http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/28/pm-reacting-to-a-recession-commentary/?refid=0
Instead, many conservatives have changed their minds. They have turned against quantitative easing. They call for tighter money -- not to battle inflation (there isn't any) but they think the value of the dollar is best measured against the price of some selection of commodities, especially gold, silver and oil. It is not about the prices most Americans pay, anymore.
Why -- in a universe of prices -- it is these almost randomly selected prices that should govern is never very well explained. Explained or not, the view is strongly held -- to the point where Texas governor Rick Perry accused Ben Bernanke of treason for thinking otherwise.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
U.S. Recalibrates Remarks About Pakistan - Eric Schmitt
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/29/world/asia/us-recalibrates-mullens-remarks-about-pakistan.html?_r=1
The comments by Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were the first to directly link the spy agency, the Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence, or ISI, with an assault on the United States, and they ignited a diplomatic furor with Pakistan’s civilian and military leaders, who have denied the accusation
The comments by Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were the first to directly link the spy agency, the Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence, or ISI, with an assault on the United States, and they ignited a diplomatic furor with Pakistan’s civilian and military leaders, who have denied the accusation
German parliament approves expanded EU bailout fund -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15107538
For the first time in history, people are joyful when they say "The Germans are coming!"
For the first time in history, people are joyful when they say "The Germans are coming!"
Waiting on Christie - Ben Smith
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0911/Waiting_on_Christie.html
Interesting point. many of the donors that would otherwise be giving money to Romney may be holding out to see what Christie does, making it a little difficult ffor Romney to press his momentum against Perry.
Interesting point. many of the donors that would otherwise be giving money to Romney may be holding out to see what Christie does, making it a little difficult ffor Romney to press his momentum against Perry.
Fox News Poll: GOP Race Top Tier Now Romney, Perry and Cain - Dana Blanton
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/28/fox-news-poll-gop-race-top-tier-now-romney-perry-and-cain/
Perry has dropped from 29 to 19 in one month after a poor debate performances and a concerted media effort against him. To say that he is finished is premature, there is a lot of fight left and he has yet to successfully launch broadsides against Romney, but the time for him is now.
Romney receives a second look from Republican voters who suddenly have forgotten they hate him. He has an air of competence and calmness, something sorely missing from the rest of the GOP field.
Cain's surge is due to the credibility gained with his win in the Florida straw poll, but is probably also owes a little to the slow filtering off of voters from second-tier candidates like Bachmann and some of the eternally fickle ones that have recently moved on from Perry.
We'll know more when a Big Push is made on Romney. How he handles his Mormonism and his RomneyCare vulnerabilities will be telling, and right now he looks like he will survive them.
Perry has dropped from 29 to 19 in one month after a poor debate performances and a concerted media effort against him. To say that he is finished is premature, there is a lot of fight left and he has yet to successfully launch broadsides against Romney, but the time for him is now.
Romney receives a second look from Republican voters who suddenly have forgotten they hate him. He has an air of competence and calmness, something sorely missing from the rest of the GOP field.
Cain's surge is due to the credibility gained with his win in the Florida straw poll, but is probably also owes a little to the slow filtering off of voters from second-tier candidates like Bachmann and some of the eternally fickle ones that have recently moved on from Perry.
We'll know more when a Big Push is made on Romney. How he handles his Mormonism and his RomneyCare vulnerabilities will be telling, and right now he looks like he will survive them.
Dead Sox - Dan Abraham
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2011/09/29/historic_collapse_complete_as_orioles_rally_for_a_pair_off_papelbon_in_ninth/
Historic collapse complete as Orioles rally for a pair off Papelbon in ninth
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
The Gold Bug Bailout - David Frum
http://www.frumforum.com/the-gold-bug-bailout
As the bloom comes off the rose in gold investments Mr. Frum brings up an interesting set of truths in his post:
1) Almost all of the gold investment companies are taking advantage of people, asking them to either invest in overpriced gold coins or cashing in their own gold purchases from months ago and charging a premium to an amateur investor for the privilege of assuming their risk.
2) To a disturbing point, the conservative commentariat is dependent on advertising dollars from these gold companies.
3) The conservative commentariat is dependent upon an ever rising price in gold, lest their listeners start to question the rest of their act after losing a ton of money when the gold bubble bursts.
To be sure, if you listened to Glenn Beck for investment advice you probably deserve what you get, but I'm still not rooting for a bunch of people to become poorer because of a scam.
I am curious how this will turn out as the conservatives try to ring the "gold is money and the dollar is worthless" bell for all it's worth in an effort to protect and keep happy the men on radio who have brought them to power. The Constitutional angle is brilliant, as it actually continues to fool the people they've managed to fool up until now, but I don't know how long the string can play out. At some point, some of these people are going to realize they've been taken by the people they are supposed to trust. Right?
As the bloom comes off the rose in gold investments Mr. Frum brings up an interesting set of truths in his post:
1) Almost all of the gold investment companies are taking advantage of people, asking them to either invest in overpriced gold coins or cashing in their own gold purchases from months ago and charging a premium to an amateur investor for the privilege of assuming their risk.
2) To a disturbing point, the conservative commentariat is dependent on advertising dollars from these gold companies.
3) The conservative commentariat is dependent upon an ever rising price in gold, lest their listeners start to question the rest of their act after losing a ton of money when the gold bubble bursts.
To be sure, if you listened to Glenn Beck for investment advice you probably deserve what you get, but I'm still not rooting for a bunch of people to become poorer because of a scam.
I am curious how this will turn out as the conservatives try to ring the "gold is money and the dollar is worthless" bell for all it's worth in an effort to protect and keep happy the men on radio who have brought them to power. The Constitutional angle is brilliant, as it actually continues to fool the people they've managed to fool up until now, but I don't know how long the string can play out. At some point, some of these people are going to realize they've been taken by the people they are supposed to trust. Right?
It's too late for Chris Christie to run - Ari Fleischer
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/27/opinion/fleischer-chris-christie/
In keeping with the Christie theme this morning, Mr. Fleischer piles on, pointing out why the Christie candidacy is not going to happen.
In keeping with the Christie theme this morning, Mr. Fleischer piles on, pointing out why the Christie candidacy is not going to happen.
Chris Christie, Closet Moderate? - Timothy Noah
http://www.tnr.com/blog/timothy-noah/95411/chris-christie-closet-moderate
But if your reason for wanting another candidate in the race is you don't like Perry, then you should root against Christie jumping in. Silver's analysis is somewhat more nuanced than my summary here, but that I think is where it takes you.
Exactly.
But if your reason for wanting another candidate in the race is you don't like Perry, then you should root against Christie jumping in. Silver's analysis is somewhat more nuanced than my summary here, but that I think is where it takes you.
Exactly.
Social Conservatives Not Likely To Support Chris Christie If He Ran - Doug Mataconis
http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/social-conservatives-not-likely-to-support-chris-christie-if-he-ran/
Tony Perkins of the Family research Council echoes my feelings, which is a first.
Tony Perkins of the Family research Council echoes my feelings, which is a first.
Gloomier and gloomier - Ryan Avent
http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange/2011/09/world-economy
If Europe falters it will not matter what we do, we will enter a second recession. Europe looks like it is going to falter. The math from that point on is not that difficult.
If Europe falters it will not matter what we do, we will enter a second recession. Europe looks like it is going to falter. The math from that point on is not that difficult.
Five Things Conservative Voters Would Hate About Chris Christie - Dan Amira
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/09/chris_christie_flaws.html
The media and the Republicans are going into Christie overdrive this morning as the window of the plausibility of his entrance into the campaign closes. Here Dan Amira lists for us his conservative heresies:
1. Illegal immigration
2. Gun control
3. Climate change
4. Race to the Top (and Obama in general for that matter, who he has said nice things about in the past)
5. Muslims
Christie's brash style plays well to the base, but there is an "information gap" when it comes to his policies and his positions. Once the base learned of the apostate Christie, it would be over quickly, handing the nomination to Perry and ushering in a whole new age of stupid.
The media and the Republicans are going into Christie overdrive this morning as the window of the plausibility of his entrance into the campaign closes. Here Dan Amira lists for us his conservative heresies:
1. Illegal immigration
2. Gun control
3. Climate change
4. Race to the Top (and Obama in general for that matter, who he has said nice things about in the past)
5. Muslims
Christie's brash style plays well to the base, but there is an "information gap" when it comes to his policies and his positions. Once the base learned of the apostate Christie, it would be over quickly, handing the nomination to Perry and ushering in a whole new age of stupid.
The need for new narratives - The Rick Perry problem
http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2011/09/rick-perrys-problems
With that said, Mr Perry's recent travails, real or exaggerated, are good for everyone. It's useful for voters to see how a candidate handles setbacks, because they are inevitable, and some politicians handle them more equably than others. We haven't seen Mr Perry face a serious threat to his political fortunes in more than ten years, so it will be instructive if at some point during the campaign it looks like he's losing everything. And if Mr Perry does implode entirely, Republicans should be glad that he ran at all: in running and losing Mr Perry would have handed Mr Romney his first credible national knockout. That would let Mr Romney enter the general election as a nominee who had actually won the nomination, not one who had stumbled into it despite himself.
The only narrative I see is the John Birch Society versus the Chamber of Commerce. Who wins and how they win will tell you the state of the Republican party for the next four years.
With that said, Mr Perry's recent travails, real or exaggerated, are good for everyone. It's useful for voters to see how a candidate handles setbacks, because they are inevitable, and some politicians handle them more equably than others. We haven't seen Mr Perry face a serious threat to his political fortunes in more than ten years, so it will be instructive if at some point during the campaign it looks like he's losing everything. And if Mr Perry does implode entirely, Republicans should be glad that he ran at all: in running and losing Mr Perry would have handed Mr Romney his first credible national knockout. That would let Mr Romney enter the general election as a nominee who had actually won the nomination, not one who had stumbled into it despite himself.
The only narrative I see is the John Birch Society versus the Chamber of Commerce. Who wins and how they win will tell you the state of the Republican party for the next four years.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Will Romney really be better than Perry? - Exra Klein
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/will-romney-really-be-better-than-perry/2011/08/25/gIQAx5byqK_blog.html?wprss=ezra-klein
Mitt Romney has very little trust inside his party. If he wins the Republican nomination, it will be because he persuaded the conservative base that Rick Perry would lose to President Obama. A relationship of convenience, however, won’t give Romney a lot of running room once in office. If he wants to hold his party’s members of Congress, and avoid a primary challenge in 2016, he’s going to have to show an uncommon level of fealty to the Republican agenda. His impulses as a competent technocrat might be quite blunted by his instincts as a politician interested in his own survival. A candidate who was more of a party darling — a Chris Christie, say — would be in a much better position to sell compromises to his copartisans.
Mitt Romney has very little trust inside his party. If he wins the Republican nomination, it will be because he persuaded the conservative base that Rick Perry would lose to President Obama. A relationship of convenience, however, won’t give Romney a lot of running room once in office. If he wants to hold his party’s members of Congress, and avoid a primary challenge in 2016, he’s going to have to show an uncommon level of fealty to the Republican agenda. His impulses as a competent technocrat might be quite blunted by his instincts as a politician interested in his own survival. A candidate who was more of a party darling — a Chris Christie, say — would be in a much better position to sell compromises to his copartisans.
Pakistanis Tied to 2007 Border Ambush on Americans - Carlotta Gall
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/world/asia/pakistanis-tied-to-2007-attack-on-americans.html?_r=2&hp
I honestly wondered out loud after the 9/11 whether we would attack Pakistan. I think the scrambling by Musharraf after the attacks prevented that, but this is a deeply fractured country caught between a nuclear armed enemy and it's own fanatical insurgents, with our support both keeping the government afloat and fueling the insurgency. To abandon them would be disaster, to trust them would be foolish.
I honestly wondered out loud after the 9/11 whether we would attack Pakistan. I think the scrambling by Musharraf after the attacks prevented that, but this is a deeply fractured country caught between a nuclear armed enemy and it's own fanatical insurgents, with our support both keeping the government afloat and fueling the insurgency. To abandon them would be disaster, to trust them would be foolish.
Is Christie the Anti-Perry or the Anti-Romney? - Nate Silver
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/26/is-christie-the-anti-perry-or-the-anti-romney/
I'll say it again: Republicans love that Chris Christie yells, and that is literally all they know about him. Less known are his positions on gay civil unions, global warming, TARP, immigration, abortion, and Muslims. So basically he is a loud Democrat who loudly sends his kids to private schools and handled public unions better than Scott Walker did.
I'll say it again: Republicans love that Chris Christie yells, and that is literally all they know about him. Less known are his positions on gay civil unions, global warming, TARP, immigration, abortion, and Muslims. So basically he is a loud Democrat who loudly sends his kids to private schools and handled public unions better than Scott Walker did.
CNN Poll: Perry still at top but Romney stronger vs. Obama - CNN
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/26/cnn-poll-perry-still-at-top-but-romney-stronger-vs-obama/
This is no great mystery. Perry is not a good national candidate and Romney is tolerable to independents, but Perry pleases the Republican base. Perry had a terrible week last week based on his performance in the two most recent debates. His stammering, pointless, and vague effort perhaps reminds people of the last time they nominated a Texan to run the country. Not good.
But remember that Perry not only klutzed the debates last week, he also faced a widespread assault by the other candidates as well as the Establishment GOP, and yet he still leads. The last 14 days saw the East Coast Conservative Offensive, a desperate attempt to finally install Romney as the candidate, or to at least derail the Perry candidacy. Many conservative media stars knitted brows and clucked disapproval at the Perry candidacy, thinly veiled acknowledgement that Perry would drive independents away in droves, and they engaged in what appeared to be an agreed upon march against his camp.
It failed, for now, and Perry still leads but is a wounded candidate in danger of ceding his lead to Romney. His next debate performance, if somewhat cogent and aggresive, may save him.
This is no great mystery. Perry is not a good national candidate and Romney is tolerable to independents, but Perry pleases the Republican base. Perry had a terrible week last week based on his performance in the two most recent debates. His stammering, pointless, and vague effort perhaps reminds people of the last time they nominated a Texan to run the country. Not good.
