A Vote Against Rashness - George Will, Washington Post
Give Paulson, Bernanke What They Need - Tom Friedman, New York Times
How to Start the Healing Now - Brian Wesbury, Wall Street Journal
The Depths of Palin's Ignorance - Paul Campos, Rocky Mountain News
Palin's Political Courage Beats DC 'Experience' - Fred Thompson, Townhall
Obama, the Bailout and the Election - Howard Fineman, Newsweek
Pelosi, Obama Are Wrong About Crisis - Peter Ferrara, American Spectator
The Coming Conservative Crack-Up - Paul Waldman, American Prospect
Nation Owes the House a Big Thank You - Robert Robb, Arizona Republic
A Deepening Leadership Crisis - David Gergen, CNN
Can the FDIC Save the Day? - Larry Kudlow, RealClearMarkets
Palin's War on the Press - Chris Cillizza, Washington Post
A Debate "Moderator" in the Tank for Obama - Michelle Malkin, NY Post
This Nice Guy May Just Finish First - Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune
Ahmadinejad Means What He Says - Tim Rutten, Los Angeles Times
Russia and the U.S. in a Post-Aug. 8 World - Ian Bremmer, RealClearPolitics
Finding Common Ground on Georgia - Henry Kissinger & George Shultz, IHT
RCP Nat'l Average: Obama +4.8% / RCP Electoral Count: Obama +86 EVs
RCP Blog: Mac Pushes Back | Obama Gains | Q Polls | Palin w/Couric
Full Version: Political OpEds, News and Commentary
Common Ground Common Sense > National & International News > Op-Ed Articles from the Mainstream Media > Op-Ed Articles from the Mainstream Media Archive
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Editorials
Rescue 'America Street' - Christian Science Monitor
Round 2: Try a More Cautious Plan - New Hampshire Union Leader
Drill, Maybe Drill - Washington Post
Newman Left Behind More Than Movies - Charleston Daily Mail
Political News & Analysis
Senate Plans Wednesday Vote on Revised Bailout Bill - McClatchy
Obama, McCain Urge Action on Bailout Bill - Washington Post
Nervous GOP Wants McCain to Attack - The Politico
Soros Floats Alternative Plan with Democrats - The Hill
Transcripts & Speeches
McCain's Remarks on the Economic Crisis - John McCain
Obama's Remarks on the Economic Crisis - Barack Obama
Panel on Revived Rescue Bill Negotiations - Special Report w/Brit Hume
Tom Vilsack on "Hannity & Colmes" - Hannity & Colmes
McCain on the Bailout Bill Failure - John McCain
Best of the Blogs
Palin's War on the Press - Chris Cillizza, The Fix
Defining "Moderator" - Ed Morrissey, Hot AIr
Palin Didn't Charge for Rape Kits - Bob Owens, Confederate Yankee
Ifill: In the Tank for Obama - Michelle Malkin
Testy McCain - Taylor Marsh
Loose Money, and the Roots of the Crisis - Judy Shelton, Wall Street Journal
Bailout Rejection Invigorates Democracy - William Greider, The Nation
Without Passage, Major Banks Will Fail - Anatole Kaletsky, Times of London
The Bailout Failed: What's Next? - Chadwick Matlin, The Big Money
Don't Blame Market Dive on House Vote - Editorial , New York Sun
Bailout Rejection Invigorates Democracy - William Greider, The Nation
Without Passage, Major Banks Will Fail - Anatole Kaletsky, Times of London
The Bailout Failed: What's Next? - Chadwick Matlin, The Big Money
Don't Blame Market Dive on House Vote - Editorial , New York Sun
This Nice Guy May Just Finish First
- Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune
A Vote Against Rashness
- George Will, Washington Post
Sarah Palin's Qualified
- Fred Thompson, Townhall
Is Sagging Ticket Beyond The Palin?
- Jason Horowitz, New York Observer
- Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune
A Vote Against Rashness
- George Will, Washington Post
Sarah Palin's Qualified
- Fred Thompson, Townhall
Is Sagging Ticket Beyond The Palin?
- Jason Horowitz, New York Observer
GEORGE SOROS
Recapitalize the Banking System ft.com Instead of just purchasing troubled assets the bulk of the funds ought to be used to recapitalize the banking system. The result would be more economic recovery and the chance for taxpayers to profit from the recovery.
CHARLES R. MORRIS
Hyperventilating on the Bailout washingtonindependent.com How many votes would the bailout plan have gotten if the administration and the congressional leaders had told the truth that this is a bank bailout that won't prevent a recession or help homeowners?
PAUL WALDMAN
The Coming Conservative Crack-up prospect.org The Republicans' split over the bailout bill is the latest example of the party's internal divisions. Unless the GOP figures out what it stands for, it's headed for civil war and electoral disaster.
NOMI PRINS
Why the Bailout Sells America Short motherjones.com Across the media, the proposal has been described as the largest government intervention since the Great Depression, but it by no means delivers the financial stability to the banking system or the economic security to the general population that the post-Great Depression Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 did.
KATRINA VANDEN HEUVEL
Bailing on Poverty and Ordinary Americans thenation.com At a moment when the media is focused on the drama surrounding the failed bailout legislation, too little attention is being paid to the real struggles of ordinary people and the human costs of our inequitable economy.
MATTHEW ROTHSCHILD
Make the Bailout Bill More Progressive progressive.org This is a time for government intervention in the economy. The free market has proven to be incapable of policing itself or of functioning rationally.
ROBERT SCHEER
Boston Tea Party, 2008 thenation.com How dare you throw that tea into Boston Harbor! Such is the anti-democratic arrogance of the fear-mongering pundits and politicians who tell us if we taxpayers don't instantly give the Wall Street banking bandits a $700-billion bailout, we are destroying America.
MEDEA BENJAMIN AND ARUN GUPTA
Time for a Taxpayers' Revolt progressive.org Congress will be voting this week on the biggest give-away of our tax dollars to the financial sector in our nation's history. Despite attempts by legislators to portray this as a compromise bill that helps both Wall St. and Main St., in reality it represents an appalling transfer of wealth upward.
J. GERALD HEBERT
Parsing the GOP Plan to Challenge Foreclosed Voters clcblog.org The "lose your house, lose your vote" stories out of two battleground states continue to occupy space in the media and various blogs. The story just won't go away. The reason this story won't go away is that it is downright heartless and un-American for any political party to target people's right to vote because they have lost or are about to lose their homes.
JOHN BASIL UTLEY
The Cost of Boots on the Ground in Iraq fpif.org Whether in maintaining U.S. soldiers or private-sector contractors, the costs of occupation are enormous. With no end in sight, unending foreign wars do have one clear consequence: the eventual bankruptcy of the United States.
Recapitalize the Banking System ft.com Instead of just purchasing troubled assets the bulk of the funds ought to be used to recapitalize the banking system. The result would be more economic recovery and the chance for taxpayers to profit from the recovery.
CHARLES R. MORRIS
Hyperventilating on the Bailout washingtonindependent.com How many votes would the bailout plan have gotten if the administration and the congressional leaders had told the truth that this is a bank bailout that won't prevent a recession or help homeowners?
PAUL WALDMAN
The Coming Conservative Crack-up prospect.org The Republicans' split over the bailout bill is the latest example of the party's internal divisions. Unless the GOP figures out what it stands for, it's headed for civil war and electoral disaster.
NOMI PRINS
Why the Bailout Sells America Short motherjones.com Across the media, the proposal has been described as the largest government intervention since the Great Depression, but it by no means delivers the financial stability to the banking system or the economic security to the general population that the post-Great Depression Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 did.
