Thanks for all the memories.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
White House Social Secretary
If only they'd brought Joe The Plumber on to weigh in on the topic, the wank circle would be complete.
Oh really?
Carl Hulse writing in the NYTimes on why some senators may not be willing to force Republicans to work for their filibusters:
Then there is the fact that many senators are advanced in years and not eager to pull all-nighters.
Sorry bout that guys, but ya know, people are actually dying out there.
Then there is the fact that many senators are advanced in years and not eager to pull all-nighters.
Sorry bout that guys, but ya know, people are actually dying out there.
First Ever
It's like the past never happened.
Detroit streetcar map, 1941.
Some more streetcars that did not exist.
Beleaguered Detroit receives $25 million to help the city assemble funds for its first-ever significant transit line — a 3.4-mile light rail line up the central Woodward Avenue spine, seen as a major downtown economic stimulant and way for low-income Detroiters to access the center city.
Detroit streetcar map, 1941.
Some more streetcars that did not exist.
Sunday Bobbleheads
Dancing Dave has President John McCain, Cantor, Wasserman Schultz, and the president of the National Urban League.
This Week has Nancy Pelosi and Lamar!
Face the Nation has Hoyer, Marsha Blackburn, Creepy Coburn, and Kent Conrad.
They let a couple wimmin on this week!
Document the atrocities!
This Week has Nancy Pelosi and Lamar!
Face the Nation has Hoyer, Marsha Blackburn, Creepy Coburn, and Kent Conrad.
They let a couple wimmin on this week!
Document the atrocities!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Clearances
At a conference I was at this week, Daniel Ellsberg recounted a time in 1969 when he explained to Henry Kissinger what would happen after he was given the dozen or so clearances above Top Secret (the existence of which is also classified, of course). What happens first is you feel like a fool. You've published books that you now discover were filled with stuff that was wrong. You have believed you understood how things worked for your entire professional life, but you now find out you were completely wrong, that the real world is entirely different from what you have been told. The books you've written, the lectures you've given are based on a false understanding of the world.
But this stage only lasts a few weeks. After you have been reading this material hitherto unavailable to you for a while, you begin to see everybody else as fools. Only with people with these top level clearances know the truth. People whom you previously regarded as experts become ignoramuses, doubly so because they don't realize that they actually know nothing.
And so your conversations with them become telling them what you want them to think.
But this stage only lasts a few weeks. After you have been reading this material hitherto unavailable to you for a while, you begin to see everybody else as fools. Only with people with these top level clearances know the truth. People whom you previously regarded as experts become ignoramuses, doubly so because they don't realize that they actually know nothing.
And so your conversations with them become telling them what you want them to think.
Massive Earthquake
Seems like the world has had more than its share of natural disasters recently.
RIO DE JANEIRO — A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Chile early Saturday, shaking the capital of Santiago for 90 seconds and sending tsunami warnings from Chile to Ecuador.
First Cup of Coffee Thread
New York City has done a remarkable job clearing the primary streets. Navigating around the City was fairly easy yesterday. Even the buses were running pretty much on schedule.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Just What Do They Mean By Recovery?
I've never quite understood what people have meant by a housing recovery.
Is it the end of falling prices? A sudden return to bubble-era home price inflation? Something arbitrary inbetween?
Home prices were too high, and home price increases were obviously unsustainable. They're not going to magically shoot up again, and we should hope that the bubble doesn't return.
The recent slump in housing is making some analysts uneasy about a recovery that many thought sustainable just a couple months ago and comes at a time when the Federal Reserve is nearing the end of a critical, year-long program to support the mortgage market.
"Housing is at a pivotal, ambiguous point," says Ted Gayer, co-director of Economic Studies at the Brookings Institution.
A spate of recent reports from home sales to mortgage activity has been starkly negative. And, even if some of it can be written off to seasonal patterns, namely weather, the weakness is not what what people expected with the extension and expansion of the government's homebuyer tax credit that jacked sales for several months last summer and fall.
Is it the end of falling prices? A sudden return to bubble-era home price inflation? Something arbitrary inbetween?
Home prices were too high, and home price increases were obviously unsustainable. They're not going to magically shoot up again, and we should hope that the bubble doesn't return.
Our History
Just following up the post below, pick any random city or town and hunt around and you'll find an old streetcar map on the internets. Here's one from Minneapolis (.pdf) from 1946. The fact that we once had comprehensive mass transit systems is not an argument in favor of them, but the idea that they're bad because they're un-American is both absurd and ahistorical.
Urban Hellholes
Yes, the tribalism of the modern conservative movement is particularly odd, embracing much of the worst this country has to offer.
As hilariously imperfect as my local transit authority is, the ability to get around using public transit is, to me, a truly wonderful amenity.
As hilariously imperfect as my local transit authority is, the ability to get around using public transit is, to me, a truly wonderful amenity.
Everyone Was So Polite Until Foul-Mouthed Bloggers Came Along
I think a few calls to his office are in order, for his potty mouth and for the fact that he's preventing a UI benefit extension.
Give Senator Tough Shit a call. Be polite according to the example set by the senator, and express, if you feel it, your disgust at the fact that he's holding up the benefits extension.
202-224-4343
As Democratic senators asked again and again for unanimous consent for a vote on a 30-day extension Thursday night, Bunning refused to go along.
And when Sen. Jeff Merkely (D-Ore.) begged him to drop his objection, Politico reports, Bunning replied: "Tough shit."
Give Senator Tough Shit a call. Be polite according to the example set by the senator, and express, if you feel it, your disgust at the fact that he's holding up the benefits extension.
202-224-4343
Continue To Iterate
Meddling at the margins really doesn't help.
They're floating a proposal to force HAMP review before foreclosure, but HAMP just isn't designed to help that many people. It will mostly just slow down the process a bit, which might be good for some but for others it just squeezes a few more pennies out of them while giving them false hope.
“This is a problem of mammoth proportions,” Goodman said. “You can’t throw 12 million people out of their homes, so you need a successful modification program. My fear is that this isn’t it, but I’m highly confident that the administration will continue to iterate until they succeed.”
They're floating a proposal to force HAMP review before foreclosure, but HAMP just isn't designed to help that many people. It will mostly just slow down the process a bit, which might be good for some but for others it just squeezes a few more pennies out of them while giving them false hope.
The Problem
Indeed, it really is Charlie Rose and NPR and the Newshour and Fred Hiatt's crayon scribble page.
It isn't that these outlets never have anything good to offer, but they also present a really warped view of what being "smart" and "knowledgeable" about politics and policy is.
It isn't that these outlets never have anything good to offer, but they also present a really warped view of what being "smart" and "knowledgeable" about politics and policy is.
Austerity
Never quite understood the idea that one must destroy the economy to save it, but that seems to be what all right thinking people think about Greece.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Justice
How it works.
Oakland parking officers were ordered to avoid enforcing neighborhood parking violations in two of the city's wealthier neighborhoods but told to continue enforcing the same violations in the rest of the city, according to a city memo obtained by The Chronicle.
Endgame?
I'm not really more optimistic that this thing will get passed than I was this morning, but we will see...
Still Don't Report On This Correctly
They didn't at the time, either.
The Republicans weren't just proposing to eliminate the filibuster through the normal process of setting rules, they were proposing to end the filibuster by...cheating and having the parliamentarian just declare that it was icky and make it go away.
An additional note: McCain compared reconciliation to the stand-off on judges. But the two are completely different situations. During that judicial stand-off, Senate Republicans were proposing to eliminate the filibuster. On the other hand, reconciliation is a tried and true practice that both parties have used to pass controversial legislation affecting the budget (whether it's tax cuts, tax increases, or changes to health care).
The Republicans weren't just proposing to eliminate the filibuster through the normal process of setting rules, they were proposing to end the filibuster by...cheating and having the parliamentarian just declare that it was icky and make it go away.
Popular
As David Corn keeps pointing out on the Twitter, if Republicans cared so much about poll numbers for HCR features they'd support a public option. Of course this also applies to Obama and the other Dems too.
More than that, more reporters should be asking that question. Instead, they decided the public option was only something that dirty fucking hippie bloggers liked, and therefore bad.
More than that, more reporters should be asking that question. Instead, they decided the public option was only something that dirty fucking hippie bloggers liked, and therefore bad.
