 million viewers on Friday, was one of the first events of the presidential campaign that was not a huge TV hit. The audience was 10 million less than the first debate between President Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry in 2004, according to Nielsen Media Research. It wasn't even one of the 10 most-watched presidential debates, falling well short of the record 80.6 million people who saw the only debate between President Carter and Ronald Reagan in 1980. Well golly, I'm sure that has nothing to do with the fact that this campaign has been carrying on for the better part of two years already. And then there was that minor little detail that it wasn't clear until midday Friday that the debate was even taking place; McCain earlier in the week had called for it to be postponed because of the nation's financial crisis but changed his mind on Friday and agreed to participate. Of course, I'm gearing up for the main event this Thursday between vice presidential candidates Joe Biden and Sarah Palin. I've been jonesing for some good comedy for ages. I just hope girlfriend doesn't disappoint.

Honduras - Well, lookey here, another success story for U.S. foreign policy. Honduran President Manual Zelaya said that he was forced to orient his country toward Venezuela after the U.S. ignored his pleas for help. Zelaya said rising food prices have been hurting impoverished Hondurans for months. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez offered Honduras $300 million in year in agricultural investment and other aid. Gee, that's nice. How is it that a lunatic like Chavez can be chalking up support from the likes of Bolivia, Cuba, Russia and Honduras, while the United States seems to be losing friends left and right? I guess it all depends on who you characterize as the lunatic. I was under the impression that Chavez was.

Canada - Dude, these guys are so cool. Canadian liberals have launched an unusual "vote swap" on the social networking web site Facebook, in a bid to oust the Conservative Party from power in upcoming parliamentary elections. Sweet. A supporter of the leftist New Democratic Party whose candidate has little chance of winning his district, could pledge to vote for the centrist Liberal candidate in exchange for a Liberal supporter agreeing to vote NDP in a district where the NDP has the best chance. The point is to maximize the chances for beating the Conservative candidate in the district and oust Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The Canadian election board has determined that the tactic is not illegal, as long as nobody offers money or goods in exchange for votes. So riddle me this, why can't we Americans come up with this sort of ingenious--and more important, legal--thinking when it comes to Presidential elections?

Music - I had to find something to lighten up the mood on an otherwise thoroughly depressing day. I do believe I found something that fits the bell...I mean bill. Feel like something's missing from your favorite jams. Maybe they need...more cowbell. Go ahead, make it happen (click here). "More cowbell" is an American pop culture catch phrase originally derived from an April 8, 2000 Saturday Night Live comedy sketch about the recording of the song "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult. The sketch featured guest host Christopher Walken as music producer Bruce Dickinson and Will Ferrell as fictional cowbell player Gene Frenkle.