ThinkFast: March 24, 2009
ThinkFast: March 24, 2009
In an op-ed that was published in 31 newspapers around the world today, President Obama writes to the global community: “Our leadership is grounded in a simple premise: We will act boldly to lift the American economy out of crisis and reform our regulatory structure, and these actions will be strengthened by complementary action abroad.”
Yesterday, Larry Summers said he was “surprised” by Paul Krugman’s criticisms of the administration’s bank rescue plan, adding, “He didn’t seem to recognize that this is one component of the plan.” Today, Krugman responds, saying the administration is engaging in “market-worship.” He adds, “it’s just politics.”
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo says “nine of the top 10 bonus recipients” at AIG will give their bonuses back and “that of the top 20 recipients in the United States, 15 had returned their payments in full.” There has also been “a handful of senior-level resignations” at the firm, according to an AIG spokesperson.
House Republicans are “now pinning the economic recession squarely on the shoulders of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).” In an e-mail blast yesterday, Rep. David Camp (R-MI) declared “We must work together to end the ‘Pelosi Recession.’” Pelosi spokesman Nadeam Elshami replied that the GOP “can’t seem to remember that they were actually the ones responsible for passing the Bush economic agenda.”
The liberal groups Campaign for America’s Future and USAction are launching a media campaign against Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) today for his vocal opposition to President Obama’s $3.7 trillion budget proposal. “We just want them to take a stance. Either they are for him or against him,” said USAction spokeswoman CeCe Grant. “We’re just basically saying, ‘What side are you on?’”
In a step toward confronting global warming, the EPA’s new leadership “submitted a finding that will force the White House to decide whether to limit greenhouse gas emissions” under the Clean Air Act. Reversing Bush administration policy, the EPA concluded that “such emissions are pollutants that endanger the public’s health and welfare” a decision that “could trigger a broad regulatory process.”
American workers “are getting squeezed like no other group by private health insurance premiums that are rising much faster than their wages.” With nearly all retirees and about 90 percent of children covered, a new study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that “workers now are at significantly higher risk of being uninsured than in the 1990s.”
Yesterday, a federal judge ordered the Food and Drug Administration “to make Plan B available to 17-year-olds within 30 days and to review whether to make the emergency contraceptive available to all ages without a doctor’s order.” Currently, girls younger than 18 need a prescription.
Last Friday, the Obama administration released a directive stating that lobbyists “cannot meet or speak with executive branch officials regarding specific stimulus projects or applications.” The head of the American League of Lobbyists is now saying the rule “smacks of segregation, discrimination” and is vowing to “push back” against the rule. The group is keeping “all options open, including litigation.”
And finally: The Austin-American Statesman says that state Rep. Gary Elkins (R) may not win points for preparedness, but he does get some for honesty. Last week at a House Committee on Human Services hearing, Elkins and other members were considering bills related to Medicaid and children’s health insurance. “Three hours into the hearing, Elkins asked: ‘What’s Medicaid? … I know I hear it — I really don’t know what it is. I know that’s a big shock to everybody here in the audience, OK.’” The Statesman points out that Medicaid comprises a quarter of the state’s budget.
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Pelosi recession? I thought it was the Obama recession! Weren’t they saying it started when everyone assumed that Obama would get the nomination over Clinton? How are they spinning a few days of market upticks? Everyone’s happy that George Bush is going to write a book?
March 24th, 2009 at 9:03 amSee, it’s nice when a President uses the media to try to get his message across. He is not a “yacker” as one op-ed contributor put it in today’s Metro.
Yes, I know. Her .jpeg head needs shrinking.
You know, a president needs to talk to get his message across. Would you rather have a President who stands behind the scenes as the country falls apart at the seams from the recession? It’s refreshing to see a proactive President trying to speak to the people.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:08 amI expected to see a response to O’Reilly’s slam of MM this morning.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:08 amAmerican workers “are getting squeezed like no other group by private health insurance premiums that are rising much faster than their wages.”
Health insurance is like hospital gowns; neither covers your ass.
Business & employers are struggling to keep any health insurance benefit coverage for employees. Much like AIG, health insurers are allowing rampant greed & bonuses to drive their fiscal engines.
Tax cuts don’t work. Universal single payer coverage does. America won’t get out of this financial fiasco until insurers are held accountable & fair rates become universal.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:09 amIt is amazing how the right side of the aisle has forgotten their willingness to spend, spend, spend on Iraq and Afghanistan outside the budget process without paying for it and now want to hang it on the other side. Where are the villagers with torches and clubs when you need them?