But remember that Perry not only klutzed the debates last week, he also faced a widespread assault by the other candidates as well as the Establishment GOP, and yet he still leads. The last 14 days saw the East Coast Conservative Offensive, a desperate attempt to finally install Romney as the candidate, or to at least derail the Perry candidacy. Many conservative media stars knitted brows and clucked disapproval at the Perry candidacy, thinly veiled acknowledgement that Perry would drive independents away in droves, and they engaged in what appeared to be an agreed upon march against his camp.
It failed, for now, and Perry still leads but is a wounded candidate in danger of ceding his lead to Romney. His next debate performance, if somewhat cogent and aggresive, may save him.
How Lucky Is Mitt Romney? - Jonathan Chait
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/09/how_lucky_is_mitt_romney.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nymag%2Fintel+%28Daily+Intelligencer+-+New+York+Magazine%29
Mitt Romney, a worse Republican than the hated John McCain and George HW Bush, at a moment when ideological purity is valued more than at any other time, finds himself the only sane choice. There are still some weaknesses: he has yet to face a concerted offensive from the rest of the GOP field and the base may yet gag on his candidacy and split for crazier fields.
Mitt Romney, a worse Republican than the hated John McCain and George HW Bush, at a moment when ideological purity is valued more than at any other time, finds himself the only sane choice. There are still some weaknesses: he has yet to face a concerted offensive from the rest of the GOP field and the base may yet gag on his candidacy and split for crazier fields.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Roger’s Reality Show - Howard Kurtz
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/09/25/roger-ailes-repositions-fox-news.html
What would you do if the next President of the United States owed his election to you, or better yet, thought he did?
What would you do if the next President of the United States owed his election to you, or better yet, thought he did?
The Case for Buying Low on Perry - Nate Silver
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/24/the-case-for-buying-low-on-perry/
Summary:
Rick Perry's recession in the polls is not reflected in polls of Republican primary voters, where he has held steady. Further, since there is no other viable alternative to Romney, Perry's not quite as wounded as some would have you think.
Summary:
Rick Perry's recession in the polls is not reflected in polls of Republican primary voters, where he has held steady. Further, since there is no other viable alternative to Romney, Perry's not quite as wounded as some would have you think.
Left Behind: How Democrats Are Losing the Political Center - William Galston
http://www.tnr.com/article/the-vital-center/95296/democrats-ideology-republicans-independents
Compounding the problem, the American people are gradually polarizing. According to Gallup, twenty years ago, as Bill Clinton began his presidential campaign, self-described moderates formed the plurality of the electorate—43 percent; conservatives were 36 percent, liberals 17 percent. By the summer of 2011, the conservative share had risen to 41 percent and liberals to 21 percent, while moderates declined to 36 percent, surrendering their plurality status to conservatives. Because nearly all conservatives now vote for Republicans and liberals for Democrats, the share of the shrinking pool of moderates that Democrats need to build a majority is now larger than ever.
Compounding the problem, the American people are gradually polarizing. According to Gallup, twenty years ago, as Bill Clinton began his presidential campaign, self-described moderates formed the plurality of the electorate—43 percent; conservatives were 36 percent, liberals 17 percent. By the summer of 2011, the conservative share had risen to 41 percent and liberals to 21 percent, while moderates declined to 36 percent, surrendering their plurality status to conservatives. Because nearly all conservatives now vote for Republicans and liberals for Democrats, the share of the shrinking pool of moderates that Democrats need to build a majority is now larger than ever.
Euro Zone Death Trip - Paul Krugman
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/26/opinion/euro-zone-death-trip.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
On one side, Europe’s situation is really, really scary: with countries that account for a third of the euro area’s economy now under speculative attack, the single currency’s very existence is being threatened — and a euro collapse could inflict vast damage on the world.
On the other side, European policy makers seem set to deliver more of the same. They’ll probably find a way to provide more credit to countries in trouble, which may or may not stave off imminent disaster. But they don’t seem at all ready to acknowledge a crucial fact — namely, that without more expansionary fiscal and monetary policies in Europe’s stronger economies, all of their rescue attempts will fail.
Think of it this way: private demand in the debtor countries has plunged with the end of the debt-financed boom. Meanwhile, public-sector spending is also being sharply reduced by austerity programs. So where are jobs and growth supposed to come from? The answer has to be exports, mainly to other European countries.
But exports can’t boom if creditor countries are also implementing austerity policies, quite possibly pushing Europe as a whole back into recession.
On one side, Europe’s situation is really, really scary: with countries that account for a third of the euro area’s economy now under speculative attack, the single currency’s very existence is being threatened — and a euro collapse could inflict vast damage on the world.
On the other side, European policy makers seem set to deliver more of the same. They’ll probably find a way to provide more credit to countries in trouble, which may or may not stave off imminent disaster. But they don’t seem at all ready to acknowledge a crucial fact — namely, that without more expansionary fiscal and monetary policies in Europe’s stronger economies, all of their rescue attempts will fail.
Think of it this way: private demand in the debtor countries has plunged with the end of the debt-financed boom. Meanwhile, public-sector spending is also being sharply reduced by austerity programs. So where are jobs and growth supposed to come from? The answer has to be exports, mainly to other European countries.
But exports can’t boom if creditor countries are also implementing austerity policies, quite possibly pushing Europe as a whole back into recession.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Is Irish Austerity Paying Dividends? - Megan McArdle
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/09/is-irish-austerity-paying-dividends/245522/
Does that mean that Ireland's experience vindicates austerity over stimulus? In your face, Mr. Fancypants Nobelprizewinner!
Umm, no. Ireland's economy is still frail, and it's recovery is export-led--a real danger with a euro crisis lurking on the horizon.
Bill Clinton: Netanyahu killed the peace process - Josh Rogin
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/09/22/bill_clinton_netanyahu_killed_the_peace_process
Interesting
Clinton then repeated his assertions made at last year's conference that Israeli society can be divided into demographic groups that have various levels of enthusiasm for making peace.
"The most pro-peace Israelis are the Arabs; second the Sabras, the Jewish Israelis that were born there; third, the Ashkenazi of long-standing, the European Jews who came there around the time of Israel's founding," Clinton said. "The most anti-peace are the ultra-religious, who believe they're supposed to keep Judea and Samaria, and the settler groups, and what you might call the territorialists, the people who just showed up lately and they're not encumbered by the historical record."
Interesting
Clinton then repeated his assertions made at last year's conference that Israeli society can be divided into demographic groups that have various levels of enthusiasm for making peace.
"The most pro-peace Israelis are the Arabs; second the Sabras, the Jewish Israelis that were born there; third, the Ashkenazi of long-standing, the European Jews who came there around the time of Israel's founding," Clinton said. "The most anti-peace are the ultra-religious, who believe they're supposed to keep Judea and Samaria, and the settler groups, and what you might call the territorialists, the people who just showed up lately and they're not encumbered by the historical record."
David Cameron: world on brink of new economic crisis - Jon Swaine
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/8783133/David-Cameron-world-on-brink-of-new-economic-crisis.html
More gloomy economic data yesterday led one of the world's leading economists to say that Britain, the US and the eurozone are all already in recession, and warn of a second financial crisis worse than that of 2008–9. The Prime Minister spoke in Canada after delivering a blunt warning to President Barack Obama and eurozone leaders about the need to follow Britain's example and curb their deficits.
In a speech in Ottawa, Mr Cameron said that Western politicians must show more "leadership" and warned that political indecision would only worsen the crisis.
Roll over Einstein: Pillar of physics challenged - FRANK JORDANS and SETH BORENSTEIN
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_BREAKING_LIGHT_SPEED?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
GENEVA (AP) -- A startling find at one of the world's foremost laboratories that a subatomic particle seemed to move faster than the speed of light has scientists around the world rethinking Albert Einstein and one of the foundations of physics.
GENEVA (AP) -- A startling find at one of the world's foremost laboratories that a subatomic particle seemed to move faster than the speed of light has scientists around the world rethinking Albert Einstein and one of the foundations of physics.
The Agony of the GOP Establishment - Jonathan Chait
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/09/the_agony_of_the_gop_establish.html
This is the dilemma the party elite must navigate. Now here is what compounds the dilemma. If you're a Republican opinion leader, you want to promote Romney over Perry. At the same time, you have to account for the possibility that Perry might win the nomination anyway, which means that you can't say anything that could be used against him in the general election. You need to gently suggest to Republicans that Perry is too crazy to be elected president, without suggesting to swing voters that he's too crazy to be elected president.
This is the dilemma the party elite must navigate. Now here is what compounds the dilemma. If you're a Republican opinion leader, you want to promote Romney over Perry. At the same time, you have to account for the possibility that Perry might win the nomination anyway, which means that you can't say anything that could be used against him in the general election. You need to gently suggest to Republicans that Perry is too crazy to be elected president, without suggesting to swing voters that he's too crazy to be elected president.
Perry Swinging & Missing vs. Romney - Aaron Goldstein
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/09/22/perry-swinging-missing-vs-romn
Earlier today, I said that Rick Perry had to come out swinging against Mitt Romney.
Well, for the most part, Perry is swinging and missing. He is clearly not comfortable attacking Romney as evidenced by the fact he's stumbling over accusing Romney "being for something before he was against it."
Perry did much better with regard to the HMV vaccine when he spoke of a 31-year old woman who lobbied in favor of it.
He clearly isn't an attack dog. At this point, he has to stop throwing punches at Romney.
Earlier today, I said that Rick Perry had to come out swinging against Mitt Romney.
Well, for the most part, Perry is swinging and missing. He is clearly not comfortable attacking Romney as evidenced by the fact he's stumbling over accusing Romney "being for something before he was against it."
Perry did much better with regard to the HMV vaccine when he spoke of a 31-year old woman who lobbied in favor of it.
He clearly isn't an attack dog. At this point, he has to stop throwing punches at Romney.
Live blog of the debate from Josh Marshall
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/09/debate_blogging_4.php?ref=fpblg
That was a really weird encounter between Perry and Romney on who's the biggest flip-flopper. I mean, this should be one you can just hit right out of the park for anyone running against Romney. And Perry was clearly prepped with a series of attack lines. But he stumbled over them like you'd woken him up in the middle of the night. Or maybe he was a punch drunk heavyweight at the end of the 14th round. Then Romney comes in -- an amazing flip-flopper if there ever was one -- and manages to just run circles around Perry. It was almost sad. Romney was on fire. And yet, Perry's clearly this audience's guy. He's got the positions they like. Romney basically doesn't. He says he does. But people don't really buy that. So how far does the complete debate mastery go
That was a really weird encounter between Perry and Romney on who's the biggest flip-flopper. I mean, this should be one you can just hit right out of the park for anyone running against Romney. And Perry was clearly prepped with a series of attack lines. But he stumbled over them like you'd woken him up in the middle of the night. Or maybe he was a punch drunk heavyweight at the end of the 14th round. Then Romney comes in -- an amazing flip-flopper if there ever was one -- and manages to just run circles around Perry. It was almost sad. Romney was on fire. And yet, Perry's clearly this audience's guy. He's got the positions they like. Romney basically doesn't. He says he does. But people don't really buy that. So how far does the complete debate mastery go
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Romney surges to lead in most recent Suffolk University poll of NH voters -
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/933447-196/romney-surges-to-lead-in-most-recent.html
So here we have Perry in a nutshell: a regional candidate that cannot compete outside of his own base. My point about this being beside the point is that until I see national needles start to move I still say that Perry is to his unblemishable to his base. They don't care what he says, it's the way he emphatically says it, and his base is large enough to sweep him to the nomination in the present GOP.
So here we have Perry in a nutshell: a regional candidate that cannot compete outside of his own base. My point about this being beside the point is that until I see national needles start to move I still say that Perry is to his unblemishable to his base. They don't care what he says, it's the way he emphatically says it, and his base is large enough to sweep him to the nomination in the present GOP.
Vote on House spending bill reveals John Boehner’s lack of control - JAKE SHERMAN & JOHN BRESNAHAN
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/64102.html
At this point there is no real reason to think of Boehner as in charge of much of anything. Rather, he depends on allegience to a party to get his votes.
At this point there is no real reason to think of Boehner as in charge of much of anything. Rather, he depends on allegience to a party to get his votes.
Rick Perry's pledge to stand with Israel "as a Christian" is a gift to Islamic extremists. - William Saletan
http://www.slate.com/id/2304311/pagenum/all
I'll say it again: meaner, stupider George W Bush. If that makes your socks go up and down, this is going to be a great year for you.
I'll say it again: meaner, stupider George W Bush. If that makes your socks go up and down, this is going to be a great year for you.
Rabbani's death and Afghanistan's future - Anand Gopal
http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/09/20/rabbanis_death_and_afghanistans_future
Remaining Northern Alliance figures will likely close ranks and conclude that any sort of rapprochement with the Taliban is impossible. Some, like strongman Abdul Rasoul Sayyaf, have reportedly looked to cultivate ties with India as a counterweight to what they see as an assassination drive spurred by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI). Ex-Alliance commanders, aided by U.S. programs to create local militias, will likely accelerate their drive to rearm, possibly setting the stage for a future civil war.
For now, the immense divides that plague Afghanistan will be on full display. Among some communities, Rabbani will be hailed as a hero, a wizened Islamic scholar and hero of the war against the Russians. In others, he will be remembered for scores of human rights abuses and widespread devastation during the last civil war. Either way, a peace deal in Afghanistan remains as unlikely as ever.
Remaining Northern Alliance figures will likely close ranks and conclude that any sort of rapprochement with the Taliban is impossible. Some, like strongman Abdul Rasoul Sayyaf, have reportedly looked to cultivate ties with India as a counterweight to what they see as an assassination drive spurred by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI). Ex-Alliance commanders, aided by U.S. programs to create local militias, will likely accelerate their drive to rearm, possibly setting the stage for a future civil war.
For now, the immense divides that plague Afghanistan will be on full display. Among some communities, Rabbani will be hailed as a hero, a wizened Islamic scholar and hero of the war against the Russians. In others, he will be remembered for scores of human rights abuses and widespread devastation during the last civil war. Either way, a peace deal in Afghanistan remains as unlikely as ever.
Pining For the Fleshpots of Reagan? - Jason Peters
http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2011/09/pining-for-the-fleshpots-of-reagan/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FrontPorchRepublic+%28Front+Porch+Republic%29
* Seventy-one percent of current U.S. debt was accumulated during Republican presidential terms.
* Two-thirds of debt-ceiling elevations since 1960 have been signed into law by Republican presidents.
