A bit of polite, halting criticism for the morning after we found out that Ifill didn’t even mention her book to the Debate Commission. Better watch out, Maverick: Criticism in this vein is apt to get you branded a racist.

That’s the second half of the clip. The first half is devoted to pondering why a guy who supported the bailout yet did nothing to push it through the House should be getting a bounce from the economy’s deterioration this week, even though his pals at Fannie, Freddie, and ACORN — and in Congress, of course — are largely responsible for creating the situation. Note to McCain: It’s better to light a candle in the form of a campaign ad than to curse the darkness.