March 24th, 2009 at 9:10 amBut of course it’s the Pelosi Recession. It started the moment she took Impeachment off the table, don’t you know.
/snark
March 24th, 2009 at 9:13 amThe liberal groups Campaign for America’s Future and USAction are launching a media campaign against Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) today for his vocal opposition to President Obama’s $3.7 trillion budget proposal.
FWIW, I contacted Senator Bob Casey’s office and they stated that Senator Casey is not one of the unnamed members of Bayh’s coalition.
PEACE
March 24th, 2009 at 9:14 amRe: the Republicans…
It must be terrible when the political fate of a major party rests solely upon the ignorance of the electorate.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:16 amI think it is the BUSH recession, to blame it on Nancy Pelosi is nonsense!
March 24th, 2009 at 9:17 amI prefer “Great Bush Depression”. I know I was depressed.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:18 amToday, Krugman responds, saying the administration is engaging in “market-worship.” He adds, “it’s just politics.”
Ok, I’m getting sick and tired of Krugman. He’s acting like a whiny 4 year old. I read yesterday that he thinks the Obama Administration should handle this current economic crisis like they handled the Savings and Loan crisis in the past. I’m surprised that a smart guy like Krugman doesn’t see that today’s financial world is much different than it was back then. Back then a Bank was a Bank, a S&L was a S&L and an insurance company was an insurance company. Today’s financial markets are so tangled, thanks to the repeal of Glass Steagall, yesterday’s solutions probably would not work.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:19 amGee, that’s like the snake oil salesman saying he’ll sue his audience if they refuses to buy what he’s selling.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:19 am“We must work together to end the ‘Pelosi Recession.’”
Well, they’ve tried a dozen other talking points that don’t seem to work, so I guess this is just their latest. I’m not exactly sure how they can blame this recession on Nancy Pelosi, though. People are going to look at that and scratch their head.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:21 amThe liberal groups Campaign for America’s Future and USAction are launching a media campaign against Sen. Evan Bayh…
Bayh is off on some kind of a head trip on leading these Blue Dog Senators. I thought he was supposed to be close with Obama. He’s acting like a hurt child because he didn’t get picked to be on the team. Sometimes it looks like our entire political system is a bunch of kids playing “king of the hill”.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:23 amReversing Bush administration policy, the EPA concluded that “such emissions are pollutants that endanger the public’s health and welfare” a decision that “could trigger a broad regulatory process.”
Can you imagine what a huge sigh of relief many government departments and workers made the day George Bush walked out of the White House? The last 8 years must have been hell on a lot of good people working for our government.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:25 amGinning up the “Pelosi recession” is a rerun of the Iraq invasion justifications: keep throwing something out as it is seen that the last weak excuse didn’t cut it.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:26 amWow, the losers really came out of the woodwork last nite to support their champ bill o the clown, really pathetic.
#5 Doc Roc, I’ve been saying the same thing to everyone I know. The defense budget slips by with barely a glance every single year and it keeps getting bigger and nobody says a flippin word.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:26 amAmerican workers “are getting squeezed like no other group by private health insurance premiums that are rising much faster than their wages.”
If President Obama is going to have a health care system that still includes the for-profit private insurers, he’s going to have to do something about reining them in. He’s going to have to do something about what they charge us and about how they cherry pick who they cover. If he creates a parallel government plan, I hope he makes it possible to dump your employer plan and go on the government plan if you so choose. Then and only then will the private for-profit companies have some competition.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:27 amSo far that reformed regulatory structure hasn’t mentioned private equity, the consumate greed and leverage boys.
To play in Tim’s public-private partnership plan, The Carlyle Group needs a 20% rate of return.
Krugman’s “Market worship” includes corporafornication.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:29 amThe head of the American League of Lobbyists is now saying the rule “smacks of segregation, discrimination” and is vowing to “push back” against the rule. The group is keeping “all options open, including litigation.”
Now that’s a hoot. What makes these people think that they have the right to lobby our government? If they do try to sue, what I think the President should do is to hire someone, anyone will do, to sit in an office and listen to the lobbyist and then send them packing. Maybe that would be a good job for one of the “burrowed” Bush appointees.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:31 amLarry Summers: “Paul Krugman didn’t seem to recognize that this is one component of the plan.”
