One author finds "The Dream" needs to be expanded for all it is, not elevated for what it was. (at the risk of oversimplifying)
Monday, January 21, 2008
iNfoRmaTION age of AnXiety: The Atlantic Parts Waters
In a rare case of the information age actually leading (at least temporarily) toward democratisation of information, The Atlantic will share the written word history of the nation with "da Peeples".
Enjoy it while it lasts!
AS Passing Strange on "The Simpsons"
Readers may have noticed that I have found myself slipping. I no longer refer to Clinton's candidacy. I refer to the Clintons' candidacy. This was always the case, of course. They have been professionally joined at the hip for their entire careers. Their marriage, among other things, is a power-move - for them both -ASSlipping or preaching? Seriously, what Presidency hasn't had a "power couple", excepting Truman?
Isn't Laura Bush the perfect political wife, in some respects. She never says anything controversial and she loves to have ... barbecue. She's a serious part of Bush's "power", because of it. Nancy Reagan wasn't seriously interested in Ronald, even more fiercely than Ronnny himself? She even had a chief-of-staff dismissed, reportedly. Didn't Barbara Bush help her husband, too, providing all kinds of context about his family life and testimony? (Wilson's wife even ran the government, didn't she. Abagail Adams?)
Just because Hillary is out there taking a public stance, doesn't mean that the Clinton's are more or less one political unit.
True, it may seem "unfair" that Bill is out there stirring the waters, because of his unique position to do so; but let's not turn it into some weird notion of "dynasty". For pity's sake, I don't think AS has written one word about the Romney family dynasty.
At least now we know what this race is about: Obama versus the Clintons. Both of them. Their dynasty. Their power. Their methods. Their character.
What politician doesn't want to be re-elected? C'mon.
I'm not sure, if I were Bill, I wouldn't have done the same as he did. Seeing that his effectiveness was going to be hobbled by the Republicans and by many in his own party willing to vote Republican-lite, I would have looked around and said, "Look at this situation. Who better could run it? If not me, than who? I may as well do what I need to do."
That seems a far more logical position that what some suppose could have happened, which is taking a bunch of "principled" stands and "flaming out", so to speak.
When you cannot "win", you triangulate, most often, blocking and tackling. Show me that it is different, and I'll change my mind.
Debate Overshadowed by Market's Plunge
HAS THE GOP PUT OUR BEST DAYS BEHIND US?
Equity markets fell hard today. Foreign investors probably didn't like the market's lackluster Friday in New York (even though it was an expiration day, which usually compounds things).
No doubt the launch of a HUGE tax-cut-and-spend competition among the GOP hopefuls, lead by Rudy Giuliani, didn't bolster confidence, following seven years in which the USA has failed to pay all its bills, even once.
With little other news on the day, markets are moving on fear.
Finally, we are going to see bargains so good that it's hard to resist.
What? You don't have any cash to buy the bargains? Yeah, I was a little heavy going into this downdraft too ... Join the club.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Richardson Gives Nevada to Clinton
... so what did he get in return for his pullout?
I mean, everyone got to vote 'cheap identity politics' in Nevada, except Hispanics, who got denied their chance.
Meanwhile, Hillary (to me) is showing a few signs of forgetting the five days of humility in NH. Compare her speech tonight with McCain's, line for line. Once off the campaign trail, she could get "lost" in Washington, right?
We have the best choices in a long time; but, still, none are perfect or, more precisely, complete enough to be ... anxiety reducing, frankly.
Romney "Sweeps" Nevada and Wyoming
Nevada Bluebird of HappinessHe didn't even have to pull out his varmint gun to make his bona fides.
What does it mean if you throw an early primary and only one contestant shows up?
Tell you what. Just not enough nuts in that pine cone, that's all.
Thompson Wins in South Carolina
I know, lots figure that McCain won.
Really, though, Huckabee lost; and it was because of Fred's strategy.
Chris Matthews was balanced, and it was Hannity that looked like he just got his "Dear John" letter tonight (no pun intended).
(note: I didn't really watch much. We went to see Atonement, because of the raves. Eh. Total chick flick. It's like one of the French films in which the moral of the story is that there is no moral to the story.).
FLORIDA
I wish Rudy could win in Florida (I don't think he will, despite his willingness to pledge U.S. taxdollars in hurricane proportions in order to lock up support). That way, all the GOP candidates will have a slice of the pie, going into fat Tuesday. We can then be treated to a shrill and laughable escalation of just how much they can out-do Ronald Reagan.
