President Barack Obama's decision to pay cap on CEOs who participate in a government bailout has brought outrcries of dismay from some people in business and in particular from talk show radio hosts. Here's humorist Will Durst's take on it: Triggering a Silent Scream by Will Durst The president is not what you call dim. He’s obviously aware the only thing worse than a … [Read more...] about The Pay Cap Scream (Guest Voice)
Obama’s Weekly Address Rejects “Tired” Old Economic Solutions Approaches As Senate Takes Up Stimulus Compromise
Will he or won't he? Will President Barack Obama rebound after a toe-stubbing week when rather than remind many analysts of a new Abraham Lincoln, or create a feeling of deja vu about JFK or FDR he seemed to be arousing sinking feelings that perhaps America was getting a preview of the new Jimmy Carter of the 21st century? Obama finished the week by rebounding, by … [Read more...] about Obama’s Weekly Address Rejects “Tired” Old Economic Solutions Approaches As Senate Takes Up Stimulus Compromise
A Factor in the F-22 Procurement Decision: The F-35 Lightning II
As I mentioned in my "The F-22 Raptor, It’s Almost Time To Punt," the date for the Obama administration to decide on whether to buy---and if so, how many---additional F-22 aircraft, is rapidly approaching. I find it interesting that one of the arguments often heard in the debate, rightly or wrongly, and either for or against the production of additional F-22’s, is the F-35 … [Read more...] about A Factor in the F-22 Procurement Decision: The F-35 Lightning II
It’s Too Bad: Even Obama’s Day Only Contains 24 Hours – Die Zeit of Germany
How pressing is the moment? It's a question that most informed observers, both of politics and finance and both here and abroad, would today answer 'very pressing.' The sense of the urgency can be gleaned from this article by Michael Naumann of the German weekly, Die Zeit, which is part appreciation for President Obama's gifts, part a chastening examination of what the … [Read more...] about It’s Too Bad: Even Obama’s Day Only Contains 24 Hours – Die Zeit of Germany
The Next Depression
The Next Depression Sinking and sinking in a sickening swirl Retail sales fall short of retailer goals Stock prices slide, well-run businesses fold Massive layoffs raise unemployment fears A loose-lipped faith in endless growth has died Replaced by loud cries for costly bailouts Good deals lack all support, while ponzi scheme Quickly acquire devoted … [Read more...] about The Next Depression
Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Illness: A Story Somehow Downplayed By The Media?
Yes, it was dutifully covered...but was it more dutifully dealt with than really covered? Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was treated for pancreatic cancer. And there were some news stories, bulletins and (of course) lots of (often ideologically tinged) blog posts. But could this be a bigger development that has gotten inadvertently downplayed due to the prevalent … [Read more...] about Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Illness: A Story Somehow Downplayed By The Media?
Last Train Home It Seems…
Many Americans, myself included, don't know where this stimulus bill is going to take us. We're feeling the pinch and the pain, want something done, but just don't have much respect for Congress. I feel like the last train home is leaving and that we are going to be left with some kind of something in America concerning our economy. Doesn't that warm your hearts? In … [Read more...] about Last Train Home It Seems…
Jonah Lehrer: How We Decide
Jonah Lehrer interviews himself: Ever since the time of the ancient Greeks, we've assumed that humans are rational creatures. When we make a decision, we are supposed to consciously analyze the alternatives and carefully weigh the pros and cons. This simple idea underlies the philosophies of Plato and Descartes; it forms the foundation of modern economics; it drove decades of … [Read more...] about Jonah Lehrer: How We Decide
The Dead Letters File
Earlier, Robert Stein provided us with an excellent analysis of the sad demise of newspapers, magazines and books. While this is an important topic, particularly for those with an interest in history and how future generations will learn of our times, there is another form of the printed word which has already come to the point of extinction. That is the ancient practice of … [Read more...] about The Dead Letters File
Requiem for the Printed Word
The cover of Time this week shows not the Person of the Year but a vanishing artifact--the American newspaper--and reflects, in a larger sense, the coming end of journalism as we know it. After a lifetime of putting words and images on paper--selling them, if you will--the computer screen and the crashing economy are conspiring to make what I did obsolete. (The timely site … [Read more...] about Requiem for the Printed Word
Senate: Let’s Make A Deal
Washington Post: Tentative Deal Reached on Stimulus Bill Compromise Believed to Slash $90B in Spending, Tax Cuts Purported deal reached in closed-door negotiations among a bipartisan group of senators as debate on more than $900B bill continued on Senate floor. … [Read more...] about Senate: Let’s Make A Deal
Revisiting An Old Post: Still No Strategy
A comment on my prior post made me think of one I wrote back in the beginning of December about how there are no obvious "correct" answers at this point because each decision needs to take place in a larger strategical context. The "right" policy on taxes, spending, etc. depends largely on assumptions both about the degree and nature of the crisis we are in. We still have not … [Read more...] about Revisiting An Old Post: Still No Strategy
Time to Impeach Obama?
