As voters piled around the squawk box to view the vice-presidential sparring premiere the other night, I grappled with the announcement of all-time high unemployment since 9/11 and the slide’s continuation since inaccessibility to credit clogs commerce’s arteries.

For several days, newspaper headlines have been haunting, and the expert opinions, equally dizzying. Bush’s rap initially sounded like a WOMD remix over the bailout’s baseline. Given his fluttering credibility affliction, W’s lips could’ve been puckered for another American public betrayal.

When talks of collapse crescendoed, I began to consider the personal impact carefully. Joining approximately 500,000 unemployed Americans in the job search march should an employer fail to meet its payroll is a frightening prospect. For a few, capitalism breeds social and economic security; for the middle class, the cycle of robbing Peter to pay Paul has become a budgetary norm.

I may have been more amenable to the rescue’s justification but the Bush-signed proposal still gets a soured grade. Are “sweeteners” necessary to resuscitate recklessly irresponsible Wall Street? $192 million earmarked for Puerto Rican and Virgin Island rum producers? The politicians in D.C. must be snorting “Equal.”Big Brother, give me a damn break.

The threat of economic meltdown should, at least, convince uncommitted voters that destination is paramount to the skin color of the politician who delivers us. Another four-year highway headed for further financial wreckage must be scrapped. Already wrought with various challenges, the middle class shouldn't be forced to continually swallow selective prosperity like a hooker does a John’s load.

The same president who haphazardly wagered substantial gain for colossal loss in eight years cannot magically reverse the Wall Street stall in his exiting administration. He’ll inherit a monstrous mess if elected president but, hands down, Barack Obama is America’s best change agent, offering the only hope of driving our dreams home.

Sarah Palin’s contrived references to “Joe Six-Pack and hockey moms” deserved cautious applause and simultaneously highlighted John McCain’s failure to mention “middle class” in the presidential debate’s first round. And nothing could silence the Alaskan governor’s slip of the “O’Biden” tongue. Far from presidential though prim and proper, Palin delivered a well-aimed shot narrow in political breadth.

And if you thought Wall Street’s latest implosion was threatening to life as you know it, you ain’t seen nothing yet. The ride will get bumpier, honey, if racial bigotry rules and sends us diving deeper into an abyss of the bumbling Bush same.

Suede:

Barack Obama is America’s best change agent, offering the only hope of driving our dreams home.

Sorry, 'bottom up' economics will only fuel unemployment and supercharge the rate of inflation.

And besides, how often to presidential candidates keep all of their campaign promises anyway?

Face it, Mr. Obama is a snake oil salesman who will say anything it takes to get elected. He's just another hyper-partisan wallflower who likes the sound of his own voice. It's just so disheartening to see so many Americans have actually been duped into believing empty promises and socialism are the way to move forward.

Another thing that gets me is how the media and people in general act like Mr. Obama is the first well spoken black man and politician in America. And if elected it will be like the young man that marries that first woman that let him in her pants.

Here's the harsh reality - No candidate is perfect and per expectations, a promise or two may very well be broken....that's politics. However, if you're privileged by pedigree, your sentiment is understandable. Plus, your issues are not mine.

But just as you eloquently dismissed Obama as a snake oil salesman who will say anything to get elected, what disparaging characteristics would you assign to John "McShady" McCain?

The economic rescue robe JM donned last week was shrouded in a desperate ploy to demonstrate executive leadership - it backfired. Palin's star is falling fast. If she can't corral her familial cows, what can she do with the country?

Suede:

The economic rescue robe JM donned last week was shrouded in a desperate ploy to demonstrate executive leadership - it backfired.

I don't see any problem with what John McCain did. I elected him to be my senator, and when the senate needed him to participate he went to Washington as my representative in the senate.

To me he was just doing the job I entrusted him with in the first place.

His job? Pleeze. Hopefully, the rest of America won't fall for his weak brand of political grandstanding. And I thought you were a Ralph Nader supporter!

"To me he was just doing the job I entrusted him with in the first place."

That has to be the greatest line of the day . . . how about the "job" of telling the truth?

Jess - McCain's job may be to tell the truth but I think it's safe to say that manipulation eclipses that requirement.