Truthout roundup 9/26

Largest Bank Failure in American History
http://www.truthout.org/092608J
Eric Dash and Andrew Ross Sorkin, The New York Times: "Washington Mutual, the giant lender that came to symbolize the excesses of the mortgage boom, was seized by federal regulators on Thursday night, in what is by far the largest bank failure in American history."

Bush's Bailout Meeting Ends in Disarray; McCain Gets Blame
http://www.truthout.org/092608K
David Lightman and Margaret Talev, McClatchy Newspapers: "Congressional negotiators' carefully-crafted agreement on a $700 billion rescue plan threatened to unravel Thursday as lawmakers at an often tense White House meeting clashed over details."

The Minneapolis Star Tribune More Than Ever, We Need Healthy Debate
http://www.truthout.org/092608L
The Minneapolis Star Tribune: "GOP presidential nominee John McCain may have been trying to underscore the seriousness of the Wall Street crisis Wednesday, when he suspended his campaign and headed to Washington to join in talks on the matter. But in abruptly proposing to postpone the first of three scheduled debates with Democrat Barack Obama, McCain misjudged one consequence of that crisis."

Protesters Take Their Outrage to Wall Street
http://www.truthout.org/092608M
Steven Wishnia, AlterNet: "Enraged by the prospect of $700 billion of their taxes going to reimburse Wall Street speculators for their dubious investments, about 500 protesters paraded through Lower Manhattan's financial district Thursday afternoon, their chants of 'You broke it, you bought it' reverberating through the narrow office building canyons and off the flag-draped wall of the New York Stock Exchange."

Gas Shortage in the South Creates Panic, Long Lines
http://www.truthout.org/092608N
Steven Mufson, The Washington Post: "Gasoline shortages hit towns across the southeastern United States this week, sparking panic buying, long lines and high prices at stations from the small towns of northeast Alabama to Charlotte in the wake of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike."