AUX ARMES MALLS, CITOYENS! Reader Frank Vance emails:

Listening to Economist James Smith on the Hugh Hewitt show on the way home tonight, and he essentially stated that the depth and length of the downturn in the US economy largely depends on how much consumers spend during the upcoming Christmas season.

Looks like it is time to once again deploy the Retail Support Brigades!

People like Anand Gupta saved us after 9/11. I hate to call upon them again, but America is in need. Will they answer this time?

UPDATE: Michael Ubaldi sends this sitrep from the front:

Out on the town last night, driving through moderate-to-heavy suburban/urban traffic — seeing bustle at mall complexes and packed restaurant parking lots — I thought the scene contradicted some observations on the spirit of consumers. Certainly, retail is down; but not out.

The economy, surrender? Nuts!

We shall fight them in the strip malls, we shall fight them in the restaurants, we shall fight them online — we shall never surrender!

Well, okay, they can have Chuck E. Cheese if they want.