“The other component must have fallen off and rolled underneath the sofa or something. It’s more of an optional extra anyway, we problem don’t need it”, he added.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:33 amWere you around last night for the Billo Zombie infestation. It was a hoot. Someone should do a count of the number of trolls he sent over here last night to attack Amanda. I would also love to know how many new people signed up for accounts.
Poor Billo, he had to send his minions here to defend his honor. But since he has no honor, it obviously didn’t work.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:33 amIt’s the Republican daily schedule:
March 24th, 2009 at 9:34 amGet up.
Screw up.
Blame the Democrats.
I guess that bayh wants to be a rethug, but is afraid that he would lose his place in line if he switched. His obstructionism is worse than the rethugs because everyone knows that they are going to work against the good of the nation and for dominance of their party. bayh knows better, but he wants to have the same power that he feels joLIE has.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:34 amThe head of the American League of Lobbyists is now saying the rule “smacks of segregation, discrimination”
Segregation? Discrimination? Whoever the hell this twit is just insulted anyone who has experienced REAL segregation and discrimination. The righteous indignation that these lobbyists and bank execs and republicans muster up when they feel “victimized” is truly disgusting.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:35 amSouth Africa bars Dalai Lama from peace conference
South Africa barred the Dalai Lama from a peace conference in Johannesburg this week, hoping to keep good relations with trading partner China but instead generating a storm of criticism.
Friday’s peace conference was organized by South African soccer officials to highlight the first World Cup to be held in Africa, which South Africa will host in 2010.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090323/ap_on_re_af/af_south_africa_dalai_lama
Africa looks like a Chinese colony. Raw materials exported, finished goods imported.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:35 am“Yesterday, a federal judge ordered the Food and Drug Administration “to make Plan B available to 17-year-olds within 30 days and to review whether to make the emergency contraceptive available to all ages without a doctor’s order.” Currently, girls younger than 18 need a prescription.”
How old do you have to be to write stupid laws??????
March 24th, 2009 at 9:36 amDid BillO’s producer come up with the “Pelosi Receession” moniker?
A better name would be the Repugnicant Greed and Leverage Recesseion )RGLP). Ask them about Chris Ward, the National Republican Congressional Committee’s Bernie Madoff. Repugns couldn’t watch the donor store, much less Wall Street.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:41 amhttp://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/abc/home/contentposting.aspx?isfa=1&feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V3&showbyline=True&date=true&newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20090323%2fmilitary_comments_090323 Hope this works. Thought that you all would like to see this.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:41 am19. stateofthedivision Says: yada…yada..yada
I see that state has a new crusade, thanks to Krugman, to continue to conduct his vendetta against President Obama. Too bad state, you were actually starting to sound like a sane human being there for a while. But it was only a matter of time before your anti-Obama obsessions would catch back up to you.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:42 amFor everyone yammering on that our taxes will go up, please see P15-T which I received yesterday. On average, people will see a $17.00 decrease in the amount of income tax they have to pay per week.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:49 amWhat is with Bayh and his nonsense ?
Is he pissed that he didn’t get a position in the administration ?
That whole “pragmatic/moderate” Senator coalition is nothing more than an attempt to undermine the Obama presidency ; what the hell is that boy thinking ?
March 24th, 2009 at 9:49 amAs usual Bilbo contributes no new infomation and attacks poster’s motives.
Apparently Bilbo is a fan of private equity making 20% returns off taxpayer money and remaining unregulated.
I’m not.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:51 amBayh is a Corporacrat. Goldman Sachs is #1 and The Carlyle Group is #7 on his lifetime donor list:
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=Career&cid=N00003762
March 24th, 2009 at 9:54 amstateofthedivision Says:
——————————————————————————–
Bayh is a Corporacrat. Goldman Sachs is #1 and The Carlyle Group is #7 on his lifetime donor list:
http://www.opensecrets.org/ politicians/ contrib.php?cycle=Career&cid=N00003762
March 24th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Oh , in other words , he’s a Republican …………….
