zed

so

Shorter McCain Barbie: Economics is hard.

Especially when you’re being tutored by free-market extremists.

My friends. It is not dogma to stick with the conservative mantra.

Scarecrow!

Good Morning Scarecrow

what in holy hell is Doug Holtz-Eakin doing anywhere near McIdiot ?!? the econ wonks,incl DeLong love this guy - lots of teeth gnashing when he left CBO

I’ve noticed the “so” recently… …but I have not a clue what it means.

As opposed to “zed”, which is so easily understood…

I’m not a Hillary fan but she nailed McCain pretty hard also. Drop the Barbie comment please.

Dick Cheney says “So?”

There it is, Twolf is on it like a duck on a june bug.

*quack*

Good morning. Another so so day. I’ve added links to the Clinton and Obama speeches. Have some coffee first.

Good Morning Scarecrow,
the economy ’s sinking and we’re to elect someone who can’t even swim?

Well that seals the deal for me. I stick with zed. If I’m gonna quote Cheney, you know the quote I’m choosin!

This was a reflection on McCain, not females.
See “Math class is tough.

I just finished reading Krugman’s piece this morning. I think he’s right on the substance of the three candidate’s economic positions as they now stand. It makes me a bit sad that, given her strong policies (Iraq always excepted), that Mrs. Clinton doesn’t have what it takes to lead people. She’s be a great chief-of-staff.

OT: PA Senator Bob Casey will endorse Obama. This is a bit of a surprise since he had said he would remain neutral.

Casey’s decision was also personal, motivated in part by the enthusiasm his four daughters - Elyse, Caroline, Julia and Marena - have expressed for Obama…

http://www.philly.com/philly/n....._tour.html

the kids at thinkprogress’ wonk room have put together a lovely tip sheet on McCain’s record of denying assistance to homeowners

Thanks for the reminder on Krugman. I’ll add a link.

I’ve added that link too. Thanks. This post is almost ready.

OT
kinda
Nouriel Roubini, New York University, Economics Professor coming up on CSPAN 1

The Coming Financial Pandemic

Isn’t it about time to start pounding on McCain’s involvement in the S&L bailout?

it didn’t seem to impede the Bushes

She’s be a great chief-of-staff.

Or maybe VP?

Whomever is the next pres, they will have to stop using these band aid approaches and finger in the dyke fixes.

Our economy is a fragile house of cards and we need some radical and deep structural changes. This is major surgery.

We have essentially moved out economy as a nation from an agrarian one, to an industrial one, to a post industrial, to a service one, to a financial services.

Capitalism creates wealth by exploiting labor (very simple) and now we don’t do that anymore because we don’t produce anything, but move paper, ideas and electrons around. This is harder to extract wealth from so it moved to the non reality based means of valuing “services” and trading these “intangibles”.

Wall street has so abstracted this practice that it essentially pure gambling, and hedging of bets related to unrelated activity.

What kind of economy is that? It’s the kind that can have 100s of trillions of “dollars” in play and nothing there.

That, my friends, is the problem we have in the world’s economies and especially the USA.

Per CBS news http://www.cbsnews.com/stories.....6596.shtml

The aerial bombardment is a sign of the difficulty Iraqi forces have had clearing the crucial oil city of armed militias that, until less than a week ago, ran Basra unchecked - most notably by radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army.

Maj. Tom Holloway, the spokesman based at the British military installation at Basra’s airport, said Friday that coalition aircraft had bombed sites twice overnight, “due to engagements on the ground.”

Also, U.S. forces seemed to be taking the lead in the fight in eastern Baghdad’s Shiite stronghold of Sadr City, reports the Washington Post. The newspaper reports that U.S. armored vehicles battled Mahdi Army fighters Thursday and that Iraqi army and police appeared to stay mostly to the outskirts of the area.

Is some one besides me questioning the mental capacity of the prez? It is about time.

Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) suggests to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that there is no cause for optimism towards the situation in Iraq, propagated by arrogance, with an ever-growing cost in lives and money, despite a recent speech by President Bush.

“I think this is another episode of ‘Alice in Wonderland,’” the Senator says. “What’s up is down, and what’s down is up. What do you mean, ’stability and security?’ Baghdad, for example, has been over the last year essentially ethnically divided.”

“And,” Hagel adds, “when you look at the casualties the United States has taken since since the so-called ‘military surge,’ over 900 deaths; you look at almost 30,000 wounded, and the money we’ve put in there.

