WASHINGTON - This time, John McCain kept Barack Obama on the defensive. The feisty Republican tried hard to find a lifeline Wednesday night, challenging his Democratic rival at every turn over his truthfulness, associations and record. By that measure, McCain won the last debate of the 2008 campaign. But that may not be enough. ...more

October 16, 2008

Investors agonizing over a faltering economy sent the stock market plunging all over again Wednesday after two disheartening reports convinced Wall Street that a recession, if not already here, is inevitable. The market's despair - fed by a stream of disheartening economic data - propelled the Dow Jones industrials down 733.08 points to 8,577.91 in its second-largest point loss ever. The major indexes all lost at least 7 percent. ...more

October 16, 2008

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama endorsed the federal government's plan to invest $250 billion in the nation's banks, saying it will strengthen the financial system and give taxpayers some extra protection. ...more

October 15, 2008

A. J. D'Amario of Hudson says Barack Obama has a closet full of skeletons. ...more

October 15, 2008

Action Lock And Safe usually sells a few home safes on Friday and Saturday -- total. But with a struggling banking sector, the Gunn Highway business sold seven safes Friday and two Saturday. ...more

October 13, 2008

After a whirl of emergency meetings, government leaders on both sides of the Atlantic produced bold promises to rescue the global financial system, but were still racing to work out details to calm battered stock markets before they opened today. ...more

October 13, 2008

In response to questions surrounding why Congressman Tim Mahoney voted in favor of the House bill providing a record bailout to the financial institutions, Mahoney replied: "This really was more about Main Street than it was about Wall Street, and what a lot of people don't realize is the interconnectivity between the two, and that's something that was lost on some of my colleagues." Is that what it is all about? Here I thought it was about Mahoney coming to the rescue of his special interests buddies, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, from which he has received thousands and thousands of dollars worth of campaign contributions. I guess he forgot to mention that in all of his quotes and interviews, but I can see what he means about this not having to do with Wall Street. I mean who would want to talk about how they are deep in the pocket of special interest groups? ...more

October 9, 2008

News that the Bush administration is considering taking ownership stakes in a number of U.S. banks helped restore a relative calm over global financial markets Thursday. ...more

October 9, 2008

The choices might be coming down to slim and none. That's what Pasco County leaders and residents are saying about alternatives to a $700 billion federal government bailout plan for financial institutions wracked by foreclosures and other bad debts. Congress approved the bailout Friday. ...more

October 5, 2008

David E. Rawson of Palm Harbor says the financial bailout legislation Congress has been considered is an unwise socialist idea. ...more

October 4, 2008