Pension Hell
It isn't unique to New Jersey, but they're one of the more egregious in underfunding their pension system.
The long term deficit in the retirement funds for state and local government workers, police, firefighters and educators grew by $11.5 billion in fiscal year 2009, according to reports released today.
...
Gov. Christie plans to eliminate an already small state payment in order to balance the current budget.
Negotiation Strategery
I really don't comprehend why, if he really wants Republican votes, Obama and Senate Dems haven't made credible threats to put in all kinds of crazy liberal hippie shit through reconciliation. I guess they're sticking with their precompromising strategy...
Maybe Things Have To Get Worse For Them To Get Better
I generally hate that kind of thinking, and certainly don't wish for things to get worse, but I do wonder just what level of job losses and unemployment might cause the powers that be to decide that maybe they should do something.
Probably it would take a stock market crash. That's the important thing.
Probably it would take a stock market crash. That's the important thing.
Bike Sharing
I do hope a comprehensive well-run program comes to my urban hellhole. I've been other places where they've had it and it seems to work quite well.
I've Tried To Put The Entire World On A Do Not Call List
But, strangely, people still call.
Admittedly I'm slightly hampered by the fact that at some point my phone decided it wouldn't let me send text messages anymore.
Admittedly I'm slightly hampered by the fact that at some point my phone decided it wouldn't let me send text messages anymore.
Technology
Once it starts you can watch the HCR summit exclusively on this blog!!!
Well, not exclusively...
Well, not exclusively...
Nukes
I'm not especially anti-nuke, but with massive subsidy requirements and the reality of rational NIMBYism I'm not sure why we're bothering.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Unexpected Potential For Justice
A bit of a surprise.
Retired New Orleans police Lt. Michael Lohman has pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice in the Danziger Bridge shootings, which left two people dead and six others injured after police fired on a group of civilians trapped in the submerged city days after Hurricane Katrina.
Doing Stuff
Here's how I would design my fantasy weatherization/stimulus program. First, identify highest priority areas of the country, in terms of climate and age/quality of housing stock. Second, put local contractors on federal salaries. Third, have the Feds cover much or even all of the cost up front (none of this tax credit crap). Fourth, do intensive marketing, emphasizing the benefits and the cheap/free aspect of it, including, if necessary, door to marketing.
I'm sure there are all kinds of difficulties with my cunning plan, but the point is that if you want things to be done...just go out and do them, don't have them get swallowed in the various layers of government/private sector.
I'm sure there are all kinds of difficulties with my cunning plan, but the point is that if you want things to be done...just go out and do them, don't have them get swallowed in the various layers of government/private sector.
HOLC
The foreclosure crisis isn't even close to being over. Rep. Miller has a wee suggestion for alleviating it.
If the government could purchase, either by voluntary sale or by eminent domain, distressed mortgages for 30 to 50 cents on the dollar, there would be ample room to reduce the principal to make the mortgage affordable. In other cases, the government could buy the home in exchange for cancelling the mortgage and enter into a long-term lease with the former homeowner.
Like the original, a revived HOLC could pick and choose the mortgages it buys. The new HOLC should only buy mortgages on owner-occupied homes, and should refuse to buy reasonable mortgages that homeowners can afford. So no homeowner should expect that the HOLC will buy their mortgage if the homeowner stops paying.
The Obama administration can establish a new HOLC without any additional action by Congress. The Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) legislation already gives the Treasury Department the power to acquire financial assets, specifically mortgages, and Treasury could fund the program with the $75 billion of the TARP appropriation allocated for HAMP.
That should be plenty to buy enough discounted mortgages to put a dent in the foreclosure problem. Most important, the prospect of eminent domain acquisitions of mortgages at a deep discount will motivate servicers to reduce principal voluntarily. Every government foreclosure mitigation effort so far, including HAMP, has depended exclusively on carrots for the industry, usually designed by the industry itself. The industry’s lobbying efforts have successfully denied any stick to go with the carrots, notably the judicial modification of mortgages in bankruptcy (“cramdown”). The acquisition of mortgages by eminent domain will provide foreclosure mitigation efforts with a badly-needed stick.
School Surveillance
We have a pretty adamant denial at odds with the charges in the lawsuit...
In a voice that swelled and quavered with apparent anger, Harriton High School Assistant Vice Principal Lindy Matsko this morning decried the "many falsehoods and misperceptions" about her role in the Lower Merion school's webcam tumult sparked by a student's lawsuit.
"At no time have I ever monitored a student via a laptop webcam," said Matsko, who is in her 25th year working for Lower Merion School District, "nor have I ever authorized the monitoring of a student via a laptop webcam, either at school or in the home. And I never would."
FIFTEEN BILLION DOLLARS
I'm honestly not sure why they bothered, as "looking like we're doing something about jobs" is not the same as actually doing something about jobs.
Making Me Not Miss You
I guess he's right that they're successful, in that they successfully got the government to give them billions in a back door bailout through AIG.
Feb. 24 (Bloomberg) -- Goldman Sachs Group Inc., the most profitable securities firm in Wall Street history, is unpopular because some people envy its performance, said Jon Corzine, the company’s former chairman and chief executive officer.
The Evils of Minimum Parking Requirements
Parking requirements don't just impact new development, they also impact attempts to refurbish and reuse existing buildings consistent with their original use.
Some parking is necessary, but absurd minimum parking requirements destroy cities.
Some parking is necessary, but absurd minimum parking requirements destroy cities.
QOTD
Adam Serwer:
The Senate is holding a hearing today where several current and former Blackwater employees will be testifying, but honestly the only way Congress would stop giving Blackwater money is if it started registering black people to vote.
Not So Stupid
As I've made clear I think this is a dumb issue, but we also know who David Broder's Villagers blame.
Washington (CNN) -- Two-thirds of Americans think that the Republicans in Congress are not doing enough to cooperate with President Obama, according to a new national poll.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
I Don't Think People Who Work At Newsweek Are Very Bright
That's my main takeaway from reading this.
As for the particular question of whether Joe Stack was a "terrorist," I don't think the answer is clearly yes or clearly no, but the more important point is that if he had been an Arab immigrant who flew a plane into an INS building because he was pissed off at his dealings with them, no one would hesitate to call him a terrorist and the situations would be pretty analogous except for one little thing.
As for the particular question of whether Joe Stack was a "terrorist," I don't think the answer is clearly yes or clearly no, but the more important point is that if he had been an Arab immigrant who flew a plane into an INS building because he was pissed off at his dealings with them, no one would hesitate to call him a terrorist and the situations would be pretty analogous except for one little thing.
Layers
This initiative probably isn't the best example, but it seems a big barrier to getting things done is the unwillingness to just have the Feds hire people directly. We don't need money allocated so that entities can apply for grants to carry out blah blah blah...we just need programs.
Broken
It'll be interesting in watching a car wreck kind of way to see how states and municipalities manage to come back from such massive budget cuts.
I Think They Made Their Position Clear
The White House released their health plan. It didn't contain a public option. Their health plan didn't have to be the final say, it could just be a negotiating document, but they didn't even bother to put it in, to pretend they wanted it. Contra Ezra, they did lead, they expressed their preferences. They may or may not publicly beat back a public option if it shows any chance of being revived in the Senate, but they have made their desires known.
Wanting Women To Die
Our pal Bart is sticking with his life's mission of doing his best to ensure that more women die from Stupak.
Nicaragua is experiencing the joys of no legal abortion, where pro-lifers are helping more women to die, too.
Nicaragua is experiencing the joys of no legal abortion, where pro-lifers are helping more women to die, too.
Extend and Pretend
The only thing that can help most people with mortgages they can't afford to make payment on or who are significantly underwater is significant principal modification. Without that, none of these programs will work, and more than that they just end up squeezing a few more pennies out of people before they're ultimately kicked out. I don't know all the reasons it's preferably to kick someone out and sell the home to someone else for $X instead of just reducing the principal to $X, but apparently it is.
Dueling Public Statements
The school surveillance case rolls on. More and more it seems like the school really screwed up, we just don't yet know how much...
I'm Not The
only one who thought "Whoa, boy" things are not going well for Rahmbo after reading Cenk Uygur at The Smirking Chimp.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Apples and Arsenic
Not especially important to me, but I assume 8 year olds can spot the stupidity in this argument.
