Just when it seemed we’d seen everything we were going to see in President George W. Bush’s eight-year White House run, when the major issues facing the nation seemed to be in focus and the national party conventions set the tone for what many say is the most important presidential campaign in their lifetimes, news breaks out that sets the nation on its ear.

For those of you counting, we are about to pass another dubious milestone and reach the unheard debt amount of $10 trillion. Adding another trillion in record time prompted the Economist to dryly remark, “at least it hasn’t hit a zillion yet.” Maybe it will. Bush says we need to print up a quick $750 billion in order to save the economy, though many feel it will be closer to $3 trillion.

Those who say they won't vote for the bailout because it is socialistic — that's like having a theory that children should learn to swim by just throwing them in the water, so you throw in your kid and watch them drown to uphold your theory.

One last time on the credit crisis, then I promise to stop, but I have to post this.

The excellent three-day series on gangs in Napa that reporters Carlos Villatoro, Marsha Dorgan, Jillian Jones and others produced last week was so well received that the biggest concern of the online staff never materialized.

Proposition 3 on the California ballot seeks $1 billion to upgrade children’s hospitals in the state.

Dear editor, Thank you Napa Register, Silverado Country Club, Silverado Members and all the volunteers.

Dear editor, To the woman driving the gold SUV who almost rear-ended me on Linda Vista Avenue on Sept. 24, 2008:

Dear editor, I work at the Napa Valley Unified School District and live across the street from Napa High School. I have almost been run over several times walking home for lunch while in the crosswalk. I have contacted the police on several occasions and also have spoken to people at a business across the street from where I work. They also reported many close calls. I asked for more patrols to watch the area in fear another child or pedestrian would be hit. They said they would and it lasted for about three days. I spoke to the traffic department and voiced my concerns.

Dear editor, The Napa County Bicycle Coalition and our generous sponsors and partners would like to thank everyone who pledged to go car-free on Sept. 22, honoring International Car Free Day. The response to this local grassroots campaign was extremely positive with 135 people throughout the county taking part in the pledge to be car-free. Respondents overwhelmingly chose the bicycle as their number one alternative transportation mode, walking came in second, carpooling came in third with public transportation as the least-favored choice.

The economy is on fire and Congress, the Media, and the voters are all fiddling while it burns. We need this bail out, and we need it fast, and it is bailing out not just the big money interests, it is bailing out you and me, it is bailing out everyone. Not enough people seem to get that urgency, and we need to, fast.

Barack Obama chose Delaware Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate ... what do you think of the choice?

(Editor's note: The comments on this crashed about 9:30 a.m Friday, right after McCain's announcement. We were able to rebuild most but not all of the comments)