Felix Salmon has a piece whose title is more accurate than anything any GOP House member will say. … [Read more...] about Felix Salmon Knows More Than the Tea Party and It Isn’t Good News
What Do They Know and Will They Ever Know What They Don’t Know?
When I see articles like this I am reminded that the overwhelming majority of people in America know absolutely nothing about how financial markets work. In addition there is a mentality that just doesn't want to learn. It's the kind of mindset that insists that all of those climatologists can't be right about global warming because it just can't be true. … [Read more...] about What Do They Know and Will They Ever Know What They Don’t Know?
Could the tea party split from the GOP? (Guest Voice)
Could the tea party split from the GOP? by Dick Polman Could the tea party split from the GOP? (via NewsWorks) If Congress somehow pulls back from the brink of lunacy (as was rumored yesterday), if it forges a deal to reopen the government and keep paying Uncle Sam's bills (as rumored today), lots of tea party conservatives are likely to scream betrayal and … [Read more...] about Could the tea party split from the GOP? (Guest Voice)
OVER THE FALLS IN A BARREL
The “Telenovela” (soap opera) in Washington DC has gone from lousy to terrible over the past few days. Perhaps many of our leaders in politics, business, economics and both political parties really want to see what happens when the debt ceiling is not raised and we continue the government shutdown for perhaps a month or two. The well-being and sanity of more than 80% of … [Read more...] about OVER THE FALLS IN A BARREL
Fitch Downgrades U.S. Debt
Just like last time we went through this travesty we don't have to wait for the post debt ceiling failure cliff before we pay the price. Fitch has just put the U.S. credit rating on a negative watch. Those who claim to be fiscally responsible are on the edge of costing the government a fortune because of increased interest costs. … [Read more...] about Fitch Downgrades U.S. Debt
Budget rift pushes Washington to the brink
Budget rift pushes Washington to the brink (via AFP) Washington's risky game of political brinkmanship neared crisis point Tuesday, with no deal yet nailed down to avoid a catastrophic US debt default, just 36 hours before a crucial deadline. Despite global fears that the US government could run out of… … [Read more...] about Budget rift pushes Washington to the brink
White House rejects House debt plan
White House rejects House debt plan (via AFP) The White House on Tuesday rejected a new plan by Republican House leaders to avoid a disastrous debt default, branding it a "ransom" demand. Amy Brundage, a White House spokeswoman, said the plan was a "partisan attempt to appease a small group of… … [Read more...] about White House rejects House debt plan
Enter the Vandals
Another GOP Vandal The Vandals were a Germanic tribe whose mindless penchant for destruction gives the term "vandalism" its name. Maybe we can replace it with "Teapartiers." House Conservatives Revolt Robert Costa / National Review Later this morning, House Republicans will meet in the Capitol's basement. The chief topic of conversation: the emerging Senate deal. But … [Read more...] about Enter the Vandals
Democrats raise their ante
WASHINGTON -- A crazy thing is happening in shuttered, dysfunctional Washington: Democrats are pushing back. This phenomenon is so novel and disorienting that many Republicans in Congress, especially the tea party bullies, seem unable to grasp what's going on. They keep expecting President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to fold like a cheap suit because, … [Read more...] about Democrats raise their ante
Cruz already working against any Senate bipartisan shutdown debt default deal
It sounds as if Texas Sen. Tex Cruz, now the de facto leader of Tea Partiers in Congress and in the House, is already working to scuttle the Senate bipartisan deal that has not been hammered out or announced yet. This story suggests that unless House Speaker John Boehner allows a Senate proposal to the floor to a vote where Democrats can vote with more moderate Republicans the … [Read more...] about Cruz already working against any Senate bipartisan shutdown debt default deal
USPS to Destroy ‘Let’s Move’ Campaign Stamp Collection Over Kids Depicted Doing ‘Unsafe’ Things
LET'S MOVE CAMPAIGN STAMP COLLECTION: The United States Postal Service, USPS, which $4 billion in the red this year, is set to destroy a series of stamps as part of First Lady Michelle Obama's 'Let's Move' campaign because some of the stamps depict kids doing some 'unsafe' things. Three of the 15 stamps, show kids engaging in behavior the White House allegedly deems … [Read more...] about USPS to Destroy ‘Let’s Move’ Campaign Stamp Collection Over Kids Depicted Doing ‘Unsafe’ Things
