John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune … [Read more...] about Obama And The White Working Class
Ted Stevens’ Trial Set to Kick Off in Washington
Largely without notice during the banking dust up, the trial of Alaska Senator Ted Stevens is gearing up in Washington. Jury selection is beginning this week. Sept. 22 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. Senator Ted Stevens's bid for a seventh term may be decided by 12 people he has never met in a courthouse thousands of miles away from his home state of Alaska. Jury selection in the … [Read more...] about Ted Stevens’ Trial Set to Kick Off in Washington
Memo To Chicken Little On The Economy: The Sky Is Not Falling
Over the last couple of weeks, we have been treated to a series of stories which have given the impression that it is only a matter of days before the entire US economy collapses into a hopeless pit of doom. With all due respect to some of these economic Chicken Littles, the situation is not quite that bad. To be sure, there are some major problems with the mortgage system … [Read more...] about Memo To Chicken Little On The Economy: The Sky Is Not Falling
A Musical Interlude: Cuban Pete
With so much grim economic news and political partisans screaming at each other (and those in the middle) it's time to offer some fun things on TMV once more. So for starters: Here is my favorite You Tube lip synch. A young teen lip synching Jim Carey's version of Cuban Pete as done in The Mask. This kid (now two years older) is a genius: And here is the ORIGINGAL Cuban … [Read more...] about A Musical Interlude: Cuban Pete
Opposition Growing to Mother of All Bailouts (MOAB)
I haven't seen any polling on the Paulson bailout plan. But my guess is that politicians in both parties have been polling this privately and are discovering that the American people oppose this plan in its current form. While many people - including regular folks and highly-informed elites - recognize that some form of bailout is necessary, the manner in which we are told to … [Read more...] about Opposition Growing to Mother of All Bailouts (MOAB)
How Our ‘American Masters’ Drove Iraqis to Compare Israel to Iran: Kitabat of Iraq
Iraqi Legislator Mithal al-Alusi: Punished for visiting Israel. So how is Iraq's experiment in Western-style democracy coming along, a curious American might ask? Judging from the recent dust-up over Iraqi legislator Mithal al-Alusi, who decided to visit Israel to attend an anti-terror conference - Iraqis is still have a long way to go. Mr. al-Alusi has been stripped of … [Read more...] about How Our ‘American Masters’ Drove Iraqis to Compare Israel to Iran: Kitabat of Iraq
Guess Who’s Not Being Ruled Out As Treasury Secretary In A McCain Administration?
When a spokesman won't rule something out, it's not ruled out. That's unfortunately, or fortunately, the way it works in politics. And in this video you can see that the issue remains open: if people vote for John McCain for President does this mean they could get Phil Gramm as Treasury Secretary? We originally had this post as shorter with just a link, but it merits giving … [Read more...] about Guess Who’s Not Being Ruled Out As Treasury Secretary In A McCain Administration?
A Political Satire Song Break
The Capitol Steps on Barack Obama HERE. You can buy their great CDs here (I have quite a few). Unlike left and right talk radio who only deride one side, the Capitol Steps poke fun at them all. … [Read more...] about A Political Satire Song Break
In Which I Solve the Financial Crisis
People are already analyzing and over-analyzing the responses to the financial meltdown, such as they are, while others are writing off Paulson's only partly formed proposition before it gets off the ground. Since I'm sure that both the President and Congress are waiting with worms on their tongues to see what I have to say on the subject, I may as well wade in and solve this … [Read more...] about In Which I Solve the Financial Crisis
Obama McCain Prepare For Friday Debate Sound Bite Contest
Friday night is The Big Debate in Mississippi between presidential wannabes Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain and both candidates are reportedly hard-at-work preparing for the debate -- and the all important battle of the enduring sound bite, which could shape the conventional wisdom regarding who won and who lost. And boost one of them in the … [Read more...] about Obama McCain Prepare For Friday Debate Sound Bite Contest
Stop the Mother of All Bailouts and Think!
