ThinkFast: November 19, 2007
ThinkFast: November 19, 2007
“Americans are reading less and their reading proficiency is declining at troubling rates,” says a new report by the National Endowment for the Arts. The trend could have “a profound negative effect on the nation’s economic and civic future,” the report warns.
“Senate Democrats appear ready to omit Iraq withdrawal timelines from a supplemental spending bill in hopes of clearing in December funds for the troops — but House leaders have no intentions of following suit.” Two powerful voices in the Senate — Carl Levin and Daniel Inouye — both suggested Democrats would strip withdrawal language in December.
Speaking to the National Bank of Kuwait yesterday, former Secretary of State Colin Powell said that “Iran is far from acquiring a nuclear weapon” and that he believes it is “unlikely” that the U.S. will strike the Islamic Republic militarily.
Former president Bill Clinton’s “eco-friendly” presidential library’s roof is now “going green.” “Over the past two weeks, workers have been hoisting 90 species of plants and more than four truckloads of soil atop” the library to “provide insulation and capture rainwater that otherwise would just be wasted as runoff.”
“The number of economists forecasting the U.S. will slip into recession almost doubled over the last two months, according to a survey by the National Association for Business Economics.”
The U.S. dollar has fallen to historic lows against both the euro and the yen as worries about the strength of the U.S. economy continue. The drop has been precipitated by the U.S. credit crisis, which has caused foreign investors to “pull some of their investments out of U.S. markets and put them in other countries.”
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez made his fourth trip to Iran in two years today, “as the two countries sought to strengthen ties while their leaders exhort the international community to resist U.S. policies.” Chavez said the dollar was in free-fall and that its ‘empire’ must end, and proposed trading oil in a basket of currencies excluding the dollar.
Three members of Iraq’s national soccer team have left the country and are seeking asylum in Australia. When the team won the prestigious Asian Cup in July, their victory was hailed as an “inspirational triumph for a team whose players straddle bitter and violent ethnic divides.”
And finally: Last week during House debate on home-lending legislation, Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC) tried to “knock down the idea that risky mortgages are ‘innovative’ financial products.” To illustrate his point, he offered up a metaphor: “Mr. Chairman, this necktie is an innovation. … Ten years ago, you could not buy a silk necktie that was stain-resistant. And for those folks like me who tend to miss their mouth from time to time, the cost in new neckties in any given year was hundreds of dollars.”
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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no withdraw timetable = no balls
why am I not surprised?
November 19th, 2007 at 9:02 amChavez said the dollar was in free-fall and that its ‘empire’ must end, and proposed trading oil in a basket of currencies excluding the dollar.
If OPEC drops the dollar as the oil trading currency, the bottom could fall out of our economy.
This is real.
Meanwhile, the Repukes block the Farm Bill in the name of ‘doing the right thing’. (Obstructionism, at it’s worst). McConnell is proud of the ass he’s being. He’s even bragging about it to the Federalist Society.
‘You can always tell a Republican, but you can’t tell them much’.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:08 amPutting the cost of the Iraq war in perspective:
http://196.44.3.95:8091/Business/Article.aspx?id=616411
November 19th, 2007 at 9:10 am“Americans are reading less and their reading proficiency is declining…”
I bet you will find a direct correlation between Americans watching TV more and reading less. The “dumbing down” of America has been going on for quite some time now. And I agree that it will have negative consequences for this country, economically and politically. People who only get their news from the TV are significantly less informed than people who get their news from the Internet (a form of reading) and newspapers and magazines.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:16 amGreat picture!
Too bad it’s a work of fiction; we’d be better off with a duck.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:16 am“Americans are reading less and their reading proficiency is declining at troubling rates,†says a new report by the National Endowment for the Arts. The trend could have “a profound negative effect on the nation’s economic and civic future,†the report warns.
An ignorant populace is a profound advantage for the Republican party, however, so this is yet another, ‘Mission Accomplished’.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:19 am“Senate Democrats appear ready to omit Iraq withdrawal timelines from a supplemental spending bill in hopes of clearing in December funds for the troops — but House leaders have no intentions of following suit.â€
As long as the Senate has Harry Reid as it’s leader, they will continue to cave. At least Nancy Pelosi seems to be growing a set of balls.
