The Gray Lady Calls for a Gas Tax
The NYT has done some really crappy ass reporting on the auto crisis. But, credit where it's due, they're now calling for a gas tax (h/t Atrios). And their editorial not only advocates for what I consider a smart policy, but they hit the key issues: that it's not enough to force manufacturers to build energy efficient cars.
Yet for all the conditions attached to it, the multibillion-dollar aid package for Detroit’s
Trash Talk - Getaway Week
This is the last week of the regular season in the National Favre League, and for those teams headed to the playoffs, or trying desperately to get into the playoffs, we have some key games on tap. Here is the rundown.
Bob Corker's "Screw the Seniors" Plan
Journalists are now figuring out something we've been pointing out for some time: Bob Corker's "plan" to "fix" the auto industry is not so much a plan to fix anything, but a plan to screw retirees.
Hot Rails To Hades
It has been quite the rage on teh progressive internets to discuss trains, trans and super trains. Atrios is the King of all Train Media. Yglesias has climbed on board, and now even a dyed in the wool California suburban guy like Kevin Drum is jawing about them, although he seems to have differing views on short haul commuter (for) than long haul passenger (against for financial reasons).
Did McCain/Palin Obstruct Justice in the Johnston Case?
It seems that Sarah Palin has a newsworthy scandalette for every holiday. For Thanksgiving she was preening in front of a turkey slaughter; for Christmas, she is smack dab in the middle of a felony controlled substances investigation. It appears that the narcotics investigation of Sherry Johnston was delayed to protect the GOP Presidential ticket during the election
Best Gifts Ever?
I once put a live lobster in my father's Christmas stocking.
Happy Holidays And Thanks!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS to one and all. And my thanks to the greatest readers and commenters on teh internets! You folks are the greatest, and none of it works without you. And thanks, most of all, to Marcy for letting me hang around and be part of the fun and excitement.
We Are All Banks Now
The Fed just awarded GM's finance arm bank status.
Shorter Blagojevich:
I'm going to start a running tally of the ways that Obama's stupid treatment of his report on contacts with Blago will backfire. Consider this count number one.
George Bush Spent $4 Billion to Kill Chrysler--on Obama's Watch
George Bush has said that he gave the auto companies loan money so as not to dump the problem into Obama's lap.
But that's a lie.
Dick's Talking Points, Two
Murray Waas proves that Dick Cheney knew he might out Plame when he encouraged journalists to look into who purportedly sent Joe Wilson to Niger.
Cheney's FBI Report
Cheney says he did not order Libby to order Plame's identity. I guess his insinuations that he may have were a CYA invented later to respond to Fitzgerald's investigation, notably Fitz getting Judy Miller's testimony.
Blagojevich Report Timeline
The dates reported in the Blagojevich report, along with dates from the complaint.
The Blagojevich Contacts: Only 5-6 Contacts with Rahm on the Senate Seat, But the Report Does Not Cover Rahm's Seat
The Obama team report on contacts with Blagojevich show--as expected--that there were no substantive discussions about the Senate seat. But Obama's team appears not to have asked whether there were discussions about Rahm's seat--and Greg Craig seem incurious about that entirely.
The Cerberus Mysteries Deepen
Apparently, no one knows what the fuck is the role of Cerberus in Chrysler's $4 billion loan.
Is Cheney Relying on Gonzales' Retroactive Notes?
Over the weekend Cheney repeated a claim Alberto Gonzales has made before--which is largely assumed to have constituted a lie to Congress. But we've recently learned that Gonzales made notes which--presumably--back up his version of the story. Is Cheney relying on those notes, too?
FBI Whistleblower Plugs Toobz Stevens Prosecution
I have stated before that the case against Ted Stevens should have been dismissed for prosecutorial misconduct before it ever reached the contaminated and bizarre jury process that led to the guilty verdict.Late today we received yet more evidence of just how true that is. A five-year FBI agent assigned to the Alaska corruption investigation is the whistleblower who brought a complaint with explosive allegations of misconduct against other agents and at least one prosecutor involved in the trial.
GUILTY - The Fort Dix Five Convicted
The panel of jurors deliberating the Fort Dix Five terrorism trial has found all five defendants guilty of plotting to attack the military base and kill soldiers. The foreign-born Muslims from Cherry Hill Pennsylvania, were charged with conspiracy to kill military personnel, attempted murder and weapons charges.
Jesse Jackson Jr's Fundraiser Wants Immunity
It sounds like Jesse Jackson Jr and one of his fundraisers mentioned in the Blagojevich complaint are going after each other.
Does Bob Nardelli Work for Cerberus or Chrysler?
Who is paying Bob Nardelli's salary? And to do what? And is it possible that he was left out of negotiations on the bridge loan, even while Chrysler will own the responsibility for paying it back?