"TITANIC STRUGGLE"
By the way, McCains introduction of "titanic struggle" continues to catch my eye. He does know that the titanic ... didn't win it's struggle, right? You never know with those non-Navy guys ...
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Hucka-Heretic Gives His "One Nation" Speech
Robert Stein, inimitably:
Half a century ago, after the Supreme Court desegregation decision, an Arkansas governor named Orval Faubus stood in the doorway of Central High School in Little Rock with National Guard members to keep African American teenagers out. Now Mike Huckabee is doing a Faubus impersonation in South Carolina.
In doing a Faubus to court what remains of the redneck vote, Huckabee might want to recall what happened to his predecessor.
“You don’t like people from outside the state coming in and telling you what to do with your flag,” the former Arkansas governor told a crowd in Myrtle Beach yesterday. “In fact, if somebody came to Arkansas and told us what to do with our flag, we’d tell them what to do with the pole, that’s what we’d do.”
In doing a Faubus to court what remains of the redneck vote, Huckabee might want to recall what happened to his predecessor.
"Targeted, Timely, Temporary" - Why Larry Summers Is Wrong
AFTER "VETOING" THE ECONOMY INTO WEAKNESS, GOP NOW READY TO SPEND
If you want "Republican-lite", it appears you need to talk to Larry Summers, these days. If you want a new direction, think outside his box.
Consider this: providing health insurance benefits to kids is about a $32-$40 billion dollar effort, over five years.
A targeted, relief program like the one that Bush vetoed, could provide direct relief over 15 years to those who could use it, at the levels of "stimulus" that the President is proposing ($150B) for one year to prevent a total wipe-out for the GOP this year in November.
I pick on Larry, because the recent tomb from Brookings, that is getting parroted all over by Party Officials, bears his namesake (by inclusion, not authorship). Also, he's written about the glory of tax cuts, recently.A targeted, relief program like the one that Bush vetoed, could provide direct relief over 15 years to those who could use it, at the levels of "stimulus" that the President is proposing ($150B) for one year to prevent a total wipe-out for the GOP this year in November.
In turn, then:
On "Timely": This is all just written by academics.
In the real world, markets are forward looking. Next-period activity matters just as much, if not more, than current period activity. Thus, in terms of managing doom-and-gloom, which is the confidence spiral that policy response arguably is best suited to finagling because of its deep pockets, large spending projects "just around the corner" are arguably just fine. Schools, airports, bridges - why not?
Confidence is key. Giving out depreciation tax breaks doesn't imply that businesses will hire people. So what if you can write off all your equipment purchases? Without the sense that the business is going to grow in the next period, why hire people with the "saved" money?
On "Targeted": If there is an energy price "shock" to the economy, no amount of "targeting" is going to fix it, unless it also fixes the shock, so let's not pretend that we can target something that cannot be. That includes monetary policy. We can help with the adjustment costs, and that is all, which includes unemployment relief, mostly, as those thrown out of work are forced to regroup. Give judges the temporary ("emergency") authority to reschedule mortgage debts - who better to review evidence and to decide. on a case-by-case basis, whether loans given were quasi-predatory or not?
The idea that general income tax cuts are obviously warranted is just short of bizarre.
True or false: Republicans stonewall, Democrats roll over. After having lost his AMT battle, for now, Rangle rolls for Republican-lite stimulus, including breaks for business.On "Temporary": This advice is "targeted" to the Republicans, who passed out a structural solution, last go round, to a cyclical problem. In terms of reigning in GOP politicians, then, "temporary" is much needed (and a smooth bit of do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do when it comes from their mouths). They certainly haven't "paid back" the debt at the top of the cycle, either from their last stimulus plan or from their tax-cut-and-spend routine.
In terms of keeping confidence, "temporary" is wrong. "Renewable" is probably better.
On that score, Americans can express their values and priorities in deciding how spending might occur. $150 billion dollars goes a long way. Any finite project would be pretty good, as long as their is a mix with direct relief dollars, too. (It certainly would fund ALL of Senator Obama's green energy projects, right, for the next 10 years?)
Size is important too. Consider this: providing health insurance benefits to kids is about a $32-$40 billion dollar effort, over five years.
A targeted, relief program like the one that Bush vetoed, could provide direct relief over 15 years to those who could use it, at the levels of "stimulus" that the President is proposing ($150B) for one year to prevent a total wipe-out for the GOP this year in November.
