Ineptitude Redux

Op-Ed Columnist - The Big Squander - NYTimes.com: "Earlier this week, the inspector general for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, a k a, the bank bailout fund, released his report on the 2008 rescue of the American International Group, the insurer. The gist of the report is that government officials made no serious attempt to extract concessions from bankers, even though these bankers received huge benefits from the rescue. And more than money was lost. By making what was in effect a multibillion-dollar gift to Wall Street, policy makers undermined their own credibility — and put the broader economy at risk..."

The Daily Flashback: Babbling Greenspan Edition

House Attacks Fed, Treasury - WSJ.com: "...In an interview, former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan said it would be 'a major loss to the country if the Fed were incapable of running an independent monetary policy. If you have the GAO, after the fact, offering its opinions on whether a certain monetary policy action is correct or incorrect, the active deliberations that are so critical to building a meaningful consensus at the FOMC will begin to become unhelpfully cautious...'"

More On The Palin Cover

“News”week’s Sexism Is Showing On Its Cover : NO QUARTER
"...It makes me wonder where they are getting their information. You may know that Governor Palin was on Oprah earlier this week. I don’t know about you, but I was wondering, just out of curiosity, what the ratings were going to be for that show. Care to hazard a guess? If you went by the headline above, you’d guess not very high. And you would be very wrong. Oprah’s show had the highest rating it has had in over TWO YEARS. Dang, that Palin is just TERRIBLE for EVERYBODY!!!! Never mind all of those cheering crowds turning out for her book tour - Palin is just terrible for them! And the GOP! And the WORLD!!!! Ahem.

Again, I disagree with a lot of her policies, but I do appreciate her honest, down to earth bearing - those are characteristics sorely missing among politicians today. Does she possess brilliance on a par with Hillary Clinton? No, I don’t know anyone in politics who is on Clinton’s level. She is heads and shoulders above (which is, no doubt, why they drug her down and stomped all over her). Apparently, though, those of us who consider ourselves to be liberal cannot like Sarah Palin at all in any way for any reason whatsoever without being chastised, criticized, demeaned, and belittled. Because we couldn’t POSSIBLY have been marching for Equal Rights for someone like SARAH PALIN, who, by her own admission on Oprah says her relationship to her husband is one based on EQUALITY. Surely, SHE doesn’t count, which has been the recurring theme about her by so-called liberals and “feminists.”...?"

Duh Of The Day

Michael Moore says Democrats’ healthcare bill is giveaway to insurance industry | Raw Story: "In a speech broadcast on Canadian television Tuesday, Michael Moore savaged the Democrats' healthcare bill, calling it a gift to the health insurance industry, which he argues will make $70 billion more as a result of mandated health insurance..."

And who did you support for President, Mr. Moore?

Terrorist Seed-Planting?

Mouth Of The Potomac - NY Daily News: "Rep. John Shadegg isn’t winning many friends in New York after suggesting Mayor Bloomberg’s daughters could be “kidnapped at school by a terrorist” because Bloomberg wants the 9/11 culprits tried at the scene of the crime..."

Another Schizo Poll

The Associated Press: AP Poll: Support for curbs on malpractice lawsuits... Until you want to sue, everyone else is evil for expecting payment for incompetence.

Palin Aids Dems?

Dems hope Palin disrupts GOP's game plan: "As GOP former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin kicks off a national book tour this week, there are some unlikely voices cheering 'You go, girl!' - hard-core Democrats and progressives who hope Palin's 15 minutes of fame lasts all the way to 2012..."

Some Democrats are hopeful that with Palin getting the nomination they can use the same tactics against her that they used against Hillary Clinton. Don't count on that working out.

Comment Of The Day

From S.Brennan in "Your Health And The Economy's Health": Cannonfire: "'Obama turned an historic opportunity into a [failure].'

No matter where your politics lie, this should not surprise you at all. Obama had reached the age of 47 without ever actually doing anything that was not of direct benefit to himself. He had a non-existent record of achievement and no record of successful governance...just like Bush*. He and Bush had a life of privilege and they both chose the path of nihilism.

Agree or disagree with their policies, Hillary, Gore, and Clinton, had long records and had buckled down early in life. Their live stand in stark contrast to the prodigal, children that make-up the Bush/Obama years.

Obama is Bush's third term.

*[in Texas, the governor is practically a figurehead, doing little to set policy]"

Sounds Expensive

... until you compare the cost to the Iraq war and then to the cost of doing nothing.

Senate Health Bill Said to Cost $849 Billion Over 10 Years - NYTimes.com "The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, put forward his version of sweeping health care legislation on Wednesday, which a Senate aide said would cost $849 billion over 10 years. Mr. Reid promised that it would reduce the federal budget deficit while covering most of the uninsured and adding new benefits to Medicare..."

Jail, Please

IRS divulges criteria for targeting UBS accounts - washingtonpost.com: "If your secret Swiss bank account was small enough, you can breathe easier: A landmark deal between the United States and Switzerland to expose American tax dodgers does not call for the Swiss to blow your cover..."