Haven't we labored under this incompetent, destructive, tax dodging administration long enough? … [Read more...] about Time to Impeach Obama?
Gallup: Stimulus Bill STILL Favored by Majority
This is not a post about the substantive merits of the stimulus package. I was AWOL this morning fighting off (successfully!) a speeding ticket in Sevier County so I've been a bit out of the loop. Sorry y'all! Anyway, this is about the public support of the bill. Gallup says that 52 percent of Americans support the stimulus bill and 38 percent oppose it. Interestingly, the … [Read more...] about Gallup: Stimulus Bill STILL Favored by Majority
Making Big Change Hard
I agree with Andrew that the following words from President Obama should make every conservative's heart sing, and I suspect no conservative's heart will sing louder at these words than the heart of Mickey Edwards. Thus said Obama: ... I value the constructive criticism and the healthy debate that's taking place around this [stimulus] package, because that's the essence, … [Read more...] about Making Big Change Hard
Gen. Shinseki: From “Soldier’s Soldier” to “Veteran’s Veteran”
One of the many problems facing veterans seeking just disability ratings, or seeking to redress wrongs in this area, has been that they are being bounced back and forth between the Pentagon and VA. The new VA Secretary, General Eric Shinseki, promised the House Veterans Affairs Committee to correct this: The secretary acknowledged ongoing challenges in creating a … [Read more...] about Gen. Shinseki: From “Soldier’s Soldier” to “Veteran’s Veteran”
Trade Barriers Will Damage All Nations: Le Monde of France
Suggestions that the United States is planning a 'buy American' provision in the stimulus package now under debate in the U.S. Congress has created a ripple of fear around the world, and comes on top of calls from workers and businesses in other countries to do the same. Here are headlines and excerpts on the subject that that WORLDMEETS.US has posted within the past 24 … [Read more...] about Trade Barriers Will Damage All Nations: Le Monde of France
Obama Expectations
Deng Coy Miel, Singapore This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Obama Expectations
Will Afghanistan Be “Obama’s Vietnam”?
Ever since the Vietnam War, whenever our country gets militarily involved in a conflict that appears to be unwinnable, or (for) a lost cause, the Vietnam "quagmire" analogy seems to be freely invoked. Newsweek's editor, Jon Meacham, however, puts it in perspective: "To evoke the Vietnam analogy is not to be dovish or defeatish; it is, rather, to recognize that we are … [Read more...] about Will Afghanistan Be “Obama’s Vietnam”?
I Can’t Support The Stimulus Bill
And the Democrats are ruining things for themselves and the country by pushing an awful bill that will fail to improve things and make people even more anti-government at the worst possible time. I think we're going to have tough times ahead and we need people to be united and strong, so the impact of this failure will go far beyond the specifics of the bill itself. I made … [Read more...] about I Can’t Support The Stimulus Bill