Stupid Politico Tricks
Only mystery is why they didn't try to shoehorn a teleprompter joke in there somehow.
The Grand Iranian Conspiracy
Longtime readers know I'm only somewhat tongue-in-cheek partial to the Grand Iranian Conspiracy of why we invaded Iraq. Essentially Iranian intelligence set up Chalabi and the INC to con gullible American lawmakers and Fred Hiatt's crayon scribblers into destroying and then handing over their troublesome neighbor. And now apparently, years later, we have to stay in Iraq to prevent Chalabi and Iran from taking over.
heckuva job.
heckuva job.
Nobody Cares
As Bowers says, people don't give a crap about process. No matter what they say in polls, they don't give a crap about bipartisanship. The best it does is have the bipartisan fetishists in the press write nice things about you, but even that hasn't happened.
More than that, in my humble blogger opinion, bipartisanship is bad. Achieving it often requires splitting the baby type compromises. It spreads the blame around by making everybody and therefore nobody responsible. It obscures the real differences between the parties, and those differences are good because they provide voters with a real choice.
I'm not suggesting that lawmakers should never vote with the other side, but in general voters and democracy are much better served by having political parties with clear, if not extreme, differences.
More than that, in my humble blogger opinion, bipartisanship is bad. Achieving it often requires splitting the baby type compromises. It spreads the blame around by making everybody and therefore nobody responsible. It obscures the real differences between the parties, and those differences are good because they provide voters with a real choice.
I'm not suggesting that lawmakers should never vote with the other side, but in general voters and democracy are much better served by having political parties with clear, if not extreme, differences.
Good Luck Putting In That Extra Kitchen
I've long been interested to see whether changing demographics (boomers getting old) would lead to an increased interest in "multi-generational housing." If so, there will be a tremendous shortage, because putting in a second kitchen will be just about impossible in most places as the zoning laws won't allow it.
Perhaps You Could Pass A Popular Bill?
For quite some time now I've been saying that not enough thought has been given to what actually might be popular with the public, such as...the public option. That's not say that the Obama bill is, in its entirety, bad policy, but there really is no good reason why a health care reform bill couldn't be a slam dunk in terms of popularity.
Monsters
Since there is apparently no way to hold anybody in government legally accountable for torturing people to death or enabling others to torture people to death, we can at least name and shame the people who were a part of it. So, Jennifer Hardy, formerly Jennifer Koester, you are named and shamed.
Good Enough For Fred Hiatt
Regularly I wonder just what Fred Hiatt imagines his purpose - and that of his crayon scribble page - is. Hiring people who are likely to accurately inform readers obviously is not an especially high priority. Though what his actual priorities are I do not know.
HCR
I'm a lazy blogger today, and I figured someone else would do a better look at HCR than I would, and faster. Wonk Room provides.
It seems to be a bit better than the Senate bill, though the state-based exchanges are probably the biggest disappointment, aside from the expected disappointments such as no public option and the fact that it is, of course, still a stupid Rube Goldberg bill.
It seems to be a bit better than the Senate bill, though the state-based exchanges are probably the biggest disappointment, aside from the expected disappointments such as no public option and the fact that it is, of course, still a stupid Rube Goldberg bill.
Those Damn Bloggers!
Aside from the much more important issues Digby raises, it continues to fascinate me that in 2010 journalists continue to point at "the bloggers" as a way of cleansing themselves and members of the broader political-media industrial complex of their own sins.
Timmeh
Hopefully stories like this are evidence that he - or at least his influence - is on the way out.
School Surveillance
The school district is getting increasingly good at getting reporters (not faulting reporters here) to get their perspective in print, but I think they're pretty fucked.
- More than a year ago, two Harriton High School student council members privately confronted the principal when they learned that the school could covertly photograph students using the laptop's cameras. When Kline said it was true, the students told the principal they were worried about privacy rights, and asked questions about other kinds of monitoring. Could, for example, the school system read saved files on their computers? At a minimum, the student leaders told the principal, the student body should be formal warned about any surveillance. But nothing happened, according to other council members who were briefed afterward, and the student leaders returned a short while later to once again tell the principal that they were greatly concerned about a potential invasion of privacy. Again, nothing happened.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Long Term Unemployed
Whoever one wants to blame precisely, the fact is that the federal government (administration, Congress, Fed), could do more to create jobs. That the high unemployment that they are predicting is considered to be acceptable, rather than a national emergency, is a travesty. These people, even if they manage to avoid homelesness, will at best go back to zero, no savings, no retirement, no equity.
Missing That 9/11 Feeling
I suppose there are two types of people in the world, those who spent the days after 9/11 feeling pretty fucking shitty, and those, like Glenn Beck and Evan Bayh, who were feeling pretty damn good about things.
Things Will Only Get Worse
Of course when people say things like that, and especially when GGP Friedman parrots it, he of course means things will only get worse for the proles, that this is inevitable and there's nothing elites can do about it, and we'd all better suck it up and learn to be polite to our wealthy overlords.
Maybe if we hadn't spent all that money to tell Iraqis to suck on this. Oh well.
Maybe if we hadn't spent all that money to tell Iraqis to suck on this. Oh well.
Sunday Bobbleheads
Dancing Dave's Meet the Press has Chris Van Hollen, Mike Pence, Lyin' Pawlenty, and Governor Paterson.
This Week has The Governator and Ed Rendell
Face the Nation has Colin "Vial of White Powder" Powell.
Document the atrocities!
This Week has The Governator and Ed Rendell
Face the Nation has Colin "Vial of White Powder" Powell.
Document the atrocities!
Wanker of the Day: Climate Edition
George Will.
(Will's lie about what Phil Jones said to the BBC is really jaw-dropping and horrible, even by Will's standards, such as they are on this issue. In all honesty Will deserves to be fired. He won't be, but he deserves to be. Which I suppose says all you need to know about how the Washington Post editorial page wants to be perceived -- as a cesspit filled with liars. Not sure how this constitutes an Exciting New Business Plan for Happy Fun Future Success for a Troubled Industry, but fuck them anyhow.)
(Will's lie about what Phil Jones said to the BBC is really jaw-dropping and horrible, even by Will's standards, such as they are on this issue. In all honesty Will deserves to be fired. He won't be, but he deserves to be. Which I suppose says all you need to know about how the Washington Post editorial page wants to be perceived -- as a cesspit filled with liars. Not sure how this constitutes an Exciting New Business Plan for Happy Fun Future Success for a Troubled Industry, but fuck them anyhow.)
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Good luck with that one
CPAC continues to get coverage well-beyond its relevance.
Their Presidential Straw-Poll preference for 2012...
Their Presidential Straw-Poll preference for 2012...
Ron Paul 31%
Mitt Romney 22%
Inflation Is All That Matters
It's possible that the Fed is doing all it imagines it can do given its twin mandates to fight unemployment. More likely, they just prioritize fighting inflation. So it's a double hit, as people don't have jobs so that the value of nominally denominated debt is preserved.
People may have disliked inflation in the 70s, but a lot of people eventually benefited a bit as the value of their mortgages, in real terms, declined significantly.
People may have disliked inflation in the 70s, but a lot of people eventually benefited a bit as the value of their mortgages, in real terms, declined significantly.
Bring In The Feds
This district is so screwed if the allegations are true.
Federal prosecutors have subpoenaed the Lower Merion School District for documents related to the controversial use of remote-control cameras on students' school-issued computers, The Inquirer has learned.
...
Students told of using Post-it notes to cover the laptops' webcams when a telltale green light came on.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Timmeh?
Like the program, but dosen't he have more important things to do?
- Treasury Secretary Timothy Geitner is in Philadelphia today, joining Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and the president's wife Michelle Obama "to announce new details of the Healthy Food Financing Initiative," an urban grocery subsidy program backed by the Depts of Treasury, Agriculture, and Health & Human Services that plans to use $400 million a year in taxpayer money "to help bring grocery stores to underserved areas and help places such as convenience stores and bodegas carry healthier food options."
Lies and the Lying Liars
Pawlenty edition.
The thing about the whole OBAMA TELEPROMPTER MUAAHAHAAHAHA think is that it became a joke among reporters, not just conservatives, who apparently never noticed that presidents regularly used teleprompters until Obama took office.
