Truthout roundup 9/18

Election Day Could Be a Mess
http://www.truthout.org/article/election-day-could-be-a-mess
Mary Pat Flaherty, The Washington Post: "Faced with a surge in voter registrations leading up to Nov. 4, election officials across the country are bracing for long lines, equipment failures and confusion over polling procedures that could cost thousands the chance to cast a ballot. The crush of voters will strain a system already in the midst of transformation, with jurisdictions introducing new machines and rules to avoid the catastrophe of the deadlocked 2000 election and the lingering controversy over the 2004 outcome. Even within the past few months, cities and counties have revamped their processes: Nine million voters, including many in the battleground states of Ohio, Florida and Colorado, will use equipment that has changed since March. But the widespread changes meant to reassure the public have also increased the potential for trouble."

Obama Ties McCain to Old Boys' Network
http://www.truthout.org/article/obama-ties-mccain-old-boys-network
Athena Jones, NBC News: "Obama used his third campaign trip to this city in northern Nevada to link McCain to the very 'old boys' network' the GOP presidential nominee says he has promised to fight. Obama, who has consistently argued that McCain does not understand the magnitude of the economic troubles facing the country and hardworking families, told a crowd of more than 1,500 people gathered in a park here today that, unlike McCain, it didn't take a crisis on Wall Street for him to realize people were suffering on Main Street."

David Sirota Maximizing the Financial Regulation Debate
http://www.truthout.org/article/maximizing-financial-regulation-debate
David Sirota, The Campaign for America's Future: "Whether we get the kind of populist reforms will be decided by how much grassroots pressure is put on either of these potential presidents when they reach the Oval Office. The talk right now from both candidates may be good - and Obama is smart to point out McCain's absurdly dishonest rhetoric. But talk is cheap when it comes time to write legislation."

Seven US Soldiers Die in Helicopter Crash
http://www.truthout.org/article/seven-us-soldiers-die-helicopter-crash
The Associated Press: "Seven American soldiers were killed in southern Iraq early Thursday when their helicopter crashed as it was flying into the country from Kuwait, the U.S. military said. The military said the CH-47 Chinook helicopter did not come under attack, and that the crash was an accident."

Barney Frank: Lack of Government Regulation Led to Troubles Plaguing Wall Street
http://www.truthout.org/article/barney-frank-lack-government-regulation-led-troubles-plaguing-wall-street
Beth Healy, The Boston Globe: "Amid a wave of unprecedented Wall Street failures and government bailouts, Representative Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, holds a powerful post in the oversight of the nation's financial system. He is holding a number of hearings on these issues, including one today on the auction-rate securities scandal that has forced Wall Street to buy back nearly $60 billion in investments from customers."

VIDEO Maddow and Sirota on McCain's Flip-Flop on Regulation
http://www.truthout.org/video/mccains-flip-flop-regulation
Rachel Maddow and David Sirota discuss John McCain's flip-flopping stance on regulation of the financial industry and McCain's history as an anti-regulator.


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