* In 1961 the percentage of corporate profits paid in taxes was nearly forty-one; now it is less than eleven.
* Seventy-five percent of the increase in corportate profit margins since 2001 has come from depressed wages.
* Seventy-one percent of current U.S. debt was accumulated during Republican presidential terms.
* Two-thirds of debt-ceiling elevations since 1960 have been signed into law by Republican presidents.
* In 1961 the percentage of corporate profits paid in taxes was nearly forty-one; now it is less than eleven.
* Seventy-five percent of the increase in corportate profit margins since 2001 has come from depressed wages.
The GOP’s Bernanke Letter - David Frum
http://www.frumforum.com/the-gops-bernanke-letter
I know what the detractors will say: to the end of defeating President Obama and replacing him with a Republican president. And if you’ve convinced yourself that Obama is the Second Coming of Malcolm X, Trotsky, and the all-conquering Caliph Omar all in one, then perhaps capsizing the US economy and plunging your fellow-citizens deeper into misery will seem a price worth paying to rid the country of him.
I know what the detractors will say: to the end of defeating President Obama and replacing him with a Republican president. And if you’ve convinced yourself that Obama is the Second Coming of Malcolm X, Trotsky, and the all-conquering Caliph Omar all in one, then perhaps capsizing the US economy and plunging your fellow-citizens deeper into misery will seem a price worth paying to rid the country of him.
Reality Check - Andrew Sullivan
http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2011/09/reality-check-1.html
The trend against Barack Obama by independents is devastating and should add a new wrinkle of panic to Perry's candidacy. The Republican nominee at this point is probably better than 50-50 to take the White House. Ignore the current polls, they aren't building in a second recession which, as Sullivan and Frum point out, the House GOP is urging onward.
The trend against Barack Obama by independents is devastating and should add a new wrinkle of panic to Perry's candidacy. The Republican nominee at this point is probably better than 50-50 to take the White House. Ignore the current polls, they aren't building in a second recession which, as Sullivan and Frum point out, the House GOP is urging onward.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Mideast’s New Superpower - Owen Matthews
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/09/20/turkey-s-recep-tayyip-erdogan-pushes-democracy-in-mideast.html
The fundamental point is that Turkey remains a U.S. ally—and a more important one than ever. Generations of U.S. statesmen believed they had little choice but to support the brutal and corrupt Mubarak regime in Egypt because they believed it to be a bulwark against the threat of Islamic fundamentalism. That support undermined American talk of democracy in Arab eyes. Now comes Erdogan, a hero of the Arab street, not just preaching democracy and secularism but showing how it worked brilliantly for Turkey, which has more than doubled its GDP in eight years and peacefully dismantled much of the legacy of totalitarian military rule.
The fundamental point is that Turkey remains a U.S. ally—and a more important one than ever. Generations of U.S. statesmen believed they had little choice but to support the brutal and corrupt Mubarak regime in Egypt because they believed it to be a bulwark against the threat of Islamic fundamentalism. That support undermined American talk of democracy in Arab eyes. Now comes Erdogan, a hero of the Arab street, not just preaching democracy and secularism but showing how it worked brilliantly for Turkey, which has more than doubled its GDP in eight years and peacefully dismantled much of the legacy of totalitarian military rule.
U.S. assembling secret drone bases in Africa, Arabian Peninsula, officials say -Craig Whitlock and Greg Miller
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-building-secret-drone-bases-in-africa-arabian-peninsula-officials-say/2011/09/20/gIQAJ8rOjK_story.html
This is the face of 21st Century warfare. You cannot invade a country to curb terrorism. You can glide a missle to kill individual terrorists and drive them to corners where they are less effective, hiding from a bird that never sleeps.
This is the face of 21st Century warfare. You cannot invade a country to curb terrorism. You can glide a missle to kill individual terrorists and drive them to corners where they are less effective, hiding from a bird that never sleeps.
Obama Making Final Push to Blunt Palestinian Bid - Julie Pace
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/obama-making-final-push-blunt-palestinian-bid-14569196
This is so preordained that it is really not even worth examining closely. Israel is veering on a course I think is unwise, but because they are a traditional ally and because there are a lot of elderly Jews in Florida who vote, this has no chance.
This is so preordained that it is really not even worth examining closely. Israel is veering on a course I think is unwise, but because they are a traditional ally and because there are a lot of elderly Jews in Florida who vote, this has no chance.
Rep. Ryan: Rick Perry is right on Social Security - Alicia Cohen
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/182711-rep-ryan-rick-perry-is-right-on-social-security
I'm glad there is a conversation going on about Social Secutiry. I think however that some are having a different conversation than others, and are unaware of how alien and frightening their conversation is to some of the people listening to them. I think that right now there is an "acceptance bubble" or a tolerance of somewhat radical talk on entitlements that will later on make a 180-degree turn, perhaps because the beneficiaries perceive this as simply talk at this point, because it is early in an election cycle. But there is a reason it is the "third rail" of politics and I think that some of these positions are really going to come back to haunt certain people.
I'm glad there is a conversation going on about Social Secutiry. I think however that some are having a different conversation than others, and are unaware of how alien and frightening their conversation is to some of the people listening to them. I think that right now there is an "acceptance bubble" or a tolerance of somewhat radical talk on entitlements that will later on make a 180-degree turn, perhaps because the beneficiaries perceive this as simply talk at this point, because it is early in an election cycle. But there is a reason it is the "third rail" of politics and I think that some of these positions are really going to come back to haunt certain people.
One Cheer--Two at the Most--for Candidate Christie? - Peter Robinson
http://ricochet.com/main-feed/One-Cheer-Two-at-the-Most-for-Candidate-Christie
Once Christie's opponents began pointing out the thinness of his record as a conservative--he has bashed back the rate of growth of state spending, but the budget is still bigger than when he took office, and he has failed to enact structural reforms, improve schools, or, really, to do much of anything else at all--once this became understood, Christie's support in the tea party would drop sharply. "He'd lose," my friend said, "and then he'd come back to New Jersey too damaged to be effective. It would be the worst of both worlds."
This kind of last minute chair shuffling has to be unsettling to Republicans who feel they need to beat Barack Obama in 2012. Every camp has its own fantasy candidate and we've gone through 3 or 4 front runners at this point. and each camp is totally unsatisfied with the other's choices. This of course excepts Mitt Romney, who has no camp if Chris Christie ever entered the race.
This attempt to unseat Perry with a candidate who is not in the debates and has a spotty conservative record is somewhat desperate, as if to say none of that matters at all.
Once Christie's opponents began pointing out the thinness of his record as a conservative--he has bashed back the rate of growth of state spending, but the budget is still bigger than when he took office, and he has failed to enact structural reforms, improve schools, or, really, to do much of anything else at all--once this became understood, Christie's support in the tea party would drop sharply. "He'd lose," my friend said, "and then he'd come back to New Jersey too damaged to be effective. It would be the worst of both worlds."
This kind of last minute chair shuffling has to be unsettling to Republicans who feel they need to beat Barack Obama in 2012. Every camp has its own fantasy candidate and we've gone through 3 or 4 front runners at this point. and each camp is totally unsatisfied with the other's choices. This of course excepts Mitt Romney, who has no camp if Chris Christie ever entered the race.
This attempt to unseat Perry with a candidate who is not in the debates and has a spotty conservative record is somewhat desperate, as if to say none of that matters at all.
What I Learned About Rick Perry From Reading His Bizarre Book About the Boy Scouts - Justin Elliot
http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/94878/perry-boy-scouts-on-my-honor-aclu
In that way, On My Honor’s odd mix of autobiography and polemic underscores what truly animates Perry—and, needless to say, it isn’t tax policy. His real political passion is the protection of traditional American institutions against elitist attacks. It’s no accident that even though Perry’s campaign is supposed to be founded on his economic record as governor of Texas, he’s been having trouble staying on message.
Also revealed: in 2002 Mitt Romney, as head of the US Olympic Committee, passed on an offer of assistance by the Boy Scouts to help out during the SLC Olympics. As Perry is clearly a Boy Scout devotee, this adds a new wrinkle to their rivalry.
Other than that the post points to Perry's devotion to an America that existed in a few places in his youth, but not many, and for the most part only in the minds of nostaligiasts. From that devotion springs his devotion to the Boy Scouts and to all things "traditional".
In that way, On My Honor’s odd mix of autobiography and polemic underscores what truly animates Perry—and, needless to say, it isn’t tax policy. His real political passion is the protection of traditional American institutions against elitist attacks. It’s no accident that even though Perry’s campaign is supposed to be founded on his economic record as governor of Texas, he’s been having trouble staying on message.
Also revealed: in 2002 Mitt Romney, as head of the US Olympic Committee, passed on an offer of assistance by the Boy Scouts to help out during the SLC Olympics. As Perry is clearly a Boy Scout devotee, this adds a new wrinkle to their rivalry.
Other than that the post points to Perry's devotion to an America that existed in a few places in his youth, but not many, and for the most part only in the minds of nostaligiasts. From that devotion springs his devotion to the Boy Scouts and to all things "traditional".
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Poll: Perry, Romney draw support from distinct groups - Susan Page
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2011-09-19/republican-poll-gop-perry-romney/50467944/1
• Perry is stronger among Republicans and independents who lean Republican, the voters who settle nominations. In a head-to-head race, 49% say they would vote for Perry, 39% for Romney.
• Romney does better among the swing voters who hold the key to most general elections. Among all registered voters, Romney edges President Obama while Perry narrowly lags him
Exactly. The Rasmussen poll from yesterday is already shown to be a lie. Perry's support has settled a bit since the debates began, but it isn't cratering like the Rockefeller wing wishes it were. Until something really sinks into him he's the nominee, and it it isn't his brain-dead performance in the debates so far, what is it going to be?
Perry Looks Better Against Romney Than Against Obama - Gallup
http://www.gallup.com/poll/149552/Perry-Looks-Better-Against-Romney-Against-Obama.aspx
Oddly, those Republicans who support Perry do so because they think they are supporting the candidate with the best chance of beating Obama.
Oddly, those Republicans who support Perry do so because they think they are supporting the candidate with the best chance of beating Obama.
When Ronald Reagan Was President, There Was A Soviet Union And A Cold War - Matthew Yglesias
http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/09/19/322306/reagan-sovie/
There’s not much to engage with in this argument except the observation that I take it that the premise of Ronald Reagan’s Cold War strategy had something to do with the existence of the Cold War. His argument wasn’t “let’s do blah blah for no reason at all.” It was “let’s do blah blah because something Soviet Union something something.” Now, though, Graham is just saying we should do what Reagan did because it’s what Reagan did.
In other words, the "peace through strength" wings of both parties did not disappear. The Cold War disappeared. What would establishing short range nuclear weapons on German soil do to deter China or Somali Islamists? The equation has changed but unfortunately many are still working off the model used to bring down the Soviets.
There’s not much to engage with in this argument except the observation that I take it that the premise of Ronald Reagan’s Cold War strategy had something to do with the existence of the Cold War. His argument wasn’t “let’s do blah blah for no reason at all.” It was “let’s do blah blah because something Soviet Union something something.” Now, though, Graham is just saying we should do what Reagan did because it’s what Reagan did.
In other words, the "peace through strength" wings of both parties did not disappear. The Cold War disappeared. What would establishing short range nuclear weapons on German soil do to deter China or Somali Islamists? The equation has changed but unfortunately many are still working off the model used to bring down the Soviets.
Why the White House changed course - Ezra Klein
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/why-the-white-house-changed-course/2011/08/25/gIQAjS8PfK_blog.html
The administration was initially pleased to see press reports detailing their willingness to compromise and surveys showing the American people thought the GOP far more intransigent. In their theory of politics, that meant they were winning. But they soon learned that voters aren’t interested in compromises that don’t lead to results. Obama looked like a nice guy, and that kept him personally popular. But he looked like an ineffectual leader, and that led his job approval to dip below 40 percent in some polls.
The administration was initially pleased to see press reports detailing their willingness to compromise and surveys showing the American people thought the GOP far more intransigent. In their theory of politics, that meant they were winning. But they soon learned that voters aren’t interested in compromises that don’t lead to results. Obama looked like a nice guy, and that kept him personally popular. But he looked like an ineffectual leader, and that led his job approval to dip below 40 percent in some polls.
Is the Death of Borders Really Good for Independent Bookstores? - Esther Yi
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/09/is-the-death-of-borders-really-good-for-independent-bookstores/245095/
While it's questionable that Borders' end will yield dramatic benefits for independent shops, Abel views it as a symbolic affirmation of good bookstore values. He says that the depersonalized atmosphere of superstores like Borders and Barnes & Noble helped to foster an attitude of disrespect: if customers feel no intimate connection with a store, they are more likely to, say, copy lines out of a travel guide or treat books with a flippant disregard for the person who may chance upon the items next. "We can do without those behaviors. We could get back to a bookstore where people don't answer their phones, back to a bookstore where people value the books," Abel says, noting that even Costco, the monumental warehouse chain, sells books. "We were putting books in a space that shouldn't be selling books. It's not a pair of jeans at 40 percent off. It's a cultural artifact. It's knowledge."
Let's remember that Borders' failure to adapt to e-commerce killed them, not Amazon. There are still bookstores out there that thrive because their customers like to be in a bookstore, not in a coffee shop-mall hybrid. Someone has to serve them.
While it's questionable that Borders' end will yield dramatic benefits for independent shops, Abel views it as a symbolic affirmation of good bookstore values. He says that the depersonalized atmosphere of superstores like Borders and Barnes & Noble helped to foster an attitude of disrespect: if customers feel no intimate connection with a store, they are more likely to, say, copy lines out of a travel guide or treat books with a flippant disregard for the person who may chance upon the items next. "We can do without those behaviors. We could get back to a bookstore where people don't answer their phones, back to a bookstore where people value the books," Abel says, noting that even Costco, the monumental warehouse chain, sells books. "We were putting books in a space that shouldn't be selling books. It's not a pair of jeans at 40 percent off. It's a cultural artifact. It's knowledge."
Let's remember that Borders' failure to adapt to e-commerce killed them, not Amazon. There are still bookstores out there that thrive because their customers like to be in a bookstore, not in a coffee shop-mall hybrid. Someone has to serve them.