I don't oppose a massive bailout to our financial industry. We really are on the brink of total economic collapse and failing to act will dry up credit markets, bringing the economy to a halt. But that doesn't mean we should rush willy-nilly into a bailout package just because Secretary Paulson says so. Calling every demand for consumer protection or borrower protection a … [Read more...] about Stop the Mother of All Bailouts and Think!
What Is Comedy?
Given the increasingly grim economic news, it might be useful to focus our minds on a more universal question. What is comedy? So watch this: … [Read more...] about What Is Comedy?
Obama, McCain And The Wall Street Economic Crisis
Has the Wall Street meltdown and news of the bailouts tossed a new, unprecedented dynamic into the Presidential race? And how have Republican Sen. John McCain and Democratic Sen. Barack Obama fared? The video below shows an interesting discussion of this on the Today Show. Note that former Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer is critical of both Obama and McCain. … [Read more...] about Obama, McCain And The Wall Street Economic Crisis
‘Bailout’ Bush is Life of Brazil’s Ruling Party: Folha, Brazil
On Man's Nose: 'U.S. RESCUE PLAN' Caption: 'JUST IN TIME' [Het Parool, The Netherlands] The current financial crisis is full of irony. We have arguably the most free-market, deregulation-oriented president of the United States embracing perhaps the largest government bailout of private enterprise in world history. And according to this op-ed article from Brazil, the … [Read more...] about ‘Bailout’ Bush is Life of Brazil’s Ruling Party: Folha, Brazil
Wall Street, The Economy And The Bailout: News And Blog Opinion Roundup
The full gravity of the financial crisis facing Wall Street and the United States, and the implications of a massive government bailout, are just starting to sink in after a week when both experts and pundits were shell-shocked. Here's a round-up of some news stories and blog posts from websites with varying opinions. --The New York Times' Paul Krugman is against it and … [Read more...] about Wall Street, The Economy And The Bailout: News And Blog Opinion Roundup
The McCain Campaign’s Next Negative Attack: Rev. Wright?
There are now hints that the McCain campaign is preparing to hit Democratic Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama on his Reverend Wright association (right in the middle of a growing national political debate over the biggest financial crisis America has faced since the Great Depression). Read the post by Hot Air's Allahpundit who asks: Exit question: How does six … [Read more...] about The McCain Campaign’s Next Negative Attack: Rev. Wright?
Free Presidential Debate Finger Puppets
Download your own set of FREE papercraft candidate finger-puppets (w/spouses) at FoldUScandidate.com. The big letdown: where are the puppet VPs? Via Cory Doctorow @ BoingBoing … [Read more...] about Free Presidential Debate Finger Puppets
Palin as Quayle (or, Why Palin is Nothing Like Obama)
In an article posted at TNR on Friday, Jon Chait draws stark and disturbing parallels between Sarah Palin and Dan Quayle. With Palin's record, her alleged "experience," revealed as the facade of lies and deceptions it really is -- as governor of Alaska, "[s]he appointed unqualified cronies, abused her power to punish personal enemies, and has displayed a Cheney-esque passion … [Read more...] about Palin as Quayle (or, Why Palin is Nothing Like Obama)
The Multi-Dimensional Social Contract
The term "social contract" gets thrown around a lot -- but its use is generally limited to the relationship between government and citizens. I'd like to point out that there's another dimension here that's being ignored at the moment: the social contract between individual members of society. In terms of the current crisis, it goes like this: if you are financially … [Read more...] about The Multi-Dimensional Social Contract
The Paulson Plan: Filling in the Blanks
We now have access to a first draft of the proposed Wall Street bailout, and while economic policy and legislation may make your eyes begin to glaze over, I would strongly suggest you take the time to read it. Whether you support it or not, we should all be in touch with our congressional representatives because this is absolutely massive. I believe that many of us - the … [Read more...] about The Paulson Plan: Filling in the Blanks