"President Obama was in a grade school classroom speaking to elementary school children and he was using a teleprompter," Pawlenty said Friday in a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington.
"You've got to be kidding me," he added. "That's not a joke. That's a real story."
Actually, it's not. The tale spread by bloggers over the Internet and in some media, including the Comedy Channel's Jon Stewart, blended together two Obama appearances Jan. 19 at the Graham Road Elementary School in Falls Church, Virginia, to make it appear he used the teleprompter when speaking to a classroom of 30 pupils.
The thing about the whole OBAMA TELEPROMPTER MUAAHAHAAHAHA think is that it became a joke among reporters, not just conservatives, who apparently never noticed that presidents regularly used teleprompters until Obama took office.
President Obama Will Come To Your High School
If you are the winners of this contest. So come on, kids!
Webcam Surveillance
Again, we don't yet know if the allegations are true, but even if you leave aside the creepy spying aspect of it... the idea that schools can punish people (if true) for "improper behavior" at home, whatever the behavior, is scary enough.
Something
$1.5 billion is chump change given the scope of the problem, and I wish the money was being directed to local municipalities instead of states, but these kinds of programs have had successes in keeping people out of foreclosure or at least making the process less painful.
Foreclosure crisis? Not over.
Mr. Obama will announce the so-called ‘’innovation fund’’ at a town hall style meeting here, the officials said. The money will be redirected from the Troubled Asset Relief Program, known as TARP, and made available to state housing agencies, who will be expected to design programs to help homeowners having difficulty meeting their mortgage payments, either because they are unemployed, are burdened by second mortgages or owe more than their homes are worth.
Foreclosure crisis? Not over.
This Thing Has To Be Popular
I've said it a million times, but ultimately HCR has to be a popular bill. Not popular in a poll-tested optics kind of way, but popular in the sense that people who feel like they're getting screwed by their insurance companies find that the changes help them, and significant numbers of people who didn't have decent affordable insurance will actually get that. The public option is a way to achieve both that and cost controls. Popular and good policy! Only the skimmers and their minions in Washington don't like it. Pass it.
Just A Bit Of Murder
Practically justified!
I guess we're going back to the 90s, where all kinds of horrible criminal acts were excused by the Right as long as people claimed to be motivated by being pissed off at taxes and guvmint.
I guess we're going back to the 90s, where all kinds of horrible criminal acts were excused by the Right as long as people claimed to be motivated by being pissed off at taxes and guvmint.
Taking Away The Punch Bowl
Apparently I missed yesterday's Fed rate hike.
Obviously I don't think the recession is over, but given everything else that's going on (all the other Fed actions), I think a discount rate hike is a fairly small thing, right or wrong.
Obviously I don't think the recession is over, but given everything else that's going on (all the other Fed actions), I think a discount rate hike is a fairly small thing, right or wrong.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Surveillance
A few people have written in about the school surveillance accusations to tell me that it is technically feasible. I don't disagree! Just... not sure the accusations are true, that's all. It's certainly possible.
Crazy
I'll file this under "truth not yet determined," but crazy if true...
The suit says Lower Merion School District officials can activate the webcams remotely without students' knowledge. The lawsuit alleges the cameras captured images of Harriton High School students and their families as they undressed and in other compromising situations.
Real Estate Hell
Worst places are where construction industry basically was the local economy
Today, the Merced metropolitan area (population 246,117) has the second-highest unemployment rate in the nation, 19.8%.
Merced also has one of the highest foreclosure rates. According to widely published statistics from First American CoreLogic, one in five homes in Merced County was 90 days delinquent in payments as of November 2009.
The impact on property values has been devastating. Home values have dropped 62% since 2006, city spokesman Mike Conway says.
Urban Hellhole Blogging
I'm not a fan of the casino trolley project anyway, but I hope this bit is just bad reporting.
A surface light rail line down Market St. is dumb anyway, but it's extra stupid if it is a separate line. If this isn't bad reporting, it's possible they know they can't resolve the problem of how to connect them up without interfering with later riverfront redevelopment plans.
...for the three of you who might be interested, here's a look at the proposal.
The latest contract advances a $500 million light-rail project that would operate in the middle of Columbus Boulevard between Pier 70 and Girard Avenue. The route would provide service between the two casinos planned for the riverfront, Foxwoods to the south and SugarHouse to the north.
A Market Street light-rail line also would run from City Hall to the waterfront line. The waterfront trolleys could be running by 2016 if federal funding is available, DRPA officials said.
A surface light rail line down Market St. is dumb anyway, but it's extra stupid if it is a separate line. If this isn't bad reporting, it's possible they know they can't resolve the problem of how to connect them up without interfering with later riverfront redevelopment plans.
...for the three of you who might be interested, here's a look at the proposal.
Beating A Dead Horse
Foreclosures are still a problem, and administration efforts haven't helped enough.
It does not make sense that someone who has a $450,000 mortgage is booted out of their home so that the bank can sell it to someone else for $250,000 if that person could have afforded to make payments on a $250,000.
But that's the world we live in. There was never any perfect painless universally fair solution for this problem, but allowing bankruptcy judges to deal with it would have been the best...
Oh well.
It does not make sense that someone who has a $450,000 mortgage is booted out of their home so that the bank can sell it to someone else for $250,000 if that person could have afforded to make payments on a $250,000.
But that's the world we live in. There was never any perfect painless universally fair solution for this problem, but allowing bankruptcy judges to deal with it would have been the best...
Oh well.
One Giant Shell Game
A lot of Italian municipalities were also dabbling in dubious risk and debt hiding activities.
Stupid Journalist Tricks
Morbidly fascinated in how the British & elsewhere gutter press has been cheering on global climate catastrophe? The gory details.
Also you can and should read this and this. Long story short, attacks on climate scientists = horrible lies, action needed now on climate change, or lots of bad shit happens.
Also you can and should read this and this. Long story short, attacks on climate scientists = horrible lies, action needed now on climate change, or lots of bad shit happens.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
HAMP
I did ask about whether there was concern about ongoing foreclosure crisis, as the HAMP program is not working.* There was some hint that maybe something was in the works. I didn't get any details but I didn't get the sense that it would be super ambitious. There was never any perfect way to deal with the foreclosure crisis, but there were better and more effect ways.
...adding, "not working" depends on what you think it was supposed to do. Some would argue that it reached a decent number of the people who could be helped by the program. But they allocated a bunch of money to it and threw around some impressive sounding numbers early on. And it hasn't helped many people. So. Not working.
...adding, "not working" depends on what you think it was supposed to do. Some would argue that it reached a decent number of the people who could be helped by the program. But they allocated a bunch of money to it and threw around some impressive sounding numbers early on. And it hasn't helped many people. So. Not working.
Access Blogging
Had my first trip to the White House today to talk about how awesome the stimulus bill has been with Jared Bernstein and a group of mostly bloggy types. It was all on the record blah blah blah.
Anyway, they're trying to turn around public opinion on the stimulus bill. They see it as a good thing, which obviously it was, and think the public should see it that way too. The thing is, while the stimulus was a very good thing relative to a world without a stimulus, it's hard to do much happy talk about it when their own estimates have unemployment remaining very high for quite some time. And they're not willing to make the case that they'd like to do, or would've liked to do, more but political reality wouldn't let them.
Anyway, they're trying to turn around public opinion on the stimulus bill. They see it as a good thing, which obviously it was, and think the public should see it that way too. The thing is, while the stimulus was a very good thing relative to a world without a stimulus, it's hard to do much happy talk about it when their own estimates have unemployment remaining very high for quite some time. And they're not willing to make the case that they'd like to do, or would've liked to do, more but political reality wouldn't let them.
Civilitude
I doubt Dodd really meant that we just need senators to be more polite too each other, probably what he meant was senators need to stop being assholes by abusing the rules of The Greatest Institution Ever. Of course, he doesn't come right out and say this, maybe because he's too civil, or maybe because the problem isn't just Republicans because Democrats, too, are abusing the rules and blocking majority vote rule with procedural votes.
Maybe If We Start A Few More Wars?