The Qwikster and the Dead - Megan McArdle
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/09/the-qwikster-and-the-dead/245303/
A brilliant explanation of why Netflix raised their prices, why everyone cannot cut off their cable and just use Netflix, why the DVD business is doomed, how content providers (entertainment companies) are going to war against Netflix, and why it is stupid to provide "free ice cream" to gain customers if ice cream is eventually going to be your core business.
A brilliant explanation of why Netflix raised their prices, why everyone cannot cut off their cable and just use Netflix, why the DVD business is doomed, how content providers (entertainment companies) are going to war against Netflix, and why it is stupid to provide "free ice cream" to gain customers if ice cream is eventually going to be your core business.
Obama’s Lack of Focus Could Be Politically Fatal - Bruce Bartlett
http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Columns/2011/09/16/Obamas-Lack-of-Focus-Could-Be-Politically-Fatal.aspx#page1
This brings me to my central criticism of Obama. Once the stimulus was enacted, he turned his attention elsewhere. He appeared to believe that he had done quite enough to turn the economy around and thus moved on to other issues such as health reform, the environment and energy policy, which occupied an enormous amount of White House attention in 2009 and 2010.
I think this was a mistake, not because I think the Affordable Care Act was inherently bad policy, as Republicans do, but because it diverted Obama’s attention from the economy and caused him to take his eye off the ball
This brings me to my central criticism of Obama. Once the stimulus was enacted, he turned his attention elsewhere. He appeared to believe that he had done quite enough to turn the economy around and thus moved on to other issues such as health reform, the environment and energy policy, which occupied an enormous amount of White House attention in 2009 and 2010.
I think this was a mistake, not because I think the Affordable Care Act was inherently bad policy, as Republicans do, but because it diverted Obama’s attention from the economy and caused him to take his eye off the ball
Monday, September 19, 2011
2012 Presidential Matchups - Obama 46%, Perry 39% - Rasmussen
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/2012_presidential_matchups
There are any number of opinion sources hyperventilating over this revelation this morning. It seems that the electorate is quickly catching on to Perry's lack of preparation for these debates and is colling to the idea of his presidency. As evidence, many cite that Rasmussen leans Republican and can often be depended upon to give revelations that support the GOP, so this must be accurate. Right?
Maybe. I don't give any more credence to this poll than I do the ones from Rasmussen in 2008 that showed Obama losing in 2008. They both serve what the Establishment GOP wants the storyline to be. In this case, this is part of the "kitchen sink" strategy now in force against anyone in Romney's way. The cynic class of the GOP, having spent last week casting doubt on Perry while holding Bachmann under water until her campaign was dead in the water, will tout this as evidence that Romney simply must be the nominee or Obama will repeat. While I admit that is indeed the case, this poll release is to bring the Tea-cons and the Birchers around to their way of thinking, as they could care less about electability.
Don't simply assume that because Rasmussen leans Republican that they were loathe to release this poll. I think it more likely that they were enlisted and are probably part of a 14-day plan to bring Perry down.
There are any number of opinion sources hyperventilating over this revelation this morning. It seems that the electorate is quickly catching on to Perry's lack of preparation for these debates and is colling to the idea of his presidency. As evidence, many cite that Rasmussen leans Republican and can often be depended upon to give revelations that support the GOP, so this must be accurate. Right?
Maybe. I don't give any more credence to this poll than I do the ones from Rasmussen in 2008 that showed Obama losing in 2008. They both serve what the Establishment GOP wants the storyline to be. In this case, this is part of the "kitchen sink" strategy now in force against anyone in Romney's way. The cynic class of the GOP, having spent last week casting doubt on Perry while holding Bachmann under water until her campaign was dead in the water, will tout this as evidence that Romney simply must be the nominee or Obama will repeat. While I admit that is indeed the case, this poll release is to bring the Tea-cons and the Birchers around to their way of thinking, as they could care less about electability.
Don't simply assume that because Rasmussen leans Republican that they were loathe to release this poll. I think it more likely that they were enlisted and are probably part of a 14-day plan to bring Perry down.
Israel: Adrift at Sea Alone - Thomas Friedman
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/18/opinion/sunday/friedman-israel-adrift-at-sea-alone.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
I’VE never been more worried about Israel’s future. The crumbling of key pillars of Israel’s security — the peace with Egypt, the stability of Syria and the friendship of Turkey and Jordan — coupled with the most diplomatically inept and strategically incompetent government in Israel’s history have put Israel in a very dangerous situation.
According to an exhaustive article about the talks by the Israeli columnist Nahum Barnea of the Yediot Aharonot newspaper, the two sides agreed that Israel would apologize only for “operational mistakes” and the Turks would agree to not raise legal claims. Bibi then undercut his own lawyers and rejected the deal, out of national pride and fear that Mr. Lieberman would use it against him. So Turkey threw out the Israeli ambassador.
I’VE never been more worried about Israel’s future. The crumbling of key pillars of Israel’s security — the peace with Egypt, the stability of Syria and the friendship of Turkey and Jordan — coupled with the most diplomatically inept and strategically incompetent government in Israel’s history have put Israel in a very dangerous situation.
According to an exhaustive article about the talks by the Israeli columnist Nahum Barnea of the Yediot Aharonot newspaper, the two sides agreed that Israel would apologize only for “operational mistakes” and the Turks would agree to not raise legal claims. Bibi then undercut his own lawyers and rejected the deal, out of national pride and fear that Mr. Lieberman would use it against him. So Turkey threw out the Israeli ambassador.
The Glow-In-The-Dark Kitty - Sarah Zielinski
http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2011/09/the-glow-in-the-dark-kitty/
Years ago scientists realized that the gene for GFP is a perfect marker when they insert another new gene into an organism. By inserting a version of GFP along with their gene of choice, they could easily see if they were successful because the organism would glow. Since the technique was first developed, researchers have made many glowing animals, including pigs, mice, dogs, even fish you can buy in the pet store.
Years ago scientists realized that the gene for GFP is a perfect marker when they insert another new gene into an organism. By inserting a version of GFP along with their gene of choice, they could easily see if they were successful because the organism would glow. Since the technique was first developed, researchers have made many glowing animals, including pigs, mice, dogs, even fish you can buy in the pet store.
Friday, September 16, 2011
And the winner of the Fox News primary is... - Walter Shapiro
http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/magazine/94953/fox-news-gop-candidates?passthru=MDAwNzU4NjI2ZjNiM2QxZjlhYjJiMzYzYzg4ZTNkNTI
Still, it wasn’t hard to infer where the preferences of most Fox personalities lie. Late-night Fox host Greg Gutfeld offered the most memorable summary on “The Five.” “Mitt Romney is like somebody you hook up with periodically until you get serious and you want to meet somebody serious,” he said. “He [is] friends with benefits. And Perry is marriage material.” Yikes.
Two other observations that Shapior makes:
1) Mitt is handled gingerly, as if to appease the center wing of the party.
2) Bachmann is being quickly "airbrushed" out of the picture.
Fox News is one of the pillars of the modern GOP, so winning their hearts is as important as winning over the Tea Party or Wall Street.
Still, it wasn’t hard to infer where the preferences of most Fox personalities lie. Late-night Fox host Greg Gutfeld offered the most memorable summary on “The Five.” “Mitt Romney is like somebody you hook up with periodically until you get serious and you want to meet somebody serious,” he said. “He [is] friends with benefits. And Perry is marriage material.” Yikes.
Two other observations that Shapior makes:
1) Mitt is handled gingerly, as if to appease the center wing of the party.
2) Bachmann is being quickly "airbrushed" out of the picture.
Fox News is one of the pillars of the modern GOP, so winning their hearts is as important as winning over the Tea Party or Wall Street.
Perry Is Failing The First Test(s) - John Ellis
http://www.businessinsider.com/perry-regroups-2011-9?op=1
More wishful thinking from the Rockefeller wing of the party. Perry is only failing by their standards, not the standards of those voting in the primaries. By their standards he is hitting it out of the park.
But more alarming was Perry's evident lack of command of the subject matter. As John Podhoretz wrote at Commentary after the CNN/Tea Party debate, Perry had trouble with some fairly straightforward policy questions. He seemed not only out of his depth, he seemed unprepared.
When was this a disqualifying error?
More wishful thinking from the Rockefeller wing of the party. Perry is only failing by their standards, not the standards of those voting in the primaries. By their standards he is hitting it out of the park.
But more alarming was Perry's evident lack of command of the subject matter. As John Podhoretz wrote at Commentary after the CNN/Tea Party debate, Perry had trouble with some fairly straightforward policy questions. He seemed not only out of his depth, he seemed unprepared.
When was this a disqualifying error?
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Perry Blossoms As Bachmann Wilts In Virginia GOP Race - Quinnipiac
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x5822.xml?ReleaseID=1644
There are still a lot of Republicans out there who see Perry as a disaster. They spent two years trying to silence Sarah Palin and derail her presidential ambitions, only to see Donald Trump and his birtherism rise to the top of the GOP heap. Once he crashed and burned thanks to his singular issue being revealed as loony, the Establishment thought they could breathe easy and hoist Romney upon their shoulders, only to watch Michele Bachmann step into his place. As they struggled to shut her up and discredit her in the eyes of the true believers (no easy task), Rick Perry launches to the front of the pack and has not looked back since. Michele Bachmann has crashed and burned, as we knew she would, but this has only stengthened perry.
There were a number of conservative bloggers and media sources that criticized Perry's debate performance as stumbling, incoherent, weak, and inaccurate not to mention his stance on Social Security. They pointed this in the hope that it would dampen his support and lead to a return to Romney of sorts. Unhappily for them the polls are in and whatever backlash was supposed to form from Perry's weak performance has yet to materialize. As I think this was probably his weakest performance to date, and he will probably only get better now that his most vocal critic has been neutered by her own indulgence on insane statements, Perry probably won't have his standing stumble as a result of weak debates.
The mistake they make is in thinking that debates, facts, or policy statements have anything to do with his support. The Republican base craves authenticity above all else. They see Perry's "answers" as value statements and pay far more attention to the tone than the content, like they did George W. Bush's same mannerisms and tendencies. It is too late for the Establishment to elevate their own candidate. They erred sorely when they elevated Stupid Sarah as their Joan of Arc, and now she has turned on them and laid siege to their own tower, with the very people they felt they had been duping for years.
It is not over yet, but Romney and the Establishment have got to catch on to the fact that showing Rick Perry is unprepared and not that smart is not going to slow him down.
There are still a lot of Republicans out there who see Perry as a disaster. They spent two years trying to silence Sarah Palin and derail her presidential ambitions, only to see Donald Trump and his birtherism rise to the top of the GOP heap. Once he crashed and burned thanks to his singular issue being revealed as loony, the Establishment thought they could breathe easy and hoist Romney upon their shoulders, only to watch Michele Bachmann step into his place. As they struggled to shut her up and discredit her in the eyes of the true believers (no easy task), Rick Perry launches to the front of the pack and has not looked back since. Michele Bachmann has crashed and burned, as we knew she would, but this has only stengthened perry.
There were a number of conservative bloggers and media sources that criticized Perry's debate performance as stumbling, incoherent, weak, and inaccurate not to mention his stance on Social Security. They pointed this in the hope that it would dampen his support and lead to a return to Romney of sorts. Unhappily for them the polls are in and whatever backlash was supposed to form from Perry's weak performance has yet to materialize. As I think this was probably his weakest performance to date, and he will probably only get better now that his most vocal critic has been neutered by her own indulgence on insane statements, Perry probably won't have his standing stumble as a result of weak debates.
The mistake they make is in thinking that debates, facts, or policy statements have anything to do with his support. The Republican base craves authenticity above all else. They see Perry's "answers" as value statements and pay far more attention to the tone than the content, like they did George W. Bush's same mannerisms and tendencies. It is too late for the Establishment to elevate their own candidate. They erred sorely when they elevated Stupid Sarah as their Joan of Arc, and now she has turned on them and laid siege to their own tower, with the very people they felt they had been duping for years.
It is not over yet, but Romney and the Establishment have got to catch on to the fact that showing Rick Perry is unprepared and not that smart is not going to slow him down.
We can't blame the poor for America's poverty problem - David Frum
http://theweek.com/bullpen/column/219231/we-cant-blame-the-poor-for-americas-poverty-problem
The collapse of the American job market has pushed the poverty rate to the highest level since 1993 — back before welfare reform was even enacted. The poverty rate touched bottom in the year 2000 at 11.3 percent. It has now surpassed 15.1 percent. More than 46 million Americans now count as poor, including more than one in four black Americans and more than one in four Hispanics.
The collapse of the American job market has pushed the poverty rate to the highest level since 1993 — back before welfare reform was even enacted. The poverty rate touched bottom in the year 2000 at 11.3 percent. It has now surpassed 15.1 percent. More than 46 million Americans now count as poor, including more than one in four black Americans and more than one in four Hispanics.
Rick Perry knocks Michele Bachmann's HPV story - Jonathan Martin
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/63526.html
And there is Michelle's greatest mistake. She has allowed Perry's weakness to become something he can attack her on because she overshot and ventured into a conspiracy about vaccines and mental retardation.
There were one of two things going on.
First, a lot of Bachmann's support was simply a 'protest vote', the voters who had previously championed Sarah Palin, then moved on to Trump, then settled on Bachmann. These are the neo-Birchers and cranks. Perry has taken a lot of those from her and her support has deflated accordingly. The conservative media's cattle drive in the last couple of days to spurn her and move on to another hasn't helped either.
Second, Bachmann's 'crazy eyes' problem has always kept her from being a viable candidate. She is not pretending to believe crazy things in order to court the darker corners of the electorate. She is very serious in her belief in crazy things. She is renowned for venturing into conspiracy theories and views wildly outside of the mainstream, most notably on gays. For whatever reason, this outburst of hers stuck at a time when she really needed the wind at her back to keep the voters we just talked about in her coulmn. It could have caught afire and started yet another crazy conspiracy championed by her beloved neo-Birchers. Instead it provided an opportunity to the GOP Establishment to label her a kook and drag her under.
The Gardasil-retardation gaffe will be her epitaph.
And there is Michelle's greatest mistake. She has allowed Perry's weakness to become something he can attack her on because she overshot and ventured into a conspiracy about vaccines and mental retardation.
There were one of two things going on.
First, a lot of Bachmann's support was simply a 'protest vote', the voters who had previously championed Sarah Palin, then moved on to Trump, then settled on Bachmann. These are the neo-Birchers and cranks. Perry has taken a lot of those from her and her support has deflated accordingly. The conservative media's cattle drive in the last couple of days to spurn her and move on to another hasn't helped either.
