That sucking sound you may have just heard was the government's billion dollar "cash for clunkers" slush fund drained in a week as consumers stampede new car malls for once-in-a-lifetime deals. The highly publicized stimulus program has caught the public's imagination in a fad not seen since the land and gold rush days of the last 150 years. The House acted quickly today in … [Read more...] about A Government Bonanza Run Like A Clunker
Health Care a Different Experience for the Privileged
Myrna Ulfik's item in the Wall Street Journal says: I didn’t run to Canada for [cancer] treatment. Medicare took care of my needs right here in New York City. To endure, I just need the freedom to choose my insurance, my doctors, and get the diagnostic scans and care I need. And one more thing: I need hope that a treatment will be developed that can control my diseases the way … [Read more...] about Health Care a Different Experience for the Privileged
GOP Becoming Birther Party? 58 Percent Unsure/Doubt Obama Really Born In U.S.
If a new Kos/Research2000 poll is correct, the Republican party -- the once-proud party of thoughtful, policy-oriented conservatives such as Barry Goldwater, William F. Buckley and Ronald Reagan - could be morphing into the "birther party." Why does this matter? Because there needs to be at least a modicum of consensus in American politics and the birthers -- egged on by … [Read more...] about GOP Becoming Birther Party? 58 Percent Unsure/Doubt Obama Really Born In U.S.
Obama’s Sagging Polls: Do They Tell The Whole Story?
As we've noted here, as President Barack Obama continues to stumble (not having political Congressional on-board numbers to pass healthcare reform as he previously described it plus the foot-in-mouth entry into the African-American professor versus white cop case which led to a beefest yesterday between the three at the White House) his once lofty poll numbers have starting … [Read more...] about Obama’s Sagging Polls: Do They Tell The Whole Story?
Kimono Traders—The Real Desperate Housewives
At the time of this writing the Dow is again on the rise. Why? The U.S. economy shrank 1 percent in the last quarter, beating analyst expectations (now there's a surprise!). But let's forget for the moment that our economy has been shrinking for four straight quarters, the first time this has happened since records started to be kept on such things; and that the only reason … [Read more...] about Kimono Traders—The Real Desperate Housewives
A Quick Word On GDP
The advance estimate for GDP for Q2 came in at -1.0% which isn't too bad. I'm sure the press will spin this as showing the recession is close to ending, but there are a few caveats. This post at Naked Capitalism and The Big Picture offer words of wisdom, caution and optimism. This is what jumped out at me: GDP is highly prone to revisions. This is just the advance estimate … [Read more...] about A Quick Word On GDP
Health Care Debate: What I Don’t Understand
As Members of Congress prepare for what might be their favorite time of year -- the extended August recess, scheduled to start tomorrow for the House; and August 8 for the Senate -- they do so with a flurry of progress on health care reform but not the hoped-for, full-chamber, final votes on definitive bills. Accordingly, during this recess, I hope one or more of our elected … [Read more...] about Health Care Debate: What I Don’t Understand
Crooked-Doctor Component of Health Care
While the nation suffers a political migraine over health care reform, news spotlights an overlooked aspect of the mess--that the current system is turning doctors into thieves. Federal authorities yesterday arrested 30 physicians and other medical providers for $16 million of fraud as part of a series of crackdowns in what the FBI estimates to be between $60 and $100 … [Read more...] about Crooked-Doctor Component of Health Care
Madonna: Sticky & Sweet Special Correspondent
Madonna writes of her spiritual awakening to the teachings of Kabbalah in today's edition of Yediot Ahronot, Israel's leading tabloid daily: "I started seeing that being rich and famous isn't the end of the road, but the beginning of it," she writes. In the highest tradition of eyewitness reporting, she reveals: "Countless times I've travelled the world, performed in soccer … [Read more...] about Madonna: Sticky & Sweet Special Correspondent
Gayatri Devi: India’s Legendary Princess Passes Away
Rajmata (or Queen Mother) Gayatri Devi, of the erstwhile princely state of Jaipur in India, passed away at age 90. In her youth, when she was a Queen, the Vogue magazine described her as one of the 10 most beautiful women in the world. She was cremated with full state honors...See here... Gayatri Devi was one of the few people remaining who could vividly describe the life of … [Read more...] about Gayatri Devi: India’s Legendary Princess Passes Away
