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Rob Kall: Post NIE-tal Thoughts...Congressional Medals of Honor, Journalistic Testicles, Impeachment Urgency and Pelosi's Treason. the intelligence officers who mutinied against Cheney deserve congressional medals of honor for stopping a war that would have been treasonously started with lies and deception. These revelations provide further proof that Cheney, then Bush should be impeached. Failure to put impeachment on the table, by Pelosi, makes her an accessory, aiding and abetting Bush's and Cheney's crimes
Rice Explains New US View on Iran Nukes Rice said it may take some time for U.S. allies to understand the administration's new conclusions on Iran, but she said there should be great concern still about the Islamic republic's continuing preprocessing and enrichment of uranium, which Tehran insists is only for civilian energy production. Such an enrichment program also could lead to nuclear weapons production.
Froomkin: A Pattern of Deception Bush changed the way he talked about Iran in August-stopped making assertions about the existence of a nuclear weapons program.Instead, he started more vaguely accusing them of seeking knowledge necessary to make such a weapon. He and the vice president accelerated their rhetorical efforts to persuade the public that the nuclear threat posed by Iran was grave and urgent.
Doug Thompson: The eyes of a madman I watched his eyes as they darted back and forth during his press conference at the White House. As a hunter, I've seen that look before - at the moment I've faced a hunted animal and must make the decision to kill or be killed. The George W. Bush that faced reporters and the television cameras Tuesday was a cornered, dangerous predator, determined to fight back until the bitter end even as time, and escape routes, run out.
- The Key Question about the NIE's Key Judgment - Herbert E. Meyer
- Death Before Burkas - Kyle-Anne Shiver
- Christopher Hitchens Says, 'Bah, Hannukah' - J.R. Dunn
- Things You Are Not Allowed to Say - Christopher Chantrill
- Nukes, Terrorists, and the Nation-State Connection - Douglas Hanson
- Can the Left move on from Clintonismo? - James Lewis
- Nominating the Next President: The Frontrunners and the Wingmen - Richard Baehr
- Will Hillary's Sweet Nothings Persuade America? - Kyle-Anne Shiver
- If Obama Beats Clinton to the Nomination - Lee Cary
Bolton Calls For Congressional Witch-Hunt Into Anti-Bush ‘People In The Intelligence
( Published on Wednesday, December 05, 2007 )
Like his ideological kin Norman Podhoretz, former U.N. ambassador and Iran war hawk John Bolton has been attempting to slander the U.S. intelligence community’s collective judgments
( Published on Wednesday, December 05, 2007 )
Like his ideological kin Norman Podhoretz, former U.N. ambassador and Iran war hawk John Bolton has been attempting to slander the U.S. intelligence community’s collective judgments
'View' hosts grill Paul on abortion
( Published on Thursday, December 06, 2007 )
Ron Paul defended his anti-abortion stance during an intense grilling from the women hosting
( Published on Thursday, December 06, 2007 )
Ron Paul defended his anti-abortion stance during an intense grilling from the women hosting
Giuliani greeted with chants for rival candidate Paul
( Published on Monday, December 03, 2007 )
The Paul backers, handing out their own candidate's literature, said they were more interested in a president who would truly try to shrink government, not just promise to do it
Hsu's Your Daddy? Part II by Sean P. Trende Norman Hsu faces charges of six counts of mail fraud, six counts of wire fraud, and three counts of violating the Federal Election Campaign Act.
Clinton Battling Edwards for Second Place in Iowaby Robert Novak and Timothy P. CarneyPolls in Iowa now consistently show that the challengers, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee ®, have surged ahead...
'High Confidence' NIEby Jed BabbinWell-founded skepticism in the "high confidence" State Department-generated NIE on Iran.
Gov. Romney's Religious Speech TodayAt The George Bush Presidential Library, Gov. Romney addressed the American people about his views on religious liberty, our country's grand tradition of religious tolerance and how faith would inform his Presidency...
Macchiavelli NIEby John BatchelorIn the Prince, Nicolo Macchiavelli, we are reminded by Winston Churchill, advised his master that, in confronting antagonist states, "Men avenge slight injuries but not grave ones."
'High Confidence' NIEby Jed BabbinWell-founded skepticism in the "high confidence" State Department-generated NIE on Iran.
Gov. Romney's Religious Speech TodayAt The George Bush Presidential Library, Gov. Romney addressed the American people about his views on religious liberty, our country's grand tradition of religious tolerance and how faith would inform his Presidency...
Macchiavelli NIEby John BatchelorIn the Prince, Nicolo Macchiavelli, we are reminded by Winston Churchill, advised his master that, in confronting antagonist states, "Men avenge slight injuries but not grave ones."
Hornberger’s Blog
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Mussolini and the Mortgage Bailout
by Jacob G. Hornberger
President Bush’s “agreement” with the mortgage industry to freeze interest rates is a reminder of the point that Ludwig von Mises made about interventionism. It is also a reminder of Benito Mussolini’s government-business partnerships that inspired much of the regulatory aspects of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal.