Rogue Fact Checking

Fact check: Palin's book goes rogue on some facts - San Jose Mercury News: "Sarah Palin's new book reprises familiar claims from the 2008 presidential campaign that haven't become any truer over time.

Ignoring substantial parts of her record if not the facts, she depicts herself as a frugal traveler on the taxpayer's dime, a reformer without ties to powerful interests and a politician roguishly indifferent to high ambition.

Palin goes adrift, at times, on more contemporary issues, too. She criticizes President Barack Obama for pushing through a bailout package that actually was achieved by his Republican predecessor George W. Bush — a package she seemed to support at the time.

A look at some of her statements in 'Going Rogue,' which was released Tuesday:..."

Code Pink Gone Real Bad?

Code Pink Sees Green in the Bloodshed at Fort Hood : NO QUARTER

You Are Being Sued

ACORN - A Laugh A Minute - NOT : NO QUARTER
"... Are you ready? Get this: they are suing Congress to get our money back! Isn’t that hysterical??? Wait - hold on a second - I am getting word that is NOT a joke, that this is, in fact, true, ACORN Sues Over ‘Unconstitutional’ Funding Cuts By Congress. Oh, sweet mother you have GOT to be kidding!..."

Resetting Priorities

Design - Mistakes in Typography Grate the Purists - NYTimes.com: "...That said, even the type-savvy Mr. Barnes claims to have become more tolerant — or less intolerant — of such howlers over the years. “I’m not sure if it’s a case of growing older, or maybe I have lower expectations,” he explained. “In France recently, I drank some nice Côtes du Rhône wine with a fairly dreadful typographic dress. I was less bothered than I used to be; after all, it’s the wine that’s important!”"

Yes, this little snippet does make a political point.

Lying Liars And Their Lying Lies

GOP twists facts about the House health care plan | ajc.com: "...You have to wonder: Are the Republican arguments against the bill so weak that they have to resort to these misrepresentations and distortions?"

I have two words for any GOP complaints about the current economic mess: George Bush. I will repeat for the politically challenged: George Bush, George Bush, George Bush, George Bush, George Bush, George Bush, George Bush...

More COD4:MW2

Bloody disgrace - BostonHerald.com: "“Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” made more than $300 million on its first day in North America and the United Kingdom. That’s more than the Yankees spent to win the World Series. It’s the highest-grossing launch in the history of entertainment, but it’s nothing compared to what defense contractors earned this decade. Real war is still the best business going..."

Ok so UPS brings me my copy and Amazon has sent me a Playstation version. I don't own a Playstation. War is Hell.

On The Daily Grind

On Rights and Responsibilities: One Cannot Exist Without the Other : Veritas Libertas by Edward Wimberley : Naples Blogs : Naples Daily News: Local Naples, Florida News Delivered Throughou: "...In another era, one that occurred not that very long ago, most of these bright but un-educated students would have never made it into college at all. Now, they shuffle into classrooms under the illusion that they have a “right” to receive a degree, even though they are generally disinterested in really doing the hard work required to learn.

In truth, they are principally enrolled in college to collect a degree, and education - their principal responsibility as students - has become an often unwanted obstacle to collecting the prize they imagine they purchased with their tuition..."

Predictable Split

The Associated Press: Dems, GOP split on NY trials of alleged terrorists

The Daily Flashback: Plame Edition

"Obama-- Words and Deeds"--Cannonfire: "...When Obama attained power, he got his revenge against Joe Wilson. Obama directed his Justice Department to halt the Wilsons' civil lawsuit against Dick Cheney, Karl Rove and Scooter Libby, who conspired to reveal Valerie Wilson's CIA employment. In essence, Obama provided legal cover for the chancred and leprous asses of Dubya's most vile henchmen.

And how did the progressives react? For example, did Randi Rhodes -- who spent years feasting on the Wilson/Plame scandal -- denounce Obama for siding with Dubya's evildoers against the people she had once championed?

No, she did not. At least not within my hearing. (If you know otherwise, please enlighten me.)

And that, my friends, is Barack Obama. He is a man who ran against the Bush/Cheney legacy, yet ended up protecting Bush and Cheney. He is a man who, on the issue of Iran, told lefties what they wanted to hear, yet consistently refused to match action to rhetoric..."

How Long Until Starbucks?

NASA spacecraft confirms water ice deposits on moon | Cutting Edge - CNET News: "Making a bigger splash than expected, the crash of an empty rocket stage in a permanently shadowed crater near the moon's south pole last month kicked up a surprising amount of water ice and vapor, confirming the presence of a potentially valuable resource for future space travelers..."

Pokey Time

Jefferson Sentenced to 13 Years - WSJ.com: "Former Louisiana congressman William Jefferson was sentenced Friday to 13 years in prison following his conviction in a corruption case that featured a freezer full of suspected bribe money stuffed into boxes of veggie burgers.

A federal judge in Alexandria, Va., handed down the sentence to Mr. Jefferson, a 62-year-old Democrat ousted by voters last year. He had been convicted by a jury of bribery, money laundering and racketeering in schemes that prosecutors said he devised to enrich himself and his family..."

Well, I'll believe it when I see him behind bars.