I just don’t understand why they both don’t approve funding for the troops but cut 40% from the amount asked for to stop funding Bush’s private army. That will do two things, get the contractors out of Iraq, thereby removing one of the burrs in their sides and it will also force Bush to start brining troops home. He doesn’t have enough troops there to sustain anything without his private army. The Republiscums won’t be able to say that they “don’t support the troops” because they are only cutting money for Bush’s private army.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:19 am“The number of economists forecasting the U.S. will slip into recession almost doubled over the last two months, according to a survey by the National Association for Business Economics.â€
But, wait a minute. Our Republiscum trolls say that the economy is booming. What’s up with that?
Actually, anyone with more than 10 live brain cells can tell that we are heading for hard economic times. Everyone but the rich are already starting to feel the affects.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:22 amWhat did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
“Federal prosecutors on Friday accused Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.) of soliciting bribes in two alleged schemes that had not been previously disclosed.
The allegations, detailed in a seven-page document filed in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, will not result in new charges, prosecutors said, but they plan to present them during Jefferson’s federal bribery trial as evidence of a pattern of intentional wrongdoing.”
Can William call in the National Guard to help move his things out of his office when the time comes, ala Katrina?
November 19th, 2007 at 9:22 amAnd finally: Last week during House debate on home-lending legislation, Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC) tried to “knock down the idea that risky mortgages are ‘innovative’ financial products.â€
I’m not sure what he was saying with his metaphor, but he has the idea right. Risky mortgages are ‘innovative’ financial products in that they make lots of money for the banks and other lenders and screw the home owner. They are innovative in a negative, not positive way. If that was not the case, we would not be in the financial crisis we are now.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:25 amThe trend could have “a profound negative effect on the nation’s economic and civic future,†the report warns.
“the plan is working” – bushco et al
November 19th, 2007 at 9:25 amFederal prosecutors on Friday accused Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.) of soliciting bribes in two alleged schemes that had not been previously disclosed.
The allegations, detailed in a seven-page document filed in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, will not result in new charges, prosecutors said, but they plan to present them during Jefferson’s federal bribery trial as evidence of a pattern of intentional wrongdoing.â€
Comment by Minotaur
So they are willing to present allegations but bring no charges? Only in the Bush administration would we see such behavior. If they aren’t charging him, all they are doing is playing politics.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:27 amWhat did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
Will Judith Regan spill the beans on Fruity Rudy? Stay tuned…
November 19th, 2007 at 9:27 amthis morning on TODAY, erin burnett told us what a great thing it is that dubai bought smith barney and that many US companies are moving to dubai… good news!
November 19th, 2007 at 9:28 amThe number of economists forecasting the U.S. will slip into recession almost doubled over the last two months, according to a survey by the National Association for Business Economics.
Even though this is a laugh, the other topic about Americans not reading seems to be true, especially here at TP:
“Nine of 50 economists pegged the odds of a contraction over the next 12 months at 50 percent or higher, according to a poll taken from Oct. 22 to Nov. 6. Just five of 46 held a similar view in September.”
“More than two-thirds of those polled said the chance of recession was at least 25 percent.”
“While the U.S. economy faces a higher risk of recession from credit markets, housing and energy prices, NABE’s panelists still do not see recession as the most likely outcome”
November 19th, 2007 at 9:29 amOhio State 14
November 19th, 2007 at 9:30 amMichigan 3 :-(
The issue is not whether our kids read or not,the issue with us now is what do our kids read.
If we want to lead the world as we say…then we must prepare our kids for this task,the task of knowing something about this world.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:31 amIf students cannot find Iran,Iraq or Afghanstan on the map..some cannot locate even one of our states on the map…then we are heading to a very dark period of our history.
Not to forget also the lack of interest in science,math and technonolgies among our students…
Interests in sports and movies alone will not prepare our kids for future big challenges.
Other countries understood this more than us..although we spent billions of dollars on schools every year,we are behind many countries in students’ achivements in many fields.
Let’s teach our kids that life is more than just Harry Potter’s stories.
“The allegations, detailed in a seven-page document filed in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, will not result in new charges, prosecutors said, but they plan to present them during Jefferson’s federal bribery trial as evidence of a pattern of intentional wrongdoing.â€
Because actually charging him would mean they would have to present evidence to back up the charges. If he’s guilty of bribery, charge him and let the courts sort it out – but this tactic smacks of political log-rolling.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:31 am“WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 — A new and classified American military proposal outlines an intensified effort to enlist tribal leaders in the frontier areas of Pakistan in the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban, as part of a broader effort to bolster Pakistani forces against an expanding militancy, American military officials said.
