Below The Beltway

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Archive for March, 2009

Pope Benedict: Condoms Make AIDS Problem Worse

by Doug Mataconis @ Tuesday, March 17th, 2009. Filed under Catholic Church, Health, Religion

In what can only be described as another example of religious dogma trumping public health, Pope Benedict made clear that the Catholic Church’s position on AIDS prevention would not change anytime soon:
YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI said on his way to Africa Tuesday that condoms were not the answer in the continent’s fight [...]

Outrage Over AIG Bonuses Goes Into Hyperdrive

by Doug Mataconis @ Tuesday, March 17th, 2009. Filed under Credit Crisis, Economics, Politics

The public and political rage over bonuses paid out by American International Group after it received Federal bailout money has become virtually the only story driving the political agenda:
President Obama’s apparent inability to block executive bonuses at insurance giant AIG has dealt a sharp blow to his young administration and is threatening to derail both [...]

Previewing The 113th Congress

by Doug Mataconis @ Tuesday, March 17th, 2009. Filed under Congress, Politics

Politics Magazine takes an early look on where the winners and losers will be after the census is completed:
According to an unofficial short-term calculation, only Texas, adding four seats, and Arizona, adding two, will gain more than one seat. Florida, Georgia, Nevada, Oregon, South Carolina and Utah will all increase the size of their federal [...]

Housing Affordability At Highest Level Since 1971

by Doug Mataconis @ Tuesday, March 17th, 2009. Filed under Credit Crisis, Economics, Politics

It’s not something that’s gotten much play in the mainstream media, but there is some good news out there:
[A]ccording to an index released by the National Association of Realtors, housing affordability was at an all-time high in December.
The Housing Affordability Index composite level for December was 158.8. A composite H.A.I. value of 158.8 means that [...]

So Are We Headed For Another Great Depression ?

by Doug Mataconis @ Tuesday, March 17th, 2009. Filed under Credit Crisis, Economics, Politics

Based on the unemployment figures, the answer would seem to be no:

So, you see, things could be much, much worse.
H/T: Matthew Yglesias

Statistic Of The Day: The Long, Slow Death Of The USPS

by Doug Mataconis @ Tuesday, March 17th, 2009. Filed under Business, Economics

There’s a lot less mail out there than there used to be:
In 2008, though, pieces of mail dropped to 201 billion, from nearly 211 billion. And in the first fiscal quarter of 2009 (October through December of last year), the service reported a net loss of $384 million and said that mail volume had declined [...]

Labor Unions Are Coming After Your Retirement Accounts

by Doug Mataconis @ Tuesday, March 17th, 2009. Filed under Economics, Personal Finance, Politics

A group of labor union advocates want to nationalize every 401(k) account in the country:
U.S. lawmakers should reform retirement plans after 401(k) and Individual Retirement Accounts lost more than $2 trillion in value since October 2007, a group of consumer and labor groups said.
The new consumer-labor group, “Retirement USA,” backed by the Pension Rights Center, [...]

American Public Turning Against Afghan War ?

by Doug Mataconis @ Tuesday, March 17th, 2009. Filed under Afghanistan, Foreign Affairs, War On Terror

Even as Barack Obama prepares his mini-surge, a new poll indicates that public support for the seven and one-half year long Afghan War is slipping:
WASHINGTON — American support for the war in Afghanistan has ebbed to a new low, as attacks on U.S. troops and their allies have hit record levels and commanders are pleading [...]

Happy St. Patricks Day !

by Doug Mataconis @ Tuesday, March 17th, 2009. Filed under Humor

A unique twist on a classic Irish ballad:

H/T: Bill @ Wizbang

Forget Afghanistan, Pakistan Is The Problem

by Doug Mataconis @ Tuesday, March 17th, 2009. Filed under Foreign Affairs, Pakistan, War On Terror

That’s what President Obama is apparently being told:
A team headed by Bruce Riedel, a former CIA Middle East expert, asked to overhaul US policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan, has concluded that stabilising Pakistan is now the higher priority, a source familiar with the discussions has revealed.
The report, prepared in conjunction with the National Security Council, [...]

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