The Morning Read: Friday, October 3, 2008

The House votes on the bailout bill today, leaders appear optimistic it wil pass.

Asked to name the worst thing Dick Cheney ever did, Sarah Palin cites his duck-hunting accident.

At the V.P. debate last night, one really messed up.

Two polls give the advantage to Joe Biden.

Palin did not screw up.

"How long have I been at this, like five weeks?" Palin asked.

"Sarah Palin looked as though she had prepared for her appearance at the vice presidential debate last night by studying Tina Fey's impressions of her," writes Tom Shales.

Writes Dana Milbank, "She had talking points adequate to fill the 90 seconds on the various topics Ifill tossed her way...On the other hand, it wasn't exactly a confidence-builder."

Mike Allen and John Harris thnk "it is hard to count any objective measures by which Biden did not clearly win the encounter."

Spin Cycle says the real loser is Gwen Ifill.

Palin's Troopergate investigation will go on.

Christine Quinn said the mayor’s bill to change the term-limits law will ask for a permanent change, not a one-time exception.

Ron Lauder said he would support a one-time change, not a permanent change. Neither Lauder nor his spokespeople are returning calls.

Quinn, who works “hand in glove” with Bloomberg, said she’ll take an official stance on Bloomberg's proposal next week.

Even with a third term, it‘s unclear if Bloomberg's “legacy would emerge unscathed.”

“Pure naked power grab,” writes Doug Muzzio.

There’s still time to put term limits on the ballot before the 2009 elections.

It could have been on the ballot this November “had Bloomberg appointed a Charter Revision Commission like he promised,” writes David Seifman.

Jimmy Oddo thinks it’s pointless to say how he feels about all this.

The mayor’s ego played a major role in his decision, writes Michael Barbaro.

Bloomberg “looked in the mirror and saw the fairest of them all,” writes Clyde Haberman.

Bloomberg said he arrived at his decision “after listening to everyone.”

Reuters notes that “elites” are behind the mayor.

Seventy-two pregnant women are suing Bloomberg L.P. for discrimination.

Next year may also be a really bad year for real estate prices.

In Brooklyn, it’s Marty Markowitz versus Bill de Blasio for Brookyn borough president.

In Queens, Michael Reich says Liz Crowley can ride Joe Addabbo’s coattails into office.

There’s a new deadline for construction at Ground Zero.

And it’s two years longer than the last one projected.