When last quarter's GDP showed a small decrease, I ripped it to shreds, pointing out that by nearly every measure, things were worse than anticipated. Sure the headline number was alright, but only because of a massive 11% increase in government spending, and a massive reduction in imports (imports subtract from GDP) which I viewed as bad since it signaled economic activity was … [Read more...] about The GDP Number Is A Good Start, But…
Apparent Hate Crime at Los Angeles Synagogue
LA Times: Synagogue shooting in North Hollywood leaves 2 wounded By Times staff writers | 7:56 a.m. Two men, shot in the lower torso as they were about to enter the temple, are taken to a nearby hospital. Police are treating the shooting as a hate crime. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/10/shooting-at-la-synagogue-investigated-as-hate-crime-man-arrested.html … [Read more...] about Apparent Hate Crime at Los Angeles Synagogue
Breaking: House Health Reform Bill Unveiled
From a Politico email alert: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled a health reform bill Thursday that would cost $894 billion over 10 years and includes a public option. It meets President Obama’s goal of not adding to the federal deficit, cutting the deficit by about $30 billion in the first 10 years. And now it gets interesting. Full story here. … [Read more...] about Breaking: House Health Reform Bill Unveiled
Tom Friedman’s amnesia
Tom Friedman says don't send more troops to Afghanistan, because there are no positive trends to build on, like the Anbar Awakening before the surge in Iraq. Yet back in 2007, Friedman condemned the surge precisely because there was no progress to build on: January 3, 2007 Now President Bush wants a “surge” of more U.S. troops to Baghdad, in one last attempt to bring … [Read more...] about Tom Friedman’s amnesia
Obama Goes to Dover
Speaking as one who has been critical of most of President Obama's domestic initiatives this year, I find myself in the curious position of having to praise him three times in one week. First, he moved to finally provide long overdue improvements to the nation's power grid. Then he worked with Congressional leadership to shut down foreign tax dodge schemes. (Sadly, with Charlie … [Read more...] about Obama Goes to Dover
Evidence that we don’t need more troops
David Adams commanded a US advisory team in the Afghan province of Khost. Ann Marlowe reported from Afghanistan. They write, From the beginning of 2007 to March 2008, the 82nd Airborne Division's strategy in Khost proved that 250 paratroopers could secure a province of a million people in the Pashtun belt. The key to success in Khost—which shares a 184 kilometer-long … [Read more...] about Evidence that we don’t need more troops
Superb article on Afghanistan
There's plenty of material out there, but Steve Biddle's article in TNR [subscription only] stands head and shouders above the rest. Even if you're against more troops, you should test your logic against Biddle. For example, NYT columnist Nick Kristof wrote:The United States was born of our ancestors’ nationalistic resentment of a foreign power whose troops we saw as … [Read more...] about Superb article on Afghanistan
New Tax Cheat Bill from… Charlie Rangel?
When I read this item at Politico over coffee this morning, I had to double check and see if I hadn't inadvertently followed a link to The Onion. A new bill is being introduced which would make it far more difficult for people to hide their assets in foreign banks to avoid paying taxes on the money. Good idea! But it's being introduced, in part, by Charlie Rangel. (I'll give … [Read more...] about New Tax Cheat Bill from… Charlie Rangel?
Update About “Most Mortgages Are Probably Invalid”
My last post referred to a story that suggested that many -- perhaps even the majority -- of mortgages were invalid due to failing to properly transfer ownership during securitization. However, Calculated Risk has a guest post up that calls the story "sensationalist swill" and gives much more context than originally provided. As I noted previously, I am very naive about … [Read more...] about Update About “Most Mortgages Are Probably Invalid”
An Obama Administration Fox News “Truce”?
It sure sounds that way. More HERE. … [Read more...] about An Obama Administration Fox News “Truce”?
Hug Obama, Find the Moderates (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- Memo to Democrats: You will be defined by President Obama whether you like it or not, so you might as well embrace him for the benefits he can bring you. Memo to Republicans: Talk a right-wing game in your ideological magazines and at your tea parties if that makes you happy. But to win elections, your candidates had better look like middle-of-the-road … [Read more...] about Hug Obama, Find the Moderates (Guest Voice)
Poking the Cobra (Guest Voice)
Poking the Cobra Raging Moderate, by Will Durst Now is the time for all good men to put their hands together, pull them apart and rapidly put them back together again, and repeat, to give props to the president for not curling up into a fetal position with a “Kick Me” sign taped to his butt. You know. Like a Democrat. He’s taking it straight to his perceived enemy, … [Read more...] about Poking the Cobra (Guest Voice)
Lost Airplane
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Lost Airplane
Crash Plus Eighty
Just in the historian geek category. Today and tomorrow, the 28th and 29th, mark the 80th anniversary of the Great Crash. While things are certainly tight for a lot of us, perhaps a time for reflection on how much worse it was back then. … [Read more...] about Crash Plus Eighty
Secretary Costs Pepsi $ 1.26 Billion ?
In the amusing if likely to be overturned category.... It seems that the company is being sued by Charles Joyce and James Voigt who claimed that the company had used information they supplied as a basis for the Aquafina bottle water product. The lawsuit was filed in April but according to Pepsi they did not get notice until September. A secretary says she set aside the … [Read more...] about Secretary Costs Pepsi $ 1.26 Billion ?
Should Democrats Embrace GOP Marginalization Strategy?
I like Steve Benen and used to read his blog, The Carpetbagger Report, regularly. I still occasionally read his posts at his current home, The Washington Monthly’s Political Animal -- but I have to seriously question this post from earlier today, bemoaning Democrats' perceived inability (unwillingness?) to enforce "party loyalty." An excerpt: Political parties that expect … [Read more...] about Should Democrats Embrace GOP Marginalization Strategy?
Take La La Land … Please
If there was ever any doubt why California is known as la la land, I offer these stories ripped off the wires. 1) -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was heckled recently when he crashed a Democratic Party fund raiser, vetoed a bill authored by one of his hecklers and despite the fact the Legislature approved the measure unanimously. Here's the veto message. Now follow the … [Read more...] about Take La La Land … Please
Politics with a Smirk
This quip is one for the archives, best appreciated if you read the entire (brief) story at NYT. “Kudo to the governor for his creative use of coincidence with his veto message,” the spokesman, Quintin Mecke said in an e-mail message. He added, “We will call it even and start with a clean slate with the governor from here on out.” … [Read more...] about Politics with a Smirk
Dithering Before Sending Americans to Die
"I won’t risk your lives unless it is absolutely necessary," the President said this week at the Jacksonville Naval Air Station. "And if it's necessary, we will back you up to the hilt." He was talking to men and women in uniform but answering an American who never wore one, Dick Cheney, who has accused him of "dithering" about sending more troops to Afghanistan during a … [Read more...] about Dithering Before Sending Americans to Die
Guest Author: Local Columnist Gives His Opinion on Scozzafava
The following is a column by Bob Gorman, a writer for the Watertown Daily Times in New York. He is writing about Dede Scozzafava, the Republican challenger for the 23rd Congressional District in the Empire State left open after John McHugh became Secretary of the Army. While major bloggers have called Scozzafava a "radical leftist," Gorman presents a view that isn't so … [Read more...] about Guest Author: Local Columnist Gives His Opinion on Scozzafava