And then, the other point of this is, too: If, in fact, the ’surge’ has calmed things to a point where the President and others are saying ‘Well, they’ve done a great service, and they’ve achieved some terrific things,’ why, then, is the administration talking about keeping more American troops in Iraq for the remainder of this year than we had before the ’surge’?”

“This,” the Senator continues, “is still a very unstable, serious, dangerous situation in Iraq.”

Also, Senator Hagel says

“this isn’t a win or lose, the Iraqi people will have to decide”

. He says

“this is so serious for the future of our country and for the world, that we get this right over the next four years because of the terrible blunder we’ve made over the past few years”.

video here from CNN.
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/....._0327.html

The US incursion into Sadr City is ominous. It means there are going to be lots of civilian casualties, in addition to the fighting between US troops and militia.

McClatchy has more. Their reports suggests civil war is spreading in many cities.

I saw part of Obama’s speech at the gym yesterday. What a pleasure it is to watch the Dems speak, well thought out paragraphs. Then I heard a part of McCain’s speech on the economy. He was reading it, and clearly didn’t know the material well enough to figure out where to pause or breathe without messing up the flow of his speech-writer’s words. Holtz-Eakin and McCain’s other writers need to realize that if the speech doesn’t include the word “bomb”, McCain will flub it.

I’ve been wondering if we’re not seeing McCain being protected by handlers. In Iraq, he had to have Lieberman and Graham with him. Yesterday, it was his economic advisers; and now he’s bringing Mitt Romney with him to talk to business groups.

I should also add that Senator Hagel has not endorsed McCain.

McClatchy has more. Their reports suggests civil war is spreading in many cities.

Last throes be damned.

I’ve been wondering if we’re not seeing McCain being protected by handlers. In Iraq, he had to have Lieberman and Graham with him. Yesterday, it was his economic advisers; and now he’s bringing Mitt Romney with him to talk to business groups.

Hadn’t thought of that, but I think you are on to something.

He clearly can’t be trusted in front of live cameras by himself.

I’ve been wondering if we’re not seeing McCain being protected by handlers. In Iraq, he had to have Lieberman and Graham with him. Yesterday, it was his economic advisers; and now he’s bringing Mitt Romney with him to talk to business groups.

Been wondering that for some time myself. It was pretty obvious that Lieberman and Graham were his minders on the Iraq trip.

I’m thinking that McCain’s campaign handlers know that he has a serious problem with speaking. If he continues to have surrogates speak for him, I think it will hurt him and Dems can capitalize on his inability to speak for himself.

I’ve been wondering if we’re not seeing McCain being protected by handlers.

That sure doesn’t sound like leadership to me.
He’s not the American President the American people are waiting for.

Last throes be damned.

It’s just birth pangs.

At this point it seems pretty obvious…

Anyone remember the GOP debate where the McCain team offered to keep him to his time by reminding him via his handy earpiece?

What Dem could have gotten away with that?

none

What a pleasure it is to watch the Dems speak, well thought out paragraphs. Then I heard a part of McCain’s speech on the economy. He was reading it, and clearly didn’t know the material well enough to figure out where to pause or breathe without messing up the flow of his speech-writer’s words.

It has become increasingly clear (to me anyway) that people who vote Republican are voting more for a concept — you know, ‘I got mine, screw you’– than a person.

Competence is waaay down the list of requirements.

The last 8 years serve as a case in point.

So Bush tells us that the Iraq Army and Maliki Govt are taking the lead against Sadr, which shows the surge succeeded. The facts on the ground are a little different:

BAGHDAD, March 28 — U.S. forces in armored vehicles battled Mahdi Army fighters Thursday in Sadr City, the vast Shiite stronghold in eastern Baghdad, as an offensive to quell party-backed militias entered its third day. Iraqi army and police units appeared to be largely holding to the outskirts of the area as American troops took the lead in the fighting.

This is like Israel using US forces to invade Gaza.

He’s not the American President the American people are waiting for.

He does, however, have many of the qualities of a great puppet. Permanent Vice President Cheney is reconsidering him, although Jeb remains the front runner.

It must be hard for Hagel to see his old friend ‘McCrazy the McIdiot’ seem to fall completely off the deep end with a noose around his neck…even Hagel has a soft spot for the truth on this ONE issue, illeagal occupation of Iraq.

here is Gilliard’s take

Fantasy

still numbah one in the ‘hood g

Just more evidence that Bush has no clue. But then, when did Bush ever let the facts get in the way of his statements?

I think it will hurt him and Dems can capitalize on his inability to speak for himself.