Notice, first of all, that President Bush and his federal cohorts are totally silent about the root cause of this crisis — the out-of-control federal spending that the feds have embarked upon since 9/11, especially to fund the U.S. Empire’s military adventures in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Do you remember when these people were suggesting that these adventures would essentially be “free” — that is, that the bills would be covered by nations joining the “coalition of the willing” and by oil taken from the Iraqis?
Those plans obviously didn’t work out. As most people are now realizing, the bills for these adventures continue to soar, with no end in sight.
How do such bills get paid? One option would have been for President Bush to simply raise income taxes on the American people to pay the bills. But Bush didn’t want to do that because he knows that most voters wouldn’t like paying higher taxes. So, he simply began borrowing the money.
Borrowing the money has involved sucking billions of dollars out of the capital markets, not only here in the United States but also internationally. That’s why the Chinese communist regime has now become one of the U.S. government’s big creditors.
As the government continued sucking all that capital out of the private sector to fund the military adventures, the inevitable result was a drying up of capital for things like refinancing home mortgages on favorable interest terms.
Thus, given that Bush’s adventures were not going to be free, it was just a question of who was going to have to pay for them. Since the taxpayers weren’t going to be charged, the bills had to fall on someone, and they did — on all those homeowners who signed those adjustable rate mortgages and who now can’t find mortgage companies to give them favorable deals on refinancing. It would be interesting to know how many of these homeowners supported Bush’s imperial adventures.
Ludwig von Mises pointed out that one government intervention inevitably leads to more interventions. Here we have a good example of that phenomenon. Bush’s interventionism in overseas affairs leads to a mortgage crisis at home, which then leads to Mussolini-type partnerships with the private sector designed to “encourage” the financial institutions to not enforce the terms of their contracts. And it’s all designed to look “voluntary.”
Of course, all that federal debt, including the monies owed to the Chinese communists, must be paid back. Ordinarily, that would mean higher taxes coming down the pike. Again, however, Bush has repeatedly told people that he’s a “no-new-taxes” type of guy.
That’s where the Federal Reserve has been so accommodating. It simply prints the money that is needed to accommodate the debt. That’s why the value of the dollar has plummeted some 50 percent in the last 4 or 5 years. That is what is called “devaluation,” at least when Third World regimes do it. It involves a debasing of the currency in order to pay the ever-rising bills of the government.
The average American has no idea what it being done to him because it’s a process that people are not taught in their economics and civics classes in high school and college. Students are taught that inflation is simply “rising prices” that mysteriously afflict societies from time to time, oftentimes as part of a nation’s “free-enterprise system.”
That’s in fact why many Americans believe that the Great Depression was a failure of America’s free-enterprise system. That’s what is taught in American’s public schools and colleges. Most Americans have no idea of the role that the Federal Reserve played in bringing about the Great Depression. At least Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve, acknowledged as much when he said back in 2002: "Let me end my talk by abusing slightly my status as an official representative of the Federal Reserve. I would like to say to Milton and Anna [Friedman]: Regarding the Great Depression. You're right, we did it. We're very sorry. But thanks to you, we won't do it again." (See “Monetarist Explanations” and “Austrina School Explanations” at Wikipedia’s “ Causes of the Great Depression.”)
Meanwhile, the presidential candidates, both Republican and Democratic, are stumbling over themselves to outdo Bush with grandiose plans to help out borrowers with their own financial bailout plans. Notice that not one of them has offered to help out any particular borrower by sending him a check out of his own personal funds. Instead, it’s all about using federal power to force lenders or taxpayers to take the hit.
Also, never mind that the Constitution does not provide the federal government with the power to impair contracts. Who’s paying attention to the Constitution? Hey, we’re at war! Just like Mussolini.
Mr. Hornberger is founder and president of The Future of Freedom Foundation.
Permalink
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Mussolini and the Mortgage Bailout
by Jacob G. Hornberger
President Bush’s “agreement” with the mortgage industry to freeze interest rates is a reminder of the point that Ludwig von Mises made about interventionism. It is also a reminder of Benito Mussolini’s government-business partnerships that inspired much of the regulatory aspects of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal.
Notice, first of all, that President Bush and his federal cohorts are totally silent about the root cause of this crisis — the out-of-control federal spending that the feds have embarked upon since 9/11, especially to fund the U.S. Empire’s military adventures in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Do you remember when these people were suggesting that these adventures would essentially be “free” — that is, that the bills would be covered by nations joining the “coalition of the willing” and by oil taken from the Iraqis?
Those plans obviously didn’t work out. As most people are now realizing, the bills for these adventures continue to soar, with no end in sight.
How do such bills get paid? One option would have been for President Bush to simply raise income taxes on the American people to pay the bills. But Bush didn’t want to do that because he knows that most voters wouldn’t like paying higher taxes. So, he simply began borrowing the money.
Borrowing the money has involved sucking billions of dollars out of the capital markets, not only here in the United States but also internationally. That’s why the Chinese communist regime has now become one of the U.S. government’s big creditors.
