September 1, 2008
What McCain Didn't Know About Palin
Ambinder puts together the first 72 hours of reporting, while Josh Marshall overviews the whole thing from a political perspective. McCain's legal team may have...[More]
Free Markets!
This may be the single best example I've ever seen highlighting how hypocritical the GOP is on "free markets."...[More]
There Goes Yet Another Talking Point
Palin opposed Sen. Ted Stevens? Nope. She was a director of a pro-Stevens 527. This is getting embarrassing....[More]
McClatchy: How thoroughly did McCain's campaign vet Palin?
Just in: While it's possible that some people in Alaska were called during the process, there was no sign of it. The former U.S. attorney...[More]
Alaskan Secession?
It just keeps getting better: The campaign of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., likes to herald the independence of its new running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah...[More]
September 2, 2008
NYT: Disclosures on Palin Raise Questions on Vetting Process
NYT: Aides to Mr. McCain said they had a team on the ground in Alaska now to look more thoroughly into Ms. Palin's background. A...[More]
Earmarks!
I actually don't have that much of a problem with earmarks, but... McCain does, and he made his opposition to them a central part of...[More]
Like A House of Cards
They spent months attacking Obama as an inexperienced celebrity who isn't ready to lead in a time of war, and then they went and nominated...[More]
And Now... Meet Senior Pastor Ed Kalnins.
Oh please god, please.... please let there be YouTube videos. Three months before she was thrust into the national political spotlight, Gov. Sarah Palin was...[More]
Vetting? What Vetting?
The Washington Independent has sent one of their crack investigative reporters to Anchorage. Here's one of her first reports: I just got off the phone...[More]
Me Me Me Me Me... La La La La La... She's Warming Up Those Vocal Chords...
I stepped away from the computer from a few minutes to help out with the first class of the semester, and when I got back,...[More]
Getting Louder...
The singing in the background really does sound like its coming from an awfully large lady, no? TPM: The founder of the Alaska Independence Party...[More]
Now That's An Odd Bonus Question
Over at NRO's Corner, Lisa Schiffren writes: This picture is worth a thousand words: Naturally the Governor of Alaska has the flags of the U.S....[More]
On My Teevee: Palin As Teddy Roosevelt?
I really don't understand these people. Leave aside TR's extensive and quite impressive background before winning the VP nomination and consider this: TR became president...[More]
Counter-Programming
Ambinder tweets: "Obama to appear on O'Reilly Factor tomorrow night." Woah....[More]
Has Fred Thompson Always Been This Bad?
I'm just asking. And what's with the images they're putting up behind the speakers on that gigantic screen? It just looks awful on my teevee....[More]
September 3, 2008
Torture Builds Character?
Ezra hoists the following from his comments section: So torture builds character that leads to leadership. I can only imagine the sign above Gitmo: "Welcome...[More]
Going To Church
Big story from the Politico. Two weeks ago, Palin sat in church and heard the following: An illustration of that gap came just two weeks...[More]
For It Before She Was Against It
Palin loved earmarks (via Atrios): John McCain touts his running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, as a force in his battle against earmarks and entrenched...[More]
The Expectations Game
I have no doubt that the coverage of tonight's speech by Gov. Palin will be almost entirely positive. And that as a result, over the...[More]
September 4, 2008
A Bridge Too Far
Big mistake tonight by the GOP. If there was one thing that scared me about Palin, its that they'd run her as a sweet, likable...[More]
Meanwhile...
Drip drip drip.... WaPo: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the running mate for GOP presidential candidate John McCain, wrote e-mails that harshly criticized Alaska state troopers...[More]
Two Questions About Earmarks For Gov. Palin
If Gov. Palin is such an opponent of earmarks, then... Why did she as governor request more per person than any other governor of any...[More]
Mismatching Messages and Messengers
Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, attacked "elites" for liking "cosmopolitan cities." Ummm... OK. Mitt Romney, the son of an auto executive,...[More]
Quote of the Night
Megan McCardle nails the descent of the GOP into self-parody: Mitt Romney seems to use the word "liberal" in a randomly perjorative fashion. I half...[More]
The Right Response
I've spent most of my life marveling at the ability of the Republican Party to stay on message, so I must admit not only is...[More]
Quote of the Night II
Ezra: The crucial juncture came early in the speech. They had the opening to weave a narrative around her preparation for the vice presidency, and...[More]
Quote of the Night III
James Fallows: To return to the main theme: both Reagan in 1964 and Obama in 2004 were effective because, apart from their personal skills, they...[More]
Want a Good Laugh?