March 24th, 2009 at 9:56 amMatt, ignore it. Or cheer for the PEU boys alongside Bilbo. I’m glad you want the private sector spectacuarly enrished on your tax money. I don’t.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:57 amThese PHUCKING hypocrites on the REICH are now naming the recession after Pelosi, considering House Republicans are “now pinning the economic recession squarely on the shoulders of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).” In an e-mail blast yesterday, Rep. David Price (R-MI) declared “We must work together to end the ‘Pelosi Recession.’” Pelosi spokesman Nadeam Elshami replied that the GOP “can’t seem to remember that they were actually the ones responsible for passing the Bush economic agenda” and Obama current budget was started last year in congress but never finished and he put in the cost of the Iraq and Afghanistan messopatamia`s(WARS) and all of the sudden we are spending to much money.The fiscally conservative Reich wing American Taliban can kiss my lily white A$$ and go back to their constituants and tell them why they will not take stimulus money from Washington, Not! because they don`t know what the truth is any longer.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:58 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
Ok, I’m getting sick and tired of Krugman. He’s acting like a whiny 4 year old. I read yesterday that he thinks the Obama Administration should handle this current economic crisis like they handled the Savings and Loan crisis in the past. I’m surprised that a smart guy like Krugman doesn’t see that today’s financial world is much different than it was back then.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:19 am
I think Krugman’s still making a lot of sense. What he’s saying is that the situation the toxic asset plan is going to create will be akin to what led to the S&L collapse in the 80s – undercapitalized banks tanking risks with the government’s money. What Krugman is saying is that even though mergers and synergy have created some new financial species, the tools to deal with them are the same as they’ve always been: regulation, regulation, and regulation.
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/3/23/the_zombie_ideas_have_won_paul
March 24th, 2009 at 9:58 amThat was so absurd that even they got tired of being laughed at for spouting it. So, they put their pinheads together and came up with Nancy Pelosi. All wingnuts despise her, even though they can’t tell you why.
Isn’t it sad that George W. Bush was so weak and incompetent that he couldn’t save the economy from being destroyed by those ruthless, all-powerful Democrats?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:00 amWell, Bush wants to be remembered for something great.
March 24th, 2009 at 10:03 amWhy do you love communist Red China?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:06 amNice news about the EPA and the Clean Air Act. And we’ve seen movement in the FDA.
I sense a lot of agencies that were once based on science have a backlog of unaltered reports that have been languishing on the shelves.
March 24th, 2009 at 10:08 amI am no economist but the new plan has to have time to develope so it can be tweaked here and there to make it work,it needs time.I for one am willing to let it take time because this is not an instant type gratification I want It fixed now thing because that will not happen,be patient and keep the Reich wing American Taliban out of they so we can get the ball rolling,patience is sorely neded on this one.I am not overly fond of Timmy because of his past with Wall St but is is in charge of this and let him do his job.The biggest obstacle here is the REICH and their fiscally conservative pissing and moaning, they have yet to come up with anything but “NO” so far and no plan either.
March 24th, 2009 at 10:09 am>Are you on Obama’s list of domestic terrorists?
What do you think of Senator Edward Kennedy being on george bush’s “no fly” list, slouchdawg?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:09 amBush also had the Quakers on the terrorist watch list.
March 24th, 2009 at 10:10 amwatchdog Says:
——————————————————————————–
March 24th, 2009 at 10:03 am
1 Financial Times link and a FAUX Comedy Channel link ; you possess less credibility than a Ringling Bros clown ……..
March 24th, 2009 at 10:10 amthe confused cur Says:
China calls for new reserve currency
China’s central bank on Monday proposed replacing the US dollar as the international reserve currency with a new global system controlled by the International Monetary Fund.
“Got to love the obama deficit spending.”
Hmm, Obama’s been President for two months. George W. Shithead borrowed from China with wanton abandon for six years to fund his personal war (off the budget btw). Now that President Obama is forced to fix dipshit’s mess it’s suddenly his fault.
March 24th, 2009 at 10:15 amGeithner Expected to Seek New Powers for Treasury
When he goes before a Congressional panel Tuesday morning, Timothy F. Geithner, the Treasury secretary, is expected to call for the Treasury Department to be granted greater powers to seize troubled financial institutions that aren’t banks.
from NYT Dealbook
March 24th, 2009 at 10:16 amNo, not the Pelosi recession, remember it’s the BushitCo regime recession. No amount of revisionist historical falderal will change that.
March 24th, 2009 at 10:16 amAnd speaking of falderal, how about them trolls last night on Amanda’s thread!
They are lining up to be awarded their Silver Bildo with Loofah clusters today. Gotta wonder where they’ll mount those Silver Bildos.
It’s petty and ridiculous to label this the Pelosi recession — only the brainwashed could believe such drivel – but then again, a lie repeated often enough…..
This economic recession began under Bush–there are plenty of facts and evidence to support that. But repugs will simply skip over that part and typically label the democrats.
Tax cuts, wars (off budget expenditures) and deregulation of the financial industry are direct causes for this crisis (not to mention greed and avarice).
