As the global financial crisis has worsened, Europeans could only look on with envy as the United States continued to issue debt and successfully sell it - and at amazingly low interest rates. That's because America has a central bank empowered to be the 'lender of last resort,' which means that if private investors don't buy U.S. Treasury Bonds, the FED will. According to … [Read more...] about Europe Needs a ‘Bazooka’ Like the U.S. Federal Reserve (Die Tageszeitung, Germany)
Quote of the Day: Larry King Wants to Be Frozen
Our Quote of the Day comes from former CNN personality Larry King: "I want to be frozen on the hope that they'll find whatever I died of and bring me back," Larry King told a shocked group of dinner guests gathered at his Beverly Hills home for a party hosted by him and his wife, Shawn. I watched Larry King the two years before he retired and he looked frozen to … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Larry King Wants to Be Frozen
That Dog Does Hunt
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about That Dog Does Hunt
Birther Donald Trump to Moderate Republican Debate
Why don't I just copy the phrase "and so the bar is lowered again on our politics" and repaste it? Because I have to say it again: and so the bar is lowered again on our politics: it now seems as if Republican candidates could show up to for a debate moderated by one of America's most prominent birthers, Donald Trump. It's hard to see how the Republicans want to seriously … [Read more...] about Birther Donald Trump to Moderate Republican Debate
Target Newt: Ron Paul Airs Ad Slamming Gingrich as a Serial Hypocrite
When you're on top, people try to bring you down. Especially when you keep telling people you're on top. Actually, while this may be a general rule, it hasn't really applied to the 2012 Republican presidential race. Romney has been at or near the top more or less throughout the campaign so far, but he has, interestingly enough, avoided the vicious attacks one might have … [Read more...] about Target Newt: Ron Paul Airs Ad Slamming Gingrich as a Serial Hypocrite
Obama & The Democrats Are Finally On Message
Republican congressfolk have stayed unfailingly on message in the run-up to the 2012 election: They vote no on everything that might possibly enhance Barack Obama's standing even if it means allowing the economy to continue to stagnate and keep millions of Americans to remain out of work. Meanwhile, the Democrats have pretty much flailed, the president's famous leadership … [Read more...] about Obama & The Democrats Are Finally On Message
Republican Jewish Coalition Excludes Ron Paul From Forum Due to Views
Here is yet another sign of how our politics have fallen in terms of allowing the free exchange of ideas that don't fit into a perceived, informally required or existing cookie cutter pattern: Next week, the Republican Jewish Coalition is planning a forum to be attended by all of the Republican candidates… with the notable exception of Ron Paul. Mais why? Well, RJC … [Read more...] about Republican Jewish Coalition Excludes Ron Paul From Forum Due to Views
Is Romney a Winner?
Jonathan Bernstein has some interesting insights into the Romney campaign. ...Solid majorities of Romney’s target audience have a “favorable” view of him, whether it’s Republicans (56% favorable), conservative Republicans (63%), or even those who think of themselves as very conservative (57%). What’s striking is that Romney’s unfavorable and even his strong … [Read more...] about Is Romney a Winner?
Anybody But Mitt
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Does Israel have a problem with American Jews?
Oh, Benny, Benny, Benny: Benjamin Netanyahu's government unveils an ad campaign urging expats to come home, and some Jews in the U.S. find the message insulting. DETAILS HERE. It sounds like B. N. is making the same mistake people often do with groups: not all ethnic groups -- not even his own -- are monolithic. And some are offended when its assumed in a highly public way … [Read more...] about Does Israel have a problem with American Jews?
GOP Poll
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The Two Faces of China
BEIJING -- Don't hold your breath waiting for any kind of Occupy Beijing movement to set up camp. Visitors to Tiananmen Square must pass through airport-style security checkpoints, and nobody is likely to try smuggling in a protest sign, much less a tent. The vast, wind-whipped plaza is a quiet place. China's leaders intend to keep it that way. Walk away from the square … [Read more...] about The Two Faces of China
The Coming Iraqi Storm (Al Iraq News, Iraq)
Is Iraq in for a re-eruption of the kind of ethnic and religious strife it experienced during the height of the U.S. occupation? For Iraq's Al Iraq News, Dr. Fadhil Al Badrani warns his countrymen that unless Iraqi leaders 'review their political inclinations and renounce their differences,' those fearing a U.S. pullout - and those celebrating it - will end up as 'wood' for … [Read more...] about The Coming Iraqi Storm (Al Iraq News, Iraq)
Senate Kabuki On Payroll Tax Cut
The US Senate tonight put on another kabuki show as they 'rejected' two plans to extend the payroll tax cut. The Democratic plan, which would have paid for the cut with a surtax on millionaires, got a 51-49 majority but failed to get the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture. A proposal by Senator Heller (R-NV) which would have paid for the cut by cutting spending failed by a … [Read more...] about Senate Kabuki On Payroll Tax Cut
Pakistan and Obama
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Gingrich Amid Rapidly Rising Polls: “I’m Going to Be the Nominee” (UPDATED)
It's been said of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich that there's the good Newt and the bad Newt -- and the bad Newt is also an arrogant Newt who often destroys himself with his mouth. He isn't there yet, but his tone has now changed as he is zooming up in the polls and as former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney can no longer in reality be called "the front-runner." In an … [Read more...] about Gingrich Amid Rapidly Rising Polls: “I’m Going to Be the Nominee” (UPDATED)
A New Bit Of Drollery From Republican Pranksters In Congress
In these per'lous times, it's good to see that at least one major political party still has a sense of humor. I refer, of course, to the Republicans. Their latest beau jeste, in he form of a proposal to keep funded the Payroll Tax reduction for all working Americans, had me rolling with laughter when I read it over. The Democrats want to fund this lower Payroll Tax rate … [Read more...] about A New Bit Of Drollery From Republican Pranksters In Congress
Selling the New Nixon, part i
The Republican strategy for 2012 is simple: stop anything from being done, watch the economy collapse, claim it's the Democrats' fault. Reap the rewards of frustration, anger and fear. But it goes deeper than that. By successfully prohibiting classes of action and endorsing classes of action -- the abstract notion of, say, "taxes" rather than the concrete notion of this … [Read more...] about Selling the New Nixon, part i
What Is It About Closeted Gay Republicans & Methamphetamine?
That question is being asked again with the arrest of Patrick Sullivan, a 68--year-old retired Colorado country sheriff, on charges that he tried to exchange the powerful stimulant for sex with a man. The short answer is that the methamphetamine high, among other things, frees users from inhibitions and gives them the ability to screw for all day or even longer. Or so I've … [Read more...] about What Is It About Closeted Gay Republicans & Methamphetamine?
Quote of the Day: Is the GOP About to Blow a Historic Opportunity?
Our political Quote of the Day comes from conservative blogger Betsy Newmark, who we have linked to often over the years. She has begun to fear that the GOP could be on the verge of blowing a historic political opportunity. She notes that Barack Obama is seriously on the political ropes and notes a few things that could improve for him. Then she writes: Or, and this is his … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Is the GOP About to Blow a Historic Opportunity?