KATRINA VANDEN HEUVEL
Bailing on Poverty and Ordinary Americans thenation.com At a moment when the media is focused on the drama surrounding the failed bailout legislation, too little attention is being paid to the real struggles of ordinary people and the human costs of our inequitable economy.
MATTHEW ROTHSCHILD
Make the Bailout Bill More Progressive progressive.org This is a time for government intervention in the economy. The free market has proven to be incapable of policing itself or of functioning rationally.
ROBERT SCHEER
Boston Tea Party, 2008 thenation.com How dare you throw that tea into Boston Harbor! Such is the anti-democratic arrogance of the fear-mongering pundits and politicians who tell us if we taxpayers don't instantly give the Wall Street banking bandits a $700-billion bailout, we are destroying America.
MEDEA BENJAMIN AND ARUN GUPTA
Time for a Taxpayers' Revolt progressive.org Congress will be voting this week on the biggest give-away of our tax dollars to the financial sector in our nation's history. Despite attempts by legislators to portray this as a compromise bill that helps both Wall St. and Main St., in reality it represents an appalling transfer of wealth upward.
J. GERALD HEBERT
Parsing the GOP Plan to Challenge Foreclosed Voters clcblog.org The "lose your house, lose your vote" stories out of two battleground states continue to occupy space in the media and various blogs. The story just won't go away. The reason this story won't go away is that it is downright heartless and un-American for any political party to target people's right to vote because they have lost or are about to lose their homes.
JOHN BASIL UTLEY
The Cost of Boots on the Ground in Iraq fpif.org Whether in maintaining U.S. soldiers or private-sector contractors, the costs of occupation are enormous. With no end in sight, unending foreign wars do have one clear consequence: the eventual bankruptcy of the United States.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008Todd Palin, The New Hillary: What Democrats Should Remember About Running Against A Scandal-Ridden, Hatred-Inspiring, Outside-Washington Couple
by Eve Fairbanks
Globalization, Reconsidered: Economists Aren't So Sure About The Benefits Of "Free Trade" Anymore
by Christopher Hayes
What Do They Want The Government To Be? McCain And Obama's Fear Of The Big Idea.
by Alvaro Vargas Llosa
With America In Flames, It's Time To Revisit The Righteously Pissed-Off Work of C. Wright Mills
by Alan Wolfe
TNR TV: A New Law In Arizona Is Disenfranchising Thousands Of Voters. Will Other States Follow Suit?
by Renee Feltz and Stokely Baksh
by Eve Fairbanks
Globalization, Reconsidered: Economists Aren't So Sure About The Benefits Of "Free Trade" Anymore
by Christopher Hayes
What Do They Want The Government To Be? McCain And Obama's Fear Of The Big Idea.
by Alvaro Vargas Llosa
With America In Flames, It's Time To Revisit The Righteously Pissed-Off Work of C. Wright Mills
by Alan Wolfe
TNR TV: A New Law In Arizona Is Disenfranchising Thousands Of Voters. Will Other States Follow Suit?
by Renee Feltz and Stokely Baksh
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Show Us the Hope nytimes.com At last count, six million people were expected to default on their mortgages this year and next, putting them at risk of losing their homes. As prices drop, millions of people who have never missed a mortgage payment stand to lose their home equity. Leaving these Americans out of the bailout bill is unwise and unfair, but neither Congress nor the Bush administration has ever shown anywhere near the sense of urgency to rescue homeowners at the bottom of the collapse as they have for the financiers at the top of it.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS
Don't Make Working People Bail Out Wall Street huffingtonpost.com This country faces many serious problems in the financial market, in the stock market, in our economy. We must act, but we must act in a way that improves the situation. We can do better than the legislation now before Congress.
JONATHAN WEIL
If There Must Be A Bailout, Here's How To Do It bloomberg.com Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson's $700 billion bailout plan was one part robbery (with the banks doing the robbing) and one part accounting sleight of hand. No wonder House members rejected it. If the government wants to save dying banks before they take others down with them, it should choose the clean and direct path: Inject capital into them. Take ownership stakes in return. And, where that's not feasible, seize them and sell their assets in an orderly way.
ROBERT KUTTNER
What Comes After Senate Approval of the Bailout Bill? prospect.org Congressional leaders need to look to more than just passing the bill in the House.
DEAN BAKER
Responsibility and the Bailout: Will They Resign If It Fails? huffingtonpost.com If it is not possible to stop the bailout, how about a fallback position? Perhaps we can force our political leaders to take responsibility for their actions. Remember, we are only in this economic mess because the people who designed this bailout failed to stem the growth of the housing bubble. Rather than take responsibility for this disaster, they are demanding $700 billion bailout to patch up their mistakes. How about a commitment to take responsibility this time?
ROBERT B. REICH
The Almost-Done Deal, and the Era of Angry Populism tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com While more Americans are coming around to "supporting" the bailout bill, the vast majority still hate the idea of bailing out Wall Street. They're for the bailout bill now only because they fear that a failure to pass it will have worse consequences drying up credit at a time when Main Street is struggling. But make no mistake: America is mad as hell. They resent what they perceive as extortion by the Masters of the Universe.
MATTHEW YGLESIAS
How Does Iraq Play Into the Economic Crisis? prospect.org The focus is on our unstable credit markets but we shouldn't forget that Bush's foreign policy has exacted its own costs on our economy.
DAVID LEONHARDT
Connecting the Dots on the Economy nytimes.com It's not enough to say that markets could freeze up, loans could become impossible to get and the economy could slide into its worst downturn since the Great Depression. Mr. Bernanke and his fellow worriers need to connect the dots. They need to use their bully pulpits to teach a little lesson on the economics of a credit crisis how A can lead to B, B to C and C to Depression.
Show Us the Hope nytimes.com At last count, six million people were expected to default on their mortgages this year and next, putting them at risk of losing their homes. As prices drop, millions of people who have never missed a mortgage payment stand to lose their home equity. Leaving these Americans out of the bailout bill is unwise and unfair, but neither Congress nor the Bush administration has ever shown anywhere near the sense of urgency to rescue homeowners at the bottom of the collapse as they have for the financiers at the top of it.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS
Don't Make Working People Bail Out Wall Street huffingtonpost.com This country faces many serious problems in the financial market, in the stock market, in our economy. We must act, but we must act in a way that improves the situation. We can do better than the legislation now before Congress.
JONATHAN WEIL
If There Must Be A Bailout, Here's How To Do It bloomberg.com Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson's $700 billion bailout plan was one part robbery (with the banks doing the robbing) and one part accounting sleight of hand. No wonder House members rejected it. If the government wants to save dying banks before they take others down with them, it should choose the clean and direct path: Inject capital into them. Take ownership stakes in return. And, where that's not feasible, seize them and sell their assets in an orderly way.
ROBERT KUTTNER
What Comes After Senate Approval of the Bailout Bill? prospect.org Congressional leaders need to look to more than just passing the bill in the House.
DEAN BAKER
Responsibility and the Bailout: Will They Resign If It Fails? huffingtonpost.com If it is not possible to stop the bailout, how about a fallback position? Perhaps we can force our political leaders to take responsibility for their actions. Remember, we are only in this economic mess because the people who designed this bailout failed to stem the growth of the housing bubble. Rather than take responsibility for this disaster, they are demanding $700 billion bailout to patch up their mistakes. How about a commitment to take responsibility this time?
ROBERT B. REICHThe Almost-Done Deal, and the Era of Angry Populism tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com While more Americans are coming around to "supporting" the bailout bill, the vast majority still hate the idea of bailing out Wall Street. They're for the bailout bill now only because they fear that a failure to pass it will have worse consequences drying up credit at a time when Main Street is struggling. But make no mistake: America is mad as hell. They resent what they perceive as extortion by the Masters of the Universe.