If adopted, the proposal would join elements of a shift in strategy that would also be likely to expand the presence of American military trainers in Pakistan, directly finance a separate tribal paramilitary force that until now has proved largely ineffective and pay militias that agreed to fight Al Qaeda and foreign extremists, officials said. The United States now has only about 50 troops in Pakistan, a Pentagon spokesman said, a force that could grow by dozens under the new approach.”
The “new and approved” way of fighting wars. Pay the enemy to do what you want them to do. Problem with this theory is, when you stop paying them, they are quite likely to go back to their old behaviors.
But, it gives Bush cover so he can declare “success” in certain areas of his wars.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:31 amlast week i pulled into my closest CITGO station, and was $15 into the fillup when i noticed all the signs had been changed to MARATHON… i asked the manager “why?†and she said “because of HUGO CHAVEZ “… “yesâ€, i said, “that’s why i seek out the CITGO stations†… she told me that chavez was “funding the terrists in iraqâ€â€¦ “HUH???†says i… “do you know that the SUNNIs are the SAUDIs and THAT’s who is funding the ‘terrists’… ever heard of ’sunni insurgents’???â€â€¦ she was just really stupid sounding… i told her i couldn’t believe her boss fell for the right wing lies and pressure… all 4 of the citgo stations that guy owns here have been changed to marathon…
has anyone heard the chavez/terrorist line?…
i have heard of boycotts for other reasons: http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/citgo.asp
November 19th, 2007 at 9:32 am…
Let’s teach our kids that life is more than just Harry Potter’s stories.
-Comment by tarazan — November 19, 2007 @ 9:31 am
…or that Fox News is a source of information.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:32 amMinotaur
What is the problem with what TP posted?
November 19th, 2007 at 9:32 amLife may be sexually transmitted, but talking to Trolls shortens it.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:35 am“…the cost in new neckties in any given year was hundreds of dollars.â€
ya can’t wash silk? … hand wash? … iron?
November 19th, 2007 at 9:35 am?
Comment by Bruce Gorton — November 19, 2007 @ 9:32 am
?
November 19th, 2007 at 9:35 am“Nine of 50 economists pegged the odds of a contraction over the next 12 months at 50 percent or higher, according to a poll taken from Oct. 22 to Nov. 6. Just five of 46 held a similar view in September.â€
That’s almost a doubling of economists who believe we’re headed for recession in two short months. Not a good trend. By Christmas, it’ll be much higher.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:36 am#9 – “Can William call in the National Guard to help move his things out of his office when the time comes, ala Katrina?” Comment by Minotaur — November 19, 2007 @ 9:22 am
Nope. They’re dying in Iraq for the “war on terra”.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:39 amMinotaur
What is the problem with what TP posted?
Comment by Bruce Gorton
It didn’t follow his party line.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:39 am#20…Nice story, Katy
November 19th, 2007 at 9:41 amLet’s teach our kids that life is more than just Harry Potter’s stories.
-Comment by tarazan — November 19, 2007 @ 9:31 am
It’s a good thing to broaden the horizons of our children. But, I am very thankful for Harry Potter. Those books have taught more children the love of reading than any other book in history.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:41 amThat’s almost a doubling of economists who believe we’re headed for recession in two short months. Not a good trend. By Christmas, it’ll be much higher.
Comment by barfly — November 19, 2007 @ 9:36 am
5 of 46 = what percentage?
9 of 50 = what percentage?
“While the U.S. economy faces a higher risk of recession from credit markets, housing and energy prices, NABE’s panelists still do not see recession as the most likely outcome,” said Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, the group’s president and chief economist at Ford Motor Co., in a statement.”
November 19th, 2007 at 9:41 amoh, and mooshie’s new court “found” in his favor!
imagine that!
Court Upholds Musharraf Election
November 19th, 2007 at 9:42 amNew York Times – 1 hour ago
By CARLOTTA GALL ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Nov. 19 – The newly formed Supreme Court of Pakistan, which was appointed after emergency rule was imposed two weeks ago, today dismissed the main outstanding challenges to Gen….
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/20/world/asia/20pakistan.html
…
Survey a hundred people today and find ten who agree about a negative impact, then survey 200 people tomorrow and find twenty who agree. Voila, twice as many agreed from first survey to second.