One thing Dems have long been bad at is distinguishing between people whose vote might be gettable and people who would cut off their legs before voting for a Democrat. Congressional offices get spooked when there's some faux controversy being pushed by talk radio and they get lots of mean phone calls, but people who listen to right wing talk radio and get upset by faux controversies are the people who are least likely to vote Dem and therefore people Dems should generally ignore.
Shockingly, people who hate Dems and will never vote for them don't like HCR.
Shockingly, people who hate Dems and will never vote for them don't like HCR.
Hitler
Sure, Rush Limbaugh is a much more minor figure than some random person who submitted a video to an open contest...
There Will Always Be A Place For Them
Republicans will always have a home on Fred Hiatt's crayon scribble page.
Never thought anyone could be more unctuous than David Brooks until Michael Gerson showed up.
Never thought anyone could be more unctuous than David Brooks until Michael Gerson showed up.
Price
For whatever reason, the Dems have not tried to make the Republicans pay any price for their obstructionism. They might be inept, they might think they have to be nice to President Snowe, or... they might understand that the real obstructionism is coming from within their own caucus. That is, maybe they need President Snowe, but they also need several of their own nominal members who are also causing problems.
Editorial
The NYT runs, on the front page, an editorial on the horrors of "entitlements" and the deficit on the front page, as a news story.
Wars, defense spending are not mentioned as candidates for reducing deficit spending, until the very last sentence:
Wars, defense spending are not mentioned as candidates for reducing deficit spending, until the very last sentence:
Yet politicians’ failure to reduce deficits has long reflected voters’ opposition to the necessary steps. The poll also found that by a two-to-one ratio Americans oppose cutting health care and education; 51 percent oppose lower military spending.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Things Americans (Including Me) Don't Know Enough About
I did visit Torino awhile back, and while I agree with Matt's point about the consistency of Americanizing the names of foreign countries and cities, Turin actually isn't just an Americanization, as while Torino is its Italian name, its name in its native Piedmontese is ...Turin!
What we tend not to know about is the degree of linguistic variety in Western Europe, as there are lots of local languages which we like to think are simply mildly differing variants of the dominant language (such as Italian or Castilian Spanish) , when in fact they're better seen as distinct languages.
What we tend not to know about is the degree of linguistic variety in Western Europe, as there are lots of local languages which we like to think are simply mildly differing variants of the dominant language (such as Italian or Castilian Spanish) , when in fact they're better seen as distinct languages.
Is They Learning?
I think the White House should post its own bill, but only if they have learned the very simple lesson that you don't win any points for pre-compromising.
Mixed Use
There are legitimate concerns about the impact of home businesses on neighborhoods, but these concerns are often overblown so it's welcome that some communities are relaxing those rules. The biggest concern, at least for small scale things, is traffic, though perhaps if there are more neighborhood businesses some of the customers will actually walk. Crazy I know.
Requiring separate commercial space for small scale things like hair salons also raises the barrier to entry, increasing the cost and complexity of operating a business.
Requiring separate commercial space for small scale things like hair salons also raises the barrier to entry, increasing the cost and complexity of operating a business.
Bayh
If Ambinder knows what he was talking about, Bayh wanted Obama to support a Senate coalition of Republicans and centrist Democrats. You know, the same thing we had for the past several really awesome years of policymaking. You also get the sense that, as is usually the case, there isn't really much policy substance here, it's all about the joys of hippie punching.
heckuva job, Evan.
heckuva job, Evan.
Performance Matters
Of course to some degree performance, charisma, and general likability matter in politics, though given the general hotness level of our members of Congress I think charisma matters far less than pundits often imagine, but the primary focus of political journalists on those largely unmeasurable qualities both obscures the stuff that actually should matter more - policy! - and convinces people who are looking to what they imagine are authorities for some guidance that performance is the thing that should matter.
It's depressing.
It's depressing.
Urban Hellhole Blogging
I haven't seen enough renderings of the design to have an opinion, but the apparent location (it's a bit unclear) with street level retail, instead of a massive front parking lot, for this supermarket+ project is very welcome, given that it's right next to an El stop.
But, as always, I'm fascinated by the haters in the comments. It's interesting watching the evolution of their targets of hate go from black people to "hipsters," both of which are seen as diseases in the urban body.
But, as always, I'm fascinated by the haters in the comments. It's interesting watching the evolution of their targets of hate go from black people to "hipsters," both of which are seen as diseases in the urban body.
Hope
It isn't a plan.
Now, U.S. officials are looking to foreign government funds again. The Federal Reserve is scheduled at the end of March to halt its purchases of mortgage-backed securities, a move that could drive up the low interest rates that have helped the housing market show new signs of life. The Fed is gambling that private investors will step in to buy the securities, helping to keep rates from spiking. Senior officials in the Obama administration and at the Fed say they are counting in part on foreigners to keep the housing market funded.
But financial analysts and advisers familiar with foreign government funds, known as sovereign wealth funds, predicted that the United States will get limited relief from abroad.
A Woman Currently Holds the World Record in Ski Jumping
but there is no woman's ski jump competition at the Olympics. Southern Beale investigated and discovered the reason: ...European men don’t want to be shown up by a bunch of girls,
Heh, one official used the Newt excuse:
seems not to be appropriate for ladies from a medical point of view
Here's Newt, in case you forgot.
If combat means living in a ditch, females have biological problems staying in a ditch for 30 days because they get infections.... Males are biologically driven to go out and hunt giraffes.
Seems kind of incredible that we're still dealing with this shit.
Heh, one official used the Newt excuse:
seems not to be appropriate for ladies from a medical point of view
Here's Newt, in case you forgot.
If combat means living in a ditch, females have biological problems staying in a ditch for 30 days because they get infections.... Males are biologically driven to go out and hunt giraffes.
Seems kind of incredible that we're still dealing with this shit.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Hockey
No idea why Canadians are more likely to play left-handed, but when I played street hockey as a kid I did as well, and my left hand is generally useless.
Bayh
From what I gathered, over the past year Bayh kept trying to put together his little gang of Senate wankers, but every time he'd try dirty fucking hippie bloggers would say mean things about him and then the potential wankers would get a little scared off and wouldn't want to be part of Bayh's little club.
Not saying this is about Blogerrrr Powerrrr, just that the critique from the left was loud enough that it got through.
Not saying this is about Blogerrrr Powerrrr, just that the critique from the left was loud enough that it got through.
The Hamster Wheel of 1998
Bayh, like a few others, really was trapped in the glorious year of 1998, a year of peak stupid in politics.
His leaving will not inspire me to display my sad face.
His leaving will not inspire me to display my sad face.
Learning The Wrong Lessons
If the Dems get thrashed in November, it'll be because they failed to do enough to help the economy and generally do things for people. The lesson they'll learn is that Obama the socialist did too much and what the people care about is "deficits."
Madness, yes.
Madness, yes.
Long View
I agree that the Obama campaign's decision to take a longer view during the campaign, instead of freaking out over every cable news moment, was the right decision, something I didn't think at the time, but I think that's at least in part due to the fact that both the Clinton and McCain campaigns sucked at the cable news war.
Thread
The one below seems to work in IE, but not Firefox... or might be a weird cache issue. See if this works.
...if you're having problems, trying clearing the cache in your browser. I don't know if that will fix the problem permanently, but it seems to work at least temporarily.
...if you're having problems, trying clearing the cache in your browser. I don't know if that will fix the problem permanently, but it seems to work at least temporarily.
Being A Senator Sucks
Obviously it doesn't suck as much as being a coal miner does, but whether you go into the Senate because you want to get lots of media attention or because you want to actually get things done, the Senate will quickly drain the life out of you. Freshman senators are expected to largely keep their heads down, and it takes a long time to travel up the seniority system to get any real power or the ability to get much attention from national media. Of course, even once you have real power the Senate itself sucks so hard that you can't really get anything done.
I'm not surprised Bayh's retiring. It was just part of his journey towards the White House, a journey which he'll never complete.
I'm not surprised Bayh's retiring. It was just part of his journey towards the White House, a journey which he'll never complete.
Burning Down The House
Hotline says filing deadling for Indiana Senate election is... tomorrow.
Hope all the people who gave him money for his re-election campaign are happy.
Hope all the people who gave him money for his re-election campaign are happy.
Muni Hell
My state capital isn't going to include debt repayment in their new budget.