As the government continued sucking all that capital out of the private sector to fund the military adventures, the inevitable result was a drying up of capital for things like refinancing home mortgages on favorable interest terms.
Thus, given that Bush’s adventures were not going to be free, it was just a question of who was going to have to pay for them. Since the taxpayers weren’t going to be charged, the bills had to fall on someone, and they did — on all those homeowners who signed those adjustable rate mortgages and who now can’t find mortgage companies to give them favorable deals on refinancing. It would be interesting to know how many of these homeowners supported Bush’s imperial adventures.
Ludwig von Mises pointed out that one government intervention inevitably leads to more interventions. Here we have a good example of that phenomenon. Bush’s interventionism in overseas affairs leads to a mortgage crisis at home, which then leads to Mussolini-type partnerships with the private sector designed to “encourage” the financial institutions to not enforce the terms of their contracts. And it’s all designed to look “voluntary.”
Of course, all that federal debt, including the monies owed to the Chinese communists, must be paid back. Ordinarily, that would mean higher taxes coming down the pike. Again, however, Bush has repeatedly told people that he’s a “no-new-taxes” type of guy.
That’s where the Federal Reserve has been so accommodating. It simply prints the money that is needed to accommodate the debt. That’s why the value of the dollar has plummeted some 50 percent in the last 4 or 5 years. That is what is called “devaluation,” at least when Third World regimes do it. It involves a debasing of the currency in order to pay the ever-rising bills of the government.
The average American has no idea what it being done to him because it’s a process that people are not taught in their economics and civics classes in high school and college. Students are taught that inflation is simply “rising prices” that mysteriously afflict societies from time to time, oftentimes as part of a nation’s “free-enterprise system.”
That’s in fact why many Americans believe that the Great Depression was a failure of America’s free-enterprise system. That’s what is taught in American’s public schools and colleges. Most Americans have no idea of the role that the Federal Reserve played in bringing about the Great Depression. At least Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve, acknowledged as much when he said back in 2002: "Let me end my talk by abusing slightly my status as an official representative of the Federal Reserve. I would like to say to Milton and Anna [Friedman]: Regarding the Great Depression. You're right, we did it. We're very sorry. But thanks to you, we won't do it again." (See “Monetarist Explanations” and “Austrina School Explanations” at Wikipedia’s “ Causes of the Great Depression.”)
Meanwhile, the presidential candidates, both Republican and Democratic, are stumbling over themselves to outdo Bush with grandiose plans to help out borrowers with their own financial bailout plans. Notice that not one of them has offered to help out any particular borrower by sending him a check out of his own personal funds. Instead, it’s all about using federal power to force lenders or taxpayers to take the hit.
Also, never mind that the Constitution does not provide the federal government with the power to impair contracts. Who’s paying attention to the Constitution? Hey, we’re at war! Just like Mussolini.
Mr. Hornberger is founder and president of The Future of Freedom Foundation.
Permalink
Romney in Houston
KATHRYN JEAN LOPEZ: Well, Romney didn’t convert. “A Faithful American Candidate” 12/06 11:01 AM
PRIMARY DOCUMENT: Romney gives the speech. ““Faith in America”” 12/06 10:45 AM
VIDEO: WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?: Jonah Goldberg & Peter Beinart talk about Mitt Romney's speech about his faith. "What's Your Problem" 12/05 8:32 AM
MARK HEMINGWAY: “I am running for commander-in-chief, not pastor-in-chief.” “Mitt Romney & Religion” 12/05 6:00 AM
KATHRYN JEAN LOPEZ: Well, Romney didn’t convert. “A Faithful American Candidate” 12/06 11:01 AM
PRIMARY DOCUMENT: Romney gives the speech. ““Faith in America”” 12/06 10:45 AM
VIDEO: WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?: Jonah Goldberg & Peter Beinart talk about Mitt Romney's speech about his faith. "What's Your Problem" 12/05 8:32 AM
MARK HEMINGWAY: “I am running for commander-in-chief, not pastor-in-chief.” “Mitt Romney & Religion” 12/05 6:00 AM
AP/Cheryl Senter American politics in bad faith
It would be wrong if Mitt Romney lost the GOP race because of his Mormon beliefs rather than his dubious policies
By Walter Shapiro
This is not Romney's Kennedy moment
Mitt Romney is caught between Mormonism and a hard place -- the fundamentalist Christian base of the modern GOP. And it's partly his own fault
By Andrew O'Hehir
John F. Kennedy speaks about his CatholicismWatch and read the JFK speech that current presidential candidate Mitt Romney seems to be referencing for his own speech ThursdayPrimary Sources
CHARLOTTE'S WEB 
The Right to Ban Arms? Although the U.S. Supreme Court, which has agreed to hear a case about banning guns in the District of Columbia, will be forced to rule on the lofty matter of the Second Amendment, I think in humbler terms: Is a gun ban good for the regular citizen?
The Right to Ban Arms? Although the U.S. Supreme Court, which has agreed to hear a case about banning guns in the District of Columbia, will be forced to rule on the lofty matter of the Second Amendment, I think in humbler terms: Is a gun ban good for the regular citizen?
