Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

Silly Krugman

Krugman writes: Andrew Leonard has a good point: if Obamacare is such a disaster for the economy, where’s the market reaction? Silly Krugman. And silly Andrew Leonard. Sure, the S&P 500 is up a few percentage points. But it would be up many, many times that amount if not for the healthcare bill. Update: Sarcasm […]

In Defense of Deficits

Jamie Galbraith writes in The Nation: In Defense of Deficits The Simpson-Bowles Commission, just established by the president, will no doubt deliver an attack on Social Security and Medicare dressed up in the sanctimonious rhetoric of deficit reduction. (Back in his salad days, former Senator Alan Simpson was a regular schemer to cut Social Security.) […]

Topical thread: Incumbency, retirements, and leavings

The Dan Rather interview also reminded me of the many Senators and House members outright retirements or “running for another office” that affect the nature of incumbent advantage in more regular elections. From a cursory google of sources I believe there are 9 senate retirements (4 R, 5D) and 17 (6R,11D) House members retiring outright, […]

Dan Rather on the Rachel Maddow show

Maggie Mahar at Health Beat Blog gives a historical perspective to the passage of Healthcare Reform 2010 and Medicare 1965. Maggie’s comments are in the parenthesis in red on transcripts of Rathers and Maddow’s exchange. Dan Rather on Presidents Obama, LBJ and HCR: I saw Dan Rather on the Rachel Maddow show. Some people have […]

China has options

by Rebecca Wilder This morning there was an abundance of links evidencing the building anxiety over U.S.-China relations. Edward Harrison at Credit Writedowns links to a Reuters article, China vows to hit back if targeted by U.S. on yuan. Calculated Risk refers to commentary at the Financial Times and the Washington Post referencing China Losing […]

A Brief Review of Econned

by cactus A Brief Review of Econned I have read the first few chapters of Econned by Yves Smith, that’s about where I re-evaluate and decide whether its worth reading through the first 80% of the book. When the answer is yes, I usually re-evaluate the 80% mark. As a result, I don’t always get […]