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/26793903/the_big_takeover
March 24th, 2009 at 10:23 amBayh and his group need to explain themselves or suffer the consequences.
March 24th, 2009 at 10:25 amAfter years of rethuglican rule and ruination, it is unconsionable that democrats like Bayh and the blue dogs would work to undermine their own party as it tries to restore America.
Hey , Wingnuts from the Reich, did you know that teen pregnancy and teen STD`s were up under the Shrubs Abstinence only plan, imagine that.Teens will be teens ya know.Abstinence only will not work, teens need condoms just like adults.Parent teenager talks work but the Reich doesn`t want any kind of sex education out there in schools or planned Parenthoood so if a teen has a question from school he/she can home to mom or dad and ask.KIds need sex education and the Wing nuts don`t want them educated, what a joke.How can anyone on the REICH be taken seriously when they are full of HYPOCRISY!They are anti pro choice, they will protect a fetus but once it`s born they don`t give a FLYING PHUCK about the baby or the mother or anything else but their Party of NO.
March 24th, 2009 at 10:33 amHey Marie, the Blue dogs so moderate they can`t decide which side of the fence their really on……..the fact some not all are senators is pissing me off and alot of others who see these guys as the party of I`m no so sure,yet.
March 24th, 2009 at 10:37 amWhy doesn’t Larry Summers invite Paul Krugman, and other journalists, for a briefing about the plan. The Obama White House is communicating about as poorly as the Bush White House with respect to the financial bailout.
March 24th, 2009 at 10:41 amwatchdog Says:
Got to love the obama deficit spending.
___________
Thank you… you just helped me win a bet… $20 you’d try to pin this on the NEW pres, as opposed to the old one.
Thaaaaank Youuuuuu!!!
March 24th, 2009 at 10:43 amIt appears that our Amanda had an effect on BO and his whack job followers. I love it when those sheep expose themselves by making ignorant comments that show that they only went by BO’s word — not the facts.
Well done!!
March 24th, 2009 at 10:50 amWhere did you find a sucker to take that bet?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:57 amWhile I am livid about Senator Evan Bayh and his newly forming band of “moderate” Democrats, forcing him to declare if he is “for him [Obama} or against him” and “What side are you on?” is even more disturbing. This tact is no different than when Bush threatened “You’re either with us or against us in the fight against terror.” Or the GOPs attempts to paint anyone against the Iraq war as unpatriotic. And how is the underlying premise here any different than Limbaugh’s treasonous hope for Obama to fail because there is only one acceptable way for this country to succeed and success, of any kind or degree, achieved by a methodology other than his is unacceptable. Elected officials take an oath to uphold, protect and defend the Constitution, not the president or a political party. They, like the rest of us, pledge allegiance to the flag, not the president. And despite how exacerbating, counter productive and even obstructionist Bayh et al are being, attacking them and requiring them to declare they tow a line of blind and unyielding partisanship is not the solution. It is unproductive and undemocratic and will exacerbate the already untenable partisanship in this country. We are trying to change politics in this country, not emulate the GOP.
March 24th, 2009 at 10:57 amSAfrica says Dalai Lama not welcome before 2010
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/24/AR2009032400585.html?hpid=moreheadlines
March 24th, 2009 at 10:57 amBeck: Let’s put this into perspective here: Our researchers couldn’t find a single report of a single death specifically linked to a militia group, or an individual member of a militia, in over a decade.
So, Glenn Beck’s point is that, since the right-wing terrorists haven’t managed to stage a terrorist attack lately, our law enforcement should no longer pay any attention to them.
Since al Qaeda hasn’t attacked the US in more than 7 years, I suppose Beck thinks they should be taken off the no-fly list.
March 24th, 2009 at 11:07 amHey blotchdog, my lunch hour is in less then 55 minutes. Care to discuss and debate any particular issue of this thread?
March 24th, 2009 at 11:14 amI’ll be having a Greek Salad with added gyros.
I would enjoy the interaction.
Thanks in advance for you well thought out, intelligent discussion.
Gonna have to go with ‘not bloody likely’ on this one.
March 24th, 2009 at 11:37 amImpact of Exxon Valdez lingers
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/41991/title/America%E2%80%99s_worst_oil_disaster_still_isn%E2%80%99t_over
Although the sight and smell of Exxon Valdez oil no longer plagues waters and beaches in southern Alaska, subtle and disturbing residues remain, according to a joint state-and-federal body known as the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council.