Maybe he can get that under-the-jacket communications device that Pres. McFlightsuit used in one of the debates.

It has become increasingly clear (to me anyway) that people who vote Republican are voting more for a concept — you know, ‘I got mine, screw you’– than a person.

If you want to vote for the benefit of yourself vote republican if you want to vote for the benefit of your neighbour vote Democratic. That has been my philosophy.

Bobo thinks this speech ranks among the greatest given in this cycle, by anyone. Hmmmm. I think Bobos a liar.

he’s launching a new ad

I think Bobo has a different set of standards in regards to “greatness”

How big are the crowds of people going to see the 3 candiates? I think this is important. I have been wondering if Rush asking, on air, for the GOP’s to vote for Clinton is just to cover up how many voters they have lost. It gives the illusion the GOP has more voters backing their party. The reality is the extremly low turn out for GOP at Primaries and that should be the news but they have found a way to cover that up.
A couple near me are strong GOPer’s mostly because of the NRA stance, I recently found out they want Obama or Clint to win, they don’t care which, they just want change and that means a Dem.

From McCain’s financial speech, via his campaign website:

In financial institutions, there is no substitute for adequate capital to serve as a buffer against losses. Our financial market approach should include encouraging increased capital in financial institutions by removing regulatory, accounting and tax impediments to raising capital.

I wonder if Straight Talk John has even listened to some straight talk.

Is he seriously trying to say that GOVT REGULATION cause the housing bubble, or caused it to burst? It he seriously trying to say that Sarbanes-Oxley and its counterpart regulations kept institutions from raising capital?

McCain may have the GOP nomination locked up, but he doesn’t have the GOP movers and shakers behind him yet — and he’s trying like made to make that happen. This speech is aimed at winning over the extreme CorporateCon vote, and (even more importantly) prying loose some of their money.

Raising capital outside of government regulation appears to be John’s new campaign mantra — for business and for himself.

or, to give bobo the benefit of the doubt, an idiot.

It must be hard for Hagel to see his old friend ‘McCrazy the McIdiot’ seem to fall completely off the deep end

Hagel is truly becoming more and more a US Senator. I think being a Republican Senator required buying into too much bullshit to bear.

If you want to vote for the benefit of yourself vote republican if you want to vote for the benefit of your neighbour and yourself vote Democratic. That has been my philosophy.

Made a small addition to your well thought out philosophy.

Here’s another disturbing aspect from the WaPo article:

Maliki decided to launch the offensive without consulting his U.S. allies, according to administration officials. With little U.S. presence in the south, and British forces in Basra confined to an air base outside the city, one administration official said that “we can’t quite decipher” what is going on. It’s a question, he said, of “who’s got the best conspiracy” theory about why Maliki decided to act now. . . .

Some officials have concluded that Maliki himself is firing “the first salvo in upcoming elections,” the administration official said.

So the sequence is: Cheney goes to Baghdad, tells the Iraq govt he needs them to approve the local elections law. That forces Maliki’s hand; he knows he has to diminish Sadr and gain control in key areas before elections take place. So he starts an offensive against Sadr’s forces, who respond by lobbing rockets/mortars on the Green Zone and resisting in Basra and elsewhere. Civil war breaks out between rival Shia groups, and the US is taking sides in a pre-election fight. And his makes sense because . . .?

Made a small addition to your well thought out philosophy.

Ta very much

At one point in the ad, the 71-year-old stands behind a podium at a campaign rally, saying: “Keep that faith. Keep your courage. Stick together. Stay strong. Do not yield. Stand up. We’re Americans. And we’ll never surrender.”

And who says all he can do is spout talking points! It is so heartwarming to see McCain going into General Election mode while we Dems continue to flog each other….

“It was his economic advisers who came out to respond, and they weren’t citing Alan Greenspan, but Barack Obama.”

McCain is stealing from Barack Obama? A GOP presidential Candidate from the Probusiness Party is stealing from a Dem…and your going to make us wait until the next post to discuss this!

McCain is always at war, in battle.

And his makes sense because…

Because control of Iraq’s oil is the base of ME adventures at the moment…now on to Iran.

Yeah! Let’s continue the pie fights, for the good of the republican party.

Actually, the adviser was suggesting Obama was stealing his economic ideas from [oops] McCain.

And no, you don’t have to wait.

And who says all he can do is spout talking points! It is so heartwarming to see McCain going into General Election mode while we Dems continue to flog each other….