MATTHEW YGLESIAS
How Does Iraq Play Into the Economic Crisis? prospect.org The focus is on our unstable credit markets but we shouldn't forget that Bush's foreign policy has exacted its own costs on our economy.
DAVID LEONHARDT
Connecting the Dots on the Economy nytimes.com It's not enough to say that markets could freeze up, loans could become impossible to get and the economy could slide into its worst downturn since the Great Depression. Mr. Bernanke and his fellow worriers need to connect the dots. They need to use their bully pulpits to teach a little lesson on the economics of a credit crisis how A can lead to B, B to C and C to Depression.
Bailout Passes Senate; 9 Reasons That's Bad News for You
Sen. Bernie Sanders, Huffington Post
Corporate Accountability and WorkPlace: Forcing each American to fork over $2,200 at a time when median family income has declined by as much is no way to improve the economy.
What Biden Needs to Do to Nail the DebateGeorge Lakoff, AlterNet
Election 2008: Even with Palin's inexperience and ignorance of world events, she should not be underestimated. Here's how Biden can win.
11 Racist Lies Conservatives Tell to Avoid Blaming Wall Street for the Financial Crisis Sara Robinson, Campaign for America's Future
Corporate Accountability and WorkPlace: Conservatives are twisting the facts beyond the breaking point to support their revisionist history. But don't be fooled.
The Palin Payoff: How Sarah Brings in the Christian Cash
By Bill Berkowitz, Mike Reynolds, Investigative Fund at The Nation Institute
Thanks to Palin, McCain can now pay for expensive attacks on Obama, giving him the same kind of clout Bush had in battleground states.
- October 2, 2008
- More ป
What Biden Needs to Do to Nail the DebateGeorge Lakoff, AlterNet
Election 2008: Even with Palin's inexperience and ignorance of world events, she should not be underestimated. Here's how Biden can win.
Sarah Palin Is the Pet Rock of Politics Marie Cocco, Washington Post Writers Group
Election 2008: Palin is a cultural oddity that many Americans value little except as an object -- one that absorbs every projection of the national imagination.
What Comes After Senate Approval of the Bailout Bill?
Robert Kuttner
October 2, 2008 | web only
Congressional leaders need to look to more than just passing the bill in the House.
How Does Iraq Play Into the Economic Crisis?
Matthew Yglesias
Bush's foreign policy bears some responsibility for our current economic woes. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Robert Kuttner
October 2, 2008 | web only
Congressional leaders need to look to more than just passing the bill in the House.
How Does Iraq Play Into the Economic Crisis?
Matthew Yglesias
Bush's foreign policy bears some responsibility for our current economic woes. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The group blog of The American Prospect
Privacy and abortion.
Posted at 1:00 p.m.
A respectable liberal blog
Medical malpractice.
Posted at 12:19 p.m.
Dean Baker's economic commentary
Commercial paper plunges.
Posted at 10:20 a.m.
Senate 'Bailout' Bill a Bizarre Blend Indeed
Marc Sheppard
Call it what you will, but the $700,000,000,000 credit rescue Bill that passed the Senate last night is one strange piece of lawmaking. More
Sarah Palin and the Experience Factor
J.R. Dunn
Why is it that liberal misrepresentations are never fully addressed before they become established as received wisdom? More
Fannie/Freddie and the Stealth Welfare State
Christopher Chantrill
Secret defense programs have their place, but surely it is wrong to create secret social programs. The meltdown of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac demonstrates why. More
Marc Sheppard
Call it what you will, but the $700,000,000,000 credit rescue Bill that passed the Senate last night is one strange piece of lawmaking. More
Sarah Palin and the Experience Factor
J.R. Dunn
Why is it that liberal misrepresentations are never fully addressed before they become established as received wisdom? More
Fannie/Freddie and the Stealth Welfare State
Christopher Chantrill
Secret defense programs have their place, but surely it is wrong to create secret social programs. The meltdown of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac demonstrates why. More
Are Foreign Donations Powering the Obama Campaign?
October 02, 2008
Just how much in donations from foreign countries is pouring into the Obama campaign coffers is a question one FEC auditor would like to have answered. More
Ifill on Palin
October 02, 2008
In advance of her performance at tonight's debate, Gwen Ifill has already tipped her hand respecting her animus toward Sarah Palin. From an actual transcript of her PBS show Washington Week: More
Hitting the bullseye with Sarah-Cuda
October 02, 2008
A move guaranteed to further outrage helpless liberal feminists and others threatened by Governor Sarah Palin. More
Ifill challenges viewers on her bias
October 02, 2008
This is either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. More
October 02, 2008
Just how much in donations from foreign countries is pouring into the Obama campaign coffers is a question one FEC auditor would like to have answered. More
Ifill on Palin
October 02, 2008
In advance of her performance at tonight's debate, Gwen Ifill has already tipped her hand respecting her animus toward Sarah Palin. From an actual transcript of her PBS show Washington Week: More
Hitting the bullseye with Sarah-Cuda
October 02, 2008
A move guaranteed to further outrage helpless liberal feminists and others threatened by Governor Sarah Palin. More
Ifill challenges viewers on her bias
October 02, 2008
This is either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. More
Joe Biden and the American nomenklatura
October 02, 2008
How to live very, very well while reporting a modest income. The old Soviets knew the trick, and so does Joe Biden. More
Time 'soup line' cover
October 02, 2008
In the tank for Obama or just trying to sell magazines? More
Rescue: The Conservative Conundrum
October 02, 2008
We have to use the defibulator to re-start the economic heart muscle makes sense. With the patient alive, we can then go back and change the diet and unclog the arteries later. More
Is it slipping away?
October 02, 2008
The electoral default mode in the current circumstances is a McCain defeat. McCain must wrench the game from its present course More
Obama and McCain Both For Bailout
October 02, 2008
Why do we have a Republican Party? More
VP Debate - Which candidate doesn't know what he's talking about?
October 02, 2008
To listen to the MSM, you would think Sarah Palin will come out on stage tonight in St. Louis wearing overalls and sporting a piece of straw shooting out of her ears. More
Children told to record parents' 'climate crimes'
October 02, 2008
A British power company is urging children to spy on their parents and record their "climate crimes" in a "challenge diary." More
Change we can propagandize for
October 02, 2008
What they mean by "grassroots" in Hollywood More
October 02, 2008
How to live very, very well while reporting a modest income. The old Soviets knew the trick, and so does Joe Biden. More
Time 'soup line' cover
October 02, 2008
In the tank for Obama or just trying to sell magazines? More
Rescue: The Conservative Conundrum
October 02, 2008
We have to use the defibulator to re-start the economic heart muscle makes sense. With the patient alive, we can then go back and change the diet and unclog the arteries later. More
Is it slipping away?
October 02, 2008
The electoral default mode in the current circumstances is a McCain defeat. McCain must wrench the game from its present course More
Obama and McCain Both For Bailout
October 02, 2008
Why do we have a Republican Party? More
VP Debate - Which candidate doesn't know what he's talking about?
