Trash Talk - Clash Of The Titans Edition
It's trash talk time again. And this week as a great slate of games, so let's get down to the nitty-gritty. Oh, and happy trails to Annika Sorenstam, who has played her last round of competitive golf.
Homework Assignment for the Big Two and a Half: Solve Retirement and Health Care
Nancy and Harry just gave the Big Two and a Half a big homework assignment for the next ten days: solve retirement and health care.
A Gas Tax Instead of CAFE
CAFE standards don't work. Sure, they force manufacturers to build cheap, efficient cars. But they don't expand the market for energy efficiency. I think a gas tax could do that.
Prepackaged Bankruptcy: Be Careful of What You Wish For
It sounds like Obama is considering pre-packaged bankruptcy for the Big Two and a Half. I think he should be careful of what he wishes for.
Well, This Should Make the President-Elect More Anxious to Overturn Domestic Spying
Some Verizon employees hacked into Barack Obama's cell phone records. And the CEO of Verizon isn't telling whether these employees were authorized or not.
The Difference between GM and Toyota: The Health Care
China Hand argues that the biggest difference between GM and Toyota is the health care.
Eyes On The Spies: What Obama Can Do About Illegal Surveillance
With all the commotion and hubbub surrounding the personalities and gossip of Obama's cabinet formation, and expression of everyone's opinion on how that should proceed, little has been said about the actual policies and actions (other than Iraq) that should be implemented right out of the gate. One area that has been neglected is that of the illegal wiretapping and surveillance policies and practices that were instituted in the country's name by the Cheney/Bush regime. The EFF has some cogent thoughts on what the Obama Administration can do to right the wrongs.
The Boogeyman versus the New Bretton Woods
There's a reason why no one at the G20 wanted to shake hands with George Bush, and it has everything to do with our failing economy.
Kucinich or Cummings for Oversight
Now that Waxman is taking over Energy and Commerce from John Dingell, we need a strong leader to replace Waxman at Oversight. I nominate either Dennis Kucinich or Elijah Cummings.
Boumediene Wins Again!
BREAKING NEWS of the Gitmo variety. From Reuters:Five of six Algerians must be released after nearly seven years of captivity at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, a federal judge ruled on Thursday.U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled from the bench after holding the first hearings under a landmark Supreme Court ruling in June that gave Guantanamo prisoners the legal right to challenge their continued confinement.U.S.
Napolitano To DHS; Skeletor To Be Buried
As most of you know, I firmly supported Janet Napolitano for Attorney General and the new alarm administration. It looks as if Eric Holder will be in the Attorney General instead, but it CNN has just announced that Napolitano will be the choice for Department of Homeland Security.
Playing Chess with the Chinese
As I suggested would happen, SAIC is contemplating buying GM.
Shorter Mitt: Let the Auto Retirees Starve!!!
Mitt wants to force the auto companies into bankruptcy--and offers a whole lot of ignorant justifications for doing so.
Obama's Long Arm/Short Arm Stiff Of The Netroots
When I was first sworn into the bar, I had the good fortune of being mentored by an experienced and wise senior partner. One of the first things that he taught me in dealing with other parties was to be aware of the long arm-short arm syndrome. This is where a person has a long arm for taking, and a short arm for giving. When it comes to the netroots, Barack Obama has the long arm-short arm syndrome.
Live Blog of Auto Hearings: Senate Banking Committee
Chris Dodd's committee invites the Big Two and a Half and UAW to visit.
Powerline Blog Leads SJC's Republicans Trolling through Parks, Public-Assistance Agencies, and Liquor Stores
Why do the Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee give treat Powerilne Blog as more credible than Republican Governors Charlie Crist and Tim Pawlenty?
Mitch McConnell's Undisclosed Location
Why is Mitch McConnell hiding from the debate about the auto bailout?
The Auto Bridge Plan
Here's what Barney Frank's Financial Services Committee is proposing to bail out the US auto manufacturers, using money from TARP.Short-term Operating Plan – The automaker must submit a short-term operating plan that describes the intended use of the loans, including the commitment of resources to develop a long-term restructuring plan and repayment of the
We Get to See the Hatfill Warrant
Judge Lamberth just ordered the government to unseal its search warrant application pertaining to Stephen Hatfill.
The Auto Bailout: Who Is In Favor of What
In this post, I described the three different proposed funds for the auto industry. Now, I'd like to lay out which politicians are advocating what. I'll update this as we go forward.
Pro-Bailout
Carl Levin (and Jennifer Granholm and the rest of the MI delegation, both Democrat and Republican): Particularly given John Dingell's current focus on retaining his Chairmanship, Levin has taken the lead on championing a bailout for the auto industry.