Second, Bachmann's 'crazy eyes' problem has always kept her from being a viable candidate. She is not pretending to believe crazy things in order to court the darker corners of the electorate. She is very serious in her belief in crazy things. She is renowned for venturing into conspiracy theories and views wildly outside of the mainstream, most notably on gays. For whatever reason, this outburst of hers stuck at a time when she really needed the wind at her back to keep the voters we just talked about in her coulmn. It could have caught afire and started yet another crazy conspiracy championed by her beloved neo-Birchers. Instead it provided an opportunity to the GOP Establishment to label her a kook and drag her under.
The Gardasil-retardation gaffe will be her epitaph.
Poll: Republicans Blamed Most for Ineffectiveness - Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Catherine Dodge
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-15/republicans-get-most-blame-for-ineffective-governing-in-national-u-s-poll.html
And herein lies Obama's loophole. Regardless of what a bad job he does, he's not going to be blamed for it. He can trade on the notion that he was dealt a bad hand and is powerless to enact things that would help kick start the economy because Republicans won't let him. The "bickering" somehow sticks to members of Congress and not him and he is seen as The Reasonable Man. That is his greatest shot at reelection.
And herein lies Obama's loophole. Regardless of what a bad job he does, he's not going to be blamed for it. He can trade on the notion that he was dealt a bad hand and is powerless to enact things that would help kick start the economy because Republicans won't let him. The "bickering" somehow sticks to members of Congress and not him and he is seen as The Reasonable Man. That is his greatest shot at reelection.
China's Imminent Collapse - John Quiggin
http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/chinas-imminent-collapse-5880
The spectacular economic growth of the past two decades has made the resolution of policy disagreements relatively easy. Simply put, there has been enough surplus to satisfy all important interests and still allow rapidly rising incomes for the mass of the population, or at least those in urban areas who might pose a threat to political stability.
Again, the example of the Arab Spring suggests that a slowdown in economic growth can bring about a sudden break in what seemed like an established political order. In democracies, economic shocks typically result in electoral defeat for the incumbent government, which at least provides the public with someone to blame, and a test of the hypothesis that the crisis was the result of mismanagement.
In a closed oligarchy like that of China, there is no such mechanism.
The spectacular economic growth of the past two decades has made the resolution of policy disagreements relatively easy. Simply put, there has been enough surplus to satisfy all important interests and still allow rapidly rising incomes for the mass of the population, or at least those in urban areas who might pose a threat to political stability.
Again, the example of the Arab Spring suggests that a slowdown in economic growth can bring about a sudden break in what seemed like an established political order. In democracies, economic shocks typically result in electoral defeat for the incumbent government, which at least provides the public with someone to blame, and a test of the hypothesis that the crisis was the result of mismanagement.
In a closed oligarchy like that of China, there is no such mechanism.
Bachmann’s Political Contagion - Michael Specter
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2011/09/bachmanns-political-contagion.html
This is a particularly irresponsible way to speak, in part because it raises the memory of the deadly fiasco caused by the British physician Andrew Wakefield when he asserted that vaccines caused autism. That assertion has been withdrawn, Wakefield has been disgraced, and, after scores of studies, no correlation between vaccinations and autism has ever been found. But vaccine rates plummeted and diseases like measles and whooping cough, once nearly vanquished, came roaring back. The fear Wakefield caused has killed many children.
This is a particularly irresponsible way to speak, in part because it raises the memory of the deadly fiasco caused by the British physician Andrew Wakefield when he asserted that vaccines caused autism. That assertion has been withdrawn, Wakefield has been disgraced, and, after scores of studies, no correlation between vaccinations and autism has ever been found. But vaccine rates plummeted and diseases like measles and whooping cough, once nearly vanquished, came roaring back. The fear Wakefield caused has killed many children.
The Ambiguous Triumph of the “Urban Age” - Robert Bruegmann
http://www.newgeography.com/content/002439-the-ambiguous-triumph-%E2%80%9Curban-age%E2%80%9D?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Newgeography+%28Newgeography.com+-+Economic%2C+demographic%2C+and+political+commentary+about+places%29
Two hundred years ago, before automobiles, telephones, the internet and express package services, cities were much more compact and rural life was indeed very different from urban life. Most inhabitants of rural areas were tied to agriculture or industries devoted to the extraction of natural resources. Their lives were fundamentally different from those of urban dwellers.
Today the situation has changed radically. Most people living in areas classified as rural don’t farm or have any direct connection with agriculture. They hold jobs similar to those in urban areas. And although they might not have opera houses, upscale boutiques or specialized hospitals nearby, the activities that take place in these venues are available to them in ways that they never were before.
Two hundred years ago, before automobiles, telephones, the internet and express package services, cities were much more compact and rural life was indeed very different from urban life. Most inhabitants of rural areas were tied to agriculture or industries devoted to the extraction of natural resources. Their lives were fundamentally different from those of urban dwellers.
Today the situation has changed radically. Most people living in areas classified as rural don’t farm or have any direct connection with agriculture. They hold jobs similar to those in urban areas. And although they might not have opera houses, upscale boutiques or specialized hospitals nearby, the activities that take place in these venues are available to them in ways that they never were before.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Jacqueline Kennedy's Audio Tapes: 'John John' Says 'He's Gone to Heaven' - Mark Mooney
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Jacqueline_Kennedy/jacqueline-kennedy-remembers-jfk-white-house-dad/story?id=14499391
According to Caroline Kennedy, her father didn't like to read to his children, preferring to make up stories instead. Many of them starred Caroline and a pony, and in his stories she frequently won the Grand National horse race, beating a Miss Shaw and Mrs. Throttlebottom. In his tales, there were also sharks, a girl named Maybelle who hid in the woods, and sometimes the kids would join him on a PT boat and sink a Japanese destroyer.
According to Caroline Kennedy, her father didn't like to read to his children, preferring to make up stories instead. Many of them starred Caroline and a pony, and in his stories she frequently won the Grand National horse race, beating a Miss Shaw and Mrs. Throttlebottom. In his tales, there were also sharks, a girl named Maybelle who hid in the woods, and sometimes the kids would join him on a PT boat and sink a Japanese destroyer.
The Terrifying Tigers - TERRY L. JONES
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/13/the-terrifying-tigers/
A very interesting post on the 14th Louisiana Infantry
A very interesting post on the 14th Louisiana Infantry
Rush Limbaugh: Vaccine Talk A ‘Giant Distraction,’ Bachmann ‘Jumped The Shark’ - Frances Martel
http://www.mediaite.com/online/rush-limbaugh-perry-vaccine-mandate-a-giant-distraction-bachmann-jumped-the-shark/
Rep. Michele Bachmann‘s attacks on Texas Governor Rick Perry for mandating HPV vaccines in Texas may have elicited cheers from the crowd at last time’s CNN/Tea Party debate, but it may have lost her Rush Limbaugh‘s confidence.
That says it all. Yes, Tea Peons, you may lover her, but Rush says you must hate her. Therefore, they will hate her and move on to Rick Perry, the guy they were cheering against just hours ago.
Rep. Michele Bachmann‘s attacks on Texas Governor Rick Perry for mandating HPV vaccines in Texas may have elicited cheers from the crowd at last time’s CNN/Tea Party debate, but it may have lost her Rush Limbaugh‘s confidence.
That says it all. Yes, Tea Peons, you may lover her, but Rush says you must hate her. Therefore, they will hate her and move on to Rick Perry, the guy they were cheering against just hours ago.
THEORY: Merkel Will Press Obama And The Fed To Help Bail Out The Eurozone -John Ellis
http://www.businessinsider.com/merkel-will-press-obama-and-the-fed-to-bail-out-the-eurozone-2011-9?op=1
The reality is that the Eurozone no longer offers any good option for continued unity. As an Italian policy-maker told Martin Wolf of the Financial Times, "it would be better to leave (the eurozone) than endure 30 years of pain."
The reality is that the Eurozone no longer offers any good option for continued unity. As an Italian policy-maker told Martin Wolf of the Financial Times, "it would be better to leave (the eurozone) than endure 30 years of pain."
Republican Bob Turner wins New York special election - Rachel Weiner
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/republican-bob-turner-wins-new-york-special-election/2011/09/13/gIQAPL72QK_blog.html
My gut tells me that this was only partially a referendum on Obama. I think a lot of it had to do with the disgusting behavior of Anthony Weiner, and then his shady cover up. With that said, if I were Obama, I would definitely take notice of this.
My gut tells me that this was only partially a referendum on Obama. I think a lot of it had to do with the disgusting behavior of Anthony Weiner, and then his shady cover up. With that said, if I were Obama, I would definitely take notice of this.
Bachmann Asks: Can Gardisil Make Your Kids Retarded? - David Weigel
http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2011/09/13/bachmann_asks_can_gardisil_make_your_kids_retarded_.html
The fact that it's Bachmann embracing this -- Bachmann, who has a habit of endorsing or "just asking questions" about dark theories that she's overheard -- is totally unsurprising.
Even Rush Limbaugh has started flogging Bachmann for this "colorful" theory. Her time is over and apparently the commentariat has gotten the message, Conservative blogs have abandoned her en masse and this is the issue that they are going to use.
To things:
1) The powers that be have decided that it was time this was a two-man race
2) I guess she is not totally gaffe proof
The fact that it's Bachmann embracing this -- Bachmann, who has a habit of endorsing or "just asking questions" about dark theories that she's overheard -- is totally unsurprising.
Even Rush Limbaugh has started flogging Bachmann for this "colorful" theory. Her time is over and apparently the commentariat has gotten the message, Conservative blogs have abandoned her en masse and this is the issue that they are going to use.
To things:
1) The powers that be have decided that it was time this was a two-man race
2) I guess she is not totally gaffe proof
The Job-Seeker's Paradox - Arnold Kling
http://econlog.econlib.org/archives/2011/09/the_job-seekers.html
The paradox is this. A job seeker is looking for something for a well-defined job. But the trend seems to be that if a job can be defined, it can be automated or outsourced.
The marginal product of people who need well-defined jobs is declining. The marginal product of people who can thrive in less structured environments is increasing. That was what I was trying to say in my jobs speech.
Very interesting.
The paradox is this. A job seeker is looking for something for a well-defined job. But the trend seems to be that if a job can be defined, it can be automated or outsourced.
The marginal product of people who need well-defined jobs is declining. The marginal product of people who can thrive in less structured environments is increasing. That was what I was trying to say in my jobs speech.
Very interesting.
Intelligence chiefs: al-Qaida far from done - Kimberly Dozier
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/09/ap-intellgience-chiefs-al-qaida-far-from-done-091311/
In remarks Tuesday to a joint congressional intelligence committee hearing, Petraeus predicted al-Qaida leaders may even flee to Afghanistan or leave South Asia altogether to escape the CIA, which has quadrupled covert drone strikes against al-Qaida under the Obama administration
In remarks Tuesday to a joint congressional intelligence committee hearing, Petraeus predicted al-Qaida leaders may even flee to Afghanistan or leave South Asia altogether to escape the CIA, which has quadrupled covert drone strikes against al-Qaida under the Obama administration
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
After 9/11 - Megan McArdle
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/09/after-9-11/244929/
For a couple of days I walked the dog as if through the streets of a small but formal 19th century town, nodding gravely to everyone I met.
For a couple of days I walked the dog as if through the streets of a small but formal 19th century town, nodding gravely to everyone I met.
Eventually, this first shock wore off. People had to go shopping--on the afternoon of the 11th, a rumor had swept the uptown residential districts that firemen needed socks and sweatpants because it was wet and cold. My mother, like many loyal New Yorkers desperate for a concrete contribution, had taken all the socks in the house and bundled them off to the fire department on West 83rd street. (I later heard that the bewildered firemen had donated this strange bounty to some charity in Africa). We made do for a couple of days washing the socks that we'd had on, but eventually, we had to go to the store and buy new ones. Groceries needed to be laid in. Life went on.
U.S. Boots on the Ground in Libya, Pentagon Confirms - Justin Fishel
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/12/us-boots-on-ground-in-libya-pentagon-confirms/
Despite repeated assurances from President Obama and military leaders that the U.S. would not send uniformed military personnel into Libya, four U.S. service members arrived on the ground in Tripoli over the weekend.
Meh. It's four guys inspecting the embassy. Not a big deal.
Despite repeated assurances from President Obama and military leaders that the U.S. would not send uniformed military personnel into Libya, four U.S. service members arrived on the ground in Tripoli over the weekend.
Meh. It's four guys inspecting the embassy. Not a big deal.
Fifty New Exoplanets Discovered by HARPS
http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1134/
Astronomers using ESO’s world-leading exoplanet hunter HARPS have today announced a rich haul of more than 50 new exoplanets, including 16 super-Earths, one of which orbits at the edge of the habitable zone of its star. By studying the properties of all the HARPS planets found so far, the team has found that about 40% of stars similar to the Sun have at least one planet lighter than Saturn.
Astronomers using ESO’s world-leading exoplanet hunter HARPS have today announced a rich haul of more than 50 new exoplanets, including 16 super-Earths, one of which orbits at the edge of the habitable zone of its star. By studying the properties of all the HARPS planets found so far, the team has found that about 40% of stars similar to the Sun have at least one planet lighter than Saturn.
More About the 9/11 Anniversary - Paul Krugman
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/12/more-about-the-911-anniversary/
The fact is that the two years or so after 9/11 were a terrible time in America – a time of political exploitation and intimidation, culminating in the deliberate misleading of the nation into the invasion of Iraq. It’s probably worth pointing out that I’m not saying anything now that I wasn’t saying in real time back then, when Bush had a sky-high approval rating and any criticism was denounced as treason. And there’s nothing I’ve done in my life of which I’m more proud.
It was a time when tough talk was confused with real heroism, when people who made speeches, then feathered their own political or financial nests, were exalted along with – and sometimes above – those who put their lives on the line, both on the evil day and after.
So it was a shameful episode in our nation’s history – and it’s one that I can’t help thinking about whenever we talk about 9/11 itself.
Exactly.
The fact is that the two years or so after 9/11 were a terrible time in America – a time of political exploitation and intimidation, culminating in the deliberate misleading of the nation into the invasion of Iraq. It’s probably worth pointing out that I’m not saying anything now that I wasn’t saying in real time back then, when Bush had a sky-high approval rating and any criticism was denounced as treason. And there’s nothing I’ve done in my life of which I’m more proud.
