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Archive for March, 2009

Exclusive Footage From Inside The Treasury Department

by Doug Mataconis @ Friday, March 27th, 2009. Filed under Credit Crisis, Economics, Humor, Politics, South Park, Television

From this week’s South Park:

The sad thing is, they’d be more apt to get things right using this method.
Full episode here.
H/T: Jason Pye

Protectionism And Bailouts

by Doug Mataconis @ Friday, March 27th, 2009. Filed under Credit Crisis, Economics, Politics

Some interesting comments in a report today about the World Trade Organization:
A growing number of countries have raised tariffs, imposed import restrictions or reinstated subsidies. They have also been quick to defend home industries by filing complaints with the WTO over dumping — the practice of flooding another country with goods at below-market prices. The [...]

Obama Doubles Down On Afghanistan

by Doug Mataconis @ Friday, March 27th, 2009. Filed under Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Foreign Affairs, Politics

President Obama announced a new strategy for the war in Afghanistan today:
WASHINGTON — President Obama said on Friday that he plans to further bolster American forces in Afghanistan, increase aid to Pakistan, and for the first time set benchmarks for progress in fighting Al Qaeda and the Taliban in both chaotic countries.
In strikingly ominous tones, [...]

A Chart That Doesn’t Tell The Whole Story

by Doug Mataconis @ Friday, March 27th, 2009. Filed under Economics, Politics

The Club For Growth and Washington Examiner both link to an otherwise good Heritage Foundation study of Obama’s budget that includes this chart:

Now, if you look at this chart you would think that the National Debt when George W. Bush left office on January 20th was about $ 5.8 trillion Dollars and that it’s expected [...]

Creationists Suffer Setbacks In Texas School Board Debate

by Doug Mataconis @ Friday, March 27th, 2009. Filed under Evolution vs. ID, Religion, Science

It looks like the forces attempting to open Texas’ science curriculum up to creationism and so-called “intelligent design” theories on the origin of life have failed in their efforts:
AUSTIN, Tex. — In an evenly split vote, the State Board of Education on Thursday upheld teaching evolution as accepted mainstream science.
But social conservatives on the board, [...]

The GOP’s Alternative Budget: One Massive FAIL

by Doug Mataconis @ Friday, March 27th, 2009. Filed under Congress, Economics, Politics, Republicans

When I first heard that Congressional Republicans were working on a budget proposal of their own to contrast with President Obama’s proposal, it seemed like a good idea and an opportunity for the GOP to present a coherent alternative rather than just stand on the sidelines criticizing.
Then, I read the details, or should I say [...]

Obama Ready To Announce Auto Bailout 2.0

by Doug Mataconis @ Friday, March 27th, 2009. Filed under Auto Industry, Barack Obama, Business, Economics, Politics

Back in December when George W. Bush, in his final screw-job shot to the economy, bailed out General Motors and Chrysler even after Congress had explicitly voted against doing so, I said the following:
So basically, we’ve given them a bridge loan for three months after which they’ll be in the same position they are today, [...]

Sarah Palin Throws Her Campaign Aides Under The Bus

by Doug Mataconis @ Friday, March 27th, 2009. Filed under 2008 Election, Politics, Sarah Palin

And they’re not too happy about it:
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Some of Sarah Palin’s former campaign aides are frustrated with the Alaska governor for remarking in a lengthy, freewheeling speech that she had refused to pray with them before last October’s vice presidential debate.
Palin told the story in a speech to a GOP dinner in Alaska [...]

More Evidence That The Fight Against Al Qaeda Is Really In Pakistan

by Doug Mataconis @ Friday, March 27th, 2009. Filed under Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, Foreign Affairs, Pakistan, War On Terror

Yesterday’s New York Times reports yet more cooperation between Al Qaeda and the Taliban on one side and Pakistani intelligence on the other:
WASHINGTON — The Taliban’s widening campaign in southern Afghanistan is made possible in part by direct support from operatives in Pakistan’s military intelligence agency, despite Pakistani government promises to sever ties to militant [...]

Something Tells Me They’ll Do It Differently Next Time

by Doug Mataconis @ Thursday, March 26th, 2009. Filed under Barack Obama, Politics, War On Drugs

The President’s online town hall was dominated by questions about marijuana legalization:
When the White House put out a call for town hall questions, it might not have been expecting this.
The more than 92,000 people who responded either have Cheech and Chong senses of humor or there is a deep concern in America — undetected by [...]

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