This has become more and more worrying to me as we see our “candidates” whacking each other about sex and race while McFuckNuts can get on all the airhead shows and speak in grandiose terms about what he will do and how he would deal with matters of world wide concern. Makes us sound like petty children while the adult (all be it that he is a demented 280 yr old adult) goes on about business. Bad bad bad.

At one point in the ad, the 71-year-old stands behind a podium at a campaign rally, saying: “Keep that faith. Keep your courage. Stick together. Stay strong. Do not yield. Stand up. We’re Americans. And we’ll never surrender.”

“And don’t forget about the tax cuts!”

Just what we need — more head in the sand, false patriotic republican bullshit.

Bobo thinks this speech ranks among the greatest given in this cycle, by anyone. Hmmmm. I think Bobos a liar.

you mean McCain’s speech?!

He then repeated standard Republican dogma by excusing the Fed’s massive bailout of Wall Street investment bankers while offering nothing to its Mainstreet victims.

The problem was a few bad actors

What those few bad actors are all the biggest banks in America without them where will Pension funds invest. Where will HedgeFunds and Corporate Raiders get the money for taking over companies, even the Mob’s loansharks have better controls about lending to deadbeats.

Sorry my mistake.

Re Hillary as Obama’s VP: A veepage a trois, because sure as the creator made little red persimmons, Bill becomes part of the package.

McCain is always at war, in battle.

Sorta like that old general was in “Soap”, who ran around yelling “Incoming!”

(For those of you who go back that far!)

(Are persimmons red? Meant pomegranates. Thus dieth another splendid metaphor.)

A veepage a trois

In deed true. Maybe it is best to keep him as roving ambassador to bush1.

ere’s how it worked: The Grinning Family, with US average household income, gets a $200,000 mortgage at 4% for two years. Their $955 monthly payment is 25% of their income. No problem. Their banker promises them a new mortgage, again at the cheap rate, in two years. But in two years, the promise ain’t worth a can of spam and the Grinnings are told to scram - because their house is now worth less than the mortgage. Now, the mortgage hits 9% or $1,609 plus fees to recover the “discount” they had for two years. Suddenly, payments equal 42% to 50% of pre-tax income. The Grinnings move into their Toyota.

Now, what kind of American is ‘sub-prime.’ Guess. No peeking. Here’s a hint: 73% of HIGH INCOME Black and Hispanic borrowers were given sub-prime loans versus 17% of similar-income Whites. Dark-skinned borrowers aren’t stupid – they had no choice. They were ‘steered’ as it’s called in the mortgage sharking business.

http://www.gregpalast.com/elli.....ts-nailed/

. “It is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly, whether they are big banks or small borrowers,” McCain declared, giving only scant attention to “deserving” homeowners while using the same tone he uses when promising never to surrender in Iraq.

Bill becomes part of the package.

Which is why I highly doubt this will happen.

Why would Sen. Obama want his presidency overshadowed by the Hillary and Bill show?

Which it undoubtedly would be.

Would the Supreme Court suffice for Bill? An end-of-lifetime in the presence of Alito and Thomas ought to keep him occupied.

agreed

I just have to vent but Bill Clinton is now talking about how McCain is a moderate. ARGGG!

Scarecrow:

Did you make a note of this ludicrous statement in the article?

The economy has not been an easy topic for any of the candidates. None of them has business experience, and all three are more comfortable talking about their well-established views on the Iraq war …

Business experience. Like Bush.

An end-of-lifetime in the presence of Alito and Thomas ought to keep him occupied.

LOL! The mind reels

It makes sense because we want Iraq unstable if a Shia minority were to rule a hostile Shia majority they would have no choice but to seek help fron Sunni and Kurd.
Sunni and Kurd would be smart however not to mess with the majority when Iran is next door giving weapons and training for free.
So either Bush thinks Sunni and Kurd are fools or he is running another bluff until he can get out of office.
At which time he will blame a Dem for losing Iraq.

Just a couple of days before this the McCain’s and Bushies were talking up how the surge worked. Maybe Maliki doesn’t want McCain’t on his back for four/100 years. So the question is, if Iraq stays in chaos till fall, maybe he thinks that’s hurting McCain. Could that be?

And persuading Kennedy (until he’s out of the picture) to vote w/him instead of tagging along after Roberts.
Actually, I like the sound of that.

Fwiw, Bill Clinton would make an excellent Secty of state. he gets along with almost all the world leaders and would be able to help Obama in his weakest area. It would also keep Bill out of the country a lot. :-)

Hillary, were I Obama, I would want in the Senate. He’s got BIG plans and he’s going to need somebody like her in a key position to help push it through.