It was a time when tough talk was confused with real heroism, when people who made speeches, then feathered their own political or financial nests, were exalted along with – and sometimes above – those who put their lives on the line, both on the evil day and after.
So it was a shameful episode in our nation’s history – and it’s one that I can’t help thinking about whenever we talk about 9/11 itself.
Exactly.
Get Krugman! - Dave Weigel
http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2011/09/12/get_krugman_.html
To summarize, Paul Krugman put out a column on Sunday morning that named the post-9/11 years "Years of Shame". Specifically he was talking about the way 9/11 became a wedge issue and was used to attack those that would have steered us away from a war in Iraq. It's not anything new and was pretty common in 2002 to hear. Maybe it was the timing of his comments or maybe it was just that we've forgotten those years, but he's elicited a storm of criticism. That's too bad, because he's completely right.
To summarize, Paul Krugman put out a column on Sunday morning that named the post-9/11 years "Years of Shame". Specifically he was talking about the way 9/11 became a wedge issue and was used to attack those that would have steered us away from a war in Iraq. It's not anything new and was pretty common in 2002 to hear. Maybe it was the timing of his comments or maybe it was just that we've forgotten those years, but he's elicited a storm of criticism. That's too bad, because he's completely right.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Kenyan kidnapping: Briton murdered and wife snatched at luxury resort - Mark Hughes, Mike Pflanz in Nairobi, Martin Beckford and Peter Hutchison
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/kenya/8756592/Kenyan-kidnapping-Briton-murdered-and-wife-snatched-at-luxury-resort.html
Somalia becomes the wellspring for everything we managed to stamp out in Afghanistan.
Somali pirates have proven so famously daring and profitable is it any wonder they will branch out? Why stop at one British tourist? Why the not the entire resort?
Somalia becomes the wellspring for everything we managed to stamp out in Afghanistan.
Somali pirates have proven so famously daring and profitable is it any wonder they will branch out? Why stop at one British tourist? Why the not the entire resort?
Niger justice minister says Gaddafi son Saadi in Niger - Mark John and Bate Felix
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/11/us-libya-niger-son-idUSTRE78A2Y220110911
The ties between Libya and Niger are shadowy and complicated. The Gaddafi clan has supported the rebels in Niger on and off, and perhaps this is where Sladdi was attempting to escape to. It would not be surprising to find that the rebels had taken him in and them sold him to the government.
The ties between Libya and Niger are shadowy and complicated. The Gaddafi clan has supported the rebels in Niger on and off, and perhaps this is where Sladdi was attempting to escape to. It would not be surprising to find that the rebels had taken him in and them sold him to the government.
The consumer hourglass theory? - Tyler Cowen
http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2011/09/the-consumer-hourglass-theory.html
The Consumer Hourglass Theory stresses that the middle class consumer is a shrinking demographic, so an investor or a market entry should forcus on the extremes, the high end and the low end, and ignore the middle. Middle-class consumers have had their budgets pinched to the point that they are now low end consumers, seeking deals at the Family Dollar instead of Target.
The Consumer Hourglass Theory stresses that the middle class consumer is a shrinking demographic, so an investor or a market entry should forcus on the extremes, the high end and the low end, and ignore the middle. Middle-class consumers have had their budgets pinched to the point that they are now low end consumers, seeking deals at the Family Dollar instead of Target.
In Tapes, Candid Talk by Young Kennedy Widow - Janny Scott
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/12/us/12jackie.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
In many of her accounts of her marriage, the grieving widow in her early 30s appears to bear little resemblance to the woman who married Aristotle Onassis, the Greek shipping magnate, four years later, or who, after his death, embarked upon a career as a book editor in New York and later told a friend she had come to realize she could not expect to live primarily through a husband. Doris Kearns Goodwin, the historian and wife of Richard Goodwin, a Kennedy aide, said in an interview on Friday, “It’s certainly not the Jackie that we knew later on.”
But, she added, “By then, she’s a different woman.”
Mrs. Kennedy might have been intentionally projecting the image expected of women at the time. She also knew that she was speaking for the historical record, since the conversations were part of a larger oral history of the Kennedy presidency. But her self-confidence seems to have grown in the White House. For the first time, she became one of her husband’s most visible assets. Her televised tour of the White House restoration that she had initiated was watched by 56 million viewers.
In many of her accounts of her marriage, the grieving widow in her early 30s appears to bear little resemblance to the woman who married Aristotle Onassis, the Greek shipping magnate, four years later, or who, after his death, embarked upon a career as a book editor in New York and later told a friend she had come to realize she could not expect to live primarily through a husband. Doris Kearns Goodwin, the historian and wife of Richard Goodwin, a Kennedy aide, said in an interview on Friday, “It’s certainly not the Jackie that we knew later on.”
But, she added, “By then, she’s a different woman.”
Mrs. Kennedy might have been intentionally projecting the image expected of women at the time. She also knew that she was speaking for the historical record, since the conversations were part of a larger oral history of the Kennedy presidency. But her self-confidence seems to have grown in the White House. For the first time, she became one of her husband’s most visible assets. Her televised tour of the White House restoration that she had initiated was watched by 56 million viewers.
Two Questions at the Heart of Bin Laden’s Jihad - Lawrence Wright
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-09/questions-at-the-heart-of-bin-laden-s-jihad-commentary-by-lawrence-wright.html
Al-Qaeda killed many times more Muslims in Iraq alone than Americans who died on Sept. 11. That doesn’t count the Muslims murdered by the group in Turkey, Morocco, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Algeria, Afghanistan and elsewhere. In the name of al-Qaeda’s vision of Islam, children have been turned into suicide bombers, both Muslims and non-Muslims have been beheaded (sometimes on video), women have had their faces burned off, schools were destroyed, lovers stoned, aid workers murdered, and the whole world held hostage to terror.
In the minds of many non-Muslims, Islam has become synonymous with barbarism. Nothing said by more moderate Muslim voices could compete with the appalling imagery put forward by al-Qaeda’s terror masters.
Then came the Arab Spring
Al-Qaeda killed many times more Muslims in Iraq alone than Americans who died on Sept. 11. That doesn’t count the Muslims murdered by the group in Turkey, Morocco, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Algeria, Afghanistan and elsewhere. In the name of al-Qaeda’s vision of Islam, children have been turned into suicide bombers, both Muslims and non-Muslims have been beheaded (sometimes on video), women have had their faces burned off, schools were destroyed, lovers stoned, aid workers murdered, and the whole world held hostage to terror.
In the minds of many non-Muslims, Islam has become synonymous with barbarism. Nothing said by more moderate Muslim voices could compete with the appalling imagery put forward by al-Qaeda’s terror masters.
Then came the Arab Spring
The Fire This Time - REZA ASLAN
http://lareviewofbooks.org/post/9988565795/the-fire-this-time
These two fires — the one lit by the hijackers on September 11, 2001, the other sparked by a single individual in a small Tunisian town ten years later — form the bookends to the 9/11 decade. Indeed, you can draw a straight line from one to the other. Their kindling was the same: humiliation, lack of dignity, a smoldering frustration with the ways of the world, and the overwhelming urge to set it all alight. Their fuel was the same: both fires spread through satellite television and social networking sites, something al-Qa‘ida had pioneered long before there was any talk of a “Facebook revolution.”
These two fires — the one lit by the hijackers on September 11, 2001, the other sparked by a single individual in a small Tunisian town ten years later — form the bookends to the 9/11 decade. Indeed, you can draw a straight line from one to the other. Their kindling was the same: humiliation, lack of dignity, a smoldering frustration with the ways of the world, and the overwhelming urge to set it all alight. Their fuel was the same: both fires spread through satellite television and social networking sites, something al-Qa‘ida had pioneered long before there was any talk of a “Facebook revolution.”
Friday, September 9, 2011
Obama’s Job Insurance Speech - Howard Kurtz
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/09/08/obama-s-speech-to-joint-congress-may-provide-own-job-insurance.html
Barack Obama looked forceful, almost angry, in his much-ballyhooed speech to Congress, pitching a plan that he promised would deliver a “jolt” to the nation’s sagging economy, and perhaps to his presidency as well.
But whether that happens depends in large measure on an aggressive White House plan to take the fight to the Republicans who have thwarted most of his agenda.
Barack Obama looked forceful, almost angry, in his much-ballyhooed speech to Congress, pitching a plan that he promised would deliver a “jolt” to the nation’s sagging economy, and perhaps to his presidency as well.
But whether that happens depends in large measure on an aggressive White House plan to take the fight to the Republicans who have thwarted most of his agenda.
BBC journalist was killed by Nato troops in Afghanistan - Jeremy Kelly
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/sep/08/bbc-journalist-killed-nato-afghanistan
Is there really any chance that any good news ever will emerge from Afghanistan now that bin Laden is dead? No? Then let's go home.
Is there really any chance that any good news ever will emerge from Afghanistan now that bin Laden is dead? No? Then let's go home.
Feds: Zawahiri Launched Al Qaeda Terror Plot for 9/11 Anniversary - BRIAN ROSS (@brianross) , RHONDA SCHWARTZ, RICHARD ESPOSITO, PIERRE THOMAS (@PierreTABC) , JASON RYAN (@JasonRyanABC) and MATTHEW COLE
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/feds-threat-al-qaeda-terror-attack-911/story?id=14477592
U.S. authorities are scrambling to sort through information that the CIA developed in the past 24 hours indicating that at least three individuals entered the U.S. in August by air with the intent to launch a vehicle-borne attack against Washington, D.C. or New York around the anniversary of 9/11, according to intelligence officials.
I wouldn't dismiss the possibility of attack, but I am skeptical of both the existence and the potency of the threat of attack. Unless they have stockpiled numerous weapons without government noticing, a near impossibility for men of foreign, Arab descent in a post-9/11 world, I'm not sure what the attack would give them, beyond purely symbolic value. I find it easier to believe that Al Qaeda is reduced to the use of internet rumor to sew fear instead of actual action.
U.S. authorities are scrambling to sort through information that the CIA developed in the past 24 hours indicating that at least three individuals entered the U.S. in August by air with the intent to launch a vehicle-borne attack against Washington, D.C. or New York around the anniversary of 9/11, according to intelligence officials.
I wouldn't dismiss the possibility of attack, but I am skeptical of both the existence and the potency of the threat of attack. Unless they have stockpiled numerous weapons without government noticing, a near impossibility for men of foreign, Arab descent in a post-9/11 world, I'm not sure what the attack would give them, beyond purely symbolic value. I find it easier to believe that Al Qaeda is reduced to the use of internet rumor to sew fear instead of actual action.
Turkish warships will escort aid vessels to Gaza: Erdogan - Sami Aboudi
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/08/us-turkey-gaza-idUSTRE78765F20110908
While Europe pushes Turkey towards the east, Turkey asks itself why it even needs the west. The threat of Russian domination has been dead for decades and the affair in Iraq only let them know how far they were in reality from their supposed allies. Perhaps this is the genesis of a new Pan-Turk axis.
With Egypt in chaos and Syria burning, the only major power in the region is Iran. Turkey could find no better time to return to her past and fill a power vacuum, a democracy with military might willing to take on Israel in a manner no Arab regime could ever dream of. Still ostensibly a member of NATO, Turkey is free to use the power of forcing crisis to empower themselves at the expense of her benefactors.
I think they will end up backing down or turning the crisis away at the last minute. There isn't much real benefit to a military confrontation with the Israelis, only the threat of one.
While Europe pushes Turkey towards the east, Turkey asks itself why it even needs the west. The threat of Russian domination has been dead for decades and the affair in Iraq only let them know how far they were in reality from their supposed allies. Perhaps this is the genesis of a new Pan-Turk axis.
With Egypt in chaos and Syria burning, the only major power in the region is Iran. Turkey could find no better time to return to her past and fill a power vacuum, a democracy with military might willing to take on Israel in a manner no Arab regime could ever dream of. Still ostensibly a member of NATO, Turkey is free to use the power of forcing crisis to empower themselves at the expense of her benefactors.
I think they will end up backing down or turning the crisis away at the last minute. There isn't much real benefit to a military confrontation with the Israelis, only the threat of one.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Why Is Average IQ Higher in Some Places? - Christopher Eppig
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-is-average-iq-higher-in-some-places
The surprise answer? Disease.
I think a lot of scientists depend too much on this theory of the "survival of the fittest", in this case the survival of the mentally fittest. Disease strikes randomly, more so in the deep past, so the species does not advance along a straight line with the stongest producing the most children, but with the luckiest producing the most children. Having more brain power as he result of the body not devoting resources to fighting disease as opposed to growing the brain would explain a lot of things, including the increasing IQ and size of people as disease becomes less prevalent.
The same goes for animals. To be sure, the young and the old are injured or get sick easier than the bulls, but the bulls get sick and die as well. The ones that produce offspring were the ones with better genetic resistance to diseases that would comb them out or ones who were lucky enough not to get hurt or eaten.What you are seeing in courting rituals in nature are probably not just displays of strength or beauty, but displays of resistance to disease or the absence of parasites.
The surprise answer? Disease.
I think a lot of scientists depend too much on this theory of the "survival of the fittest", in this case the survival of the mentally fittest. Disease strikes randomly, more so in the deep past, so the species does not advance along a straight line with the stongest producing the most children, but with the luckiest producing the most children. Having more brain power as he result of the body not devoting resources to fighting disease as opposed to growing the brain would explain a lot of things, including the increasing IQ and size of people as disease becomes less prevalent.
The same goes for animals. To be sure, the young and the old are injured or get sick easier than the bulls, but the bulls get sick and die as well. The ones that produce offspring were the ones with better genetic resistance to diseases that would comb them out or ones who were lucky enough not to get hurt or eaten.What you are seeing in courting rituals in nature are probably not just displays of strength or beauty, but displays of resistance to disease or the absence of parasites.
The real Ronald Reagan may not meet today's GOP standards - By Mark Z. Barabak
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-reagan-revisionism-20110907,0,807205.story
As president, the conservative icon approved several tax increases to deal with a soaring budget deficit, repeatedly boosted the nation's debt limit, signed into law a bill granting amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants and, despite his anti-Washington rhetoric, oversaw an increase in the size and spending of the federal government. Before that, as California governor, he enacted what at the time was the largest state tax increase in American history. He also signed into law one of the nation's most permissive abortion bills; any Republican who tried that today would be cast out of the party.