Friday, January 18, 2008
A Visionary by Any Name
Cass Sunstein finds a way to make pragmatism sound visionary.
I don't trust process revolutionaries. Sorry.
Does Obama really think he can govern from the middle alone? Who knows? He seems to talk less about his policies, that AS swears he has, than about other stuff.
MLK's "vision" was deeply rooted in purpose, not process. Ronald Reagan, with his one-note philosophy, governed by singing songs from the Right and "sirened" the Blue Doggies (he certainly didn't pray for them - he just made jokes about them).
In a letter to Daily Kos, discussing the appropriate tone to be taken by public officials, Obama wrote, "Americans are suspicious of labels and suspicious of jargon. ... They don't think that corporations are inherently evil."
That bit on corporations, is that a transformative vision or just reading the American mind? I don't think corporations are "evil", but neither do I think they always have the public interest at heart, do you? What's more, does that kind of comment suggest ethos-accepting "vision" or ethos-changing "vision"? Does Obama have trouble moving from descriptive to prescriptive, except through some mediation with GOPers?
VOTING UNDER UNCERTAINTY - MINIMIZE REGRET STRATEGY
So, for the Obama enthusiasts willing to make the case, what does the record show that Obama does when he is attacked from the left? Does he end up endorsing John McCain, so to speak? Or, does he just get wiley, like Bill did, from time-to-time?
Above all, how could it turn out that Cass is wrong? [Following the minimize regret strategy for voting in quasi democracies, like America ...]What if we wake up three years from now to find that we've given the keys to the Democratic party to a "minimalist" Joe Lieberman? Perhaps that is unfair, but I really don't know Obama's voting record, do you? Some who have scored it suggest that his "minimalism", with notable exceptions, has generated a patchwork that is only mildly progressive.
So, for the Obama enthusiasts willing to make the case, what does the record show that Obama does when he is attacked from the left? Does he end up endorsing John McCain, so to speak? Or, does he just get wiley, like Bill?
The Bible Will Elect Me and It Will Govern You
Eventually, the complacent Republicans will realize the tiger they are riding[Christianists for reconstructionism].
Really? I think they have, already, but it's turning out they are powerless to thwart the powershift in their own party.
Just as a sober reminder, in my history book, the Taliban won. I'm not sure why the American Taliban would not, in their own way.
Verdict:: Cut Tax and Spend Away!
MIMIC THE REPUBLICANS
After seven years of bogus cut-tax and spend policy, a fault that has given the Democratic Party the first clear advantage in at least two generations on fiscal discipline, the GOP leader wants the Democrats to follow him in to more of the same.
Anything more comic?
Yeah.
There are economists (like Larry Summers?) who want to go along, showing about as much strategic political savvy as a donkey. And the Democratic leadership will probably do it.
Forget "income tax cuts for everyone!", for pity's sake.
If you want to "pay" for stimulus in the current period - what is that, anyway, neo-neo-neo-Keynesianism? - find a few billions in the farm bill to pull back on in 2008. Wheat prices are sky high and farmers don't need breaks now, even moreso since most of the breaks end up in the pockets of major company-farms, anyway.
I probably can come up with some more, just as easily as you.
Meanwhile, it appears that both parties have to consult with their lobbyists before getting down to the nitty-gritty details of how its going to go down.
Structural Changes for Cyclical Problems
Can't wait to hear if the Bush "package" is the same as the last one, in which the Nation was forced by the GOP to trade structural changes to the tax code (breaks for the wealthy) in order to get something like an unemployment compensation extension(s)...
Ongoing Surge
Petreaus launched a handful of operations in the past six to eight weeks, with the time that many believe he has remaining.
Operation Phantom Pheonix, covered here a bit.
Weekly Casualty Lists: Week 3, Year A+7
This week, Afghan forces were ambushed when 200 militants [!] stormed a border fort, with 25 feared dead. AP recently reported a figure of 925 Afghan police killed in 2007.