I wouldn't be surprised if this was the kind of thing where once a few people jump, many more follow. I think that people in government tend to think that default is a nuclear level event, and once places like Harrisburg do it without being swallowed up into the Earth, other places will follow...
I wouldn't be surprised if this was the kind of thing where once a few people jump, many more follow. I think that people in government tend to think that default is a nuclear level event, and once places like Harrisburg do it without being swallowed up into the Earth, other places will follow...
Banksters
Simon Johnson raises important points here, one being that there's a potential that Goldman had conflicts of interest which spilled over into outright fraud.
Now What
If there was a strong rationale behind what they were doing with the housing market, other than help the banksters, it was reinflate the bubble a bit until the economy turns around and then everything will be fine. But the economy didn't turn around, and now housing market supports are going to be removed. And none of it really helped to stop the foreclosures.
I'm Really Happy
that Maddow and Biden got to go on teevee and counter the wingnut crap on the Underpants Bomber and the war in Iraq. I'm really unhappy that the wingnut crap is given any platform at all, especially on what are supposed to be legitimate news shows.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Actual liberal media
If you listen to BlogTalkRadio at 5:00 PM Pacific tonight (or later to the podcast), you can hear me and Culture of Truth laughing at the other bobbleheads.
Signed,
Not Atrios
Signed,
Not Atrios
Freedom Bombs
We continue to liberate innocent people in Afghanistan from the hardship of existence.
I really have no idea what we hope to achieve there.
I really have no idea what we hope to achieve there.
The New Empire In Rags
I really haven't been following the details of the child smuggling case in Haiti, but it is quite amazing what brings out human rights concerns among the torture lovers.
I'm so old I can remember when the Right would blather on about the evils of moral relativism, though I never quite understood what they meant by it.
I'm so old I can remember when the Right would blather on about the evils of moral relativism, though I never quite understood what they meant by it.
Alchemy
Greece was spending lots of money for deals which basically just hid risk and debt.
Financial innovation!!
Financial innovation!!
Sunday Bobbleheads
Face the Nation has Senator Joe Biden
This Week has Vice President Dick Cheney on, and he will make tremendous news by saying predictable things about Senator Barack Obama.
Meet the Press has Senator Joe Biden.
Document the atrocities!
This Week has Vice President Dick Cheney on, and he will make tremendous news by saying predictable things about Senator Barack Obama.
Meet the Press has Senator Joe Biden.
Document the atrocities!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
People Actually Ride The Thing
One thing you frequently read is that nobody rides public transportation, the real meaning being "people like us" don't ride transportation. It's true that other than in New York City where just about everybody rides the subway, in this country public transit users tend to be poorer, but presumably they count as people too. Or should at least.
According to the latest figures I could find, there are a bit fewer 750K weekday trips on my hilariously flawed but surprisingly comprehensive local transit authority system. In LA, where no one rides public transit, there are about 1.3 million weekday boardings.
According to the latest figures I could find, there are a bit fewer 750K weekday trips on my hilariously flawed but surprisingly comprehensive local transit authority system. In LA, where no one rides public transit, there are about 1.3 million weekday boardings.
Not Even Trying
I don't know if they're completely inept or if they recognize that the real trouble is within their own caucus. That was the case when they sorta had 60 votes, and it's still probably the case now. Someone decided being nice to President Snowe was a better plan than turning up the heat on the "moderates."
No We Can't
As Herbert says, the Epic Fail is truly depressing.
I certainly don't want a return to Republican rule, but it would be nice if the other team could articulate the reason for the alternative.
I certainly don't want a return to Republican rule, but it would be nice if the other team could articulate the reason for the alternative.
Our Dumb Discourse
No amount of absurdity or mendacity can keep you off the teevee.
I do wish journalists worried about their fate of their profession would spend a bit more time on the reality of their profession instead of the fantasy one they were taught in J-school.
I do wish journalists worried about their fate of their profession would spend a bit more time on the reality of their profession instead of the fantasy one they were taught in J-school.
Just to tide us over
Here's the list of invitees to the President's summit on HCR. I realize they are the peeps in leadership from both parties, still, can't say I see much of anything new being worked out. If they come up with anything, it will be a watered down version of the Senate bill.
And more snow on Monday. Cheers.
And more snow on Monday. Cheers.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Deep Thought
I'm sure we'll have awesome health care reform very soon after Boehner, Pelosi, Reid, and McConnell sit down bipartisanly with President Obama.
Message: We Are In Conrol Of Everything But Completely Powerless
November is sure gonna be scary with this kind of genius messaging.
People Like Us
The powers that be, so far, can be credited with the fairly generous COBRA subsidy and unemployment benefit extensions, but the lack of sense of urgency about unemployment is due in large part to the fact that it's mostly hitting lower income individuals.
According to a study from Northeastern University’s Center for Labor Studies, unemployment for those in the top income decile–individuals earning more than $150,000 a year–was 3% in the fourth quarter of 2009. That compares with unemployment of 31% for the bottom 10% of income, and unemployment of 9% for the middle decile.
The differing rates of underemployment–including those working part-time for economic reasons–are also notable. Underemployment for the top 10% was 1.6%, while the bottom was 21%.
In other words, the top 10% is experiencing what economists would consider full employment.
Jobs
This is how you create them.
Even more impressive, the Guangzhou-to-Wuhan train is just one of 42 high-speed lines recently opened or set to open by 2012 in China. By comparison, the United States hopes to build its first high-speed rail line by 2014, an 84-mile route linking Tampa and Orlando, Fla.
...
Officials drafted a plan to move much of the nation’s passenger traffic onto high-speed routes by 2020, freeing existing tracks for more freight. Then the global financial crisis hit in late 2008. Faced with mass layoffs at export factories, China ordered that the new rail system be completed by 2012 instead of 2020, throwing more than $100 billion in stimulus at the projects.
Administrators mobilized armies of laborers — 110,000 just for the 820-mile route from Beijing to Shanghai, which will cut travel time there to five hours, from 12, when it opens next year.
NLRB
The NLRB has basically been nonfunctional for quite some time. Putting enough people in place to make it function is certainly a legitimate use of the recess appointment power.
But I guess that might upset Republicans and they'd stop cooperating with the president.
But I guess that might upset Republicans and they'd stop cooperating with the president.
Crappy Urban Design
It is very depressing, because good design doesn't have to be expensive. Street level retail and integration with the main street is about all it takes.
You Couldn't Have Both
Because liberals are fucking retarded.
...adding, congressional staffers were, last summer, complaining that people were wasting their time by calling their offices in support of HCR. A few months later they were complaining because nobody was.
...adding, congressional staffers were, last summer, complaining that people were wasting their time by calling their offices in support of HCR. A few months later they were complaining because nobody was.
Stop Us Before We Kill Again
Shorter Politico: All you other media outlets, stop being as hackish as we are!!!
Thread
This new Facebook sucks.
Just let me in to my FACEBOOK!*
*(For hilarious internet traditions, read the comments.)
Just let me in to my FACEBOOK!*
*(For hilarious internet traditions, read the comments.)
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Nice Work
I guess everyone involved fucked things up.
His pals spent $100 million supporting it apparently. Remember that? I don't. Heckuva job.
Billy Tauzin, the former Louisiana congressman, is resigning as president of the drug industry trade group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America amid internal disputes over its pact with the White House to trade political support for favorable terms in the proposed health care overhaul.
As the industry’s top lobbyist, Mr. Tauzin brokered the deal with the White House and Max Baucus, chairman of the Senate finance committee, last summer to limit the drug industry’s total costs under the proposed health care overhaul to $80 billion over 10 years.
...
Like almost every other seasoned Washington player, Mr. Tauzin, who makes $2 million a year, bet on health care reform early – only to watch it come to a screeching halt.
His pals spent $100 million supporting it apparently. Remember that? I don't. Heckuva job.
Evening Thread
Really hate when large businesses fail to do proper snow removal.
I'm looking at you South Philly Acme.
I'm looking at you South Philly Acme.
Happy Hour Thread
Snow day margarita edition.
Yesterday a local news person was astonished by the fact that all the local bars and restaurants were staying open, because apparently the locals "walked" to them.
Yesterday a local news person was astonished by the fact that all the local bars and restaurants were staying open, because apparently the locals "walked" to them.