Wow.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:44 am5 of 46 = what percentage?
9 of 50 = what percentage?
Comment by Minotaur
You know, for a troll you are pretty stupid. The point of the article was that the number doubled in “two short months”, not that the percentage is still low. At that rate, in four months the number of economists who predict a recession will be 36 out of 50. So what is the percentage of 36 out of 50?
November 19th, 2007 at 9:46 amBy CARLOTTA GALL ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Nov. 19 – The newly formed Supreme Court of Pakistan, which was appointed after emergency rule was imposed two weeks ago, today dismissed the main outstanding challenges to Gen….
And now we know the dangers the await us from the Busharruf packed courts and the Busharruf appointed Supreme Court. Busharruf declares martial law, voids the election and appoints himself dictator. And his personally packed Supreme court finds this is all perfectly legal by a 5-4 margin. I fear what awaits us.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:48 amMinotaur
I work on the online finance pages of a major SA newspaper. Those 50 they surveyed are probably exactly the same guys they surveyed the month before.
(Seriously, that is the SOP for that sort of thing.)
November 19th, 2007 at 9:50 amSurvey a hundred people today and find ten who agree about a negative impact, then survey 200 people tomorrow and find twenty who agree. Voila, twice as many agreed from first survey to second.
Wow.
Comment by Minotaur —
And you’re nit-picking MY math? If you hadn’t noticed, there’s a damn sight more difference between 100/200 and 46/50.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:52 am5 of 46 = what percentage?
9 of 50 = what percentage?
5/26= 10.8%
9/15= 18%
18% is almost the double of 10%. Not quite, but almost.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:54 amOkay, on a second read: They got 4 new guys to answer the survey and relied on the same 46 from 2 months ago.
Woohoo.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:54 am“18% is almost the double of 10%. Not quite, but almost.”
Comment by toasterhead
Which is why I used the qualified “nearly.”
November 19th, 2007 at 9:56 am“Americans are reading less and their reading proficiency is declining at troubling rates,†says a new report by the National Endowment for the Arts. The trend could have “a profound negative effect on the nation’s economic and civic future,†the report warns.
Me fail english? That Unpossible.
Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC) tried to “knock down the idea that risky mortgages are ‘innovative’ financial products.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:57 amIt sounds like his necktie example was in support of risky mortgages, not against.
You know, for a troll you are pretty stupid. The point of the article was that the number doubled in “two short monthsâ€, not that the percentage is still low. At that rate, in four months the number of economists who predict a recession will be 36 out of 50. So what is the percentage of 36 out of 50?
Sorry, but maybe you are having trouble with the math. The original survey taken “two short months” ago used 46 respondents while the second used 50; five answered affirmatively in the first while nine answered so in the second.
This of course completely ignores that 41 economists from the first survey and 41 from the second DONT agree, but when you are constantly looking for doom and gloom, I suppose its easy to find.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:58 amWhich is why I used the qualified “nearly.â€
Comment by barfly — November 19, 2007 @ 9:56 am
And then you have to add bonus points just for having nine economists actually agree on ANYTHING. So the percentage is really like 40%.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:58 amyou guys know you’re arguing with a mythical greek character…
November 19th, 2007 at 10:00 amaka mr.p… right?
All the talk of percentage points, of who agrees with what…
All I know for sure is:
Gas is almost 100 dollars a barrel
Prices going up (to cover increased energy costs)
The dollar is worth less and less
Housing market is crap
Hubby and I are already cutting back on spending, and most of the people we know are doing the same. I live in Florida and the local paper is predicting a recession in Florida due to our reliance on tourism. (Most tourists drive here.)
I think we’re in for rough days ahead.
November 19th, 2007 at 10:02 amAnd you’re nit-picking MY math? If you hadn’t noticed, there’s a damn sight more difference between 100/200 and 46/50.
Comment by barfly — November 19, 2007 @ 9:52 am
Settle down, just pointing out that the number of peeps who didnt respond to the negative far outnumber those that do.
What would be more interesting is to research the surveys of NABE and find out how many of their surveyed economists consistently veer toward “recession possible” opinions.
November 19th, 2007 at 10:03 amAdditionally for this survey bit. It would be interesting to see the names of the economists. For all we know, the second survey was the same 46 as the first one with 4 extra “recession” economists found to round it out to 50. In that case, there wouldn’t be a change in the original respondents, just additional people found to change the percentage.