WEEKLY CASUALTY LIST: MNF-IRAQ
| ------- | Name, Age | Srv Branch | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank, Unit | |||
| Location; Circumstance of Death | |||
| Danny L. Kimme, 27 | U.S. Army | Fisher, IL | |
| Private 1st Class, 1st Squadron, 32nd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, (Air Assault) 101st Airborne Division | |||
| Balad; 16-Jan-08; Hostile - hostile fire - small arms fire, grenade | |||
| David H. Sharrett Ii, 27 | U.S. Army | Oakton, VA | |
| Private 1st Class, 1st Squadron, 32nd Cavalry Reg, 1st Brigade Combat Team, (Air Assault) 101st Airborne Division | |||
| Balad; 16-Jan-08; Hostile - hostile fire - small arms fire, grenade | |||
| John P. Sigsbee, 21 | U.S. Army | Waterville, NY | |
| Specialist, 1st Squadron, 32nd Cavalry Reg, 1st Brigade Combat Team, (Air Assault) 101st Airborne Division | |||
| Balad (died in Pallouata); 16-Jan-08; Hostile - hostile fire - small arms fire, grenade | |||
| Keith E. Lloyd, 26 | U.S. Army | Milwaukee, WI | |
| Private 1st Class, 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment | |||
| Tall Afar; 12-Jan-08; Hostile - hostile fire - IED | |||
| Curtis A. Christensen Jr., 29 | U.S. Marine | Collingswood, NJ | |
| Lance Corporal, 2nd BN, 8th Marine Reg, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force | |||
| Al Anbar Province; 11-Jan-08; Non-hostile | |||
| Todd E. Davis, 22 | U.S. Army | Raymore, MO | |
| Specialist, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Reg, 1st Armored Division | |||
| Sinsil; 09-Jan-08; Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack (house borne) | |||
| Sean M. Gaul, 29 | U.S. Army | Reno, NV | |
| Staff Sergeant, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Reg, 1st Armored Division | |||
| Sinsil; 09-Jan-08; Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack (house borne) | |||
| Christopher A. Sanders, 22 | U.S. Army | Roswell, NM | |
| Sergeant, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Reg, 1st Armored Division | |||
| Sinsil; 09-Jan-08; Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack (house borne) | |||
| Matthew I. Pionk, 30 | U.S. Army | Superior, WI | |
| Sergeant 1st Class, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Reg, 1st Armored Division | |||
| Sinsil; 09-Jan-08; Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack (house borne) | |||
| Jonathan Kilian Dozier, 30 | U.S. Army | Rutherford, TN | |
| Staff Sergeant, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Reg, 1st Armored Division | |||
| Sinsil; 09-Jan-08; Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack (house borne) | |||
| Zachary W. Mcbride, 20 | U.S. Army | Bend, OR | |
| Sergeant, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Reg, 1st Armored Division | |||
| Sinsil; 09-Jan-08; Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack (house borne) | |||
| David J. Hart, 22 | U.S. Army | Lake View Terrace, CA | |
| Sergeant, 2nd BN, 327th Infantry Reg, 1st Brigade Combat Team, (Air Assault) 101st Airborne Division | |||
| Samarra (died in Balad); 09-Jan-08; Hostile - hostile fire - small arms fire | |||
| Ivan E. Merlo, 19 | U.S. Army | San Marcos, CA | |
| Private 1st Class, 2nd BN, 327th Infantry Reg, 1st Brigade Combat Team, (Air Assault) 101st Airborne Division | |||
| Samarra; 09-Jan-08; Hostile - hostile fire - small arms fire | |||
| Phillip J. Pannier, 20 | U.S. Army | Washburn, IL | |
| Private 1st Class, 2nd BN, 327th Infantry Reg, 1st Brigade Combat Team, (Air Assault) 101st Airborne Division | |||
| Samarra; 09-Jan-08; Hostile - hostile fire - small arms fire | |||
WEEKLY CASUALTY LIST: ISAF-AFGHANISTAN
| ------ | Name, Age | Srv Branch | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank, Unit | |||
| Location; Circumstance of Death | |||
 | Richard Renaud, 26 | Canadian Army | Alma-Canada |
| Trooper, 12th Regiment of Blinde du Canada | |||
| Arghandab district (10 kilometres north of Kandahar city); 15-Jan-08; Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack | |||
 | Aldert Poortema, 22 | Royal Dutch Army | n.a.-Netherlands |
| Corporal, 44th Armouredinfantry Batallion | |||
| Deh Rawod - Uruzgan province; 12-Jan-08; Hostile - friendly fire | |||
| Wesley Schol, 20 | Royal Dutch Army | n.a.-Netherlands |
| Private 1st Class, 44th Armouredinfantry Batallion | |||
| Deh Rawod - Uruzgan province; 12-Jan-08; Hostile - friendly fire | |||
 | Richard J. Berrettini, 52 | U.S. Army National Guard | Wilcox, PA |
| Lieutenant Colonel, Pennsylvania Army National Guard Medical Detachment | |||
| San Antonio, TX (Khowst Province); 11-Jan-08; Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack | |||
| David J. Drakulich, 22 | U.S. Army | Reno, NV |
| Sergeant, 508th Parachute Infantry Reg, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division | |||
| Chagali; 09-Jan-08; Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack | |||
WEEKLY CASUALTY LIST: IRAQI CIVILIAN, counted by large event
IBC estimates 24 civilians shot by US military this month, so far.