Spencer, with characteristic bluntness, dismissed the current vogue of Reagan revisionism: "A lot of those people running out there don't really understand what he did. It's just a matter of attaching themselves to a winner."
As president, the conservative icon approved several tax increases to deal with a soaring budget deficit, repeatedly boosted the nation's debt limit, signed into law a bill granting amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants and, despite his anti-Washington rhetoric, oversaw an increase in the size and spending of the federal government. Before that, as California governor, he enacted what at the time was the largest state tax increase in American history. He also signed into law one of the nation's most permissive abortion bills; any Republican who tried that today would be cast out of the party.
Spencer, with characteristic bluntness, dismissed the current vogue of Reagan revisionism: "A lot of those people running out there don't really understand what he did. It's just a matter of attaching themselves to a winner."
Perry begins to show his hand on Social Security - Jennifer Rubin
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/post/perry-begins-to-show-his-hand-on-social-security/2011/03/29/gIQAz8uu9J_blog.html
The issue is an important one, and not just for the general election; South Carolina and Florida have loads of retirees who will want to know the candidates’ views.
I asked Perry spokesman Ray Sullivan if Perry still believed in devolving Social Security to the states. He emailed: “In the past, local governments were permitted to opt out of Social Security and provide those municipal employees other retirement options. A number of Texas counties took advantage of that option. Options like this, as well as other changes for younger workers, should be part of a national discussion.” It’s not clear where Perry is going with this. Will employees be allowed to opt out? What if state systems go belly up?
I asked if Perry had any specific plan in mind. Sullivan answered: “There’s plenty of time for a more detailed plan. After all, Governor Perry has been a candidate for less than 30 days.”
There is plenty of room for a nuanced discussion of Social Security, especially as it applies to younger people. The problem is that Rick perry is not nuanced. He is a loose cannon. We have little ability to predict how he would address Social Security, much less how he would convince a reluctant Congress to go along with his proposals. What he is saying now is making people nervous because he has no real proposals, only platitudes, and scary platitudes at that.
The issue is an important one, and not just for the general election; South Carolina and Florida have loads of retirees who will want to know the candidates’ views.
I asked Perry spokesman Ray Sullivan if Perry still believed in devolving Social Security to the states. He emailed: “In the past, local governments were permitted to opt out of Social Security and provide those municipal employees other retirement options. A number of Texas counties took advantage of that option. Options like this, as well as other changes for younger workers, should be part of a national discussion.” It’s not clear where Perry is going with this. Will employees be allowed to opt out? What if state systems go belly up?
I asked if Perry had any specific plan in mind. Sullivan answered: “There’s plenty of time for a more detailed plan. After all, Governor Perry has been a candidate for less than 30 days.”
There is plenty of room for a nuanced discussion of Social Security, especially as it applies to younger people. The problem is that Rick perry is not nuanced. He is a loose cannon. We have little ability to predict how he would address Social Security, much less how he would convince a reluctant Congress to go along with his proposals. What he is saying now is making people nervous because he has no real proposals, only platitudes, and scary platitudes at that.
Mitt's Best Night - Paul Begala
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/09/07/mitt-romney-s-best-debate-of-2012-besting-perry-gingrich-bachmann.html
Rick Perry called himself the piñata at the party, but a piñata is full of candy—it has more substance then Perry. He seemed surprised that the standard applause lines that worked so well at Tea Party rallies fell somewhat flat at the debate. He was incoherent on health care: railing against Romney's mandate but tripping over his own mandate requiring 12-year-old girls to receive the HPV vaccine. When Romney scolded him for savaging Social Security, he stumbled badly, jabbering incoherently about some distinction between "reasons" and "results." Huh?
Rick Perry called himself the piñata at the party, but a piñata is full of candy—it has more substance then Perry. He seemed surprised that the standard applause lines that worked so well at Tea Party rallies fell somewhat flat at the debate. He was incoherent on health care: railing against Romney's mandate but tripping over his own mandate requiring 12-year-old girls to receive the HPV vaccine. When Romney scolded him for savaging Social Security, he stumbled badly, jabbering incoherently about some distinction between "reasons" and "results." Huh?
Perry Emerges Unscathed - Howard Kurtz
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/09/07/rick-perry-unscathed-in-first-presidential-debate.html
Perry repeatedly ignored the moderators’ questions in favor of canned soundbites. But he delivered the scripted remarks with confidence, and the audience probably didn’t care. Romney turned in another steady performance, but that wasn’t enough, given his eroding position in the polls. The Perry team should be exchanging high fives.
Perry set the tone when Brian Williams said Texas had a high poverty rate and America’s highest proportion of minimum-wage jobs. “What Americans are looking for is someone who can get this country workin’ again,” the governor said, sidestepping the premise.
Gaddafi denies reports he fled to Niger
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/09/20119813848107476.html
This is beginning to resemble the chase for Saddam, with the deposed leader on the run while his regime collapses and he puts out audio tracks to assure his followers that he is still alive. It will probably also end the same way.
While the rest of the world has moved on, there are still some pockets of resistance and the country is in chaos and probably will be for the better part of the next five years.
This is beginning to resemble the chase for Saddam, with the deposed leader on the run while his regime collapses and he puts out audio tracks to assure his followers that he is still alive. It will probably also end the same way.
While the rest of the world has moved on, there are still some pockets of resistance and the country is in chaos and probably will be for the better part of the next five years.
How Rick Perry Won the Debate - Jonathan Chait
http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-chait/94678/how-rick-perry-won-the-debate
Yet Perry, stylistically, ruled the roost. The media seems to consider Romney the winner. Pardon the condescension, but they’re not thinking like Republican base voters. Romney approaches every question as if he is in an actual debate, trying to provide the most intellectually compelling answer available, within the bounds of political expediency. Perry treats questions as interruptions. What scientists do you trust on climate change? I don’t want to risk the economy. Are you taking a radical position on social security? We can have reasons or we can have results. His total liberation from the constraints of reason give Perry a chance to represent the Republican id in a way Romney simply cannot match.
Last night showed Rick Perry's act to be easily conflated with George W. Bush's. And like W...he could care less. As Chait points out, Perry exudes the type of leadership that the Republican base wants: unencumbered by parameters or rules, incurious and rash, but ready to act immediately.
Whether Perry won or Romney won is up for debate, but it is clear that this is now a two-candidate race.
Yet Perry, stylistically, ruled the roost. The media seems to consider Romney the winner. Pardon the condescension, but they’re not thinking like Republican base voters. Romney approaches every question as if he is in an actual debate, trying to provide the most intellectually compelling answer available, within the bounds of political expediency. Perry treats questions as interruptions. What scientists do you trust on climate change? I don’t want to risk the economy. Are you taking a radical position on social security? We can have reasons or we can have results. His total liberation from the constraints of reason give Perry a chance to represent the Republican id in a way Romney simply cannot match.
Last night showed Rick Perry's act to be easily conflated with George W. Bush's. And like W...he could care less. As Chait points out, Perry exudes the type of leadership that the Republican base wants: unencumbered by parameters or rules, incurious and rash, but ready to act immediately.
Whether Perry won or Romney won is up for debate, but it is clear that this is now a two-candidate race.
Where's Michele Bachmann? - MAGGIE HABERMAN
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/62936.html
Unfortunately for Michele everyone is done with considering hilarious alternate realities, like ones where we ask Donald Trump about Iraq and what we should do there, and so Michele fades fast. Perry has more or less made her superfluous and uninteresting.
Unfortunately for Michele everyone is done with considering hilarious alternate realities, like ones where we ask Donald Trump about Iraq and what we should do there, and so Michele fades fast. Perry has more or less made her superfluous and uninteresting.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Obama Said to Seek $300 Billion Jobs Package - Albert Hunt
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-06/obama-said-to-plan-more-than-300-billion-for-jobs-to-boost-u-s-economy.html
Whatever he says, the problem is that we've heard this all before. Unless Obama does something unique, this jobs speech will blend into the background in about 48 hours. Note, he will not do anything unique.
Whatever he says, the problem is that we've heard this all before. Unless Obama does something unique, this jobs speech will blend into the background in about 48 hours. Note, he will not do anything unique.
Texas Toast: Rick Perry's Death Penalty Calendar - Andrew Cohen
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/09/texas-toast-rick-perrys-death-penalty-calendar/244391/
This will not be a big deal in the primary, but it will be a big deal in a general election. Painted as a man so eager to appear tough on crime that he would not interfere with the execution of an innocent man, or maybe even multiple innocent men, is a narrative that fits right into the meme of the stupider, meaner George W Bush that is Rick Perry.
This will not be a big deal in the primary, but it will be a big deal in a general election. Painted as a man so eager to appear tough on crime that he would not interfere with the execution of an innocent man, or maybe even multiple innocent men, is a narrative that fits right into the meme of the stupider, meaner George W Bush that is Rick Perry.
Where the Jobs Aren’t - David Brooks
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/06/opinion/brooks-where-the-jobs-arent.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
Lerner details case after case where public investments produced little or nothing. But he also makes an important distinction between government efforts to set the table for entrepreneurial activity and government efforts to create jobs directly. Setting the table means building an underlying context for innovation: funding academic research, establishing clear laws, improving immigration policies, building infrastructure and keeping capital gains tax rates low. Lerner notes that one of the most important government initiatives to encourage innovation was the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980, which gave universities automatic title to research paid by the federal government.
Lerner details case after case where public investments produced little or nothing. But he also makes an important distinction between government efforts to set the table for entrepreneurial activity and government efforts to create jobs directly. Setting the table means building an underlying context for innovation: funding academic research, establishing clear laws, improving immigration policies, building infrastructure and keeping capital gains tax rates low. Lerner notes that one of the most important government initiatives to encourage innovation was the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980, which gave universities automatic title to research paid by the federal government.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
The 2012 Election Will Come Down to Seven States - Larry Sabato
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903918104576504520213848188.html
Republicans therefore are a lock or lead in 24 states for 206 electoral votes, and Democrats have or lead in 19 states for 247 electoral votes. That's why seven super-swing states with 85 electors will determine which party gets to the magic number of 270 electoral votes: Colorado (9), Florida (29), Iowa (6), Nevada (6), New Hampshire (4), Ohio (18) and Virginia (13).
I could envision Romney taking a few of these states, or at least enough to win. I cannot envision Perry carrying more than one of these states, either Iowa or Virginia. If you are a Republican, you should be fighting to defeat Perry as hard as you would fight to defeat Obama, because both outcomes are idenitical: Obama wins.
Republicans therefore are a lock or lead in 24 states for 206 electoral votes, and Democrats have or lead in 19 states for 247 electoral votes. That's why seven super-swing states with 85 electors will determine which party gets to the magic number of 270 electoral votes: Colorado (9), Florida (29), Iowa (6), Nevada (6), New Hampshire (4), Ohio (18) and Virginia (13).
I could envision Romney taking a few of these states, or at least enough to win. I cannot envision Perry carrying more than one of these states, either Iowa or Virginia. If you are a Republican, you should be fighting to defeat Perry as hard as you would fight to defeat Obama, because both outcomes are idenitical: Obama wins.
Rick Perry’s Debate Reality Check - Howard Kurtz
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/09/05/rick-perry-faces-reality-check-in-2012-gop-debate-with-romney-bachmann.html
Dan Schnur, who directs the University of Southern California’s political institute, thinks the drama of the Reagan Library event may be overstated and that Perry can easily shrug off any attacks.
“The bar for Perry is not that high,” says Schnur. “As long as he doesn’t melt down in the face of his opponents’ challenges, the debate probably doesn’t do much to harm him. Perry doesn’t need a knockout to survive the debate. All he needs is a split decision.”
I doubt that there will be any "real" fireworks at the first debate, but watch for Bachmann launching a few at Perry and Mitt lobbing some as well. Perry will "win" the debate as long as he does not commit any gaffes, though I am looking forward to his answers to some of his wackier statements.
I doubt that there will be any "real" fireworks at the first debate, but watch for Bachmann launching a few at Perry and Mitt lobbing some as well. Perry will "win" the debate as long as he does not commit any gaffes, though I am looking forward to his answers to some of his wackier statements.
Leak Offers Look at Efforts by U.S. to Spy on Israel - Scott Shane
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/06/us/06leak.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1&seid=auto&smid=tw-nytimes
Now the reason for the extraordinary secrecy surrounding the Obama administration’s first prosecution for leaking information to the news media seems clear: Mr. Leibowitz, a contract Hebrew translator, passed on secret transcripts of conversations caught on F.B.I. wiretaps of the Israeli Embassy in Washington. Those overheard by the eavesdroppers included American supporters of Israel and at least one member of Congress, according to the blogger, Richard Silverstein.
In his first interview about the case, Mr. Silverstein offered a rare glimpse of American spying on a close ally.
Now the reason for the extraordinary secrecy surrounding the Obama administration’s first prosecution for leaking information to the news media seems clear: Mr. Leibowitz, a contract Hebrew translator, passed on secret transcripts of conversations caught on F.B.I. wiretaps of the Israeli Embassy in Washington. Those overheard by the eavesdroppers included American supporters of Israel and at least one member of Congress, according to the blogger, Richard Silverstein.
In his first interview about the case, Mr. Silverstein offered a rare glimpse of American spying on a close ally.
Libyan army convoy in Niger may be Gaddafi deal - Christian Lowe
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/06/us-libya-idUSTRE7810I820110906
Note that Gaddafi has on-again-off-again relations with rebels in Niger, as well as the government. The leader of the rebels in Niger was actually living in Tripoli, though we can assume that he has high-tailed it.
Note that Gaddafi has on-again-off-again relations with rebels in Niger, as well as the government. The leader of the rebels in Niger was actually living in Tripoli, though we can assume that he has high-tailed it.
The Behavioral Sink - Will Wiles
http://cabinetmagazine.org/issues/42/wiles.php
How do you design a utopia? In 1972, John B. Calhoun detailed the specifications of his Mortality-Inhibiting Environment for Mice: a practical utopia built in the laboratory. Every aspect of Universe 25—as this particular model was called—was pitched to cater for the well-being of its rodent residents and increase their lifespan.
There were no predators, the temperature was kept at a steady 68°F, and the mice were a disease-free elite selected from the National Institutes of Health’s breeding colony. Heaven.
