We have bad policy, encouraging criminal behavior and sending $30 billion or more into the hands of the moderately well-off, for the purpose of blowing some air back into the housing bubble. Yuck.

Now comes word that Israel has decided to ignore international calls for an independent, international investigation into the attack on the Gaza flotilla – and will instead investigate itself. Obama’s White House has said this is a great idea.

• Ah-ha! So that’s why we’re there.
• I have my doubts, but let’s hope so.
• No one could’ve predicted…
• The Tuesday POTUS speech — a preview.
• Pundit FAIL.
• Like a gift that keeps on giving.

The good old days when American corporations committed their crimes abroad, instead of selling them to foreign corporations to commit them here.

Shirley MacLaine — If My Friends Could See Me Now, from Sweet Charity.

Apparently, in the Federal penal system, wearing the wrong bra gets an attorney excluded from meeting with her client.

John Boehner isn’t quite sure if he’s flipping or flopping these days. After initially saying taxpayers should be on the hook for costs associated with BP’s mess, Boehner quickly walked it back, blaming the curious gaffe on a misunderstanding. Going a step further this morning on ABC, Boehner actually endorsed the idea of lifting the liability cap and holding BP fully accountable.

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Ayalon given free rein to spin on Fareed Zakaria’s show while Irish journalists blocked from reporting the real story in Gaza – and Gazan women come under Israeli fire when trying to harvest wheat.

Clark Hoyt has a really curious final column summarizing his three years as the NYT’s public editor. A lot of it is self-congratulation to the NYT for even having a public editor. But I’m most fascinated by Hoyt’s rebuttal of reader claims that NYT is a “liberal rag.”

The Administration tells the media and Sunday talk shows that President Obama will propose BP fund an independently administered “escrow account” to make sure BP pays all damage claims for which it should be held financially accountable. From the New York Times: President Obama for the first time will address the nation about the ongoing [...]