In a new ad that came out in Iowa Wednesday, former NATO Commander Gen. Wesley Clark quickly address attacks against Hillary Clinton before claiming that Clinton has what it takes to get us out of Iraq and to avert war with Iran.
Permalink
Wesley Clark: Hillary Has What It Takes to End War in Iraq
December 5th, 2007 In a new ad that came out in Iowa Wednesday, former NATO Commander Gen. Wesley Clark quickly address attacks against Hillary Clinton before claiming that Clinton has what it takes to get us out of Iraq and to avert war with Iran.
By The Hill | Hill's Website(s)
Permalink
Wesley Clark: Hillary Has What It Takes to End War in Iraq
December 5th, 2007 In a new ad that came out in Iowa Wednesday, former NATO Commander Gen. Wesley Clark quickly address attacks against Hillary Clinton before claiming that Clinton has what it takes to get us out of Iraq and to avert war with Iran.
By The Hill | Hill's Website(s)
NIE's Implications on Iran (Rep. Ron Klein)
December 5th, 2007 Rep. Ron Klein is vice chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and the House Iran Working Group.
This week's National Intelligence Estimate on Iran is a check on the Bush administration's recent saber-rattling. In October of this year, President Bush warned that for Tehran to possess such a weapon raised the risk of a "World War III." The rhetoric from both President Bush and President Ahmadinejad of Iran has escalated this crisis to the point where resolution seemed impossible. The NIE sheds new light on the crisis.
The NIE concluded that Iran had a nuclear weapons program in 2003, but that it stopped the program "primarily in response to international pressure." This is very good news. This validates the success of sanctions in helping the Iranian people and its leadership understand how harmful a nuclear weapons program could be to the country. Read the rest of this entry »
By Fla. Dem. Rep. Ron Klein | Rep. Klein's Website(s)
December 5th, 2007 Rep. Ron Klein is vice chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and the House Iran Working Group.
This week's National Intelligence Estimate on Iran is a check on the Bush administration's recent saber-rattling. In October of this year, President Bush warned that for Tehran to possess such a weapon raised the risk of a "World War III." The rhetoric from both President Bush and President Ahmadinejad of Iran has escalated this crisis to the point where resolution seemed impossible. The NIE sheds new light on the crisis.
The NIE concluded that Iran had a nuclear weapons program in 2003, but that it stopped the program "primarily in response to international pressure." This is very good news. This validates the success of sanctions in helping the Iranian people and its leadership understand how harmful a nuclear weapons program could be to the country. Read the rest of this entry »
By Fla. Dem. Rep. Ron Klein | Rep. Klein's Website(s)
NRCC: Landrieu Just Like Clinton
December 5th, 2007 NRSC Ad attacks Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.)for flip-flopping on illegal immigration. The ad compares Landrieu's two different votes on S. 1639 to Hillary Clinton's flub on New York's plan for drivers' licenses for illegal immigrants.
By The Hill | Hill's Website(s)
December 5th, 2007 NRSC Ad attacks Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.)for flip-flopping on illegal immigration. The ad compares Landrieu's two different votes on S. 1639 to Hillary Clinton's flub on New York's plan for drivers' licenses for illegal immigrants.
By The Hill | Hill's Website(s)
2008 and Counting: Gen. Clark says Obama started it all By The Hill Staff December 06, 2007 Retired Gen. Wesley Clark, a 2004 presidential candidate who is now a supporter of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), said Clinton’s rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), is to blame for the recent volley of barbs between the candidates. Read More...
December 06, 2007 Boehner stresses GOP unity against omnibus bill December 06, 2007 Edwards sees apologies as effective strategy but experts say tactic risky December 06, 2007 Hate-crimes provision stripped from defense bill December 06, 2007 Alexander wins conference chairmanship December 05, 2007 Immigration roils Dems December 05, 2007 Dems seeking answers about report on Iran December 05, 2007 ‘Wicked Witch’ targeted over a dinner in Waikiki December 05, 2007 GOP is split on the president's spending fight
The Disconnect
by Bill Scher
With widespread dissatisfaction with the economy, why are certain Senators going to the mat for hedge fund managers?
Meet a Billionaire Paying a Lower Tax Rate Than You
by Bill Scher
The new "War on Greed" campaign introduces us to Henry Kravis.
Energy Bill Gets Better
by Bill Scher
Congressional leaders shrug off Bush's veto threat and strengthen the energy bill with big tax credits for renewable energy.
by Bill Scher
With widespread dissatisfaction with the economy, why are certain Senators going to the mat for hedge fund managers?
Meet a Billionaire Paying a Lower Tax Rate Than You
by Bill Scher
The new "War on Greed" campaign introduces us to Henry Kravis.
Energy Bill Gets Better
by Bill Scher
Congressional leaders shrug off Bush's veto threat and strengthen the energy bill with big tax credits for renewable energy.
It's the Economy, Stupid
Robert Reich, The American Prospect
The middle class has exhausted the coping mechanisms they've used for over 30 years.