“Tax the Rich!” they cried
When it comes to questions of how we're going to pay for health care reform, clean air initiatives and everything else up to and including free ponies for everyone, many self-styled pundits have been crying out that we should tax the poncy, bourgeoisie bastards who hoard all the cash. "The rich should pay their fair share!" That's the cry we hear. You may want to read the … [Read more...] about “Tax the Rich!” they cried
Lance Armstrong: Tour de France ‘Messiah’ – Le Figaro, France
There is something about Texan Lance Armstrong that tweaks French nerves like nothing else can. The seven-time Tour de France winner, after a three year retirement, returned to the 'Great Loop' this year, finishing third. Begrudgingly - and with more than a hint of suspicion that the Tour is somehow soiled by Armstrong - Mustapha Kessous of France's Le Monde reaches the … [Read more...] about Lance Armstrong: Tour de France ‘Messiah’ – Le Figaro, France
Cosmic Significance
The great philosophical issues of the day are best discussed by cartoon roaches. … [Read more...] about Cosmic Significance
Grand Old Party: The Next Generation
As I can now number the days until I turn 40, I'm starting to realize the generation that is coming up behind me. The Millennials, the generation born after 1980 or so, is starting to enter adulthood and take their place on the world stage. What I've noticed is how more tolerant this generation is on social issues and how much they are hungry for change. If Generation X, my … [Read more...] about Grand Old Party: The Next Generation
Real Glimmers of Hope, or Just “Meaningless Market Fluctuations”?
The markets were well on their way to shatter all kinds of records today. Towards the end of the market day, however, they shed some of their gains. Nevertheless, we still had, once again, a good upward movement in the markets---one of those movements that some critics persistently call "meaningless day-to-day fluctuations." Let's see what today's meaningless … [Read more...] about Real Glimmers of Hope, or Just “Meaningless Market Fluctuations”?
“Ale To The Chief”: Obama’s Beer Summit Wasn’t Pour
THIS JUST IN! Forget Iran, forget health care -- what the world REALLY wants to know about is: how did that "beer summit" called by President Barack Obama featuring himself, a prominent African American Harvard professor and the policeman who arrested the prof (with Vice President Joe Biden at the table) go? So it's time for (what else?) the analysis. Rather than bore you … [Read more...] about “Ale To The Chief”: Obama’s Beer Summit Wasn’t Pour
Stormy Daniels Car Bomb Incident
Possible Louisiana Senate candidate (and porn star) Stormy Daniels may be learning just how dangerous the political arena can be. (Or maybe not.) It's being reported that her political adviser had his car blown up this week, and there's even video of it after the jump. A political adviser to Stormy Daniels, the porn star who's considering a Senate run in Louisiana, told a … [Read more...] about Stormy Daniels Car Bomb Incident
At Last. Racism is Dead in the Northeast
There's been a plethora of coverage, both here and elsewhere, of the "Gates-Gate" affair currently choking the news cycle to death. Of course, most of these people are choosing to focus on "teachable moments" and the "status of black-white relations" and blah, blah, blah, blah. Sadly, what most of these analysts are missing is the good news underlying the affairs of the last … [Read more...] about At Last. Racism is Dead in the Northeast
Inside Scoop On Cutting 1% From The Military Budget
Let's see if I got this right. According to The Washington Post, a $636 billion military spending bill scheduled for vote by the House today or tomorrow contains about $7 billion in new ships, planes, helicopters and armored vehicles Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the Pentagon does not need. The waste Gates decried as "business as usual" represents about 1% of the House's … [Read more...] about Inside Scoop On Cutting 1% From The Military Budget
Theme Song For Today’s Barack Obama White House Beer Summit
Today is the big day -- a day that will go down in history: at 6 p.m. EST President Barack Obama will sit down at the White House's first beer summit with a lreading African-American professor and the policeman who arrested him. Obama's comments about the arrest added fuel to the polarizing fire -- and this is his attempt to defuse it via a low-key session where the three deep … [Read more...] about Theme Song For Today’s Barack Obama White House Beer Summit