Concept of Obamacare “Failures” Overhyped
There seems to be an increasing mention of the "failures" of Obamacare, which largely come down to failures in the computer systems. Ezra Klein's Wonkblog piece is even titled "Five Thoughts on the Obamacare Disaster", which seems overly broad since it does largely address computer system problems. But lots of the talk about the problems try to paint the entire ACA with a broad … [Read more...] about Concept of Obamacare “Failures” Overhyped
Sochi 2014: Russia to Lead World in Spying on Athletes and Fans (Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, Russia)
Move over NSA surveillance. If you are headed to Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics, you might want to read this. For Russia's opposition Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan, who regularly report on the Russian security services, write that there will be no e-mails, no text messages, no telephone calls, in fact, no communications at all, that will be beyond … [Read more...] about Sochi 2014: Russia to Lead World in Spying on Athletes and Fans (Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, Russia)
Obamacare Rollout: Disaster, Not a Glitch
Six months ago, the chief digital architect of the Obamacare rollout was worried. “Let’s just make sure it’s not a third-world experience,” he warned colleagues. It hasn’t been. It’s been worse. Yet given a malign history and a GOP dedicated to aborting the law before it breathes, how could it have turned out otherwise? In 2009, rather than go all out on job creation, … [Read more...] about Obamacare Rollout: Disaster, Not a Glitch
Shedding new light on John F. Kennedy’s legacy and assassination: An interview with Larry Sabato on his “The Kennedy Half Century” book
University of Virginia political scientist Professor Larry Sabato has a new book being released today that will become an instant classic that'll be read, discussed and studied for years. Among other things, "The Kennedy Half Century" uses new scientific methods to probe one of the most famous assassinations in American history. Scientific tests conducted for Sabato's research … [Read more...] about Shedding new light on John F. Kennedy’s legacy and assassination: An interview with Larry Sabato on his “The Kennedy Half Century” book
Washington’s Fiscal Failure Demands ‘De-Americanized World’ (Xinhua, China)
This is the China editorial that even America's myopic mainstream media reported on yesterday, however dismissively. Has the time come for the rest of the world to decouple from the U.S. dollar and the interminable domestic wrangling of American politicians? For China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, columnist Liu Chang lays out the case for a 'new world order' free of a … [Read more...] about Washington’s Fiscal Failure Demands ‘De-Americanized World’ (Xinhua, China)
The L.A. Times Strikes a Blow for Honesty
Recently the L.A. Times stated that it would no longer print letters that made blatantly false claims that Congress and the office of the President were beneficiaries of special exemptions not available to others when it came to the ACA. When explaining this policy they included this statement: Why? Simply put, this objection to the president's healthcare law is based on a … [Read more...] about The L.A. Times Strikes a Blow for Honesty
Senate leaders Reid McConnell nearing debt ceiling deal
Senate leaders nearing US debt ceiling deal (via AFP) Senate leaders are nearing completion on a deal to stave off a debt default and avert a self-inflicted political calamity that would shred US credibility and rock the global economy. Signs of hope emerged on Monday, three days before a deadline to raise… … [Read more...] about Senate leaders Reid McConnell nearing debt ceiling deal
Quote of the Day
Roger Simon of Politico is not one of my favorite pundits but he does win the quote of the day: Question: If Ted Cruz and John Boehner were both on a sinking ship, who would be saved? Answer: America. He has this to say about Ted Cruz: And for what? Because Cruz, Republican senator from Texas, has grown so drunk on the sound of his own voice and so besotted with illusions … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day
New Poll: Disapproval of GOP Peaks In Blame for the Budget Crisis
Yet more bad news for a Republican Party: a new ABC News/Washington Post poll shows a new high disapproval rating for how the Tea Party dominated party has handled the government shut down, now coupled with the real prospect that Tea Partiers could cause the U.S. to default -- a development that all but ideologists who don't live in reality say will mean economic catastrophe to … [Read more...] about New Poll: Disapproval of GOP Peaks In Blame for the Budget Crisis