Go read NRO's Corner tonight. These people are over the moon about the speech. Fine by me. Like I said, the bigger they build her...[More]
Midday Bits and Bobs
A few thoughts, in no particular order... + I stand by my comments from last night: As a political unknown, Palin's combative tone will not...[More]
Quote of the Day
Andrew Sullivan: It was a great line: Listening to [Obama] speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs...[More]
Tweet of the Day
Washington Independent's TWILaura tweets: Commenter on Politico: "Mrs. Palin needs to be reminded that Jesus Christ was a community organizer and Pontius Pilate was a...[More]
Compare and Contrast
The Daily Show takes care of it for us:...[More]
Community Organizers + The Catholic Church
Obama: Look -- I would argue that doing work in the community to try to create jobs, to bring people together, to rejuvenate communities that...[More]
September 5, 2008
Sleep On It (Or Maybe Not...)
My first reaction? For a guy who can't give a speech, that was damn good. But I'm clearly alone on this one. Even NRO's Corner...[More]
Quote of the Night
And its not from the convention. Bob Woodward reports: According to Woodward, the president maintained an odd detachment from the reviews of war policy during...[More]
Heroes
Thank god someone out there finally said it. M J Rosenberg: You would never know it from the media coverage but John McCain is not...[More]
Bits and Bobs
It's been well over a month since I've had the opportunity to sleep in, so took full advantage of my open schedule today to sleep...[More]
Ready on Day One? Erm...
Does this sound like an experienced, ready on day one candidate to you? Ambinder: A senior McCain campaign official advises that, despite the gaggle of...[More]
Andrea "Boom Boom" Mitchell
Video of the week. Maybe the month. Its even better as a replay than it was in real time: Amazingly, she refused to stop reporting...[More]
Flag Pins!
Jay Nordlinger over at NRO's Corner wants to know where Obama stands on flag pins. Worth nothing: McCain didn't wear one during his acceptance speech...[More]
Bandersnatches?
Jonah Goldberg writes: A hybrid of myth and deceit peddled by the chattering bandersnatches of the Democratic Party's backup communications offices at MSNBC and other...[More]
"What got reformed, as far as I can tell, was the reformer"
Go read Ezra....[More]
Jealous Much?
Via Sullivan, someone finally says it: We conservatives have had a good time ridiculing the Obama phenomenon, especially its messianic feel -- the willingness of...[More]
Know Nothings
Literally: McCain reveals the extent of his knowledge of Palin: "You know what I enjoyed the most? She took the luxury jet that was acquired...[More]
Wage Insurance
Worth mentioning: one of the only new policy proposals in McCain's speech last night was wage insurance. For those who don't know, wage insurance provides...[More]
September 6, 2008
Today's Edition of the Slow Motion Collapse
It's picking up speed. WaPo: The government has formulated a plan to put troubled mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under federal control, dismiss...[More]
Remember That Kid?
"What do you talk about when you have nothing to say? What do you talk about when you cannot explain the last 8 years of...[More]
Newsweek: Team McCain and the Trooper
Whenever my conservative friends hear me complain about things like warrantless wiretapping, they always tell me: if you've got nothing to hide, you've got nothing...[More]
About That "I Sold My Jet On eBay" Story
This woman apparently cannot tell the truth about anything. WaPo: One of the compelling anecdotes about Sarah Palin is that she auctioned off the Alaska...[More]
Unemployment
One of the odd things about the way unemployment levels are measured in the U.S. is that there isn't one single measure but many. When...[More]
Question of the Day
Josh Marshall: Isn't Palin supposed to move to Cheney's undisclosed location after she gets elected, not before?...[More]
Even A Stopped Clock...
I think I may have to reconsider my previous opinions on David Frum. In response to a pro-Palin email from one of his readers, Frum...[More]
Why Do Conservatives Hate Free Markets?
All day yesterday, NRO's Cornerites were up in arms (good example here) about Oprah's refusal to interview Palin on her show. Funny how they hate...[More]
About Those Flags
Right wing blogs, together with the McCain campaign, think they've found a winner: After Obama's Invesco Field speech, the DNC threw thousands of flags in...[More]
Hockey
Sean Quinn at FiveThirtyEight.com nails it: ...several years ago I had an epiphany about the hockey playoffs - nobody is coming to save you. Initiators...[More]
September 7, 2008
Quote / Question of the Night
Andrew Sullivan: If McCain picked her, he must believe she can be president now. If she can be president now, why the hell can't she...[More]
September 8, 2008
Liberal Media
If "the elite media" really is liberal, then please explain to me - in 500 words or less - why the fuck this is happening....[More]
Tracking Polls
McCain's convention bounce appears to be significant - he's up 49%-44% in today's Gallup. And he seems determined to test my theory that he's the...[More]
Weekend Bits and Bobs
Things I meant to post yesterday but never got around to.... + A Georgia congressman called Obama "uppity," but then claimed he didn't realize it...[More]
NBC's Cowardice
If you want to understand why I'm so pissed about the news that NBC has caved to right wing pressure over Keith Olbermann, go read...[More]
Why The "Liberal Media" Argument Matters
Gov. Sarah Palin has repeatedly lied about her role in "opposing" the Bridge to Nowhere. Not only did she not oppose it, but she campaigned...[More]
On Realignments...
