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Retirement: More Government Less 401k In the Future?

11-17-08

This article has the usual advice about managing your 401k like avoiding risk near retirement which is better to make people feel guilty that for actuality, but is also says it is likely the government will need to help supplement pensions based on the plans. That, of course means that the government will have to take on another function that should be done by the employer.

Gail Colllins: Hillary for Secretary?

11-16-08

NYT -- Paul Krugman: Depression Economics Returns

11-15-08

Caution is the New Risky Behavior according to Nobel Winner Paul Krugman. It seems to me though that it might be hard to face the massive amounts of deficit spending needed for a successful recovery, after Paulson and the Bushies have wasted so much (even after years of debilitating war) by throwing it at fat cats who then just keep the money and don't seem to plow it back into our economy. Krugman seems to be optimistic, as long as the government spends c. 600 billion more dollars. I bet Rush Limbaugh and the rest will be wailing all the way about all the money they are spending though (forgetting the 2 trillion for war and the big bailout boondoggle that their president spent).

Bloomberg: Paulson Shifts Focus of Rescue to Consumer Lending

11-12-08

Paulson is going to do something about credit card debt that is clogging the economic system. Does that mean he will send money to our debtors and leave us still owing tens of thousands of dollars for the average family, or is he a reformed "Bumble" and will do things in a more populist way now? Is he vying to stay on with the Obamas? In his dreams. (We hope.)

Frank Rich: It Still Felt Good the Morning After

11-10-08

Franken Likely To Draw Closer to Coleman in Race for Senate Seat after Minnesota Decision

11-09-08

Excerpt: In a move that could be seen as a benefit to Democrat Al Franken, a Minnesota judge Saturday denied a request from incumbent Republican Sen. Norm Coleman's campaign to block certain uncounted absentee ballots from being counted in a race separated by–at latest tally–just over 200 votes, in Coleman's favor. That margin has narrowed since the first tallies earlier in the week. Almost 3 million ballots were cast.

Bob Herbert: Take a Bow, America

11-08-08

NYt -- Gail Collins: A Political Manners Manual

11-08-08

The title makes this piece sound like a dull lecture on being a good kid. Luckily, I clicked on the link because of Ms. Collin's name and arriving at the site decided to read the first paragraph to justify the time it took to open the page. It's a delightful romp, but did manage to teach me not to make promises based on voting outcomes.

Paul Krugman: The Obama Agenda

11-08-08

Nobel Prize winner says that Obama's mandate is to go progressive. It would also be good for the economy.

IHT Editorial: So little time, so much damage

11-05-08

Bush has 76 more days in office. And he's not wasting time, but finishing the job of trashing our nation that he started almost 8 years ago.

AlterNet -- Jim Hightower: The Five Most Wanted Rip-off Artists from Wall Street and Washington

11-05-08

Well, if you know Hightower, you know this is going to be fun as well as true, but when I came across the subtitle "Laisses Fairies", I nearly killed my laptop with spew of coffee. You can also search in ITunes for his podcasts. He puts out a 2+ minute gem every few days or so.

Paul Krugman at IHT: The Republican Rump

11-04-08

The gist that I get is that the Republican party will now switch to selling it's efforts to destroy whatever good an Obama candidacy could bring to the highest bidder. Excerpt: [Their] blocking ability will ensure that the Republican Party continues to receive plenty of corporate dollars. This year the U.S. Chamber of Congress has poured money into the campaigns of Senate Republicans like Minnesota's Norm Coleman, precisely in the hope of denying Democrats a majority large enough to pass pro-labor legislation. But the GOP's long transformation into the party of the unreasonable right, a haven for racists and reactionaries, seems likely to accelerate as a result of the impending defeat.

Frank Rich: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

11-04-08

If you've seen the movie, you know where this is going.

WZZM 13 News Report: CEO of Gun Manufacturing Company Ousted for Supporting Barack Obama

11-01-08

Excerpt: Cooper, founder and part owner of Cooper Firearms, told USA TODAY in a story published Tuesday that he has voted for Republicans for most of his life, but he is backing Obama "probably because of the war. And also because the Republican Party has moved so far right in recent years." Cooper said he was attracted to the Democrat's message about "the retooling of America, which involves the building of middle-class jobs and helping American small business be competitive with those overseas."