October 02, 2008
To listen to the MSM, you would think Sarah Palin will come out on stage tonight in St. Louis wearing overalls and sporting a piece of straw shooting out of her ears. More
Children told to record parents' 'climate crimes'
October 02, 2008
A British power company is urging children to spy on their parents and record their "climate crimes" in a "challenge diary." More
Change we can propagandize for
October 02, 2008
What they mean by "grassroots" in Hollywood More
- The Unspoken Campaign Message of Obama - Bruce Walker
- Time for McCain to Name Names - C. Edmund Wright
- Wrecks, Lies and Barney Frank - Marc Sheppard
- Lessons from Hick U - A M Siriano
- Caracas: Murder capital of the world - David Paulin
Other Pathways Out of Financial Crisis - David Ignatius, Washington Post
Maddening for Madisonians - Quin Hillyer, The American Spectator
Save the Fat Cats - Nicholas Kristof, New York Times
Kill the Bailout - Robert Tracinski, The Intellectual Activist
US Democratic-Capitalist Model on Trial - Timothy Garton Ash, Guardian
America's Crisis Could Be Very Ugly for World - Victor Davis Hanson, RCP
VP Debate Could Be Politically Pivotal - Cathleen Decker, Los Angeles Times
Palin May Find Bubba Vote Isn't Enough - Margaret Carlson, Bloomberg
Liberals Sneer, Americans Cheer - Michelle Easton, Investor's Business Daily
Biden's Perks Conflict w/'Regular Joe' Image - Kovaleski & McIntyre, NYT
McCain's Bold Tactics, Long-Term Problems - Carney & Scherer, Time
Steering a Suddenly Lost GOP Ship - Steven Stark, Boston Phoenix
Democrats, Taxes and Phony 'Facts' - Brent Bozell, New York Post
Revisiting the 'Bradley Effect' - Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times
Can Warren Buffett Rescue the Market? - Ben Steverman, BusinessWeek
Next: The Mother of All Bank Runs? - Nouriel Roubini, Forbes
Credit Crisis: 36 Hours of Alarm & Action - Joe Nocera, New York Times
The RCP Blog: The Regulator Speaks - Tom Bevan | Morning Report
Maddening for Madisonians - Quin Hillyer, The American Spectator
Save the Fat Cats - Nicholas Kristof, New York Times
Kill the Bailout - Robert Tracinski, The Intellectual Activist
US Democratic-Capitalist Model on Trial - Timothy Garton Ash, Guardian
America's Crisis Could Be Very Ugly for World - Victor Davis Hanson, RCP
VP Debate Could Be Politically Pivotal - Cathleen Decker, Los Angeles Times
Palin May Find Bubba Vote Isn't Enough - Margaret Carlson, Bloomberg
Liberals Sneer, Americans Cheer - Michelle Easton, Investor's Business Daily
Biden's Perks Conflict w/'Regular Joe' Image - Kovaleski & McIntyre, NYT
McCain's Bold Tactics, Long-Term Problems - Carney & Scherer, Time
Steering a Suddenly Lost GOP Ship - Steven Stark, Boston Phoenix
Democrats, Taxes and Phony 'Facts' - Brent Bozell, New York Post
Revisiting the 'Bradley Effect' - Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times
Can Warren Buffett Rescue the Market? - Ben Steverman, BusinessWeek
Next: The Mother of All Bank Runs? - Nouriel Roubini, Forbes
Credit Crisis: 36 Hours of Alarm & Action - Joe Nocera, New York Times
The RCP Blog: The Regulator Speaks - Tom Bevan | Morning Report
Political News & Analysis
Biden, Aides Focus on Tone of the Debate - Washington Post
A Less-Popular Sarah Palin Heads to the Debate - Los Angeles Times
Rescue Plan Headed for Friday Finale - The Hill
Senate Vote Gives Rescue Plan New Life - Wall Street Journal
Transcripts & Speeches
Obama Promises Presidential Review of Rescue Plan - Barack Obama
McCain's Speech on the Economy - John McCain
Panel on the Rescue Bill and Gwen Ifill - Special Report w/Brit Hume
Senate Leadership Press Conf. After Rescue Vote - CNN
Fmr. Speaker Dennis Haster on "Hannity & Colmes" - Hannity & Colmes
Best of the Blogs
Live from St. Louis - Howard Wolfson, The Flack
Will Biden Gaffe? - Jennifer Rubin, Pajamas Media
Sen. Obama Crossed the Aisle - J. Zeleny & M. Cooper, The Caucus
Keys to Tonight's VP Debate - Ed Morrissey, Hot Air
Blue Dogs Get Shafted - BooMan, Booman Tribune
Howard Zinn:
From Empire to Democracy
Amy Goodman:
Invasion of the Sea-Smurfs
Steve Fraser:
The Specter of Wall Street
Jennifer Daskal:
More Blowback From the War on Terror
Josh Silver:
How the Media Sold Their Souls to Wall Street
Johann Hari:
This Crisis Is Also a Big Opportunity
Helen Thomas:
McCain Surely Needs Lessons in Diplomacy
Haroon Siddiqu:
The Wreckage of Harper-Bush Policies
From Empire to Democracy
Amy Goodman:
Invasion of the Sea-Smurfs
Steve Fraser:
The Specter of Wall Street
Jennifer Daskal:
More Blowback From the War on Terror
Josh Silver:
How the Media Sold Their Souls to Wall Street
Johann Hari:
This Crisis Is Also a Big Opportunity
Helen Thomas:
McCain Surely Needs Lessons in Diplomacy
Haroon Siddiqu:
The Wreckage of Harper-Bush Policies
Who Will Insure the Insurers?
by Lila Rajiva / October 2nd, 2008 (2)
Newt Gingrich was the only member of government who sounded like he had a clue about what was going on this past week, Paulson and Bernanke included. Gingrich recognized, correctly, that the main thrust of the Paulson plan was to give more power to well Paulson.
But since the bill was defeated on Monday, Gingrich has been talking as though tweaking the Paulson plan on a couple of things would be enough to get it through next time. One tweak, he suggests, would be to have the government insure the bad loans on the books of financial institutions. This is
(Full article )
Biden vs. Palin -- Who Won? 6 Short Takes on the VP Debate
By AlterNet
Election 2008: AlterNet's Heather Gehlert, Don Hazen and Joshua Holland on the debate along with Markos Moulitsas Zuniga, Chris Bowers and Christy Hardin Smith.
The Really Hard-to-Swallow Truth About the Bailout
Joe Bageant, CounterPunch
Corporate Accountability and WorkPlace: We somehow came to believe Wall Street's success was ours too, and that the bills we owed were never going to come due. Well, they are now.
Chomsky: "The Majority of the World Supports Iran"Subrata Ghoshroy, AlterNet
ForeignPolicy: In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview, Chomsky discusses the global politics of Iran's and India's attempts to become nuclear powers.
Make Staying on Top of Election News a CinchDon Hazen, AlterNet
Who needs the mainstream media's noise machine when you can cut through to the news you need?
Michael Moore: Here's How to Fix the Mess on Wall Street
Michael Moore, Daily Kos
PEEK: We cannot simply keep protesting without proposing exactly what it is we think Congress should do.
Marijuana Is Real MedicinePaul Krassner, Huffington Post
DrugReporter: The stories of the medicinal properties of pot will blow you away.
The Harsh Economics of the Global Water CrisisJulie Chowdhury, The Wip
Water: It is our era's greatest scandal that 1.6 million children die of preventable illness each year. We can fix that.
Joe Biden: Experience With a Big Heart Is a Winning Combo
Post by Christy Hardin Smith
Election 2008: Looks like CBS' undecideds poll agrees: Biden -- 46%, Palin 21%. More ป
The Palin Payoff: How Sarah Brings in the Christian Cash
Bill Berkowitz, Mike Reynolds, Investigative Fund at The Nation Institute
Thanks to Palin, McCain can now pay for expensive attacks on Obama, giving him the same kind of clout Bush had in battleground states.