Interesting comments from Rick Perlstein on the way the GOP convention played out: My hypothesis was this: conservatives have been in power so long they've...[More]
Freddie and Fannie
I ment to comment on this over the weekend but got busy and forgot. So I'm just going to go to Josh Marshall for a...[More]
And Then, This...
... a post that reminds me to stop thinking so damn short-term. Embracing the idea that this is a change election puts McCain in a...[More]
Fight!
Listening to Obama's townhall meeting in Farmington Hills, MI, right now, and damn if he isn't going hard at McCain and Palin right now. And...[More]
Prop 2... Peace... Wu Tang!
Via Joe Trippi...[More]
How Some of the Other Half Thinks
Since I mentioned in a previous post that all of my blog reading is starting to drive me a bit mental, I thought I'd share...[More]
Maverick To Nowhere
TPM:...[More]
It's Pat?
Rachel Maddow hosts a segment tonight with her "fake uncle" Pat Buchannan and calls the segment "It's Pat." There's no way - no way -...[More]
September 10, 2008
Word of the Day: Liar!
Josh called it last night: the liar meme is beginning to take hold. First it was us in the blogs... then it was the Obama...[More]
No One?
As Atrios would say, I don't think that word means what you think it means. Meghan McCain, earlier today: "No one knows what war is...[More]
Drip Drip Drip...
We interrupt our series of reports on Palin's endless series of lies about her support/opposition of the Bridge to Nowhere (now with timeline! And video!...[More]
Rachel!
Maddow beats Glenn Beck and Larry King? Woot! If you have a tivo, set it. If you have a scheduler, mark it down. If you...[More]
For The Record: I Don't See A 2x4
This is not nearly enough: Three problems: 1. He is not nearly angry enough. 2. Most of whatever anger he does show is directed at...[More]
Sanity Break!
This is really, really cool....[More]
"A culture of ethical failure"
"Drill, baby, drill" takes on a whole new meaning here: As Congress prepares to debate expansion of drilling in taxpayer-owned coastal waters, the Interior Department...[More]
September 11, 2008
A Moment of Clarity
This is why I predicted that Palin's appearances before the national press would be disastrous. ABCNews is teasing this exchange from today's sit down with...[More]
And Next... Israel
More from that interview: GIBSON: Let me turn to Iran. Do you consider a nuclear Iran to be an existential threat to Israel? PALIN: I...[More]
Deer in the Headlights
She's a good politician, maybe even a damn good one. The "in what respect, Charlie?" was meant to simultaneously buy her time and get...[More]
The Perfect Metaphor
Ben nails it: The debates will be like a Turing test for her - can the robot programmed with McCain's ideological talking points seem like...[More]
Bits + Bobs
Some things that probably deserved longer posts but won't get them: + If I had written a post about 9/11, I would hope that it...[More]
A Primer For Trooper-Gate
For those who haven't been following the story closely from day one, TPMm has a great primer....[More]
Rape Kits
Had you asked me before today, I would have said that no one - and I mean that literally - believes that rape victims should...[More]
Just Watch This
We are at war, and our potential next VP has no idea what she is talking about. She can repeat things that other people...[More]
Credit Where Credit Is Due
Not once, but twice....[More]
Still Rockin' The Hut
Maddow still on fire - last night, she beat Glenn Back and Larry King. And in the key demo? She even beat Keith Olbermann! Wow....[More]
The Slow Motion Collapse Continues
Bear... Freddie and Fannie... and now Lehman: The Federal Reserve and Treasury Department are actively helping Lehman Brothers put itself up for sale, and officials...[More]
September 12, 2008
More On The Rape Kit Story
Now here's a weird bit of synchronicity for you... When the state of Alaska moved to prevent Palin's town of Wasilla from charging rape victims...[More]
One Final Thought For Tonight
Matt Yglesias caught part of the Palin interview that I clearly didn't focus enough on. And yes, its just as bad as the others. If...[More]
September 13, 2008
Videos of the Day
Go on Portland, Maine! I don't think this guy will be getting an interview with Palin anytime soon: And I don't think Palin will be...[More]
Earmarks!