| Counted Civilian Casualties: 98 this week; . | |
| Wednesday 16 January: 26 dead | |
| Baghdad: | roadside bomb kills 3 university students, Bab al-Muadham; roadside bomb kills another civilian, Zaafaraniya; roadside bombs kill 2, Nahrawan; gunmen attack Awakening members at checkpoint, kill 2; 5 bodies. |
| Diyala | |
| Khan Bani Saad: | suicide bomber blows herself up outside mosque killing 8. |
| Kirkuk | |
| Tuz Khurmato: | gunmen kill student; body found. |
| Salahuddin | |
| Shirqat: | 2 policemen killed in clashes with gunmen during raid. |
| Tuesday 15 January: 16 dead | |
| Baghdad: | 5 primary school children are struck by official's convoy and are then caught in ensuing gunfight between guards and Iraqi soldiers; Awakening member killed in clashes, Sadriya; 6 bodies. |
| Ninewa | |
| Mosul: | roadside bomb kills policeman; 2 bodies. |
| Salahuddin | |
| Al-Shirqat: | suicide car bomber attack police checkpoint, kills policeman. |
| Monday 14 January: 29 dead | |
| Baghdad: | gunmen kill judge along with his driver, Mansour; 5 bodies. |
| Diyala | |
| Buhriz: | 7 policemen die in booby-trapped house during search; Awakening member is shot dead nearby. |
| Dujail: | roadside bomb kills 2 policemen. |
| Ninewa | |
| Mosul: | car bomb kills civilian; gunmen kill policeman; 2 bodies. |
| Anbar | |
| Haditha: | 4 bodies. |
| Wassit | |
| Kut: | US forces open fire at intersection killing 4 (a bus driver and 3 construction workers). The number of Iraqi civilians killed by US forces in January has now gone up to 23. |
| Sunday 13 January: 12 dead | |
| Baghdad: | gunmen kill office worker, Arasat; policeman killed in ensuing clashes; 4 bodies. |
| Arbil | |
| Kenzinar: | gunmen kill doctor's assistant. |
| Basra | |
| Basra: | gunmen kill official at Sadr's office. |
| Anbar | |
| Falluja: | US forces kill civilian in car, as it approaches their patrol. |
| Diyala | |
| Jalawla: | body found. |
| Ninewa | |
| Mosul: | 2 bodies found. |
| Saturday 12 January: 15 dead | |
| Baghdad: | roadside bombs kill 2, Beirut Square; 2 bodies. |
| Salahuddin | |
| Dhuluiya: | gunmen attack two houses, kill 6 -a former Iraqi army soldier, his 14-year-old son, an Awakening member and his three sons (one of them an Awakening member, the other two a 16-year-old and a 15-year-old). |
| Basra | |
| Basra: | gunmen kill policeman. |
| Sulaimaniya | |
| Sulaimaniya: | gunmen kill liquor shop owner. |
| Ninewa | |
| Mosul: | gunmen kill woman in her home; 1 body found. |
| Al-Sukar: | gunmen kill policeman. |
| Friday 11 January: 7 dead | |
| Baghdad: | suicide car bomb targets bakery, kills 4, Gadir; 3 bodies. |
| Thursday 10 January: 8 dead | |
| Baghdad: | roadside bomb kills 2 policemen, Nasr Square; car bomb kills civilian, Palestine str.; 3 bodies. |
| Ninewa | |
| Mosul: | child is killed in bomb explosion; motorist killed by roadside bomb. |
WEEKLY CASUALTY LIST: JOURNALISTS IN IRAQ
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Circumstances | |
| None counted this week. | |
src: MNF-I, MNF-A, journalists from icasualties.org; Iraqi Civiilan: iraqbodycount.org; Afghan events from Bill Roggio, other sources
The fine art of the mustache: The White Mustache
The white mustache:
Unfortunately, I don't have the artist's name.
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