Everything Is Beyond Our Control
I don't much care about Rahm specifically, but I get a bit confused about the the tendency to write about the White House as if they're powerless to influence events. You can debate about the degree of their influence and certainly disagree about what the best strategies are, but the fact is that they had a plan for passing a health care reform bill, they thought that plan would work, and it didn't. At minimum, they were wrong about what was possible, but I don't think it's nuts to think they really fucked up.
Mortgage Cramdown
It was a good idea a couple of years ago, it's a good idea now, but I gather elite Washington has mostly decided the crisis is over so it's time to move on to more tax cuts for billionaires.
Hopefully I'm wrong and everything works out well.
Hopefully I'm wrong and everything works out well.
System Fail
I think Chris Hayes is writing a book with that title, perhaps he should let John Cole write the introduction.
Obvious Solutions
I appreciate sternly worded letters as much as the next person, but they don't actually achieve anything.
Doing away with the anti-trust exemption might? Also, single payer.
Doing away with the anti-trust exemption might? Also, single payer.
Ignoring The Crazies
Because when all of us on the left were so crazy to think that going to war in Iraq might be a wee bit of a bad idea, and some of us marched around with a sign a couple of times, the media devoted most of what little coverage they gave of such protests to nutpicking, finding the lunatic.
Now we have a minor inconsequential movement of lunatics,* and they pretend not to notice.
*They're just the same nutty right wing we've always had, a bit more riled up due to who is in the White House and the current state of the economy. There's no actual organized movement to speak of.
Now we have a minor inconsequential movement of lunatics,* and they pretend not to notice.
*They're just the same nutty right wing we've always had, a bit more riled up due to who is in the White House and the current state of the economy. There's no actual organized movement to speak of.
1 in 8
I'm not surprised that 1 in 8 people receive food stamps. But no one should be surprised, and the reason anyone is surprised is that people who receive that and other government assistance are completely lacking from our media discourse. Nobody talks about them, ever.
Except the banksters, I guess. We talk about them, if not their government assistance.
Except the banksters, I guess. We talk about them, if not their government assistance.
Thursday Is New Jobless Day
And speaking of jobs, there are 440K new lucky duckies. That isn't awful, but it isn't good either.
Good Luck With That
I think 95k jobs per month is optimistic. But even if it happens... it's still a level of jobs growth which will cause increasing unemployment.
It isn't something to brag about, it's something to raise the alarm.
Oh well.
It isn't something to brag about, it's something to raise the alarm.
Oh well.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
More Thread
Some days don't have much to say. Power is still on, and roof has not collapsed, so all is good.
VMT
I really do not get the argument that you can't increase the gas tax but you can pair it with another exciting new tax which potentially is a serious invasion of privacy because people will connect the new tax to road use in a way they don't connect the gas tax.
Snowpocalypse
Major highways shut, most, but not all, bus routes canceled. Trains are still sort of running, and subways will run all night.
Fortunately the Vietnamese restaurant was open.
Fortunately the Vietnamese restaurant was open.
Better
But perpetuating the fantasy the the builders of Big Shitpile are operating according to the rules of the magic free market fairies is still a problem.
Afternoon Thread
Unless it is an emergency, we are not allowed on the roads in DE. PA is closing some highways.
And there are hints of another storm early next week. Oy.
And there are hints of another storm early next week. Oy.
No We Can't
The pace and scale of Chinese investment in a high speed rail network is impressive. Maybe not everyone shares my preference for SUPERTRAINS, but it's a reminder of how for the last couple of decades the official line out of elite Washington is that the government can't possibly spend any money on anything useful except wars.
Distinctions Without Differences
It's long been one of the rhetorical tricks Republicans excel at, in large part because most members of the media happily parrot them.
Department of Novel Ideas
"I just think you should have the right to control your own body."
- Mark L. Cole, Republican, Virginia House of Delegates. Washington Post, Feb. 10, 2010.
- Mark L. Cole, Republican, Virginia House of Delegates. Washington Post, Feb. 10, 2010.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Message: Focused On Jobs
It's the actual jobs that matter, not the trying to look like you're doing something on jobs.
Realities of Congress, blah blah blah, but occasionally it'd be nice if that charismatic guy in the White House would try to move public opinion.
Realities of Congress, blah blah blah, but occasionally it'd be nice if that charismatic guy in the White House would try to move public opinion.
My Local Transit Authority
It certainly wasn't crippled like DC Metro has been, though it wasn't without problems. At Saturday at 2pm everything but the subways (one of which is actually an El for much of its run) were shut down. They did run the subways all night, which was definitely to their credit. I believe by Sunday morning most everything was running on a mostly normal Sunday schedule, though plenty of buses were/are having route diversions due to snow issues. The regional rail system is having equipment failure issues, as snow getting into the motors causes them to shut down. Aside from the regional rail, El, and Norristown HSL, there are several overground trolley lines and all were back up running fairly quickly, at least with bus replacement service. I'm not even sure if the PATCO line to New Jersey ever shut down, but in any case it was up and running again fairly quickly if it did.
Deep Thought
All this time we've been worried about Iran's nuclear program, when we should have picked up on the fact that they had employed Mikkos Cassadine and have his weather control technology.
Also, Al Gore Is Fat
The stupid or evil/stupid or lying debate is always made a bit more complex when conservatives rush to embrace the stupidest arguments. It's so stupid that they can't possibly believe it, but it's also so stupid that it can't possibly convince anybody. Maybe this this kind of thing is just in the "pissing of liberals for sport" category.
Rahmbo
As I said, I don't have quite the Rahm hate that some do, but nor did I ever understand exactly what it was he brought to the table.
Snow
I actually have to leave the house and walk a block or so to meet my needs, but I am very fortunate in that most of the ill effects of snowstorms don't impact me. I work at home. I don't have a car to dig out. I don't need to drive anywhere. I have about 16 square feet of sidewalk to shovel.
Though this second storm will be interesting...
Though this second storm will be interesting...
Lending
For small businesses, the problem isn't lack of finance it's lack of demand.
So obviously the best course of action is run money through the middlemen in hopes they'll lend to people who don't need it.
So obviously the best course of action is run money through the middlemen in hopes they'll lend to people who don't need it.
Monday, February 08, 2010
Jobs
I doubt anything significant will get through Congress (even the best case proposals aren't significant either). While I'm obviously more pessimistic than some on the economy, this isn't just about my pessimism. If the administration's own estimates are correct, unemployment will stay above 9% until the end of next year.
Panic, Not Crash
The second commenter to this post puts a bit more succinctly what others have said since the crisis in the financial system really blew up. From the beginning it seemed that elite policymakers believed we had a liquidity crisis rather than an insolvency crisis, just a temporary lack of money sloshing around. Another way to put this, as the commenter does, is that they believe the problem was a panic.
Too much of what has been done has been about re-inflating the bubble, which you'd only do if you didn't believe there was a bubble in the first place.
Too much of what has been done has been about re-inflating the bubble, which you'd only do if you didn't believe there was a bubble in the first place.
Muddle
I thought this commercial was just a complete muddle. The green fascists are after you, so buy a green car, and avoid the fascists! There aren't actually any green fascists, so in reality what's your incentive for buying a green car? Who was that ad supposed to appeal to, environmentally-minded people who fear the nonexistent green fascists?
No We Can't
Though I know it, I'm always a bit surprised when I'm reminded how young the DC Metro system is.
We don't have much time to turn around our transportation funding priorities.
We don't have much time to turn around our transportation funding priorities.
VMT
It's enduring mystery to me why some politicians think that increasing the gas tax is political suicide but implementing an exciting new largely similar but mostly worse tax requiring either additional paperwork/accounting or expensive technology to enforce is a ducky idea.
A gas tax is superior to a VMT tax, it already exists, and it's very simple to nudge it up by a couple of pennies.
Maybe it's similar to the whole health care thing, where they're so convinced that everyone loves their existing insurance so much that they have to come up with some Rube Goldberg plan to preserve it while changing it. With the gas tax, they're so convinced it's impossible to increase it slightly that they think that implementing a New Exciting Tax is preferable.
A gas tax is superior to a VMT tax, it already exists, and it's very simple to nudge it up by a couple of pennies.