ProPublica gets a big scoop: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has portrayed herself as a foe of pork-barrel spending, pointing in particular to her role in...[More]
Cows, Bloggers, and Haters, Oh My!
You just can't make this stuff up. Via Atrios, NYT: Gov. Sarah Palin lives by the maxim that all politics is local, not to mention...[More]
Play Along At Home
From the ABC interview: GIBSON: What insight into Russian actions, particularly in the last couple of weeks, does the proximity of the state give you?...[More]
Lies and Statistics
Is McCain telling the truth about anything? Senator John McCain has drawn some of the biggest crowds of his presidential campaign since adding Alaska Governor...[More]
Palin's Performance
NRO's Frum is damn near terrified by her. His colleague Rich Lowry calls the foreign policy portion of her ABC interview a "white-knuckle affair": My...[More]
Behold! A 2x4!
Earlier this week I was begging Obama to come out swinging a 2x4 at McCain. Behold! There's yesterday afternoon... "[I]t's clear that John McCain would...[More]
Compare and Contrast
McCain on Wednesday: "[Palin] knows more about energy than probably anyone else in the United States of America." Palin, on Friday: Let me speak specifically...[More]
From The Corner
Too good not to pass along. KLo approvingly posts this from one of her readers: [Palin] has her convictions, but she also has come to...[More]
Explanations
Via TPM, NBC and the Politico gets an interesting comment out of Team McCain: McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said this to the Politico about the...[More]
September 15, 2008
"It is looking like the endgame is finally here."
For over two years I've been intermittently blogging about what I've called the slow-motion collapse of our financial services industry. As of tonight, you can...[More]
Consistency?
Several of my more conservative readers have written in asking why I haven't blogged about Rep. Charlie Rangel's problems. Implied in their emails is the...[More]
Forget 2x4. Obama's Got Himself a 4x6
Ouch. UPDATE: Meanwhile, Palin keeps up the lies about the Bridge. Now that Obama is fighting back, I'm growing increasingly convinced that Team McCain are...[More]
The Fundamentals of the Economy Are Strong?
Keep digging, Senator. At this point you must be getting close to China: "My opponents may disagree, but those fundamentals of America are strong," McCain...[More]
Biden!
More like this, please: Notice the way even FoxNews is framing this. About half way through, they switch from a full screen of Biden to...[More]
What Comes Next?
NRO's David Frum continues his quest to speak truth to conservativism: Here's my reading of the Times' big story on Sarah Palin's record in Alaska:...[More]
Choices, Choices...
Felix Salmon: The "shadow banking system" is now so big and so global that for all we know a series of bad decisions by a...[More]
US News: John McCain's Journey From Maverick to Liar
Backlash: McCain's claim to be a "maverick" rests on the liberal positions he took during the days when he openly fought with Republican leaders and...[More]
48 Is The Number, And The Number Is 48
I've learned not to argue with Chuck Todd. Fortunately for me I almost always agree with him, so I've no need to argue. Case in...[More]
Even The Army Times...
...is calling McCain on his lies. The Army Times....[More]
Quote of the Day
I think I just found the quote that will sit atop the first chapter of my dissertation. And surprise, surprise, it comes from Andrew Sullivan...[More]
Quote of the Day II
Yglesias: Unlike the guy who runs Lehman Brothers, the guys who clean the bathrooms in the Lehman Brothers office have, as best one can tell,...[More]
Ambinder on Narrative
Ambinder explains why this was a very, very bad weekend for McCain: The Press Has Turned -- The press has decided that McCain's distortions are...[More]
Quote of the Day III
Rick Perlstein passes along this gem from James K. Galbraith: The collapse of Wall Street will hit Main Street like Ike hit Houston....[More]
Selling the Big Red One
This is really f'ed up. Making up for "budgeting shortfalls" by selling off the insignia of one of the most famous divisions in military history...[More]
Meanwhile, In Afghanistan
Man.. I expected that Spencer Ackerman's reports from Afghanistan would be good, but I didn't expect them to be this good. Kid can write, no...[More]
Pivots
Sean Quinn suggests a pivot: To defuse the Sarah Palin Phenomenon, Democrats need to explicitly give voters permission to both like her as a person...[More]
The Moral High Ground
After years of touting their superiority on "family values," I don't know how Ramesh can write something like this with a straight face....[More]
Space Olympics?
