John Carney at Dealbreaker notes the official reason the White House prefers that the government takeover Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: The reason the Bush administration is leaning toward bringing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into conservatorship rather than backstopping the two home mortgage companies is that concern about moral hazard problem. Bailing out Fannie […]
By: Divorced one like Bush I am responding to a post put up at Crooks and Liars: The McCain campaign small business myth. It presents that the myth is found in the number of small businesses in existance and what percentage of them earns $250,000 or more. I love C and L, but this is […]
Calculated risk is out today and just reported the head line trade data and linked to the Wall Street Journal calling the improvement in the trade balance a surprise But the real trade deficit improved from $ -46,966 M (2000 $) in March to $-46,679 in April and $-43,589 M in May. Remember, the improvement […]
The NYT reports: A federal judge in California said Wednesday that the wiretapping law established by Congress was the “exclusive” means for the president to eavesdrop on Americans, and he rejected the government’s claim that the president’s constitutional authority as commander in chief trumped that law. The judge, Vaughn R. Walker, the chief judge for […]
One Salient Oversight sends some thoughts from down under on recycling labels: Think of the common labels thrown out against political opponents thesedays. What sort of political thinking would be labelled in the followingway? * The propagation of ideas like Darwinism, Marxism, the teachings ofNietzche, Liberalism, Socialism, Communism and Anarchism.* A focus on Utopianism that […]
So the good news yesterday (h/t Felix) is that, even as he was voting to eviscerate the Fourth Amendment, Barack Obama urged a change to bankruptcy law. The devil is in the details (the “median cost” of a home in NY State won’t keep anyone living in their house in Westchester or even Rockland County, […]
In honor of this post (from another blog whose political posts I’ve stopped reading; Hilzoy is in good company*), I have decided today to shave off my beard and mustache.** After all, David (“Axis of Evil”) Frum is always right, as John Holbo originally documented: This sentiment or intuition or feeling (whatever you call it) […]
“Despite”? Are they sure they didn’t mean “Because”? by Noni Mausa From the online medical news resource Medscape, a very rich source of breaking health news, comes this study from the World Health Organization on worldwide drug use. Once again, world leader America takes the Number One position! **** U.S. Leads the World in Illegal […]
by reader Movie Guy (Lifted from comments cactus style) I have reviewed the majority of American econ blogs during the past few days. Hit the supposed heavy ones again tonight. The econ blog subjects range from stupid to domestic but very few step beyond the borders of the USA. It’s as though the lights are […]
Talking Points Memo has a video where John McCain not only wants private accounts, but calls Social Security “an absolute disgrace” and “will not be there for the next generation”. Boomers are sponging off the next generation. I will look for a transcript…this is not in his plan. If this is the way he plans […]