Bailout Passes Senate; 9 Reasons That's Bad News for YouSen. Bernie Sanders, Huffington Post
Corporate Accountability and WorkPlace: Forcing each American to fork over $2,200 at a time when median family income has declined by as much is no way to improve the economy.
onservatives Attack Google for Opposing Gay Marriage Ban
by Amanda Terkel - 2:34 AM
McCain's Judgment On Trial: The Senator and the Governor
by Howie Klein, Down With Tyranny! - 2:22 AM
The Palin Wink Should Become This Year's Gore Sigh
by AlterNet Staff, Whiskey Fire - 2:12 AM
Obama vs. McCain: An Easy Choice for the Uninsured
by Steve Benen, Washington Monthly - 2:02 AM
Who Won the Veep Debate?
by Steve Benen, Washington Monthly - 8:51 PM
DEBATE ANALYSIS: A Minute by Minute Look at Biden vs. Palin
by Staff, Think Progress - 7:36 PM
What Comes After Senate Approval of the Bailout Bill?
Robert Kuttner
October 2, 2008 | web only
Congressional leaders need to look to more than just passing the bill in the House.
How Does Iraq Play Into the Economic Crisis?
Matthew Yglesias
Bush's foreign policy bears some responsibility for our current economic woes.
Robert Kuttner
October 2, 2008 | web only
Congressional leaders need to look to more than just passing the bill in the House.
How Does Iraq Play Into the Economic Crisis?
Matthew Yglesias
Bush's foreign policy bears some responsibility for our current economic woes.
The group blog of The American Prospect
Can I call you Joe?
Posted at 9:09 p.m.
A respectable liberal blog
Debate liveblogging.
Posted at 10:35 p.m.
Dean Baker's economic commentary
The Post gets its bailout argument wrong.
Posted at 12:16 p.m.
Palin Has Everything that Counts
Kyle-Anne Shiver
Sarah Palin has everything that counts. She has had my admiration since day one, and I've seen nothing of significance to change my mind. More
Romanticizing Obama
Bookworm
I think I have finally come to understand the appeal of Barack Obama to many of his devoted followers. It comes from the world of romance, not politics. More
The Enigma of Obama
Paul Shlichta
A school of thought is emerging that Barack Obama has an advanced form of narcissistic personality disorder. More
Kyle-Anne Shiver
Sarah Palin has everything that counts. She has had my admiration since day one, and I've seen nothing of significance to change my mind. More
Romanticizing Obama
Bookworm
I think I have finally come to understand the appeal of Barack Obama to many of his devoted followers. It comes from the world of romance, not politics. More
The Enigma of Obama
Paul Shlichta
A school of thought is emerging that Barack Obama has an advanced form of narcissistic personality disorder. More
The 'ACORNization' of America
October 03, 2008
Remind me why protest groups who interfere with the running of the US government deserve taxpayer dollars, More
Live Blogging the Vice-Presidential Debate
October 02, 2008
AT writers will be live blogging tonight's debate. Join the fun. More
Are Foreign Donations Powering the Obama Campaign?
October 02, 2008
Just how much in donations from foreign countries is pouring into the Obama campaign coffers is a question one FEC auditor would like to have answered. More
October 03, 2008
Remind me why protest groups who interfere with the running of the US government deserve taxpayer dollars, More
Live Blogging the Vice-Presidential Debate
October 02, 2008
AT writers will be live blogging tonight's debate. Join the fun. More
Are Foreign Donations Powering the Obama Campaign?
October 02, 2008
Just how much in donations from foreign countries is pouring into the Obama campaign coffers is a question one FEC auditor would like to have answered. More
Ifill on Palin
October 02, 2008
In advance of her performance at tonight's debate, Gwen Ifill has already tipped her hand respecting her animus toward Sarah Palin. From an actual transcript of her PBS show Washington Week: More
Hitting the bullseye with Sarah-Cuda
October 02, 2008
A move guaranteed to further outrage helpless liberal feminists and others threatened by Governor Sarah Palin. More
Ifill challenges viewers on her bias
October 02, 2008
This is either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. More
Joe Biden and the American nomenklatura
October 02, 2008
How to live very, very well while reporting a modest income. The old Soviets knew the trick, and so does Joe Biden. More
October 02, 2008
In advance of her performance at tonight's debate, Gwen Ifill has already tipped her hand respecting her animus toward Sarah Palin. From an actual transcript of her PBS show Washington Week: More
Hitting the bullseye with Sarah-Cuda
October 02, 2008
A move guaranteed to further outrage helpless liberal feminists and others threatened by Governor Sarah Palin. More
Ifill challenges viewers on her bias
October 02, 2008
This is either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. More
Joe Biden and the American nomenklatura
October 02, 2008
How to live very, very well while reporting a modest income. The old Soviets knew the trick, and so does Joe Biden. More
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/1...erican_nom.html
Time 'soup line' cover
October 02, 2008
In the tank for Obama or just trying to sell magazines? More
Rescue: The Conservative Conundrum
October 02, 2008
We have to use the defibulator to re-start the economic heart muscle makes sense. With the patient alive, we can then go back and change the diet and unclog the arteries later. More
Is it slipping away?
October 02, 2008
The electoral default mode in the current circumstances is a McCain defeat. McCain must wrench the game from its present course More
Obama and McCain Both For Bailout
October 02, 2008
Why do we have a Republican Party? More
VP Debate - Which candidate doesn't know what he's talking about?
October 02, 2008
To listen to the MSM, you would think Sarah Palin will come out on stage tonight in St. Louis wearing overalls and sporting a piece of straw shooting out of her ears. More
Time 'soup line' cover
October 02, 2008
In the tank for Obama or just trying to sell magazines? More
Rescue: The Conservative Conundrum
October 02, 2008
We have to use the defibulator to re-start the economic heart muscle makes sense. With the patient alive, we can then go back and change the diet and unclog the arteries later. More
Is it slipping away?
October 02, 2008
The electoral default mode in the current circumstances is a McCain defeat. McCain must wrench the game from its present course More
Obama and McCain Both For Bailout
October 02, 2008
Why do we have a Republican Party? More
VP Debate - Which candidate doesn't know what he's talking about?