I've watched this at least 5 or 6 different times now, and I still don't know what to make of it. Other than that it...[More]
Stupid Talking Points
McCain on Plain, today: "The important thing is she's vetoed a half a billion dollars in earmark projects -- far, far in excess of her...[More]
Privatize This!
Via Atrios, here's a case study in why the privatization of Social Security would have been a disaster: The bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, a prestigious...[More]
September 16, 2008
What They Mean When They Say "Small Government Conservatism"
I don't think the Wall St. Journal likes Gov. Palin much. Check out this story. The state of Alaska runs its own creamery. For the...[More]
John McCain Created the Blackberry
Reading the headline of this post, you no doubt thought I was trying to make a joke, right? Wrong. Asked what work John McCain did...[More]
Lying About Everything
It seems no thing is too small for the McCain campaign to lie about. Yesterday it was the size of crowds at their rallies. Today...[More]
A 9/11 Commission For The Economy?
McCain's big proposal today is the creation of a "9/11 Commission" for the economy. The goal, apparently, is to "get to the bottom of this...[More]
The Best Political Team...
CNN loves to make the ridiculous claim that is has the "best political team on television." I've long wondered what qualifications were necessary to join...[More]
Top 10 Hidden Sources of BPA
Oh goodie! It's everywhere: Pizza boxes made of recycled cardboard Recycled paper Credit card receipts at the gas station and your local restaurant Wine (fermented...[More]
Today's Theme: Efficient Regulation
After completing my last post on BPA, here's the next item in my feed reader. McClatchy: The U.S. can reduce its dependence on foreign oil...[More]
Cluelessness
Wow. McCain doesn't even know the jurisdiction of a Senate Committee he once chaired. I mean, c'mon......[More]
Not A Bailout. A Buy Out.
Bloomberg: The U.S. government agreed to lend as much as $85 billion to American International Group Inc. in exchange for a 79.9 percent stake to...[More]
September 17, 2008
9 Minutes of Electoral Math
For once, I'm gonna disagree with Chuck - sort of... It's not that I disagree with his assessment of where we stand now; its that...[More]
A Good Rule Of Thumb
When Republican operatives take to the pages of the nation's biggest newspapers to offer advice to Democratic candidates, a good rule of thumb is to...[More]
Metaphor of the Day
Atrios: It might have been the right thing to run down to the river with buckets to collect water to throw on the burning building,...[More]
McCain Still Doesn't Get YouTube
If this doesn't confirm my thesis, nothing does. Yesterday morning, John McCain was against the AIG bail/buyout. MCCAIN: No, I do not believe that the...[More]
September 18, 2008
This Is The Best They Can Do?
I realize that part of the appeal of Gov. Palin is that she is not a member of the "elite," but c'mon... this is just...[More]
Good To Know
Three choices here: 1. McCain doesn't know Spain is in Europe. Not likely 2. McCain doesn't know Spain is our ally. Not likely. 3. McCain...[More]
The Latest Line on Troopergate
Yglesias sums up the new defense from Palin perfectly: the political merits of the "it wasn't a personal vendetta, I just don't like vigorous enforcement...[More]
Financial System Collapse 101
Ezra highlights this clip from Econospeak breaking down the dynamics behind the current crisis. I like Ezra's edition, so I'm editing them together below with...[More]
More Like This Please
More, please: And this: I've already had several people ask me if that second clip is too long for your average American. The concern apparently...[More]
Q+A
Q1: Aside from being former Secretaries of State, what do these five people have in common with one another? Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright, Warren Christopher,...[More]
Demonic Spells!
Woo woo woo!...[More]
Hypocrisy
Leave it to Reason to take on Palin's pot smoking hypocrisy: The upshot is that smoking marijuana in the privacy of one's home is just...[More]
Quote of the Day
Jake Tapper finds a timely McCain classic from just last year: "I don't know the dimensions of this. It's hard to know what the dimensions...[More]
Know Your Financial Services History
Great work here from NYT's DAVID LEONHARDT. An excerpt: Some day, house prices will stop falling and the financial markets will calm down. But the...[More]
Earmarks!
Alaska Republican Sen. Ted Stevens requests another $200 million. No word yet from that fearsome lipstick-wearing pitbull on how she plans to put an end...[More]
Tester!
Its been at least a week since I mentioned Montana. Let me correct that: As I've said from the earliest days of this blog, when...[More]
"Someone needs to invest in the United States of America"
Great column today from Meyerson. Meanwhile, a ridiculous one from Broder. "Wall Street and its woes are causing big problems for John McCain." But who...[More]
Not What, But Why
Conservatives love to point out how polling data shows that the Democratically controlled Congress is less popular than the President. Tonight its George Will, but...[More]
September 19, 2008
Free Markets!