Bush May Still Bomb Iran
Matthew Rothschild, The Progressive
Bush could send U.S. troops into Iranian territory—all in hopes of inciting retaliation.
Subprime Blame Game
Glen Ford, Black Agenda Report
The subprime crisis' impact on black neighborhoods is not the fault of "black culture."
Robert Reich, The American Prospect
The middle class has exhausted the coping mechanisms they've used for over 30 years.
Bush May Still Bomb Iran
Matthew Rothschild, The Progressive
Bush could send U.S. troops into Iranian territory—all in hopes of inciting retaliation.
Subprime Blame Game
Glen Ford, Black Agenda Report
The subprime crisis' impact on black neighborhoods is not the fault of "black culture."
The New York Times:
The President's Cynical
Budget War
The President's Cynical
Budget War
$1 Billion in Military Equipment
Missing in Iraq
Congress, Bush to Clash
Over Interrogation Techniques
Bill Moyers Journal:
New Media and the Election
Kelpie Wilson:
Greens Take Heart at
Final Energy Bill
Gates Rejects Proposal to Shift
Marines From Iraq to Afghanistan
Missing in Iraq
Congress, Bush to Clash
Over Interrogation Techniques
Bill Moyers Journal:
New Media and the Election
Kelpie Wilson:
Greens Take Heart at
Final Energy Bill
Gates Rejects Proposal to Shift
Marines From Iraq to Afghanistan
Ann Wright:
Enduring an Occupation for Oil
Walter Cronkite and David Krieger:
Our Troops Must Leave Iraq
Joseph L. Galloway:
A Day Late and a Dollar Short
Paul Krugman:
Innovating Our Way
to Financial Crisis
Bob Herbert:
Iraq, Now and Forever
Enduring an Occupation for Oil
Walter Cronkite and David Krieger:
Our Troops Must Leave Iraq
Joseph L. Galloway:
A Day Late and a Dollar Short
Paul Krugman:
Innovating Our Way
to Financial Crisis
Bob Herbert:
Iraq, Now and Forever
Melanie Scarborough:
Somebody Is Lying About FISA
Dean Baker:
Victories on the Left
Tom Engelhardt:
How the Bush Administration
"Endures"
Johann Hari:
Republicans New Plot
to Rig the 2008 Election
Frank Rich:
Who's Afraid of Barack Obama?
Bob Herbert:
Rambo and the GOP
Somebody Is Lying About FISA
Dean Baker:
Victories on the Left
Tom Engelhardt:
How the Bush Administration
"Endures"
Johann Hari:
Republicans New Plot
to Rig the 2008 Election
Frank Rich:
Who's Afraid of Barack Obama?
Bob Herbert:
Rambo and the GOP
Stupid Intelligence
Alan Dershowitz, 12.06.2007
Bush Demands That Iran Act Like Israel
Jerry and Joe Long, 12.06.2007
They Were Wrong
Jon Robin Baitz, 12.05.2007
The CIA "War" on Bush: The New Neocon Ploy
Marc Cooper, 12.05.2007
Mohamed ElBaradei in October: "Everybody Agrees" Iran Has No Nuclear Weapon
Charlie Rose, 12.05.2007
Faith vs. the Faithless - David Brooks, New York Times
Mitt Waters Down Bold Message - E. J. Dionne, Washington Post
Evaluating Romney's Speech - Jay Cost, HorseRaceBlog
Speech Elevated Political Debate - Kathleen Parker, RealClearPolitics
Divinely Uninspired - David Kusnet, The New Republic
W's Disastrous Mortgage 'Fix' - Nicole Gelinas, New York Post
Paulson's Bailout May Boost GOP's Prospects - Nina Easton, Fortune
Why Believe the Intelligence This Time? - Jim Walsh, Boston Globe
The Hawks Are Still Watching - Con Coughlin, Daily Telegraph
The Clinton Resisters - Robin Abcarian, Los Angeles Times
Dems Need a Fighter, Not a Philosopher - Ellen Goodman, Boston Globe
John McCain Deserves Another Look From Republicans - The Economist
Why They Love Huckabee - David Von Drehle, Time
Playing the Religion Card - Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post
Islam's Silent Moderates - Ayaan Hirsi Ali, New York Times
Into the Valley of Death - Sebastian Junger, Vanity Fair
Pearl Harbor Lives in the Hearts of Its Vets - H.G. Reza, Los Angeles Times
More Romney: Noonan | Dickerson | Gerson | Buchanan | Kuo | Lowry
Mitt Waters Down Bold Message - E. J. Dionne, Washington Post
Evaluating Romney's Speech - Jay Cost, HorseRaceBlog
Speech Elevated Political Debate - Kathleen Parker, RealClearPolitics
Divinely Uninspired - David Kusnet, The New Republic
W's Disastrous Mortgage 'Fix' - Nicole Gelinas, New York Post
Paulson's Bailout May Boost GOP's Prospects - Nina Easton, Fortune
Why Believe the Intelligence This Time? - Jim Walsh, Boston Globe
The Hawks Are Still Watching - Con Coughlin, Daily Telegraph
The Clinton Resisters - Robin Abcarian, Los Angeles Times
Dems Need a Fighter, Not a Philosopher - Ellen Goodman, Boston Globe
John McCain Deserves Another Look From Republicans - The Economist
Why They Love Huckabee - David Von Drehle, Time
Playing the Religion Card - Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post
Islam's Silent Moderates - Ayaan Hirsi Ali, New York Times
Into the Valley of Death - Sebastian Junger, Vanity Fair
Pearl Harbor Lives in the Hearts of Its Vets - H.G. Reza, Los Angeles Times
More Romney: Noonan | Dickerson | Gerson | Buchanan | Kuo | Lowry
Editorials
Romney on Bended Knee - Boston Globe