October 02, 2008
To listen to the MSM, you would think Sarah Palin will come out on stage tonight in St. Louis wearing overalls and sporting a piece of straw shooting out of her ears. More
- Senate 'Bailout' Bill a Bizarre Blend Indeed - Marc Sheppard
- Sarah Palin and the Experience Factor - J.R. Dunn
- Fannie/Freddie and the Stealth Welfare State - Christopher Chantrill
- Russia Suffers a Bloody Nose in Georgia - Joel J. Sprayregen
- Nancy Pelosi: The worst Speaker in History - J. R. Dunn
Palin Scored Points But Didn't Win - Howard Fineman, Newsweek
Joe Biden Was No Match for 'Joe Six-Pack' - Peggy Noonan, WSJ
Palin's Steady Act All GOP Could Ask For - Vaughn Ververs, CBS News
Sarah Palin Changed Her Image Overnight - Fred Barnes, Weekly Standard
Hockey Mom on Thin Ice - E.J. Dionne, Washington Post
The Veep Debate: Palin Is Back - Rich Lowry, New York Post
In Debate, GOP Ticket Survives One Test - Adam Nagaourney, NY Times
Hail Mary vs. Cool Barry - Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post
Democrat Fingerprints All Over Crisis - Dominic Lawson, The Independent
Why the Bank Bill Should Pass - Rep. Steny Hoyer, Wall Street Journal
GOP Leaders Face Bailout Pressure - Reid Wilson, Politics Nation
Jitters in the House of Representatives? - Francis & Sasseen, Der Spiegel
Financial Crisis Has Shaken Global Politics - Philip Stephens, FT
All the Credit Crunch Talk Is Rubbish - Gerard Baker, Times of London
Obama or McCain, Iran Stance Won't Change - Michael Rubin, Australian
The Bailout Bill Is Irresponsible - William Isaac, Forbes
More Troops the Answer in Afghanistan? - Hosenball & Isikoff, Newsweek
RCP Blog: Debate Wrap: Palin Wins By Not Losing - Tom Bevan
Joe Biden Was No Match for 'Joe Six-Pack' - Peggy Noonan, WSJ
Palin's Steady Act All GOP Could Ask For - Vaughn Ververs, CBS News
Sarah Palin Changed Her Image Overnight - Fred Barnes, Weekly Standard
Hockey Mom on Thin Ice - E.J. Dionne, Washington Post
The Veep Debate: Palin Is Back - Rich Lowry, New York Post
In Debate, GOP Ticket Survives One Test - Adam Nagaourney, NY Times
Hail Mary vs. Cool Barry - Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post
Democrat Fingerprints All Over Crisis - Dominic Lawson, The Independent
Why the Bank Bill Should Pass - Rep. Steny Hoyer, Wall Street Journal
GOP Leaders Face Bailout Pressure - Reid Wilson, Politics Nation
Jitters in the House of Representatives? - Francis & Sasseen, Der Spiegel
Financial Crisis Has Shaken Global Politics - Philip Stephens, FT
All the Credit Crunch Talk Is Rubbish - Gerard Baker, Times of London
Obama or McCain, Iran Stance Won't Change - Michael Rubin, Australian
The Bailout Bill Is Irresponsible - William Isaac, Forbes
More Troops the Answer in Afghanistan? - Hosenball & Isikoff, Newsweek
RCP Blog: Debate Wrap: Palin Wins By Not Losing - Tom Bevan
Editorials
The Palin Referendum - Chicago Tribune
Palin Proves Little - New York Times
Voters Should Expect More - Washington Post
Free Sarah Palin - Wall Street Journal
Transcripts & Speeches
The Vice Presidential Debate - Biden & Palin
Obama Promises Presidential Review of Rescue Plan - Barack Obama
McCain's Speech on the Economy - John McCain
Panel on the Rescue Bill and Gwen Ifill - Special Report w/Brit Hume
Senate Leadership Press Conf. After Rescue Vote - CNN
Best of the Blogs
B.S. is Abbreviation for "Biden Says" - Jonah Goldberg, The Corner
Democrats Are 2-0 - Ezra Klein, TAP
Sarah is Back - Patrick Ruffini, Next Right
The Perkiness Factor: Why Biden Lost - Steve Young, On Politics
Sarah Rocks! - Michelle Malkin
Political News & Analysis
Biden, Palin Clash on Taxes, Iraq - Wall Street Journal
Palin and Biden are Cordial but Pointed - New York Times
Opposition to Rescue Bill Wilts - The Politico
Rescue Bill Heads for 218 Votes - The Hill
Joe Biden Was No Match for 'Joe Six-Pack'
- Peggy Noonan, WSJ
Is Palin Going to Fall on Her Face?
- Howard Kurtz, Washington Post
Hail Mary vs. Cool Barry
- Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post
Liberals Sneer, Americans Cheer
- Michelle Easton, Investor's Business Daily
- Peggy Noonan, WSJ
Is Palin Going to Fall on Her Face?
- Howard Kurtz, Washington Post
Hail Mary vs. Cool Barry
- Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post
Liberals Sneer, Americans Cheer
- Michelle Easton, Investor's Business Daily
Palin's Debate With The Facts
Last night's match-up between Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) and Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) was one "most highly anticipated vice-presidential debates in history." The event at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, capped off one of Palin's most high-profile weeks, in which she completed a series of interviews with CBS's Katie Couric and various right-wing radio hosts. The picture that emerged was of a candidate struggling to grasp complex issues outside of her narrow right-wing worldview. At times, her positions not only went against what the majority of the American public believes, but also against scientific facts. Even conservative Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer admitted after yesterday's debate that he "wasn't impressed by the depth of her answers or the breadth of her knowledge." Palin kept repeating that she wanted to move away from the past and look ahead, but at no point was she able to demonstrate how, going forward, a McCain-Palin administration would be anything but a third Bush term.
ECONOMIC CLUELESNESS: As Congress is in the middle of approving a $700 billion financial bailout, yesterday's debate appropriately kicked off with a discussion of economic issues. Palin repeatedly stressed the reform that she and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) would bring to the government. "Now, John McCain thankfully has been one representing reform," Palin said. "Two years ago, remember, it was John McCain who pushed so hard with the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac reform measures. He sounded that warning bell." This claim, however, is an exaggeration. This morning, NPR fact-checked Palin's claim and found that in 2005, Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) was actually the one who led the effort to tighten regulations. NPR said that the only piece they could find from McCain was a press release co-sponsoring Hagel's measure. Additionally, in an interview in November 2007, McCain admitted that he was clueless about the economic mess: "So, I'd like to tell you that I did anticipate it, but I have to give you straight talk, I did not." In an interview that aired on Sept. 24, Couric pressed Palin to name "specific examples" of McCain pushing for more regulation. Palin failed, however, and simply replied, "I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you." Palin was similarly confused and overwhelmed by her memorized talking points in a CBS interview that aired the next day, when she inexplicably claimed that the bailout is needed to "help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up the economy," a position that no experts have taken.
DANGEROUS DECLARATIONS: Yesterday, Palin aggressively criticized anyone advocating withdrawal from Iraq, even though it is a position held by the majority of the American public. Palin claimed that a timeline for redeployment -- now also embraced by President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri-al Maliki -- would be "a white flag of surrender." Of course, Palin failed to note that before adopting the talking points of the McCain campaign, she held a similar view. In March 2007, Palin told the Alaska Business Monthly, "I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq. ... [W]hile I support our president, Condoleezza Rice and the administration, I want to know that we have an exit plan in place." Last night and during her CBS interviews, Palin made repeated references to "victory" and "winning" in Iraq while also praising Gen. David Petraeus. Petraeus, however, has disavowed such terms, wanting to avoid "premature declarations of success." The McCain campaign continues to tout Palin as a foreign policy expert. This week on NPR, McCain claimed that he has "turned to her advice many times in the past" on these issues. Defending the claim that Alaska's proximity to Russia constitutes national security experience, the campaign told CBS News this week that "Russian incursions...inside the air defense identification zone have occurred." However, a spokesman for the Alaska region of the North American Aerospace Defense Command has confirmed that "no Russian military planes have been flying even into that zone" during Palin's tenure.
EMBRACING DARTH VADER: In yesterday's debate, Biden called Dick Cheney "one of the most dangerous vice presidents" in history. Palin, however, had a very different view of "Darth Vader." "I'm thankful the Constitution would allow a bit more authority given to the vice president if that vice president so chose to exert it in working with the Senate," she said in last night's debate. Palin also stuck up for Cheney's claim that he's not part of the executive branch, saying that the Constitution allowed for "flexibility there in the office of the vice president." When asked what Cheney's biggest mistake has been while in office, Palin refused to name any of his official actions to Couric. "Worst thing, I guess that would have been the duck hunting accident, where you know, that was an accident," she said. "And that I think that was made into a caricature of him." Trying to paint herself as a reformer, Palin bragged that as governor, she has appointed people "regardless of party." However, high school affiliation has been very important. As the New York Times noted, "The Wasilla High School yearbook archive now doubles as a veritable directory of state government." Palin has appointed her former junior high band-mate, among others.