The free marketeers may not quite realize it yet, but they've officially lost the argument. Their era is over: "Americans' personal savings are threatened, and...[More]
Free Markets!
The free marketeers may not quite realize it yet, but they've officially lost the argument. Their era is over: "Americans' personal savings are threatened, and...[More]
September 20, 2008
1 Quote, 4 Thoughts
Via McClatchy: Fiscal hawks who dominate the Republican Party's conservative wing have watched in dismay as President Bush, presidential candidate John McCain and Republican leaders...[More]
Quote of the Day II
John McCain, from back in September 2007 just this month! Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done...[More]
Will They Raise My Taxes?
Assuming for the moment that this past week's events won't necessitate a change in plans - a dubious assumption to be sure - here's everything...[More]
Quote of the Day III
John McCain, yesterday: "Finally, the Federal Reserve should get back to its core business of responsibly managing our money supply and inflation. It needs to...[More]
Quote of the Day IV
NRO's Lisa Schiffren: I always listen to Mark Levin while making Friday night dinner ... Funnily enough, he has explained just what it is community...[More]
The Importance of Information
Kevin Drum's post today on the coming Wall Street bailout wasn't written as an answer to David Brooks' Friday column, but it could have been....[More]
Quote of the Day IV
Yglesias on McCain's health care proposals: Pining for the good old days you could call African-Americans "colored" and teachers weren't afraid to say that Big...[More]
My "Bush Is Carter" Thesis Hits the National Journal
Man, I really should have published some papers a few years back, huh? Jonathan Rauch takes to the cover of the National Journal to explain...[More]
Bailout Questions and Answers
Dean Baker is asking some very important questions about the bailout package. Given that he is one of the people who saw this coming many...[More]
Polling Cellphones
It's posts like this one that explain why FiveThirtyEight.com is one of the most respected poll analysis blogs in the country. Take away: When you...[More]
More TrooperGate
I wasn't planning on posting again tonight, but this is too good not to pas along. ABC News' Justin Rood (a TPM alum!) has yet...[More]
A Deal Killer?
WSJ: Lobbyists Scramble to Sway Deal Titans of the financial industry are battling to influence the government's financial rescue plan, a package that will create...[More]
September 24, 2008
Back Tonight
I hadn't meant for this place to suddenly go dark these past few days, but I had a bunch of small projects hanging over my...[More]
Quick Prediction
I was putting on my shoes to run out the door on my way to Tufts when a thought occurred to me, and if I...[More]
September 25, 2008
Narratives, Not News Cycles
I think I finally understand what's wrong with Sen. McCain's campaign. McCain and his people seem to be under the mistaken assumption that winning "news...[More]
Are You Kidding Me?
This is all one long running joke, right? In the first segment I almost feel bad for her. They sent her out without enough...[More]
What Ambinder Said
This is exactly right: This is the time when politics matters the most, not the least. When the philosophical differences that each party organizes around...[More]
What Ezra Said
Ezra: ...this only makes sense if you've been running, well, John McCain's campaign. A bread-and-circus show meant to distract Americans from the issues at hand....[More]
What Ta-Nehisi Coates Said
Ta-Nehisi Coates: I believed then, and believe now, that McCain's "win the news-cycle" strategy is playing with fire in a house of straw. I know...[More]
We Won. They Lost. The Argument Is Over
SEC Chairman Chris Cox is a conservative's conservative. So when he says something like this, you know things have changed: There is another similar regulatory...[More]
Quote of the Day II
Via Steve Benen, and thru WaPo: At a bipartisan gathering in an ornate meeting room just off the Senate floor, McCain complained that Cornyn was...[More]
Hail Mary's
Here's the thing about Hail Mary passes: everyone, even people who don't watch football, know that you only throw them when you are so far...[More]
What He Said
Anonymous Liberal writes something that I meant to mention last night: I think the McCain campaign knew the Couric interview would be a disaster as...[More]
TALKING POINTS: SUSPENDING THE CAMPAIGN
You see how non-political his political move was? It comes complete with political talking points! Here are some questions for the good Senator: What information...[More]
Simple Q's, Simple A's
Answer: Mark Foley + a filibuster-proof majority. Question here....[More]
You Know Those Wicked Israelites...