November 19th, 2007 at 10:05 amSettle down, just pointing out that the number of peeps who didnt respond to the negative far outnumber those that do.
By doing a Friedman, and going off the deep end with your analogy of 100/200. Arguing a point doesn’t require going to such absurist extremes. It only demonstrates your inability to argue the point fairly.
November 19th, 2007 at 10:07 amThis of course completely ignores that 41 economists from the first survey and 41 from the second DONT agree, but when you are constantly looking for doom and gloom, I suppose its easy to find.
Comment by Minotaur — November 19, 2007 @ 9:58 am
You don’t have to go too far to look for it – from the Bloomberg article:
- The spillover from the biggest housing slump in 16 years, turmoil in financial markets and higher energy prices will cause growth to slow to an annual pace of 1.5 percent this quarter, less than the survey participants previously forecast.
- More than two-thirds of those polled said the chance of recession was at least 25 percent.
- Housing starts will fall to 1.2 million units next year, from a projected 1.36 million in 2007, according to the survey. Residential investment has subtracted from economic growth every quarter since the first three months of 2006.
- Survey participants also trimmed estimates for job and profit growth. The unemployment rate probably will average 4.9 percent next year and after-tax profits will grow 4.7 percent, the group forecast.
So the question is – how long do you plan to continue pushing the “The Economy Is Fine And Dandy” lie?
November 19th, 2007 at 10:07 am“In that case, there wouldn’t be a change in the original respondents, just additional people found to change the percentage.”
Comment by Squegeeboo
So are you saying that the author is “thumbing the scale,” journalistically speaking?
November 19th, 2007 at 10:09 am“Americans are reading less and their reading proficiency is declining at troubling rates,†says a new report by the National Endowment for the Arts. The trend could have “a profound negative effect on the nation’s economic and civic future,†the report warns.”
Some examples of this would be:
“Are our childrens learning?”
“As yesterday’s positive report card shows, childrens do learn when standards are high and results are measured.”
“We’re also talking to different finance ministers about how we can send a message to the Iranian government that the free world is not going to tolerate the development of know-how in how to build a weapon, or at least gain the ability to make a weapon.”
“Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for your introduction. Thank you for being such a fine host for the OPEC summit.” –George W. Bush, addressing Australian Prime Minister John Howard at the APEC Summit, Sept. 7, 2007
“As John Howard accurately noted when he went to thank the Austrian troops there last year…” –George W. Bush, referring to Australian troops as “Austrian troops,”
“I’m going to try to see if I can remember as much to make it sound like I’m smart on the subject.” –George W. Bush, answering a question about a
possible flu pandemic, Cleveland, July 10, 2007
“More than two decades later, it is hard to imagine the Revolutionary War coming out any other way.”
“These are big achievements for this country, and the people of Bulgaria ought to be proud of the achievements that they have achieved.”
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/blbushisms.htm
November 19th, 2007 at 10:14 ambarfly
So are you saying that the author is “thumbing the scale,†journalistically speaking?
Assuming that “thumbing the scale” in this case means finding ways to influence the outcome to increase the % of recession votes, then I’m saying he could be.
It could also be two completely different sets of economists being polled, I was just tossing it out there as a potential flaw in his conclusion.
November 19th, 2007 at 10:14 am“It could also be two completely different sets of economists being polled, I was just tossing it out there as a potential flaw in his conclusion.”
Comment by Squegeeboo
Cosidering the source, I think it’s pretty accurate. Bloomberg isn’t known for advocacy journalism, is it?
November 19th, 2007 at 10:19 amSo are you saying that the author is “thumbing the scale,†journalistically speaking?
Comment by barfly
That’s not likely. Bloomberg.com is hardly a bastion of liberalism.
November 19th, 2007 at 10:19 am“Last week during House debate on home-lending legislation, Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC) tried to ‘knock down the idea that risky mortgages are ‘innovative’ financial products.’ ”
Risky mortgages are legalized loan sharking, and it’s about time somebody exposed that nasty little truth. To call them “innovative financial products” is like calling drug pushing “creative market growth”.
In both cases, it’s finding the weak and making victims out of them. Yes, there are some people who believe in “survival of the fittest” and that the weak are there for the strong to prey on, but I believe that as a society we can do better than that.
November 19th, 2007 at 10:23 amSquegeeboo
Nothing to do with the journalist. They just got some new economists who agreed with the minority opinion.