The Book of Romney - Wall Street Journal
Bush Steps Into the Sub-Prime Mess - Los Angeles Times
A Bundle of Trouble For Clinton - San Francisco Chronicle
Political News & Analysis
Romney Vows to Serve 'No One Cause' - Washington Post
Oprah Stumps For Obama in Early States - The Politico
McCain's New Hampshire Glimmer - Wall Street Journal
The Clinton Resisters - Los Angeles Times
Transcripts & Speeches
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Mitt Romney: "Faith In America"
Treasury Department: Deputy Treasury Secretary Roundtable In Iraq
Treasury Department: Deputy Treasury Secretary Roundtable In Iraq
Hannity & Colmes: Evangelical Leaders On Romney's Speech
The NewsHour: Secretary Paulson Discuses Mortgage Crisis
New York Times / DAVID BROOKS
Op-Ed Columnist: Faith Vs. The Faithless
Op-Ed Columnist: Faith Vs. The Faithless
- Seasons: As of this writing, Google News lists 769 newspaper reports about Mitt Romney’s speech yesterd...
- Between Two Worlds: Reactions to the Romney Speech...
- Middle Earth Journal: A Pleasant Surprise - David Brooks Gets It Right...
Washington Post / Robin Wright and Glenn Kessler
Review Of Iran Intelligence To Be Sought
Review Of Iran Intelligence To Be Sought
- PrairiePundit: Washington Post: Senate Republicans are planning to call for a congressional commission to investiga...
- » OTB News: Senate Republicans are planning to call for a congressional commission to investigate the conclusion...
- Firedoglake - Firedoglake weblog: I used my stealth investigative skills and discovered what song Bush is listening to on his playlist...
Romney's Boilerplate Mistake
- John Podhoretz, Contentions
Romney Gave an Impressive Speech
- Fred Barnes, Weekly Standard
Hillary Was Supposed to Know How to Rumble
- John Dickerson, Slate
Is Huckabee Dems' Biggest Nightmare?
- Chris Cillizza, Washington Post
- John Podhoretz, Contentions
Romney Gave an Impressive Speech
- Fred Barnes, Weekly Standard
Hillary Was Supposed to Know How to Rumble
- John Dickerson, Slate
Is Huckabee Dems' Biggest Nightmare?
- Chris Cillizza, Washington Post
- Clinton Could Lose Iowa, New Hampshire and Nomination - Mort Kondracke, Roll Call
- Huckabee is For Real - John McIntyre, RealClearPolitics
- 'Good Bill' vs. 'Bad Bill' - Ron Fournier, Associated Press
- Dems: Voters Shifting Focus from Iraq - M. Kady & J. VandeHei, The Politico
- For the War, Then Against It, & Now for It? - Victor Davis Hanson, NRO
- Republicans Need to Reunite Their Base - Howard Fineman, MSNBC
- Negativity in the Democratic Campaign - Jay Cost, HorseRaceBlog
Saint Joe and the Impending Global Financial Crisis
By Mike Whitney
The wreckage in the housing market just keeps piling up. Sales of existing homes in October dipped 23.5% from last year. Prices on new homes dropped 13% year over year. Third quarter foreclosures skyrocketed to 635,000, a 94% increase over last October and an all-time high on the Misery-Meter. The real estate market is in free-fall and the real trouble hasn't even begun yet. Continue
By Mike Whitney
The wreckage in the housing market just keeps piling up. Sales of existing homes in October dipped 23.5% from last year. Prices on new homes dropped 13% year over year. Third quarter foreclosures skyrocketed to 635,000, a 94% increase over last October and an all-time high on the Misery-Meter. The real estate market is in free-fall and the real trouble hasn't even begun yet. Continue
Economic Outlook 2008: Darkening Clouds
By Dom Armentano
Presidential election years usually are not recessionary but next year will be an exception. Several economic factors are colliding in an almost perfect storm to markedly slow the general economy and the stock market.Continue
By Dom Armentano
Presidential election years usually are not recessionary but next year will be an exception. Several economic factors are colliding in an almost perfect storm to markedly slow the general economy and the stock market.Continue
Homeless in Paradise
America, Land of 371 Billionaires and 3.5 Million Homeless
By Stephen Fleishman
In the United States of America, the greatest country in the world, as many as three and a half million people experience homelessness in a given year (1% of the entire US population or 10% of its poor) and of that, 1.37 million (or 39%) are children under the age of 18. Continue
America, Land of 371 Billionaires and 3.5 Million Homeless
By Stephen Fleishman
In the United States of America, the greatest country in the world, as many as three and a half million people experience homelessness in a given year (1% of the entire US population or 10% of its poor) and of that, 1.37 million (or 39%) are children under the age of 18. Continue
How Conservatives Manipulate People Into Voting Against Their Best InterestsDigby, Common Sense
Pseudopopulist conservatives have destroyed reason.
