Blog Buzz: Wall Street Bailout Bill Faces a Senate Vote, Vice Presidential Debate Predictions, More of the Sarah Palin-Katie Couric Interview

Our daily look at stories and topics that are lighting up the Internets:

Senate Bailout Bill Plump With Pork

Bloggers report that the 451-page Senate version of the bailout bill seems likely to pass tonight, and the hope is that new "sweeteners" in the form of tax credits and an increase in the FDIC insurance limit will sway some members of Congress to switch their vote. Some conservative bloggers say that there may be time to chew it over and craft a better bill. In particular, bloggers aren't fans of the pork stuck in the bill, including earmarks for wool research and Puerto Rican rum. TalkLeft opposes the bill because "it includes irresponsible sops to the Republicans, corporate tax breaks."

VP Debate: Will the Buzzword Queen Prevail?

While Sarah Palin has been wobbly in recent interviews, both conservative and liberal bloggers think she could surpass expectations at the vice presidential debate on Thursday. Liberal bloggers say that while she struggles at talking about policy details, she excels at filibustering and tossing out "the right stream of buzzwords." Conservative bloggers think her recent interview with Hugh Hewitt and her past debate success bode well for her performance on Thursday. The fact that the moderator will be Gwen Ifill, who has a book coming out about Barack Obama and the politics of race, has one conservative blogger demanding she be removed. A National Review Online blogger thinks Palin could use the situation to her advantage. A Politico blogger wonders why the issue is only coming up now so close to the debate.

Palin-Couric Interview Gets Worse

As more segments of her interview with Katie Couric air, liberal bloggers find more reasons to dislike Sarah Palin. From her comment that being gay is a choice to her inability to name one publication she reads (she reads "all of them," actually) to her lack of Supreme Court knowledge, the list of cringeworthy moments in the "ongoing horror movie" (the interview) goes on. Bloggers mock her "mighty intellect" and sarcastically vow never to underestimate her again.

—Gretchen Hannes