Maybe it's similar to the whole health care thing, where they're so convinced that everyone loves their existing insurance so much that they have to come up with some Rube Goldberg plan to preserve it while changing it. With the gas tax, they're so convinced it's impossible to increase it slightly that they think that implementing a New Exciting Tax is preferable.
Jumbo Prime
In case you didn't know it, the foreclosure crisis isn't even close to being over.
Nobody could have predicted, blah blah blah...
Nobody could have predicted, blah blah blah...
Inquisition
In my recent travels, I went to a museum of the Inquisition, formally the Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition, which included an exhibit on their "enhanced interrogation techniques." It of course contained exhibits on waterboarding and other barbaric practices which the fine people in our government have brought back for kicks and giggles.
Flippancy aside, when we did it, as when they did it, the point wasn't kicks and giggles... it was to get people to say whatever the torturers wanted them to say. It's a bit comical years later to imagine that that they felt they needed to torture the shit out of people to find some justification for the Iraq war. Telling them to "suck on this" was a good enough reason for our elite pundits then, and it was a good enough reason when the claimed reason for most of them - ZOMG BALSA DRONES OF DEATH - turned out not to be true.
Flippancy aside, when we did it, as when they did it, the point wasn't kicks and giggles... it was to get people to say whatever the torturers wanted them to say. It's a bit comical years later to imagine that that they felt they needed to torture the shit out of people to find some justification for the Iraq war. Telling them to "suck on this" was a good enough reason for our elite pundits then, and it was a good enough reason when the claimed reason for most of them - ZOMG BALSA DRONES OF DEATH - turned out not to be true.
Outrage
This is a fairly common thing. Conservatives often misconstrue (or misrepresent, the stupid or lying debate never goes away) derision with outrage.
Most of the time we're just laughing at you.
Most of the time we're just laughing at you.
Gambling Our Way To Prosperity
As I've said a million times, I don't care about legalized gambling or casinos, but I do care about stupid development. The Philadelphia casino model, yet to be built, is "if we build enough parking they will come," but the lesson from Pittsburgh is, as the lesson has been for decades, "there is always more parking in the suburbs."
The Mysogyny Bowl
I caught one of the commercials flipping channels. All I could think was, wtf? Fortunately, we have Echidne.
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Happy Hour Thread
Apparently there's some sort of sporting competition on this evening. If you are thinking of placing a bet, find out who Peter Beinart thinks will win, and bet on the other team. The "nicest helmet" system usually works too.
I grew up at a very weird time. I don't think there's any way I can explain to the youths today that when this came out, we thought it was pretty cool.
And by we I mean ALL OF AMERICA.
I grew up at a very weird time. I don't think there's any way I can explain to the youths today that when this came out, we thought it was pretty cool.
And by we I mean ALL OF AMERICA.
Deep Thought
Reporters complaining about newsroom cutbacks and blaming bloggers should consider the resources used to cover the Tea Party and the former governor who will never again hold elected office.
People Like Us
This chart provides the explanation for why the unemployment crisis does not get the policy response it requires.
Sunday Bobbleheads
Meet the Press has the guys who destroyed the world, Greenspan and Hank Paulson, a couple of has beens, Ed Gillespie and Dee Dee Myers, and counterterrorism dude John Brennan.
Face the Nation has NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. I do not know why.
This Week has Timmeh.
Document the atrocities!
Face the Nation has NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. I do not know why.
This Week has Timmeh.
Document the atrocities!
Quite Telling
that Kimberly Fletcher, of the Abigail Adams Project strongly recommends that when trying to convince people to vote for the Tea Party candidates, they not discuss specific issues. She says, keep it general, like Scott Brown did. Discuss smaller government, lower taxes or putting Americans to work. I guess if they discuss specific issues like health care reform or admitting they want to do away with Social Security, they lose.
Saturday, February 06, 2010
CRE Option ARMs
I've heard of short term financing (5 yearsish) with balloon payments at the end being a problem, as people expecting to just refinance at the end haven't been able to, but I didn't realize people were taking out interest-only CRE mortgages that were like Option ARMs, with the payment recasting after a set period of time (the letter writer seems to be confused about he terms of the mortgage, so it isn't completely clear).
Securitization
I don't have tremendously deep thoughts on it, but it's clear that the incentives were not aligned appropriately. The mortgage issuers had no incentive to do proper underwriting, the ratings agencies had no incentive to give proper ratings, and securities brokers had incentives to shovel shit onto their clients, and their clients didn't seem to know or care. Now that the crisis has hit, the servicers have an incentive to drag out any foreclosure process to get fees, and owners of the shitpile don't want to write down any loan balances because then we'll know how broke they are.
Whether all that is fixable I have no idea.
Whether all that is fixable I have no idea.
Underutilized Percussion Instruments
The metal beer-tray to the head is used to optimal effect here:
Friday, February 05, 2010
Could I Have The Money Now Please?
Republicans are so absurd.
Gov. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.) has changed his mind and is now requesting his state's share of a popular education grant authorized as part of last year's federal stimulus. Sanford originally declined the money.
Jobs
It's a pretty picture, and I do hope we are on the right path, but only losing 20 thousand jobs is still... losing 20 thousand jobs.
Please Stop Driving
I get that sometimes people have travel needs and sometimes the car is the only way to go, but last time we had a big snowfall here there were just an absurd number of people trying to drive on unplowed streets with 23 inches of snow. Fortunately there wasn't much ice involved, but people were getting stuck everywhere.
Another tip: if a friendly stranger with a shovel offers to dig your car out when you're stuck, please pay them if you accept their offer. They aren't doing it just to be nice.
Another tip: if a friendly stranger with a shovel offers to dig your car out when you're stuck, please pay them if you accept their offer. They aren't doing it just to be nice.
Until A Cop Looks At Them Funny
Conservative hatred of a civilized system of justice is based on their "othering" of criminals. The instant they feel the jack-booted thugs of the state of treated them or someone like them unfairly the squealing is deafening.
Rahm
I don't have as much Rahm hate as some, but I'm not sure I've ever seen him be right about, well, anything.
Plan B
I don't think there's a problem with the "momentum strategy," I think there's a problem with the apparent lack of Plan B.
As with the economy, someone should've said, ok, what if unemployment is 10% 8 months from now? What's the strategy for dealing with that?
Of course maybe I'm wrong and Larry Summers is right and prosperity will come by Spring...or in a Friedman Unit...
Also, girly brains don't work very well.
...adding, they should've realized they needed plan 'B' on health care once it started to drag out and the momentum was lost.
As with the economy, someone should've said, ok, what if unemployment is 10% 8 months from now? What's the strategy for dealing with that?
Of course maybe I'm wrong and Larry Summers is right and prosperity will come by Spring...or in a Friedman Unit...
Also, girly brains don't work very well.
...adding, they should've realized they needed plan 'B' on health care once it started to drag out and the momentum was lost.
Crap
-20K new jobs, but unemployment falls to 9.7%.
I'm not wishing for bad reality, but we could use a little jolt. I could be wrong and everything might really be turning around, or the data (the unemployment rate measurement) could just suck...
I'll have more on this once I look into the numbers a bit, or read other people who are looking into the numbers...
I'm not wishing for bad reality, but we could use a little jolt. I could be wrong and everything might really be turning around, or the data (the unemployment rate measurement) could just suck...
I'll have more on this once I look into the numbers a bit, or read other people who are looking into the numbers...
watertiger
Oh my!
And someone needs to point out to the sanctimonious D.C. remoras like John Boehner, once he’s done fellating the Wall Street fat cat donors for campaign cash, that gluttony is a sin.
I wonder what will happen to the Stock Market today? I'm guessing another down day.
And someone needs to point out to the sanctimonious D.C. remoras like John Boehner, once he’s done fellating the Wall Street fat cat donors for campaign cash, that gluttony is a sin.
I wonder what will happen to the Stock Market today? I'm guessing another down day.
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Happy Hour Thread
Go to your local and be happy!
My pal Barry from Washington texted me and told me he was gonna be on the intertubeteeve at 545.
My pal Barry from Washington texted me and told me he was gonna be on the intertubeteeve at 545.
Come Back, Johnny Mac
I appreciate that they're noticing, but how many what the fuck happened to John McCain articles will be written before it sinks in that he's a bitter asshole.
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