Keith Ellison: First Muslim in Congress Makes His MarkAli Eteraz, AlterNet
Rights and Liberties: Thanks to post-9/11 hysteria, American Muslims are one of the most ostracized minority groups in the U.S.
The Iran Agenda: The Historical Truth of Our Relations with IranReese Erlich, PoliPoint Press
In this excerpt from his new book, The Iran Agenda, veteran independent journalist Reese Erlich challenges the conventional wisdom on Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Hillary Clinton Might Be the Least Electable Democrat
Guy T. Saperstein, AlterNet
While Hillary Clinton maintains her lead in national polling among Democrats, in direct match-ups against Republicans, she consistently trails her competitors.
How Scientific Is Modern Medicine?Dana Ullman, North Atlantic Books
Health and Wellness: A new book on homeopathy challenges conventional medicine, which touts itself as scientific even though it is largely run by businessmen, not doctors.
Meet a Billionaire with a Lower Tax Rate Than You [VIDEO]
Robert Greenwald, Brave New Films
Video: Henry Kravis is a billionaire, the 57th richest person in America. He acquired this wealth by purchasing public companies with borrowed money. To pay off the debt, he cuts benefits at the company, sells its assets, and lays off employees.
- Mike Gallagher : Fear is ruining us
- Kathryn Jean Lopez : Sensible Family Values Endangered
- Chuck Colson : Pearl Harbor, Hiroshima—and Calvary
- Phil Gingrey : New Advance in Stem Cell Science
- John McCaslin : Smelly Season
- Jonah Goldberg : On Motives, Mormons, Muslims, and Mitt
- Diana West : Don't Close the Book on the Clintons
- Hugh Hewitt : The Speech: Romney's"Common Creed Of Moral Convictions" Address
- Dr. Paul Kengor : Reagan's Top Hand: Part II
- John Hawkins : 14 Questions I'd Ask Hillary After I Hooked Her Up to a Lie Detector
- Paul Greenberg : The Decline of American Political Discourse
- Burt Prelutsky : What Do Stan Laurel, a Shark, and Hillary Have in Common?
- Rich Tucker : Vietnam-Gate
- Kathleen Parker : One Nation Under Mitt
- Oliver North : The New Iraq (Part 2 of Series)
- David Limbaugh : Obama Should Push Hillary out of Her Comfort Zone
- Charles Krauthammer : Making an Issue Out of a Religion
- Linda Chavez : Saving the Girl of Qatif
- Mona Charen : A Challenge to the Press
- Patrick J. Buchanan : Mitt's Hour of Power
- Brent Bozell III : Another Twisted Christmas
- Kevin James : Enforcement-First Conservatives Say "Thank You" to Nancy Pelosi
- Rich Lowry : Mitt Romney's Successful Leap of Faith
- Paul Edwards : Nothing Golden About "The Compass"
- Jerry Bowyer : How a Misunderestimated President Saved a Broken Mortgage Market
- Paul Weyrich : Health Care Improvement Without Federal Government Control
- Amanda Carpenter : Media RomneyFest Over Faith Speech
- Michael Reagan : Where's the Shining City?
- Paul Greenberg : The More Russia Changes...
- Hank Adler : The FairTax: Responding to Boortz
- Mitt Romney : Faith In America
Hillary No Longer the Inevitable Democratic Presidential Nominee
Robert Guttman, 12.07.2007
To this observer, Hillary's campaign, which has been called formidable, has not much going for it other than the fact that she was going to be the winner.
Read Post
WMD: U.S. Intelligence Not a Match
Will Durst, 12.07.2007
You know what I'm thinking? Weapons of Mass Destruction, intelligence-wise...probably not what you call our specialty.
Read Post
Why We Need A War On Greed
Cliff Schecter, 12.07.2007
Brave New Films is declaring a War On Greed, and unlike the Bush administration, when we declare war on something, we actually plan and send the appropriate resources.
Read Post
Mitt's Bad Faith
Marc Cooper, 12.07.2007
Now that Mitt Romney has introduced his religion into the center of the political arena, I think we have every right to evaluate him, in part, on precisely those beliefs.
Read Post
BIO
A Nation of Laws, Not Men
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, 12.07.2007
The news that the CIA tapes were destroyed came the very same week we learned that as many as ten million White House emails were not preserved, despite a law that requires that they be kept.
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A Nation of Laws, Not Men
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, 12.07.2007
The news that the CIA tapes were destroyed came the very same week we learned that as many as ten million White House emails were not preserved, despite a law that requires that they be kept.