November 19th, 2007 at 10:24 am“you guys know you’re arguing with a mythical greek character”
Comment by katy
You could also say that they are arguing with a bull-headed troll.
November 19th, 2007 at 10:24 ambarfly
Cosidering the source, I think it’s pretty accurate. Bloomberg isn’t known for advocacy journalism, is it?
Not that I know of.
I tried to get to the original surveys, but apparently you have to be a NABE member to get to the full results, and I’m to lazy to waste time searching for a copy elsewhere on the interwebs.
November 19th, 2007 at 10:25 amOn the What did we miss…..Been away from TP most of the time lately so if I am wrong please forgive or just scroll on by….Alternet posted a little tid bit about one of the group’s backing mr. crazy ron paul….Seem’s they are making money and the fed’s shut them down…Gee now why didn’t I think of that…Run for an office, coin the money and run…LOL..Why not, that’s what old dictator’s did, and it worked, oh and king’s did it…Now in the case of bull shit bush and company they don’t make anything except heart ache, war’s and early death along with stealing all the money the fed. reserve can print…..Blessings
November 19th, 2007 at 10:33 amSo the question is – how long do you plan to continue pushing the “The Economy Is Fine And Dandy†lie?
Comment by toasterhead — November 19, 2007 @ 10:07 am
Ha ha ha, that’s an easy question. Republicans will continue to say the U.S. economy is going grrrreat until a Democrat is President. Then they’ll suddenly realize that it’s in the shitter and blame the Dems.
November 19th, 2007 at 10:37 am“Senate Democrats appear ready to omit Iraq withdrawal timelines from a supplemental spending bill in hopes of clearing in December funds for the troops — but House leaders have no intentions of following suit.†Two powerful voices in the Senate — Carl Levin and Daniel Inouye — both suggested Democrats would strip withdrawal language in December.”
The last bill that failed a cloture vote in the Senate had a NON-BINDING resolution that included beginning troop withdrawals in 30 days, and a GOAL of complete withdrawal by the end of 2008. That weak bill was even too much for our dictator. And NOW they want to roll over completely…no surprise there. What is the point of a “representative government,” if those elected to do so utterly fail to do so? This is politics, pure and simple, at its most reprehensible.
This is the same kind of crap, and the same kind of excuses, that went on for the 15 years we were in Vietnam. After 4-1/2 years, we’ve lost almost 4,000 troops with 24,000 injuried..many grieviously. If we stay there 15 years, we’ll lose over 13,000 troops with 80,000 injured. And only God knows how many Iraqis. For NOTHING.
November 19th, 2007 at 10:38 amThis is the same kind of crap, and the same kind of excuses, that went on for the 15 years we were in Vietnam. After 4-1/2 years, we’ve lost almost 4,000 troops with 24,000 injuried..many grieviously. If we stay there 15 years, we’ll lose over 13,000 troops with 80,000 injured. And only God knows how many Iraqis. For NOTHING.
Comment by impeachcheneythenbush — November 19, 2007 @ 10:38 am
I wouldn’t call all the profits reaped by Bechtel, Halliburton, Blackwater, and the other corporations “NOTHING.”
November 19th, 2007 at 10:45 amI wouldn’t call all the profits reaped by Bechtel, Halliburton, Blackwater, and the other corporations “NOTHING.â€
Comment by toasterhead — November 19, 2007 @ 10:45 am
Yes, excellent point.
“It is a systemic problem for a democracy to link corporate profits and war-making, and it has metastasized as this war has been increasingly privatized (there are now more contractors than soldiers in Iraq). Good small-d democrats need to keep watch on current legislation, hold our representatives accountable and and demand that they take bolder action to bring this system to an end.”
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/09/29/4200/
November 19th, 2007 at 11:04 amAs part 2 of yesterday’s article on the Impeachment Resolution, I have submitted a Summery of the Resolution itself.
It is very important that we understand exactly what the charges against the Vice President are in the resolution, and that we know the evidence is included in the resolution.
Please check it out, and copy it and use it where ever you need to.
http://willyloman.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/summery-of-kucinichs-impeachment-resolution/
November 19th, 2007 at 11:09 am#
#
“Americans are reading less and their reading proficiency is declining at troubling rates,†says a new report by the National Endowment for the Arts. The trend could have “a profound negative effect on the nation’s economic and civic future,†the report warns.