Palin was in church for this. Didn't get up to leave or speak out. Not hardly. Instead she came to the front for a laying...[More]
Gibberish and Nonsense
If McCain's pan was to come to Washington to help kill the bill, Palin just made that impossible. Of course, segments like this also make...[More]
Bill Clinton Is A Dick
Wonderful. Now he's defending the integrity and honor of Sen. McCain. That's just what his party needs from him. What a self-centered douche....[More]
Freddie and Fannie Were Not The Problem
Mark Thoma drops knowledge: Fannie and Freddie did not cause the credit crisis and nothing in the article quoted by Cafe Hayek, or anything since...[More]
Quote of the Day III
Politico: "McCain is Andy Kaufman in his Mighty Mouse costume - 'Here I Come to Save the Day,'" Frank said as he left a Thursday...[More]
McCain Paid $5500 For Makeup?
Their rules, not mine. HuffPo: John McCain has reportedly paid more than $5,500 to Tifanie White, the makeup artist who works on "American Idol," for...[More]
Gibberish and Nonsense II
I need to repost this up top so that everyone sees it. Just this one part alone should be enough to make even her fiercest...[More]
Don't Mess With Isikoff
Newsweek: Rick Davis, John McCain's campaign manager, has remained the treasurer and a corporate director of his lobbying firm this year, despite repeated statements by...[More]
This Is Not A Suspension
Forget that McCain's people are still on TV attacking Obama... Forget the Palin is still out giving speeches... Forget that McCain's website is still raising...[More]
Calling His Bluff
This is how you do it: Barack Obama is committed to hosting a public, televised event Friday night in Mississippi even if John McCain does...[More]
Overplaying Your Hand
Politico: McCain could feel that same pressure. Having called for the meeting, he will have to show if can deliver the votes of House Republicans,...[More]
September 26, 2008
Putin's All Up In My Airspace!
Help! I'm sorry, but I just can't get enough......[More]
Narratives, Not News Cycles
It's a simple question of narrative. Three stories detailing today's events, and then a question. The stories... First, Politico's version of today's events: At the...[More]
Free Market Fundamentalists
Good to see that some of them actually do believe their own rhetoric. Politico: According to one GOP lawmaker, some House Republicans are saying privately...[More]
Quote of the Night
Via TPM: "We would prefer a loan or supplying insurance," Bachus told reporters. "These are the ideas Sen. McCain tried to maximize. He feels strongly...[More]
What Steven Pearlstein Said...
Steven Pearlstein You're angry. I'm angry. House Republicans are angry. We're all angry at having to put up huge amounts of cash to rescue a...[More]
Tonight
I realize that I should spend the few remaining hours before the debate working on my dissertation, but I suspect that's not going to happen....[More]
Sarah Palin, Part II
Here's part two of her interview with Couric: Here's a bit more of her economic "analysis." I'm gonna defer to Steve Benen on this one:...[More]
Narratives, Not News Cycles
So lets step back for a minute to look at how the events of the last 48 hours either fit into our narratives. I'm going...[More]
WaPo: Palin Accepted $25,000 in Gifts, Alaska Records Show
Look over there! A reformer who gets results stereotypical petrostate politician! Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who has made a crackdown on gift-giving to state officials...[More]
What Did The President Know, And When Did He Know It?
Murray Waas delivers a big one for The Atlantic: In March 2004, White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales made a now-famous late-night visit to the hospital...[More]
Quote of the Day III
Ezra: I've been trying to figure out how anyone could be taking seriously the Republican Study Group's proposal to address the financial crisis by suspending...[More]
Rats and Sinking Ships
Even KLo is thinking about jumping. Oh my....[More]
Quote of the Day IV
Brad DeLong: Secretary Paulson, the leaders of both houses, the chairs and ranking members of the relevant committess--all were on the same page and working...[More]
How Realignments Happen
Like this. Economic conservatives may be horrified at the thought of a trillion-dollar bailout of Wall Street, but the GOPers on Wall Street seem horrified...[More]
Howard Wolfson Stole My Meme!
You all know by now that I was there with this first, right? This is a campaign flying by the seat of its pants, chasing...[More]
Tell Us How You Really Feel, Part II!
Fallows on Palin: After thirty years of meeting and interviewing politicians, I can think of exactly three people who sounded as uninformed and vacant as...[More]
NYT: Palin Won't Spin For McCain
What does it tell you about McCain's opinion of Palin that he is not having her appear on his behalf tonight after the debate? After...[More]
Switching To Twitter in 5...4...3...
