When it comes to what amounts to the largest corporate bailout in history, the world seems split into two camps: Those who think it demonstrates everything that's wrong about modern capitalism, and those that think it proves the amazing resilience of the capitalist system. For Sérgio Malbergier, Money Editor for Brazil's Folha newspaper, the crisis merely reflects the human … [Read more...] about A Crisis and Bailout that Greatly Advance the Capitalist Cause: Folha, Brazil
Gallup: Obama Hits 50% To McCain’s 44%
Democratic Presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama has hit he 50 percent mark in the latest Gallup Daily Tracking poll -- a number matching the record high the Illinois Senator achieved over Republican Sen. John McCain right after the Democratic convention. Gallup's assessment over the likely reason for Obama's rising numbers: the public's assessment of the two candidates on … [Read more...] about Gallup: Obama Hits 50% To McCain’s 44%
Poll: White Democrats’ Racism Could Cost Obama White House
A new AP-Yahoo News poll finds that white Democrats' resistance to voting for a black man for President could cost Democratic Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama the White House: Deep-seated racial misgivings could cost Barack Obama the White House if the election is close, according to an AP-Yahoo News poll that found one-third of white Democrats harbor negative … [Read more...] about Poll: White Democrats’ Racism Could Cost Obama White House
Is SMS text-messaging dangerous? Too expensive?
In an echo of the cell-phone scares that have been with us for years (driving, honey bees, cancer), the NY Times today headlines, As Text Messages Fly, Danger Lurks: [T]exting at the wrong time can be extremely dangerous. Over the last two years, news accounts across the country have chronicled the death or serious injury of people who walk into traffic while texting or who … [Read more...] about Is SMS text-messaging dangerous? Too expensive?
Greed Is Not Good: Interview with MSNBC’s Erin Burnett (Guest Interview)
In this Guest Interview, columnist Bill Steigerwald talks to MSNBC's Erin Burnett about the current Wall Street meltdown and government bailouts. Greed Is Not Good: Interview with MSNBC's Erin Burnett by Bill Steigerwald Erin Burnett of CNBC is not just another frequently appearing pretty TV face in the world of big-time business reporting. The anchor of CNBC's … [Read more...] about Greed Is Not Good: Interview with MSNBC’s Erin Burnett (Guest Interview)
Oh Sarah! The Week That The Music Stopped
I'm not buying into rumors that Sarah Palin is on the way out. If John McCain can't admit that he misheard an interviewer regarding Spain and its premier there is no way in Hell that he's going to acknowledge that picking the vetting-free Alaska governor as a running mate is turning out to be a disaster of enormous magnitude. To wit: Palin has cancelled fundraisers in … [Read more...] about Oh Sarah! The Week That The Music Stopped
More World Cartoonists Views On The Wall Street Crisis And Bailouts
Patrick Chappatte, Le Temps, Switzerland John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune Some more cartoons are below. … [Read more...] about More World Cartoonists Views On The Wall Street Crisis And Bailouts
The Troubling Story Of John McCain & The Vietnam Prisoners of War Cover-Up
McCain came home a hero, but has made a mockery of those who didn't. I have long been puzzled by the troubled relationship that John McCain, a war hero by virtue of his five-and-a-half year incarceration in a North Vietnamese POW camp, has had with veterans in general and Vietnam veterans in particular. The friction has typically been over medical benefits and expanding … [Read more...] about The Troubling Story Of John McCain & The Vietnam Prisoners of War Cover-Up
Quote Of The Day: McCain Plays The Patriotism Card
The political Quote of the Day comes from Republican Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain who is framing this election as one between a candidate who cares for his country (him) and a candidate who really only cares for his own political advancement (Democratic Sen. Barack Obama) -- suggesting his opponent knowingly discards the vital interest of the United States for … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: McCain Plays The Patriotism Card
Spain’s Conservatives Back McCain’s ‘Snub’ of President Zapatero: El Plural, Spain
Controversy has broken out in Spain over an interview John McCain did on Wednesday, during which the Republican presidential nominee appeared to imply that Spain - a fellow member of NATO - is not a U.S. ally. While Americans are still trying to figure out whether John McCain even knows who Spain's President is - let alone what continent his country is in - Spain's right-wing … [Read more...] about Spain’s Conservatives Back McCain’s ‘Snub’ of President Zapatero: El Plural, Spain
Lawmakers Warned Wall Street Crisis So Bad Economy Could Literally Die
How bad is the U.S.'s current economic crisis? So bad that news stories now emerging detail mega-grim, catastrophic scenarios Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke laid out for lawmakers from both parties yesterday -- scenarios that have spurred members of both parties to put aside differences and move quickly to act on proposed … [Read more...] about Lawmakers Warned Wall Street Crisis So Bad Economy Could Literally Die
NATIONALIZATIONS on Wall Street
Patrick Chappatte, NZZ am Sonntag … [Read more...] about NATIONALIZATIONS on Wall Street
Anybody Else Have Whiplash?