NYT: We’re All Bankers Now. So Why’s the A.T.M. Still Charging Us $2?

10-31-08

In the local section, but I think mostly applicable to everyone and makes good points, except for a little bit of economic racism at the bottom.

Nicholas Kristof: What? Me Biased?

10-31-08

Kristof says that subconscious bias may still be a factor. So make sure that everyone you know votes. Don't let anyone stay home because "Obama's going to win anyway" We might wake up Wednesday morning with a worst case scenario.

Elizabeth Dole's Opponent for Senate Seat Sues the Republican's Campaign For Ad Implying the Sunday School Teacher is an Atheist

10-31-08

Finally someone sued. The smears from the right have been breathtakingly this year, but you have to hand it to the North Carolina's campaign this takes the cake. Great picture of Senator Dole up top of the article too. Hey, lady. Be careful what you stir up. Someone might publish some news about it with a real photo, not a campaign mock up.

Krugman: When Consumers Capitulate (It's time for the government to go shopping).

10-31-08

Mr. K says that a stimulus to the consumer won't work and will be saved for the same reason that consumer demand has been dropping. So the lame duck Congress should push through a government spending package to rescue the economy right after the election.

Huffington Post: News Orgs Investigate Possibly Fatal McCain '64 Car Crash

10-30-08

Reckless, Arrogant. What other sweet nothings does Cindy whisper in the ear of that "maarrrvelloouuuss ... father late at night.

Daniel Levy (The Republicans and) Putting Jews Back in Their Place

10-30-08

Mr. Levy shows how the Republicans have been insensitive to American Jews and even have been using names against Obama that are familiar to Jewish people as slurs against themselves and their families. This might undo all the inroads that the Republicans have made in the group.

John McCain's Brother Called 911 Because He Was Stuck in Traffic

10-29-08

Unbelievable

The Reporter Online: Does McCain put country first?

10-29-08

Self described stay at home mom examines McCain's political rhetoric.

NYT -- Bob Herbert: A Choice and an Echo

10-29-08

Herbert confirms what I've been thinking, the days of Rove and Atwater style attack politics is over. Poor fat cats are going to have to find new ways to win political elections, though I imagine they still can use the technique between elections to destroy the effectiveness of our government.

LAT -- Poll: Obama leads McCain in Florida and Ohio

10-29-08

Excerpt: Voters see the economy as the chief issue and Obama as the best man to handle it, according to a Times/Bloomberg poll. Obama leads in Ohio, 49% to 40%; in Florida, 50% to 43%.

McCain Camp Thinks It's Dewey vs Truman II

10-29-08

Article in Washington Post shows that the McCain camp thinks that polls lie, well there he's like Bush and other hard right Republicans too. I'm not sure if this is to get their people to the polls or what, but it sure looks like delusion to me. I find it hard not to think most of the undecided Americans will feel that way too. Well, it's their campaign. (In case you don't know Dewey VS Truman in 1948 was called for Dewey in the last poll a week before the vote, while, obviously, Truman won. Michael Abromwitz, known for his gentle hand, tries to get the hint out that the polls may be too far spread and too steady to beat this time.

ABC News: Homeless Rates Among Children on the Rise

10-28-08

Well, at least they are mentioning it now, though a lot of child homelessness has been going on for a long time as rent went up almost as fast as house prices during the bubble (and many haven't come down since it burst). Excerpt of ABC report: We now have families that are more middle-class, that have run into issues they didn't expect and have become homeless," explains Fairfax's Sheffel. Some families lost their home after defaulting on a home loan or a parent lost a job, she says, but many became homeless because the home they rented was foreclosed upon when their landlord didn't pay the mortgage. When children lose a home, their health – and studies – suffer. "Kids in greater number are coming to school who probably haven't eaten breakfast. Who don't have access to a washer and a dryer. Who live with fear," explains Karen Fessler, a school official in Cincinnati, Ohio. "How important is a long division problem when they don't know where they're going to sleep tonight?"

