MICHAEL SWAN:THE RACE TO THE FINISH LINE >>>

Ah, the political season. Swaying chandeliers casting crystalline glares across the movers and shakers of sound-bite squabbles. Crested, folded napkins wedged into snifters, wilting in the drunken haze of chortled exchanges more revealing than they ought to be. Knowing gazes and frowning throat-clearings punctuating perfectly orchestrated gala affairs full of couples waltzing the networking-mingle waltz of getting ahead and, quite possibly, getting some head while they're at it. "Oh, senator, you're so naughty," etc.

This is not Tacoma.

Tacoma does this:

North End Neighborhood Council's Annual Candidates’ Forum
Monday, Oct., 13, 6 p.m.
University of Puget Sound’s Trimble Hall, in the Forum Room, North 14th and North Lawrence across from UPS Student Center rotunda

Candidates invited include those in the races for:
State Attorney General
State Treasurer
27th District Representative, Pos. 1 & 2
27th District Senate
Pierce County Executive
Pierce County Council Pos. 4
Pierce County Assessor/Treasurer
Pierce County Sheriff

Other candidates may be announced at the Forum.

For the full scoop, call the NENC office at 253.345.2575

MICHAEL SWAN: AND THE WINNER IS >>>

I think last night’s V.P. debate winner was moderator Gwen Ifill. She kept the debate on schedule without once yelling at the candidates, and so skillfully handled topic changes that viewers hardly noticed that Sarah Palin kept answering questions not yet posed â€" except Weekly Volcano Associate Editor Matt Driscoll who kept texting me with fears including, “This is like a bad Bronco game â€" only the fate of the world is at stake. My palms are damp and I feel nauseated. I just want it to end, but I can’t look away.”

Here is what other thought of last night’s debate:

CROSSCUT: Amid a swirl of national affairs, two rock-steady debaters

NEW YORK TIMES: In Debate, G.O.P. Ticket Survives a Test

CNN: Palin gets back on track, but Biden wins debate

ALTERNET: Biden vs. Palin -- Who won? 6 short takes on the VP debate

THE MELON: VP debate live â€" blog

MICHAEL SWAN: DOH! >>>

Homer to vote for Obama. Check it here.

SUZY STUMP: TACOMA FILM FESTIVAL UPDATE >>>

The Tacoma Film Festival brain trust knows you care about the future of our nation. This press release just arrived at the Weekly Volcano World Headquarters:

Tonight is Tacoma Film Festival's Opening Night with a reception at the First United Methodist Church originally scheduled to begin at 6:30. Due to the high interest in the VP debate, we'll open the doors at the church at 6:00 and have the debate playing live through its entirety. Unusual yes, but that is what people want to see! It will be a great chance for people to watch it together, have food from the Hub, desserts from Corina Bakery and wine by the glass. Tickets are $14 for members and $17 for non-members of the Grand. The opening night movies will follow the reception and begin around 8:15 or 8:30 p.m at the Grand Cinema.

Bless you Tacoma Film Festival.

LINK: Tacoma Film Festival preview

CNN reports that Sen. John McCain told Fox News that Sen. Barack Obama's poll numbers are rising as the economy seems to tank "because life isn't fair."

MICHAEL SWAN: NAMASTE! >>>

Even India is talking about whether John McCain should replace Sarah Palin with a new vice presidential pick.

But, then again, we might have to put on the Mitt.

RON SWARNER: THE END IS NEAR >>>

George Packer wrote a scary piece on yesterday's bailout vote and the McCain camp in The New Yorker. He titled it The End Is Near.

MICHAEL SWAN: OH HAPPY DAY >>>

The computer-science freaks and geeks at FiveThirtyEight have Obama leading in the polls. Check it here.

TACOMAMAMA:  ENJOYS WATCHING POLITICIANS FALL DOWN >>>

At America in Solidarity's 4th Annual Labor Day Picnic, campaign staffers soundly trounced local politicians in a tug of war, despite joking warnings that "a wise campaign staffer would let us win."

In other tug-of-war related news:  the Longshoremen demolished the Postal Workers twice in a row.  Too bad there was no campaign staffer vs. longshoremen contest, that I would like to see.  (And I'd pity the longshoremen, those staffers are scrappy.)

LINK: America in Solidarity
LINK: Tacomamama.com, a locally-grown city guide