Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, on the federal shield law:

Sen. John McCain showed last week why conservatives and liberals alike are supporting a federal shield law giving reporters a qualified right to protect their confidential sources. ...

A Senate bill to establish such a shield has broad bipartisan support, including from McCain's opponents in the presidential race, Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y. The House passed a similar measure by a vote of 398-21 in October, and another conservative, Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., a sponsor of that bill, has been an outspoken advocate. ...

Unfortunately, the Bush administration has fought the bill, claiming it is "unwise and unnecessary" and would limit the government's ability to protect national security.

Most senators believe, as we do, that the administration is overreacting. Journalists are not asking for and don't deserve an absolute privilege. The bill would compel reporters to reveal sources in certain cases, such as the imminent threat of a terrorist attack or some other grave national emergency. ...

Protection is vital at a time when journalists are being badgered by prosecutors trolling for information. ...

Without the shelter this bill would provide, stories such as the ones exposing the scandal at Abu Ghraib -- which McCain cited -- or the appalling conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center may not be told in the future.

The Senate should pass a federal shield law with enough votes to overcome the likely presidential veto.

Chicago Sun-Times, on Clinton and Obama's last debate:

This week's televised debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama likely was their last.

And what a disappointment it was.

We've heard of a spin-free zone. How about a substance-free zone?

It sure felt that way, especially for the first half of the debate led by ABC's Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos.

It was a night marked by gotcha questions, of been-there-heard-that retreads that offered little new. ...

By now, everybody has picked apart those overblown "character issues" and made up their mind.

What should matter more are the serious issues of our times -- war and recession and taxes -- where Clinton and Obama only look like the Double Mint Twins.

When two candidates hold such similar views, the devil is in the details.

Wednesday's debate could have helped voters understand the small but sometimes crucial differences in policy between Obama and Clinton.

But all we got was noise.