Fingers crossed

More fallout from world markets today as the financial sector tries to come to grips with the turmoil facing Lehman Brothers, Merril Lynch,, and AIG. Some 26,000 employees are set to loose their jobs as a result of Lehman Brothers declaring bankruptcy. President Bush and Senator John McCain continue to insist that the fundamentals of the economy are strong. Republicans and Democrats continue to blame each other for the crisis...With oil refineries shut down in the Gulf, the average cost of regular gas is $4.16. The price of a barrel of oil opening today is $92.00...Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isaakson are "leading the charge" to promote limited offshore drilling...A new Rasmussen poll has John McCain only down 3% in New Jersey and 5% in New York. McCain has open up a sizeable lead in Florida and now leads in Ohio and Colorado. It is still too close to call in Virginia. It has become apparent that Governor Palin has had a tangible impact of the election. Democrats have yet to figure out how to respond but sources close to the Obama campaign are saying that Obama will try to focus on the issues and not the Governor saying it has become a "distration"...Only 44% surveyed believe Obama is ready to be President. Fifty percent beleive McCain is, and fifty percent believe Biden is ready...General Patraeus is set to leave Iraq after 20 months...Five former Secretaries of State including Henry Kissinger, Colin Powell, Madeline Albright, James Baker III, and Warren Christopher all agree that the US must open lines of communication and diplomacy in dealing with Iran...The Atlantic magazine published some "doctored" photographs of Senator McCain. The "rogue" photographer was admonished by the editor of the magazine for portraying McCain as a "war-monger"...The House of Representatives today is set to vote on a $50 billion stimulus package. President Bush insists that he will veto the bill if it comes to his desk...Lynne Cheney "We the People" and Meaghan McCain "My Dad, John McCain" have published children's books this week.

There are 49 days until the presidential election. And, it's been 2,759 days since there's been a terrorist attack on US soil. Good day and God bless!