AP: Palin stylist draws higher pay than policy adviser

10-24-08

Nicholas Kristoff: Rebranding the U.S. With Obama

10-24-08

Taiwan: Taiwan student dies during fast food binge

10-24-08

CNet -- Surveill@nce State: McCain Wants Special Treatment Over Fair Use Material in His Political Ads On YouTube

10-23-08

Excerpt: John McCain's presidential campaign has discovered the remix-unfriendly aspects of American copyright law, after several of the candidate's campaign videos were pulled from YouTube. McCain has now discovered the rights holder friendly nature of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which forces remixers to fight an uphill battle to prove that their work is a "fair use." However, instead of calling for an overhaul of the much hated law, McCain is calling for VIP treatment for the remixes made by political campaigns.

WP: FDIC May Guarantee Some Home Loans

10-23-08

Here's a better report on the FDIC and home loans though the WP often hides their reports from non-registered viewers within days of publication.

AP at Yahoo News: US working on plan to help homeowners refinance

10-23-08

Though the title is shown above here, most of the article deals with Greenspan who is shocked that his governance which was based upon novels created by Ayn Rand, a writer who knew how to get rich herself by sucking up to the wealthy, big time, didn't work out and may have helped an unnecessary war bring the United States to it's knees. But if you choose "read entire article you'll find the following the excerpt: Sheila Bair, chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., told the same Senate panel that the government needs to do more to help tens of thousands of home borrowers avert foreclosure, including setting standards for modifying mortgages into more affordable loans and providing loan guarantees to banks and other mortgage services that meet them. "Loan guarantees could be used as an incentive for servicers to modify loans," Bair said. "By doing so, unaffordable loans could be converted into loans that are sustainable over the long term."

US Says Al Qaeda in Iraq Leader Not Captured

« H E » email

posted 05-09-08

I guess the phony stories about Down Syndrome bombers bit the military a little too hard. Once they supported the Iraqi story of two women with Down Syndrome (nearly always associated with severe mental retardation) they had to push the story forcefully.

We saw generals and even Condi Rice claiming that al Qaeda was using people who didn't understand consequences as walking bombs. The story blew up in their faces as news agencies spread out their sources in Baghdad. It may be that militants do such things.

That must have reminded our leaders and military officers that the US not only has a few news sources ready to do everything they can to get to the bottom of stories (even if that comes to fruition 2-3 weeks later after they'e had to treat questionable new, we also have an incredible secondary news analysis system of non mainstream news sites and bloggers to evaluate whether news coming to us through mainstream is reality or some home grown version of Baghdad Bob.

This time they have to admit that the Maliki government (or should we call it a regime) is a pack of liars.

A fun excerpt from CNN report "U.S. says al Qaeda in Iraq leader not captured":

U.S. military and intelligence officials were surprised and skeptical [about reports of al Mazri's capture], despite the insistence of Iraqi officials that al-Masri was already in U.S. military custody.

...

...Iraqi officials have reported his death three times, his capture twice and a mortal wounding once.

I think Hollywood might want to make a movie of that.

Working title could be "How to Die Four Times Without Really Trying."

It would be interesting to know how a Bushie would answer if asked to explain just how the new Iraq government is better than Saddam. We've seen all kinds of killings under the various Iraqi governments that were justified to us because of AQIM (Al Qaeda in Mesopotamium) or Sunni insurgents, but AQIM is a tiny ridiculous group, and the Sunnis are mostly pacified because the US pays $800k a day to keep them so.

So now al Maliki has sent his militia (the Badr Corps) dressed up as the Iraqi Army and dragged along the US military in Iraq to kill off his rival militia. And, even though we get further from victory with every attack on families in Sadr city, our government keeps it up because al Maliki promised contracts for American Big Oil companies that are so good they amount to spoils of war. Most other factions want to keep more of the money from Iraqi oil for Iraqis. Al Maliki understands that as long as he'll give it away, the US military will be his plaything.

But does he need to keep trying to play us for fools?

tags: iraq war military al qaeda in iraq al queda in mesopotamia

links: digg this del.icio.us technorati reddit

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MIDDLE EAST MYTHOLOGY DEBUNKED By Robert Fisk! Forget CNN & Christiane Amanpour: It's Not That She Is Incompetent; It's That There Are Multitude Of Truths She Dare Not Speak! - RI10

10-11-08

RAVING WINGNUTS, MAN

10-12-08

Risk and Unnecessary Risk.

10-27-08

McCain Continues To Brag About His Military Service Re Being President; 11 U.S. Presidents, Including FDR, Had Zero Military Service; 12 Have Been Generals; McCain Was Lieutenant; POW Status As Prep??

10-30-08

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