March 24th, 2009 at 11:46 amBy the way, in addendum to my link to the Metro above, it appears that they edited a few parts to Ms. Erickson’s article that were rather inflammatory about the black community and the concept that Obama, in her words, “spreads death, and I mean this literally, to our once great nation“.
Unbelievable. I…I have to stop reading all the lunacy from politics…
March 24th, 2009 at 11:53 amPaul Krugman thought he would be chosen as the US Treasury Secretary as he felt he was entitled to it because he won the Nobel Prize. Seeing Tim Geithner get the job and then Summers he is now so jealous he’s using attack ads. Krugman spoke out against George W. Bush for years and what most don’t know or remember is it was Krugman who suggested the same thing Geithner is doing now as the answer to recovery when the first Stock Market Crash happen. He’s wise enough to know this plan will work but his jealousy is out of control. Krugman called for Geithner to resign why? Because he thought he could step in his place and do the same thing that Geithner is doing now. Anybody ready the none Economic Treasury Secretary Paulson who’s only experience was being a CEO. Well it was Hank who suggested selling Toxic Loans as he did an interview and he said the famous Krugman thought it was a good idea. Of course Hank really wasn’t interested in Economic Recovery he just want to give his friends at Goldman Sachs and other banks that 700 billion as a going away present.
March 24th, 2009 at 11:57 amwatchdog Says:
China calls for new reserve currency
China’s central bank on Monday proposed replacing the US dollar as the international reserve currency with a new global system controlled by the International Monetary Fund.
Got to love the obama deficit spending.
Yeah, that Obama caused us to get into debt to China for over a trillion dollars, while Bush was president. How the f_ck did he do that?
**f_cking idiot trolls…
March 24th, 2009 at 12:16 pmWen Nobama wun teh democrat prymaree, al them amerkin cumpanys got ascared, on acount uf hym bein a sochulist, an thay up an mooved to chyna.
March 24th, 2009 at 12:57 pmjwh @64: it is not really a question of forcing bayh, et.al. to declare allegiance to the Dems or Obama, it is why does he have to gather a group declaring itself to be ready to oppose the Pres? The group should already be in place and call itself the Congress, divided into the House of Reps and the Senate. Each should be able to stand up for what each feels is the correct way to support the Constitution and do what is best for the nation. Gathering your smaller group, whether in the House or Senate, and saying that all legislation has to meet our view is not defending the Constitution, but a grab for power, much like joLIE has done on his own.
March 24th, 2009 at 1:18 pmIt’s so unfortunate that the money that was supposed to be used to make the economy better was put into the hands of corporate greed. I wish that we had channelled that money into something more constructive, like helping fight global poverty (domestic and foreign), getting the proper medicine to those in need, finding vaccinations that will save millions of lives and even creating better energy sources so that the World will continue function and we won’t be ruining the ozone layer more than we already have. Did you know that there are 963 million people that go to sleep hungry every day, 980 million live on less than $1 a day and 25,000 die every day from hunger and malnutrition (www.borgenproject.org). I am ready for there to be a difference in the minds of Americans and the way the country is run.
March 24th, 2009 at 1:44 pmThe liberal groups Campaign for America’s Future and USAction are launching a media campaign against Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) today for his vocal opposition to President Obama’s $3.7 trillion budget proposal. “We just want them to take a stance. Either they are for him or against him,” said USAction spokeswoman CeCe Grant. “We’re just basically saying, ‘What side are you on?’” </em
The only problem I have with this is that we lambast the right for universalist thinking, a “you’re either with us or you’re against us” approach. This sort of screams that out loud, doesn’t it? I understand that they’d like to know Bayh’s or anyone else’s stance, but isn’t it just as fair to be neither for nor against Obama? I don’t support what Bayh or his coalition stand for, but I do understand that politics is a broad spectrum and I feel that this is one of those things that Obama himself wanted to get across. Bayh’s merely representing what he feels is the appropriate action in this time, even if I, and we, disagree.
March 24th, 2009 at 2:04 pmHow to Fail to Recover
by Joseph E. Stiglitz
http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/stiglitz110
March 24th, 2009 at 6:24 pmSenate Corporacrat Evan Bayh spent the last day and a half at the Wall Street Journal’s Future of Finance Initiative. Did Evan sit at the table with his #7 lifetime donor, The Carlyle Group? Both David Rubenstein and Arthur Levitt represented the politically connected private equity underwriter (PEU).
https://futurefinance.wsj.com/
https://futurefinance.wsj.com/participant.php?bio=48
March 24th, 2009 at 7:01 pm