My pension monies are split between five different funds, each comprising 20% of the total portfolio. On Tuesday night, I checked how the funds were going and found that I had lost a total of $19,000 since the start of the third quarter. When I logged back on today, I learned that because of the market's response to the bailout initiative announced by Henry Paulson and Ben … [Read more...] about Anybody Else Have Whiplash?
Jimmy Carter & Bob Barr seek Clemency for Troy Anthony Davis (UPDATED)
LATER: Bob Herbert writing in the NYTimes, "Rushing to execute Mr. Davis on Tuesday makes no sense at all." ---------- With a scant four days left before the scheduled execution of Troy Anthony Davis, Jimmy Carter & Bob Barr have called on Georgia's Board of Pardons and Parole to reverse its decision to deny clemency: The Carter Center released a letter Friday urging the … [Read more...] about Jimmy Carter & Bob Barr seek Clemency for Troy Anthony Davis (UPDATED)
Fox News To McCain Campaign: The Political Opposite Of Global Warming
You-know-where has apparently frozen over. Fox News has sent the presidential campaign of Republican Sen. John McCain a cease-and-desist letter. the Politico reports: Fox News sent a cease and desist letter to the McCain campaign today over a new ad that includes the voice of correspondent Major Garrett, according to a letter obtained by Politico. From the letter sent to … [Read more...] about Fox News To McCain Campaign: The Political Opposite Of Global Warming
Wall Street Deregulation
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch … [Read more...] about Wall Street Deregulation
Bill Touts McCain, Palin, Hillary and…
"Slimy elder statesman" is the apt description for the former President's latest foray into this year's election as he calls John McCain "a great man," Sarah Palin an "instinctively effective candidate" and says that Hillary Clinton is offering "the most detailed position" on what to do about the financial crisis. And the other guys? "I've never concealed my admiration and … [Read more...] about Bill Touts McCain, Palin, Hillary and…
Ugly People in an Ugly World
I feel a need to preface this by stipulating the following: When it comes to the divisive national issue of abortion, I am reluctantly pro-choice, while finding myself supportive of certain sensible restrictions and limitations on the practice. Further, I understand that not everyone will make the choice to give birth to a child if they know ahead of time that it will be … [Read more...] about Ugly People in an Ugly World
Report: Biology May Shape Political Views
The Chronicle: If conservatives and liberals can't see eye to eye, it may be because their brains are wired differently from birth, according to researchers who have for the first time found a link between people's political leanings and their physiology. The researchers' report, published in today's issue of the journal Science, suggests that genetic differences may help … [Read more...] about Report: Biology May Shape Political Views
Is The McCain Campaign Playing The Race Card?
The issue of whether the campaign of Republican Presidential candidate John McCain is trying to subtly play the race card against Democrat Sen. Barack Obama has now reared its ugly -- and highly controversial -- head. It's an issue now that is being raised by at least one mainstream news media organization, as well as by bloggers and even some blog readers. The issue … [Read more...] about Is The McCain Campaign Playing The Race Card?