...2...1......[More]
Flash Judgement [Updated]
Obama won because he didn't lose, but he surely could have pushed back more in the final stages. But in the end, no knockout blows...[More]
September 27, 2008
Douchebag Quote of the Night
From the always entertaining Corner: I guess Obama thinks he's being clever by pronouncing the name of the country as "Pok-ee-stahn" rather than the standard...[More]
Leadership
Josh is right. After last night this deserves more attention. WaPo: When Sen. John McCain made his way to the Capitol office of House Minority...[More]
About Last Night
A must read from Fallows, including this: Everything John McCain did on stage last night was consistent with trying to score tactical points in those...[More]
Don't Panic! Please?
Here's the fundamental problem with the "do nothing!" position taken by both conservative House Republicans and skeptical liberal bloggers around the sphere: Now that Sec....[More]
Pants On Fire!
Didn't I warn you? Never mess with Michael Isikoff: Few advisers in John McCain's inner circle inspire more loyalty from him than campaign manager Rick...[More]
Quote of the Night
SEC Chairman Chris Cox: "The last six months have made it abundantly clear that voluntary regulation does not work." To which KDrum responds: Manfully owned...[More]
September 28, 2008
Not Even Nearly Out Of the Woods...
So it appears that an agreement has been reached on the bailout. The big question now is will the votes hold. But make no mistake:...[More]
September 29, 2008
The War On Earmarks Is Stupid
Yes, earmarking is a process that is often abused, sometimes even in ways that open the system wide to corruption. But can we please get...[More]
A Small Town Mayor From A Petrostate
If you begin from the fact that Alaska functions as a typical petrostate, none of this should surprise you: WASILLA, Alaska (AP) -- Though Sarah...[More]
Thrashing Bill Clinton
Watch this: Then watch Coates shred Bill Clinton here. Seriously, who is this guy and why do we need him? We keep asking why he...[More]
Ideological Foolishness
It's almost funny watching conservatives sling the idea that legislation passed in 1977 caused the meltdown of our financial system in 2008. Almost. Yglesias: I've...[More]
Looking Back On The First Debate
Ezra reminds me of something I wanted to write about: Detailing his debate impressions, Rick Hertzberg makes a good point: In general, the commentators thought...[More]
Biden vs. Palin
But first, more video from CBS on Weds and Thurs afternoons. And its apparently worse than everything we've seen so far....[More]
The Great Plain Panic
Yes yes, I'll get to the panic in the markets in a moment (my instapundit reaction: god help us all). But first, a great bit...[More]
Warren Buffett: "Heaven Help Us" [Multiple Updates]
Maybe you're one of those who is not yet convinced that we are on the verge of an economic meltdown. If you are, please read...[More]
The Great Depression Didn't Happen Overnight
Just as I was reading this post from Yglesias, the wife hit me with a text reporting that CNBC is "unrealistically upbeat - the Great...[More]
Presidential Implications [Multiple Updates]
MSNBC just showed video of Sen. McCain taking credit for the bailout compromise this AM. Had I not seen the clip myself, I wouldn't have...[More]
Paulson's Press Conference
If he had nothing to say, why did he hold a press conference? Reading between the lines, it is clear he has no idea what...[More]
Is Cavuto Always This Insane?
He was on my FoxNews just now suggesting that the market dropped nearly 800 points in 4 hours because the bailout bill was awful, and...[More]
Number of the Day: 3
Jonathan Martin: That's the grand total of House Republicans from Texas and Arizona who voted "aye" for the bailout bill. It says something about the...[More]
This Morning Feels Like A Lifetime Ago
Bill Kristol writing in the NYT just this morning: McCain's impetuous decision to return to Washington was right. The agreement announced early Sunday morning is...[More]
This Is What Hurt Their Feelings
Given the fact that Republicans leaders seem intent on blaming Pelosi's speech for their inability to deliver the votes of their party caucus, its worth...[More]
Are You Better Off?
EmptyWheel: January 19, 2001: 10,587.59 September 29, 2008: 10,365.45 NASDAQ Jan 19, 2001 = 2770.38 NASDAQ September 29, 2008 = 1983.73 CPI, January 19, 2001:...[More]
September 30, 2008
Number of the Day: $1.2 Trillion
That's a rough estimate of the total wealth that disappeared in today's Wall St. collapse. Makes a $700 billion bailout seem downright cheap, I guess....[More]
Capital Gains Tax Cuts?
OK, look... I realize that Republicans think tax cuts are the solution to every problem, so expecting any sort of variation here would be foolish....[More]
People Just Don't Understand, Updated
The calm version, courtesy of Steven Pearlstein: The basic problem here is that too many people don't understand the seriousness of the situation. Americans fail...[More]