An ignorant populace is a profound advantage for the Republican party, however, so this is yet another, ‘Mission Accomplished’.
its a profound advantage to all political and economic elites, regardless of their hue.
the reshaping of the class structure of the west is obvious for everyone who wishes to see it. they want to return us to the late 19th early 20th century. low waged and ignorant. my wages are certainly going down in real terms, and im far from alone.
November 19th, 2007 at 11:28 amOkay, forget my concern about 15 years in Iraq. Look at this comment, and do the math. 20-30 years? Insane!
“100,000 TROOPS FOR 30 YEARS…..Marc Lynch says of surge supporter Stephen Biddle, “he’s a serious guy so I take him seriously.” Here’s his precis of a talk Biddle gave on Friday:
“Without getting in to his arguments or my reservations, I just wanted to lay out Biddle’s best case scenario as he presented it: if everything goes right and if the US continues to “hit the lottery” with the spread of local ceasefires and none of a dozen different spoilers happens, then a patchwork of local ceasefires between heavily armed, mistrustful communities could possibly hold IF AND ONLY IF (emphasis the poster’s) if and only if the US keeps 80,000-100,000 troops in Iraq for the next twenty to thirty years. And that’s the best case scenario of one of the current strategy’s smartest supporters. Man.”
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2007_11/012531.php
November 19th, 2007 at 11:30 am“Americans reading less….”
Sounds like good news for the Thompson campaign.
November 19th, 2007 at 11:46 amThe U.S. dollar has fallen to historic lows against both the euro and the yen as worries about the strength of the U.S. economy continue. The drop has been precipitated by the U.S. credit crisis, which has caused foreign investors to “pull some of their investments out of U.S. markets and put them in other countries.â€
And this morning oil went up again on speculation that OPEC is dumping the dollar for the euro.
Heckuva job chympanzeepresidunce!
November 19th, 2007 at 11:53 am“Senate Democrats appear ready to omit Iraq withdrawal timelines from a supplemental spending bill in hopes of clearing in December funds for the troops — but House leaders have no intentions of following suit.â€
Haven’t we all done this little dance before? The House will probably cave, too. I will be pleasantly surprised (no, make that ecstatic) if they don’t.
November 19th, 2007 at 12:08 pmKinda missed this one:
Oil leaders’ private debate televised by mistake
November 19th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Last night, 60 minutes reported that the FBI found that on of the ballistics test that they have used for 30 years was without basis in fact.
While 60 Minutes pursued asking why the FBI didn’t do more with the knowledge (that is review of cases where people were potentially falsely convicted), they didn’t pursue why the DOJ didn’t review these cases.
From the dates given, best I can figure this was around 2004-2006. So why would the DOJ (and Attorney General) on finding out that the basis for their cases was in error, not go back and correct their mistakes ?
Can we please hang this on Gonzo’s neck and the WH being complacent in false prosecutions ?
November 19th, 2007 at 12:20 pmAmericans reading less and proficiency declining……..
No Child Left Behind ?
November 19th, 2007 at 12:20 pmRep. Brad Miller (D-NC) tried to “knock down the idea that risky mortgages are ‘innovative’ financial products.
It sounds like his necktie example was in support of risky mortgages, not against.
Comment by Squegeeboo — November 19, 2007 @ 9:57 am
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought that. :)
November 19th, 2007 at 1:00 pmOn Friday night, during what the participants thought were private talks, Venezuela’s oil minister Venezuela Rafael Ramirez and his Iranian counterpart Gholamhossein Nozari, argued that pricing – and selling – oil using the crippled dollar was damaging the cartel.
Comment by DieNowForPeace — November 19, 2007 @ 12:14 pm
And here we see the real reason for the upcoming war with Iran.
November 19th, 2007 at 1:02 pm“Senate Democrats appear ready to omit Iraq withdrawal timelines from a supplemental spending bill in hopes of clearing in December funds for the troops — but House leaders have no intentions of following suit.†Two powerful voices in the Senate — Carl Levin and Daniel Inouye — both suggested Democrats would strip withdrawal language in December
Carl Levin has another great idea there. I think one of his best ideas was when He mentioned putting some downward pressure on credit card companies a while back. That is what the country needs right now, to get back on its feet, the murderously high credit card interest rates are causing the people to default on mortgage payments.
November 19th, 2007 at 3:04 pm