Boxturtle (but I would have great concerns about working with either, given the tone of the campaign)

Two things:

1. Running a business doesn’t make you an expert on macroeconomics or financial regulation (someone should tell Mitt Romney).

2. If you run a business into the ground, you’re not an expert on anything (your point).

. “It is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly, whether they are big banks or small borrowers,” McCain declared, giving only scant attention to “deserving” homeowners while using the same tone he uses when promising never to surrender in Iraq.

Maybe we can should stop this Fed lending program to any bank that forced qualified dark people into subprime loans if they wanted to by a home.
African American and Spanish radio should be covered with ads like this!
I still can’t believe the *cough* Uniter is dividing the country by trying to blame this mess on Dark People. When its his base the economic elite who have fallen for a ponzi scheme of their own making and now we tax payers are paying to bailout bankers.
What was that thing Reagen said about Chicago welfare queens driving Caddy’s and buying steaks.
We need a picture of the Chairmen of Bear Stearns going to a welfare office and getting a check.

We need a picture of the Chairmen of Bear Stearns going to a welfare office and getting a check.

You’re more likely to get a picture of the Chairmen of Bear Stearns going to a pool bar and getting a mimosa.

Oh shoot, now you’re quoting Condi!

Seems like Basra already was in something like chaos. Rival gangs, behaving like rival gangs, fighting for control, while most citizens just try to stay alive. I don’t see how the chaos helps any Iraqis.

Ohh, what a thought. Just imagine, some one who could rattle them red Supremies. I like that! Actually, I love that!

We need a photo of James Cayne posing with a six-foot wide replica of his $61.3 million check a la a lottery winner. Can you say “on the backs of . . .”?

We need a picture of the Chairmen of Bear Stearns going to a welfare office and getting a check.

I think the Chairman of Bear Stearns was busy encouraging a higher price for the sale, at which time he sold his stock.

Insider trading, anyone? I want a piece of that shareholder lawsuit.

Supreme Court red supremacists. Yes indeedy.

Would the Supreme Court suffice for Bill? An end-of-lifetime in the presence of Alito and Thomas ought to keep him occupied.

Seems like sweet justice to me.

Clinton on the Supreme Court? Can you imagine the conversations Bill would have with Clarence Thomas?

Yes he would make a good Sec of State, for 4 or 8 (critical) years but SCJ is life time.

But Clarence Thomas only speaks in writing. He’s a listenin’ kinda guy.

Quick! where does Suz keep the brain bleach?

Clinton on the Supreme Court? Can you imagine the conversations Bill would have with Clarence Thomas?

Can you imagine the conversations Bill would have with the GOP members of the Senate Judiciary committee? It would make Anita Hill’s and Clarence Thomas’ appearances look tame.

I’ll pass on that one, thanks.

From McCain’s financial speech, via his campaign website:

In financial institutions, there is no substitute for adequate capital to serve as a buffer against losses. Our financial market approach should include encouraging increased capital in financial institutions by removing regulatory, accounting and tax impediments to raising capital.

I wonder if Straight Talk John has even listened to some straight talk.

“Removing regulatory, accounting and tax impediments to raising capital” did McCrazy just say that Bush didn’t go far enough, did he just say that 30 to 1 leverage on every dollar held is not enough?
McCrazy does know that nobody trusting our bank loans is why there is no liquidity in the system ( American banks won’t loan to each other because they don’t trust each other.)
Trust is built on a level playing field where everyone knows the rules and nobody is special/the teachers pet/can expect to be bailed out by the tax payers.
We need rules and regulations to keep the playground safe we need rules and regs to keep the play nice has McCain never seen what happens to a playground when somebody is accused of cheating at a game?
Lots of bankers will be running to their big government Mommies if that rumor starts floating the playground.

There has to be a computer way to take his head and place it on an actors.

Dang we need to write commericals for the Democrats!

Yeah how do we join in? Or as tax payers are we already plantiffs?

Sounds like the problem with Sadr’s group is civil infighting/war not terriorism. How much can we do about that?

and as Paul Harvey might say
Page Two

I put a new post up. See you upstairs.

Yes, I can hear him say, that’s old news every one already knows about, get over it.

Hah! Beat ‘em to it!

How much can we do about that?

this is not spontaneous Shia combustion - we ordered this

we made a deal with an Iranian agent and pretty much demanded al-Maliki do it - now