ECONOMY -- NATIONAL DEBT HITS A 50-YEAR HIGH: Six years after Vice-President Cheney said that "deficits don't matter" in a meeting with the Bush administration's economic team, the national debt has exceeded $10 trillion dollars. This is the highest dollar amount ever, and pushes the debt to 69 percent of the gross domestic product, the highest percentage since 1955. When Bush took office, "the national debt stood at $5.727 trillion," and in eight years there has been an increase of over 70 percent, which is the largest increase in the debt of any president in history. The Center for Budget Policy and Priorities attributes 42 percent of the "fiscal deterioration" under Bush solely to his 2001 and 2003 tax cuts. The fiscal year 2009 budget also has a near-record deficit of $407 billion, which was calculated before the administration spent $900 billion rescuing troubled financial institutions and proposed a $700 billion economic bailout. One facet of the economic bailout bill that passed the Senate and is being voted on in the House today increases the federal debt ceiling -- the amount to which the debt is legally allowed to go -- to $11.3 trillion.
CIVIL RIGHTS -- VON SPAKOVSKY CLAIMS OBAMA WOULD HAVE A 'PARTISAN AND POLITICALLY-BIASED' JUSTICE DEPARTMENT: In May, controversial former Justice Department official Hans von Spakovsky withdrew his name from consideration for the Federal Election Commission, following months of opposition from lawmakers and civil rights groups. Since then, Spakovsky has busied himself by writing opinion pieces for conservative news outlets like the Wall Street Journal and National Review. In an article for the right-wing Human Events yesterday, Spakovsky criticized efforts by Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) to get attack ads by the American Issues Project off of TV, saying that the "actions should cause every American to ask, can Obama be trusted with the powers of the Justice Department." Spakovsky claimed that the Justice Department under Obama would be "partisan and politically-biased." Spakovsky's complaints are ironic given that six of his former Justice Department colleagues wrote to the Senate Rules Committee in June 2007, to say that he "injected partisan political factors into decision-making" when he ran the Voting Section of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division. Critics said Spakovsky used every opportunity "to make it difficult for voters -- poor, minority and Democratic -- to go to the polls," including pushing through Texas re-districting that violated the Voting Rights Act.
MILITARY -- U.S. MILITARY SPENDING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS TO LURE NEW RECRUITS: According to data recently obtained by the Associated Press, "the Army and Marine Corps doled out nearly $640 million in the fiscal year that ended Tuesday to entice recruits to join up." Enlistment bonuses have run as high as $40,000 and "[a]ll told, the enlistment incentives coupled with the promise of thousands more for education, increased the costs of Army and Marine bonuses by 25 percent over last year's totals." The incentives played a major role in helping all branches of the U.S. armed forces meet recruiting goals for the year. The active-duty Army also boosted its recruitment numbers by "a new program that allows the Guard to bring in recruits, and then allow them to switch to the active Army for a few years before returning to the Guard." However, the Army has also lowered standards for new recruits, accepting more high school drop-outs and those with felonies, misdemeanors, and a history of drug and alcohol abuse. A RAND study found that having fewer "high-quality" recruits not only hurts military performance, it is also costly.
CIVIL RIGHTS -- VON SPAKOVSKY CLAIMS OBAMA WOULD HAVE A 'PARTISAN AND POLITICALLY-BIASED' JUSTICE DEPARTMENT: In May, controversial former Justice Department official Hans von Spakovsky withdrew his name from consideration for the Federal Election Commission, following months of opposition from lawmakers and civil rights groups. Since then, Spakovsky has busied himself by writing opinion pieces for conservative news outlets like the Wall Street Journal and National Review. In an article for the right-wing Human Events yesterday, Spakovsky criticized efforts by Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) to get attack ads by the American Issues Project off of TV, saying that the "actions should cause every American to ask, can Obama be trusted with the powers of the Justice Department." Spakovsky claimed that the Justice Department under Obama would be "partisan and politically-biased." Spakovsky's complaints are ironic given that six of his former Justice Department colleagues wrote to the Senate Rules Committee in June 2007, to say that he "injected partisan political factors into decision-making" when he ran the Voting Section of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division. Critics said Spakovsky used every opportunity "to make it difficult for voters -- poor, minority and Democratic -- to go to the polls," including pushing through Texas re-districting that violated the Voting Rights Act.
MILITARY -- U.S. MILITARY SPENDING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS TO LURE NEW RECRUITS: According to data recently obtained by the Associated Press, "the Army and Marine Corps doled out nearly $640 million in the fiscal year that ended Tuesday to entice recruits to join up." Enlistment bonuses have run as high as $40,000 and "[a]ll told, the enlistment incentives coupled with the promise of thousands more for education, increased the costs of Army and Marine bonuses by 25 percent over last year's totals." The incentives played a major role in helping all branches of the U.S. armed forces meet recruiting goals for the year. The active-duty Army also boosted its recruitment numbers by "a new program that allows the Guard to bring in recruits, and then allow them to switch to the active Army for a few years before returning to the Guard." However, the Army has also lowered standards for new recruits, accepting more high school drop-outs and those with felonies, misdemeanors, and a history of drug and alcohol abuse. A RAND study found that having fewer "high-quality" recruits not only hurts military performance, it is also costly.
At least eight lawmakers who voted against bailout legislation earlier this week "now say they would support the measure." "Four others say they may switch their ballots before the House votes again, at about 12:30 p.m. today on the bill, which failed by a dozen votes on Sept. 29." Additionally, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) says "he's talked to some lawmakers he didn't name who've agreed to change their votes."
The Pentagon "will pay private U.S. contractors in Iraq up to $300 million over the next three years to produce news stories, entertainment programs and public service advertisements for the Iraqi media in an effort to 'engage and inspire' the local population to support U.S. objectives and the Iraqi government." Contracts are part of the U.S. military's "information/psychological operations" in Iraq for the future.
According to data obtained by the AP, "the Army and Marine Corps doled out nearly $640 million" to entice recruits in the fiscal year. Recruits were buoyed by incentives that can be as high as $40,000 each, which in total, "increased the costs of Army and Marine bonuses by 25 percent over last year."
Yesterday, an Alaska judge "refused to block a state investigation into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power when she fired her public safety commissioner this summer" and "denied the Alaska attorney general's challenge of legislative subpoenas." Chief legislative investigator Steve Branchflower, is scheduled to present his report on Palin in one week.
Yesterday, a federal judge refused to dismiss charges against Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK). The judge explained that while "prosecutors had violated a rule requiring the sharing of exculpatory evidence," that he was "'not persuaded' that the violations were serious enough to declare a mistrial."
Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) is seeking a 10th term in the U.S. House this Saturday "even though he was indicted last year on multiple federal corruption and bribery charges and is preparing to stand trial in December."
And finally: Bill O'Reilly flipped out and did it live last night. The vituperative Fox host screamed and cursed at Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), hurling all sorts of personal insults and name-calling in his direction. Frank told O'Reilly his "stupidity gets in the way of rational discussion." Watch O'Reilly's screed here. "Be sure to strap on your helmet and elbow pads before watching this one," says the Swamp.
The Pentagon "will pay private U.S. contractors in Iraq up to $300 million over the next three years to produce news stories, entertainment programs and public service advertisements for the Iraqi media in an effort to 'engage and inspire' the local population to support U.S. objectives and the Iraqi government." Contracts are part of the U.S. military's "information/psychological operations" in Iraq for the future.