Calhoun’s concern was the problem of abundance: overpopulation. As the name Universe 25 suggests, it was not the first time Calhoun had built a world for rodents. He had been building utopian environments for rats and mice since the 1940s, with thoroughly consistent results. Heaven always turned into hell.
How do you design a utopia? In 1972, John B. Calhoun detailed the specifications of his Mortality-Inhibiting Environment for Mice: a practical utopia built in the laboratory. Every aspect of Universe 25—as this particular model was called—was pitched to cater for the well-being of its rodent residents and increase their lifespan.
There were no predators, the temperature was kept at a steady 68°F, and the mice were a disease-free elite selected from the National Institutes of Health’s breeding colony. Heaven.
Calhoun’s concern was the problem of abundance: overpopulation. As the name Universe 25 suggests, it was not the first time Calhoun had built a world for rodents. He had been building utopian environments for rats and mice since the 1940s, with thoroughly consistent results. Heaven always turned into hell.
The Decline of Manufacturing in America: A Case Study - Yves Smith
http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2011/09/the-decline-of-manufacturing-in-america-a-case-study.html
In the overwhelming majority of places where I lived in my childhood, a manufacturing plant was the biggest employer in the community. And when I went to business school, manufacturing was still seen as important. Indeed, the rise of Germany and Japan was then seen as due to sclerotic American management not being able to keep up with their innovations in product design and factory management.
But if you were to ask most people, they’d now blame the fall of American manufacturing on our workers. That scapegoating serves to shift focus from the top of the food chain at a time when executives have managed to greatly widen the gap between their pay and that of the folks reporting to them.
In the overwhelming majority of places where I lived in my childhood, a manufacturing plant was the biggest employer in the community. And when I went to business school, manufacturing was still seen as important. Indeed, the rise of Germany and Japan was then seen as due to sclerotic American management not being able to keep up with their innovations in product design and factory management.
But if you were to ask most people, they’d now blame the fall of American manufacturing on our workers. That scapegoating serves to shift focus from the top of the food chain at a time when executives have managed to greatly widen the gap between their pay and that of the folks reporting to them.
Rick Perry fires at Mitt Romney at S.C. town hall - EMILY SCHULTHEIS
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/62649.html
“There is no one who’s gonna be sitting on that stage [at the debate in California] who has the record of job creation I have,” Perry said at a packed town hall hosted by Rep. Tim Scott, a popular tea party leader. “There’s one in particular who’s created jobs all around the world. While he was the governor of Massachusetts he didn’t create many jobs.”
“There is no one who’s gonna be sitting on that stage [at the debate in California] who has the record of job creation I have,” Perry said at a packed town hall hosted by Rep. Tim Scott, a popular tea party leader. “There’s one in particular who’s created jobs all around the world. While he was the governor of Massachusetts he didn’t create many jobs.”
Iowa Caucus: Iowa GOP: Perry 29%, Bachmann 18%, Romney 17%, Paul 14%
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/iowa/iowa_caucus_iowa_gop_perry_29_bachmann_18_romney_17_paul_14
We should keep in mind that when Bachmann drops out, Romney will gain very few of her supporters. Most of them will flock to Perry, assuming he has not already self-destructed.
We should keep in mind that when Bachmann drops out, Romney will gain very few of her supporters. Most of them will flock to Perry, assuming he has not already self-destructed.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Palin, From Contender to Kingmaker - Dave Weigel
http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2011/09/02/palin_from_contender_to_kingmaker.html
If we buy the Palin-Bachmann rivalry story, Palin's got to love how endorsing Perry accelerates Bachmann's collapse. As soon as Perry got it, in was clear that Bachmann, who appeals to the same voters but has no executive experience, had no real path to victory. But if Palin backs Perry, the catfight-crazed media will report the "Bachmann snub!" angle; it will become part of the story of how Bachmann fell. The hard-charging congresswoman, the first female winner of the Ames straw poll, declines to her rightful status as a Palin-lite; Palin, who will have just acknowledged that she can't win a primary on her own, will be seen as a kingmaker.
If we buy the Palin-Bachmann rivalry story, Palin's got to love how endorsing Perry accelerates Bachmann's collapse. As soon as Perry got it, in was clear that Bachmann, who appeals to the same voters but has no executive experience, had no real path to victory. But if Palin backs Perry, the catfight-crazed media will report the "Bachmann snub!" angle; it will become part of the story of how Bachmann fell. The hard-charging congresswoman, the first female winner of the Ames straw poll, declines to her rightful status as a Palin-lite; Palin, who will have just acknowledged that she can't win a primary on her own, will be seen as a kingmaker.
Friday, September 2, 2011
The Press Pants for Palin - Howard Kurtz
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/09/01/sarah-palin-s-presidential-waiting-game.html
Kurtz's argument is that the press and Palin, supposedly bitter enemies, are actually co-dependent lovers. I agree. Feature a lot of stories about Palin, get a lot of traffic. Palin rips the media, her base revels. There is not a more dishonest charlatan than Sarah Palin in modern American politics, and she's fascinating to follow, if only our of sheer horror. But I think her latest wave of attention, initiated with her cross country "vacation" in a bus with her face plastered on it and complete with predictable bumbling and stumbling speech, is coming to an end. Her latest stay in our field of vision is waning, and once her tease turns out to be just that the herd will move on until she returns in the spring to anoint her choice and allow them to bask in her light.
Kurtz's argument is that the press and Palin, supposedly bitter enemies, are actually co-dependent lovers. I agree. Feature a lot of stories about Palin, get a lot of traffic. Palin rips the media, her base revels. There is not a more dishonest charlatan than Sarah Palin in modern American politics, and she's fascinating to follow, if only our of sheer horror. But I think her latest wave of attention, initiated with her cross country "vacation" in a bus with her face plastered on it and complete with predictable bumbling and stumbling speech, is coming to an end. Her latest stay in our field of vision is waning, and once her tease turns out to be just that the herd will move on until she returns in the spring to anoint her choice and allow them to bask in her light.
Memo to GOP: Don’t Run on What Voters Don’t Want - Fred Bauer
http://www.frumforum.com/memo-to-gop-dont-run-on-what-voters-dont-want#more-102869
What Paul Ryan says is not near as insane as thinking that people will vote for it in large numbers. Regardless of your feelings about Paul Ryan, when voters are exposed to his plan they tend to vote the opposite way in larege numbers. So says Fred Bauer.
What Paul Ryan says is not near as insane as thinking that people will vote for it in large numbers. Regardless of your feelings about Paul Ryan, when voters are exposed to his plan they tend to vote the opposite way in larege numbers. So says Fred Bauer.
Romney=Kerry; Perry=Dean? - Joe Klein
http://swampland.time.com/2011/09/01/romneykerry-perrydean/
At some point Perry's bombast on Social Security is going to cause him to falter. Not a little, a lot. At the debate next week it will be interesting to see how he attempts to slip punches on the subject, as I guarantee a large swath of voters in his corner are unaware of his politically extreme views on the subject. He can and will deliver platitudes and nonsense on other subjects, but on entitlements he had better have at least four or five good responses. He delivered a lot of bile in his book and one excuse is going to wear thin before February, when the Iowa primary is.
Joe Klein is right. Perry may flame out before Christmas. If he does, the debates will be where it happens.
At some point Perry's bombast on Social Security is going to cause him to falter. Not a little, a lot. At the debate next week it will be interesting to see how he attempts to slip punches on the subject, as I guarantee a large swath of voters in his corner are unaware of his politically extreme views on the subject. He can and will deliver platitudes and nonsense on other subjects, but on entitlements he had better have at least four or five good responses. He delivered a lot of bile in his book and one excuse is going to wear thin before February, when the Iowa primary is.
Joe Klein is right. Perry may flame out before Christmas. If he does, the debates will be where it happens.
Expect Obama Speech to Yield Lots of Talk, No Action: Ezra Klein
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-01/expect-obama-s-jobs-speech-to-yield-lots-of-talk-no-action-ezra-klein.html
After Boehner actually hears the speech, he’ll be able to use some of its details to hammer it further into the ground. Then he’ll probably point to the House Republicans’ initiative of the week, an assault on “job-killing” regulations, as an alternative to anything Obama proposes. For the record, I’m not much of a fan of job-killing regulations either. But we have 9 percent unemployment because the global financial system collapsed, not because federal inspectors are overly concerned about coal particulates in the air.
It's an Ezra Klein morning this morning.
After Boehner actually hears the speech, he’ll be able to use some of its details to hammer it further into the ground. Then he’ll probably point to the House Republicans’ initiative of the week, an assault on “job-killing” regulations, as an alternative to anything Obama proposes. For the record, I’m not much of a fan of job-killing regulations either. But we have 9 percent unemployment because the global financial system collapsed, not because federal inspectors are overly concerned about coal particulates in the air.
It's an Ezra Klein morning this morning.
Huntsman’s campaign might be moderate, but his economic plan isn’t - Ezra Klein
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/huntsmans-campaign-might-be-moderate-but-his-economic-plan-isnt/2011/08/25/gIQAp9bKuJ_blog.html#pagebreak
In other words, Huntsman’s plan raises trillions in new revenues by cleaning out the income-tax code -- which means it raises income taxes -- and then it plows that money into large tax cuts for corporate profits and income derived from dividends and capital gains. Both of those are taxes that fall disproportionately on the wealthy. So Huntsman’s plan increases taxes on most Americans in order to pay for very large tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations.
This plan proposes slaughtering an entire herd of sacred cows like mortgage tax deductions and tax deductions for children. I'm not so angry as I am confused about why this tax plan is being hailed as a good idea, much less plausible. "Pro-growth"? I suppose, but how are you going to run a campaign based on this?
Oh right, you're not. You're the guy who believes in evolution, meaning you have 1% in the Republican primary so far. The only reason we are discussing Hunstman is that he hired a team of crack media consultants who can deliver for the press. His tax plan is not a campaign plank, it is a lame attempt to keep in the news and spark some debate, his ability to do either quickly diminishing.
In other words, Huntsman’s plan raises trillions in new revenues by cleaning out the income-tax code -- which means it raises income taxes -- and then it plows that money into large tax cuts for corporate profits and income derived from dividends and capital gains. Both of those are taxes that fall disproportionately on the wealthy. So Huntsman’s plan increases taxes on most Americans in order to pay for very large tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations.
This plan proposes slaughtering an entire herd of sacred cows like mortgage tax deductions and tax deductions for children. I'm not so angry as I am confused about why this tax plan is being hailed as a good idea, much less plausible. "Pro-growth"? I suppose, but how are you going to run a campaign based on this?
Oh right, you're not. You're the guy who believes in evolution, meaning you have 1% in the Republican primary so far. The only reason we are discussing Hunstman is that he hired a team of crack media consultants who can deliver for the press. His tax plan is not a campaign plank, it is a lame attempt to keep in the news and spark some debate, his ability to do either quickly diminishing.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Rick Perry and the radicalization of the GOP - Steve Kornacki
http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/08/31/bush_perry_gop
Perry’s surge to the front of the GOP pack this summer shows just how different his party is today than it was when Bush set out to run. The Republicans of 1999 had been schooled by Bill Clinton over and over again and were mainly hungry for a winner. But the Republicans of 2011 are coming off of a monster midterm triumph. They have yet to be humbled, and they want more than a winner. They want purity. And right now, Rick Perry is giving it to them.
Perry’s surge to the front of the GOP pack this summer shows just how different his party is today than it was when Bush set out to run. The Republicans of 1999 had been schooled by Bill Clinton over and over again and were mainly hungry for a winner. But the Republicans of 2011 are coming off of a monster midterm triumph. They have yet to be humbled, and they want more than a winner. They want purity. And right now, Rick Perry is giving it to them.
The Hand On Asia’s Water Tap - Walter Russell Mead
http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2011/08/31/the-hand-on-asias-water-tap/
This looks less like a deliberate attempt to antagonize or intimidate neighbors than like a reflection of the economic development lobby in China compared to the power of the Foreign Ministry. One suspects that China’s diplomats couldn’t restrain local interests from exploiting water resources and building dams if they tried. Students of the Great Game will be watching attentively to see whether the advantages of faster domestic development will offset the cost of tenser relations with neighbors.
This looks less like a deliberate attempt to antagonize or intimidate neighbors than like a reflection of the economic development lobby in China compared to the power of the Foreign Ministry. One suspects that China’s diplomats couldn’t restrain local interests from exploiting water resources and building dams if they tried. Students of the Great Game will be watching attentively to see whether the advantages of faster domestic development will offset the cost of tenser relations with neighbors.
Exclusive: Condoleezza Rice fires back at Cheney memoir - Arshad Mohammed
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/31/us-usa-rice-cheney-idUSTRE77U6GN20110831
Dick Cheney has to show up every couple of years, just to remind us how much we hate him.
But what about the press' reaction to their bumbling of the evidence that led us into Iraq?
"I did say to him that he had been right about the press reaction" to the administration's acknowledgment that the remarks about Iraq seeking uranium in Africa should not have been in Bush's speech, Rice said.
It was a f'ing lie! It was clear to every half-wit that got near it that the evidence showing Iraq tried to purchase uranium from Africa was fabricated (badly) and the only people that "believed" it were telling and spinning other lies to get us involved in that war! This is a perfect example of what I detested about the Bush administration: the worry wasn't about the untruth they inserted into a speech delivered to persuade the country to go to war, whether out of dishonesty or incompetence, but about how it played in the press. Typically, Cheney feels you have no right to an apology, or even an explanation for that matter.
Dick Cheney has to show up every couple of years, just to remind us how much we hate him.
But what about the press' reaction to their bumbling of the evidence that led us into Iraq?
"I did say to him that he had been right about the press reaction" to the administration's acknowledgment that the remarks about Iraq seeking uranium in Africa should not have been in Bush's speech, Rice said.
It was a f'ing lie! It was clear to every half-wit that got near it that the evidence showing Iraq tried to purchase uranium from Africa was fabricated (badly) and the only people that "believed" it were telling and spinning other lies to get us involved in that war! This is a perfect example of what I detested about the Bush administration: the worry wasn't about the untruth they inserted into a speech delivered to persuade the country to go to war, whether out of dishonesty or incompetence, but about how it played in the press. Typically, Cheney feels you have no right to an apology, or even an explanation for that matter.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)