Today’s New York Times featured two columns about Tim Geithner. The one by Paul Krugman panned him for his role in the A.I.G. bailout. The one by David Brooks praised him for his efforts saving the financial system. Both columns keyed off his testimony yesterday before a House panel. I saw clips of that encounter and got some pretty clear insights about the way our Treasury Secretary thinks. They convinced...

Abortion has been a part of human existence since human beings first took their place on earth. There have always been women who needed to end pregnancies, for uncountable reasons — and there always will be. Moreover, abortions have not always and in all places been illegal. As Jeffrey Toobin points out in a very trenchant comment published in The New Yorker (and this is something I’ve known for...

During Word War II we interned many Japanese and German Americans into camps to prevent the effectiveness of however many spies and espionage agents that those two countries may have had in our country at the time. These days, however, we are not doing anything like that. Not that we should be interning Arab Americans in camps while we are involved in this war against radical Islam, but the Ft. Hood incident...

This story is just plain sad on so many levels.

In 1992 Bill Clinton’s campaign was built around the phrase “It’s the economy, stupid.” That’s what voters cared about. Bush One’s failure in that realm was what got Clinton elected. In 1993 the newly elected President Clinton came into office and focused on health care reform. His efforts there flopped, and the rest of his presidency pretty much flopped as well. Which...

The more we learn about Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the thinner the line stretches between ideology and mental illness, and the more troubling is the question of why, surrounded by psychiatrists, his potential for violence was not sufficiently recognized to remove him from his position as a healer of trauma victims. Yesterday brings a report that “military superiors repeatedly ignored or rebuffed his efforts...

I’m bummed out on politics for the moment and as Keith Olbermann does more often than not escape into the world of sports entertainment as Plan B. Just to piss off Glenn Beck and annoy Rush Limbaugh who hasn’t thought of it, I am applying for the position of College Football Czar as an adviser to President Obama. With the powers invested in me by executive order, the first and only decision I will...

In a world where shoppers for anything costing more than $10 expect to see a for sale sign, a world where workouts and restructurings that dramatically change the amount debtors ultimately pay creditors in the marketplace, a world where even the most predatory credit card issuing banks are usually willing to negotiate down outstanding debt of individuals to save on litigation costs, Uncle Sam, represented by...

Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello singing “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding?” (Lowe wrote the song, which I never knew before):

Don’t take most of what you read about the economy these days too seriously. If you’re not a Wall Street trader or a still employed economist, it will only make you unhappy and/or furious. Rather, just peruse web sites on the Internet for headlines that are good for a chuckle. Here’s a few I picked off various sites just today. “S&P 500 Claims the 1,100 Mark — Recovering ‘07...

The murderous Mexican drug cartels are known for their viciousness conducting their illicit trade. U.S. drug manufactures are less sanguine but equally adept at protecting their profits. In anticipation of new health reform legislation that would curb their oligarchy, drug makers have raised their prices about 9% this past year while the Consumer Price Index has fallen by 1.3% during the same period. The widely...

TBS was good enough to broadcast the classic film this weekend and I found myself once again swept away in the magic. Even though I knew the lyrics to every song and most of the dialogue it is still a joy to watch. I thought I’d share a little of the magic.

The right-wing tsk tsk tskers are at it again. This time it is a deep bow of respect President Barack Obama offered when greeting Japanese emperor Akihito this weekend in Tokyo. That bastion of conservatism, The Drudge Report, signaled its disgust by shouting in 42-pt. boldface headlines “How Low Can He Get?” And, get this. Drudge uses as an example of diplomatic decorum none other than former Vice...

Obama Obama Obama. A name that evokes passion (and divides) so many. Not even a year has passed since he stepped into the Circular Office and everywhere you read, everyone and their dog has a bone to pick with the President. “Why is Gitmo still open? Why are we still in Iraq? Why are we still in Afghanistan? Where are the jobs? Where’s our rights?” There is also an interesting narrative that is starting...

Americans such as myself step into troubled waters when we try to understand why an Army shrink would kill 13 and wound 33 on the pretext he didn’t want to be assigned to Afghanistan. Therefore, I find it not at all unusual that today’s authors of Op-Ed columns in today’s Los Angeles Times argue amongst themselves. The issue is not whether Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan committed a terrorist act. He...

If you haven’t read the article in today’s New York Times titled “High Costs Weigh on Troop Debate for Afghan War,” please do so. If all the other reasons for not dramatically expanding our military effort in that land of beaten down invaders has not yet convinced you that a major buildup there would be insane, this one should do the trick. The article points out that even a modest...

I have consistently supported publicly honoring our fallen heroes—with the consent of family members—when they touch American soil for the last time at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. Much apprehension and controversy have surrounded this issue. Finally, this spring, the Obama administration implemented a similar policy as we have at Arlington National Cemetery which allows the family to decide...

As President Barack Obama deliberates — no, Dick, he’s not “dithering” — a revised strategy and troop levels in Afghanistan, some people in the White House and Pentagon have loose lips and leaked some startling news this past week. If true, consider these developments: The president has rejected four options on strategy and troop levels from his military intelligence team and instructed...

The Democrats would seem to have two problems with Senator Joe Lieberman. The immediate one is his threat to put the kibosh on the party’s signature issue, health care, as a matter of conscience. The longer term threat is that Joe will bolt the party and the Dems will lose their 60 vote, veto-proof majority in the Senate. The fact is, however, that the first problem is actually the solution to the second...

It was ten years ago today that President Bill Clinton, egged on by one of those former Goldman Sachs honchos who gives himself to public service as Secretary of the Treasury, Robert Rubin, signed the bill that repealed the Glass-Steagull Act — the measure that separated investment and commercial banking. In the 1930s most everyone realized such a separation was needed to prevent destructive market practices...

I have been away for a little while but I have collected my thoughts about a few items that may make you want to hmmm… 1) Memphis is a great city. Beale Street has the best blues clubs in the country. Graceland was interesting but I have a question: Why is U.S. 51 named for Danny Thomas in town but Elvis Presley outside of Memphis? Is the King not good enough to have the entire road named for him? 2)...

In all the stories about former GOP candidate Dede Scozzafava and why she pulled out the race, there has developed a certain meme as to why she did not win in a three way race: she was a bad candidate. In more than a few blog posts not only from her detractors, but from those who say they want a more expanded GOP, this meme has stuck and it even has an image, one of Scozzafava going to campaign in front of conservative...

Lou Dobbs surprised everyone when he announced that he is leaving CNN effective immediately. Dobbs has been the longest running anchor at the network but his recent shift from a pure financial reporter into an advocate against illegal immigration upset many at the center-left network. Speculation has been he could end up at Fox but for the time being he has not announced any plans.

I’m facing a moral crises over some fundamental issues regarding health reform legislation. First, I believe a woman has the right to choose an abortion, not the government nor any religious organization. At the same time, I would not encourage my wife to abort our child unless it would save her life. Second, as a policy issue, I have no moral grounds to oppose the Hyde Amendment which essentially prohibits...

Stepping away from the politics for a moment, here at Chez’ Jazz we had a Mexican dinner tonight, including some sour cream and guacamole as condiments. The small sour cream container was emptied during the course of the meal and my wife decided to allow our tiny schnauzer, Max, a chance at licking it clean before it was thrown away. I suppose what came next was inevitable. He had to be rescued.