According to data obtained by the AP, "the Army and Marine Corps doled out nearly $640 million" to entice recruits in the fiscal year. Recruits were buoyed by incentives that can be as high as $40,000 each, which in total, "increased the costs of Army and Marine bonuses by 25 percent over last year."
Yesterday, an Alaska judge "refused to block a state investigation into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power when she fired her public safety commissioner this summer" and "denied the Alaska attorney general's challenge of legislative subpoenas." Chief legislative investigator Steve Branchflower, is scheduled to present his report on Palin in one week.
Yesterday, a federal judge refused to dismiss charges against Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK). The judge explained that while "prosecutors had violated a rule requiring the sharing of exculpatory evidence," that he was "'not persuaded' that the violations were serious enough to declare a mistrial."
Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) is seeking a 10th term in the U.S. House this Saturday "even though he was indicted last year on multiple federal corruption and bribery charges and is preparing to stand trial in December."
And finally: Bill O'Reilly flipped out and did it live last night. The vituperative Fox host screamed and cursed at Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), hurling all sorts of personal insults and name-calling in his direction. Frank told O'Reilly his "stupidity gets in the way of rational discussion." Watch O'Reilly's screed here. "Be sure to strap on your helmet and elbow pads before watching this one," says the Swamp.
DAVID SIROTA
Bailout is Capitalism Murdering Democracy Indeed, if there's been any lesson in the last few years, it is that authoritarian capitalism rather than democratic capitalism may be the dominant ideology of the 21st century. That ideology may be coming to America. The Wall Street bailout bill is a lot of things a giveaway, a heist, a legislative manifestation of crony corruption. But it's structure is pure authoritarian capitalism.
Bailout is Capitalism Murdering Democracy Indeed, if there's been any lesson in the last few years, it is that authoritarian capitalism rather than democratic capitalism may be the dominant ideology of the 21st century. That ideology may be coming to America. The Wall Street bailout bill is a lot of things a giveaway, a heist, a legislative manifestation of crony corruption. But it's structure is pure authoritarian capitalism.
DEAN BAKER
Letting the Bank Robber Fix the Bank's Books tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com In the past, I have noted the fact that Secretary Paulson's failure to recognize the housing bubble, and the economic and financial havoc that would be created by its inevitable collapse, contributed to the disaster we now face. It turns out that Secretary Paulson played an even more direct rule in bringing down our financial system.
JAY MANDLE
The Political Roots of the Financial Crisis huffingtonpost.com Dismantling the limitations on Wall Street greed was partly achieved because the rules became outdated and the presumed regulators, who themselves opposed regulations, failed to upgrade them. But much more important in the erosion of controls has been the political clout bought by Wall Street. WILLIAM GREIDER
Born-Again Democracy thenation.com The public interest has not been served and the crisis will not recede until it is. Here are five concepts for recovery and reconstruction that are in circulation. If we are lucky, these proposals will redefine the next presidency, whoever wins.
PAUL KRUGMAN
Edge of the Abyss nytimes.com The financial and economic news since the middle of last month has been really, really bad. And what's truly scary is that we're entering a period of severe crisis with weak, confused leadership. And the people who should be steering us away from that abyss are out to lunch.
ROBERT B. REICH
The Real Choice Ahead tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com If the choice is between a lousy bailout bill and economic Armageddon, I'd vote for the lousy bailout bill. But make no mistake: This is a lousy bill.
PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS
Why Paulson's Plan is a Fraud counterpunch.org The bailout is focused on the wrong end of the problem. The bailout should be focused on the origin of the problem, the defaulting homeowners. The bailout should indemnify defaulting homeowners and pay off the delinquent mortgages.
JOE BAGEANT
The Really Hard-to-Swallow Truth About the Bailout alternet.org We somehow came to believe Wall Street's success was ours too, and that the bills we owed were never going to come due. Well, they are now.
STEVE FRASER
The Specter of Wall Street tomdispatch.com For well more than half a century Wall Street has enjoyed a remarkable political immunity, but matters were not always like that. Now, with history marching forward in seven league boots, we are about to revisit a time when the Street functioned as the country's lightning rod, attracting its deepest animosities and most passionate desires for economic justice and democracy.
WILLIAM PFAFF
Will the Pentagon Be the Next U.S. Institution to Crash? truthdig.com The economic crisis that has now overtaken the United States can be interpreted as the logical result of a financial system that reached the point where there was no limit to what you could take out of it even when you were incapable of understanding the transactions taking place. Less apparent to most people, but just as real, are the signs of an impending crash of an American military system in which, since the end of the Cold War, Pentagon dysfunction has metastasized uncontrollably.
Letting the Bank Robber Fix the Bank's Books tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com In the past, I have noted the fact that Secretary Paulson's failure to recognize the housing bubble, and the economic and financial havoc that would be created by its inevitable collapse, contributed to the disaster we now face. It turns out that Secretary Paulson played an even more direct rule in bringing down our financial system.
JAY MANDLE
The Political Roots of the Financial Crisis huffingtonpost.com Dismantling the limitations on Wall Street greed was partly achieved because the rules became outdated and the presumed regulators, who themselves opposed regulations, failed to upgrade them. But much more important in the erosion of controls has been the political clout bought by Wall Street.
WILLIAM GREIDERBorn-Again Democracy thenation.com The public interest has not been served and the crisis will not recede until it is. Here are five concepts for recovery and reconstruction that are in circulation. If we are lucky, these proposals will redefine the next presidency, whoever wins.
PAUL KRUGMAN
Edge of the Abyss nytimes.com The financial and economic news since the middle of last month has been really, really bad. And what's truly scary is that we're entering a period of severe crisis with weak, confused leadership. And the people who should be steering us away from that abyss are out to lunch.
ROBERT B. REICH
The Real Choice Ahead tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com If the choice is between a lousy bailout bill and economic Armageddon, I'd vote for the lousy bailout bill. But make no mistake: This is a lousy bill.
PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS
Why Paulson's Plan is a Fraud counterpunch.org The bailout is focused on the wrong end of the problem. The bailout should be focused on the origin of the problem, the defaulting homeowners. The bailout should indemnify defaulting homeowners and pay off the delinquent mortgages.
JOE BAGEANT
The Really Hard-to-Swallow Truth About the Bailout alternet.org We somehow came to believe Wall Street's success was ours too, and that the bills we owed were never going to come due. Well, they are now.
STEVE FRASER
The Specter of Wall Street tomdispatch.com For well more than half a century Wall Street has enjoyed a remarkable political immunity, but matters were not always like that. Now, with history marching forward in seven league boots, we are about to revisit a time when the Street functioned as the country's lightning rod, attracting its deepest animosities and most passionate desires for economic justice and democracy.
WILLIAM PFAFF
Will the Pentagon Be the Next U.S. Institution to Crash? truthdig.com The economic crisis that has now overtaken the United States can be interpreted as the logical result of a financial system that reached the point where there was no limit to what you could take out of it even when you were incapable of understanding the transactions taking place. Less apparent to most people, but just as real, are the signs of an impending crash of an American military system in which, since the end of the Cold War, Pentagon dysfunction has metastasized uncontrollably.
Out of the West Comes an Alaska Cowgirl
James Lewis
It's Frontier Woman vs. Metrosexual Chic! Hold your breath. Sarah Palin is a mythic figure out of the American imagination. That why she scares the Effetes and Corruptocrats. More
Detecting Real Heroes
Barry Rubin
Who your heroes are tells
James Lewis
It's Frontier Woman vs. Metrosexual Chic! Hold your breath. Sarah Palin is a mythic figure out of the American imagination. That why she scares the Effetes and Corruptocrats. More
Detecting Real Heroes
Barry Rubin
Who your heroes are tells