Read Post
Scott Horton Interviews Scott Ritter Scott Ritter: Cheney’s Iran Policy Still Stands A must listen :
Scott Ritter, former U.S. Marine and UN weapons inspector, discusses the new Iran NIE,his admiration for Ron Paul and the need of the American people to destroy the careers of their warmonger representatives. Click to listen
Scott Ritter, former U.S. Marine and UN weapons inspector, discusses the new Iran NIE,his admiration for Ron Paul and the need of the American people to destroy the careers of their warmonger representatives. Click to listen
An Odd Week, Indeed
Piano Wire Puppeteers
By Sean Penn
Didn’t Senator Clinton just vote in essence to give President Bush the power to bomb Iran? If he had done it last week, would that have made her right? I mean, if she knew then what she knows now? Or am I getting that backward? Golly, I’m confused. Continue
Piano Wire Puppeteers
By Sean Penn
Didn’t Senator Clinton just vote in essence to give President Bush the power to bomb Iran? If he had done it last week, would that have made her right? I mean, if she knew then what she knows now? Or am I getting that backward? Golly, I’m confused. Continue
CIA Destroyed Video of 'Waterboarding' al-Qaida Detainees
By Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington
The decision to destroy two videotapes documenting the use of waterboarding against Abu Zubaydah and another high-value al-Qaida detainee was made in November 2005 - as American media were just beginning to focus on the existence of the secret CIA prison network. Continue
By Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington
The decision to destroy two videotapes documenting the use of waterboarding against Abu Zubaydah and another high-value al-Qaida detainee was made in November 2005 - as American media were just beginning to focus on the existence of the secret CIA prison network. Continue
The Central Bank; Silent Partner in the Bloodletting
By Mike Whitney
A nation's economy is a reflection pool. The face that looks back from the water; is the face of the culture and the prevailing ethos. It's no different with America. The stewards of the US economic system—Paulson and Bernanke—are inextricably linked to a political/military establishment which has been thoroughly marinated in a culture of violence and corruption. Continue
By Mike Whitney
A nation's economy is a reflection pool. The face that looks back from the water; is the face of the culture and the prevailing ethos. It's no different with America. The stewards of the US economic system—Paulson and Bernanke—are inextricably linked to a political/military establishment which has been thoroughly marinated in a culture of violence and corruption. Continue
Iraq: A New Country? Must Watch 5 Minute Video
Beyond preemption By Matthew Yglesias Democrats can't just criticize Bush's foreign policy, they must articulate alternatives.
Obama Gains, Huckabee Surges in Iowa - Michael Hirsh, Newsweek
Huckabee's Mojo vs. Romney's Manpower - Jonathan Martin, The Politico
Clinton Turns to Women to Steady Campaign - Murray & Kornblut, WaPo
Saint Barack of Iowa - Stephen Hayes, Weekly Standard
Moving Beyond Preemption - Matthew Yglesias, Los Angeles Times
Keep Up the Pressure on Iran - Charles Krauthammer, Time
Getting Beyond Political Stalemate - J. Batiste and P. Hegseth, Wash Post
A New York-Centric Presidential Election - Fred Siegel, City Journal
Obama, Clinton Contort Over Health Care - R. Brownstein, Nat'l Journal
The Perfect GOP Field, Except... - Gail Collins, New York Times
Campaign in Bad Faith - Ann McFeatters, Boston Herald
A Free Market for Housing and Religion - Mark Steyn, O.C. Register
A Sea Change in US Energy Policy - David Roberts, The Guardian
Bush Boom Continues - Larry Kudlow, National Review Online
Senate Blocks Bush's Vatican Envoy - Robert Novak, Chicago Sun-Times
Sudan's Genocide Victory - Eric Reeves, Boston Globe
Decoding 'The Israel Lobby' - Walter Russell Mead, Foreign Affairs
Huckabee's Mojo vs. Romney's Manpower - Jonathan Martin, The Politico
Clinton Turns to Women to Steady Campaign - Murray & Kornblut, WaPo
Saint Barack of Iowa - Stephen Hayes, Weekly Standard
Moving Beyond Preemption - Matthew Yglesias, Los Angeles Times
Keep Up the Pressure on Iran - Charles Krauthammer, Time
Getting Beyond Political Stalemate - J. Batiste and P. Hegseth, Wash Post
A New York-Centric Presidential Election - Fred Siegel, City Journal
Obama, Clinton Contort Over Health Care - R. Brownstein, Nat'l Journal
The Perfect GOP Field, Except... - Gail Collins, New York Times
Campaign in Bad Faith - Ann McFeatters, Boston Herald
A Free Market for Housing and Religion - Mark Steyn, O.C. Register
A Sea Change in US Energy Policy - David Roberts, The Guardian
Bush Boom Continues - Larry Kudlow, National Review Online
Senate Blocks Bush's Vatican Envoy - Robert Novak, Chicago Sun-Times
Sudan's Genocide Victory - Eric Reeves, Boston Globe
Decoding 'The Israel Lobby' - Walter Russell Mead, Foreign Affairs
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