When do the training wheels come off the Iraqi Army . . .?
The ISG has spoken. Said it’s a mess. No shit. It has taken three years and a blue ribbon study group to come up with this? How long does it take to train Gomer Pyle? Some are now calling for...
View ArticleThe presidential speech I hope I never hear again
History tends to repeat itself. The most famous quote in this regard is, of course, Santayana’s "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." A lesser known quote of Santayana’s is...
View ArticleMore DOJ shenanigans? 'Errors' cost $100 million
After news of the tobacco litigation being micromanaged by Bush political appointments and the concomitant reduction of the amount of damages alleged by the DOJ, any questionable activities of the DOJ...
View ArticleNot ‘til recess
Fromhttp://www.tpmmuckraker.com/...Via pbd.blogspot.com/[Paul Kiel] Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) had the best line of questioning of the day so far.Under persistent questioning, Gonzales admitted that he...
View ArticleThe mystery of the 45 day rule
Recent testimony by James Comey, formerly DAG under John Ashcroft, revealed an astonishing hospital room encounter with Alberto Gonzales and Andrew Card regarding the renewal of DOJ approval of a...
View ArticleLet's have last call at the Virginia Bar for Monica Goodling
. Are you outraged at the behavior of Monica Goodling?. Wondering what you can do about it? . File a complaint with the Virginia Bar...
View ArticleHoekstra Releases Letter on Alleged CIA Cooperation in Foreign Probe
A better title is - Republicans bring hypocrisy and mendacity to new heights Link to Press ReleaseFrom the Hoekstra website:
View ArticleThe Name Game
The Protect America Act Modernizes The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) To Give Intelligence Professionals The Tools They Urgently Need To ...LinkThe Protect America Act. How do they come...
View ArticleA republic, if you can keep it.
At the close of the Constitutional Convention, a woman asked Benjamin Franklin what type of government the Constitution was bringing into existence. Franklin replied, "A republic, if you can keep...
View ArticleSomething worthwhile on TV ! ! !
This is a very short diary to bring attention to this deserving broadcast:"By the People: Citizenship in the 21st Century"Broadcast Friday, Jan. 4, 10-11:00 p.m.
View ArticleChanging Course
If you were 18 in 1988, you now would be 38 and you will not in your adult life have experienced any President NOT named Bush or Clinton. If you were 8 in 1988, you would now be 28 and probably have...
View Article"Treated as Top Secret" (and no, its not about Cheney)
Hillary Clinton adamantly refuses to release or discuss the release of tax returns filed in past years.Her campaign is stating that they will be released on or about the April 15 filing date per Howard...
View ArticleThe Great Crash of 1929 – Redux
Once upon a time, the combination of margin (borrowing) and speculative excess (irrational exuberance) ran up the prices of assets in securities markets to unsustainable levels.The results. Stock...
View ArticleBottom of the ninth, two out, none on
Baseball provides many useful metaphors for many aspects of life, particularly current events. Including the question 'Why won't the Democratic party won't back down and recognize the results of...
View ArticleHillary's tell
From wikiA tell in poker is a detectable change in a player's behavior or demeanor that gives clues to that player's assessment of his hand. A player gains an advantage if he observes and understands...
View ArticleHillary won't quit before Denver no matter what
Why? The negatives.Consider recent headlines.Clinton's Negatives at Record High Poll Finds Majority of Americans Have Unfavorable Opinion of Clinton http://abcnews.go.com/...
View ArticleI never thought I'd live to see this day
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.And if America is to be a great...
View ArticleThe audacity to hope - FISA and Obama - Quotes . . . and a comment
Shorter FISA -- If the president tells you (a telecom) to do something, it is legal.
View ArticleBe vewwy vewwy afwaid - Obama's gonna waise your taxes A rant
This is a rant on Taxes, Spending and Oil - after a 'conversation' with a 'conservative' Begin rantThink Obama's going to raise your taxes? Let me make this so clear even you can understand it. The...
View ArticleObama and FISA
Allow me to speculate a little on what (besides money) is driving the congressional Democrats towards the telecoms.It goes back to the Ashcroft - Comey hospital story, when Ashcroft was ill and Comey...
View ArticleThe credit mess --- for nonfinancial readers
Ever wonder what all the fuss is about and why they just don't let one of these financial institutions go belly up?Its all about credit derivatives.Read on to learn more.
View ArticleWTF - Who declared 'be nice to Palin day?'
This will be relatively short, but I have had my fill of reading diaries stating that attacks on (the inexperience of) Palin will be off limits to the Obama campaign,and particularly Biden in the...
View ArticleSome thoughts on markets
The price of oil and gas, the problems on Wall Street which are affecting the banking system - Its always the result of the marketplace, which is sacrosanct in the Republican talking points. It's the...
View ArticleWhat would Wall Street do?
"Cash for trash"Every now and then one can exclaim it couldn't be better said.But here's a question for ya - what would Wall Street do?
View ArticleA short primer on mortgage backed securities
Do you have any idea what Hank Paulson is proposing the taxpayers purchase in the 'bailout?' Think of the last or lowest or riskiest bucket of the toxic sludge of the refining process. If you don't...
View ArticlePalin Tax Return Problems?
Shorter taxprof blogPer diems appear not to be included in income?Family travel reimbursement issues?Both conclusions seem problematic.
View ArticleRemember the Fort Dix Terrorist Case?
Just in case you don't"The philosophy that supports and encourages jihad around the world against Americans came to live here in New Jersey..."Those words were spoken by US Attorney Chris Christie last...
View ArticleJob One
There's a lot of competition for what Obama should place at the front of his agenda, but what if I told you there's just one thing could materially affect: The geopolitical and economic effects of our...
View ArticleMerrill Lynched
Billions in bonus payments paid a few days before Bank of America takes over.Bonus payment date moved up in rapidly sinking company.Is there any way the taxpayers get that money back?
View ArticleAnother entrant for the Greatest Fraud in US History
It's criminal . . . and no one seems to careSuppose I loaned you some money. Suppose the market interest rate is 8%.But I made the loan for 4%.Think I gave you a gift? How about a $75 Billion...
View ArticleHow Geithner can get the AIG bonus money back
The 'bad' part of AIG paid bonusses to individuals who arguably didn't deserve to have jobs, much less receive performance bonus compensation.Is there any way the taxpayers get that money back?
View ArticleThree in the X-ring
The following is from a right wing (Nut) screed against the actions of Barack HUSSEIN Obama, the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the United States.Obviously written before the outcome was known.
View ArticleObama - I voted for you in GOOD FAITH
Obama will not prosecute those who tortured in "good faith", based on the Yoo Bybee DOJ crap we have just seen released.Read the definitions below the fold
View ArticleOMG the government is in the insurance business
Bet you didn't know that the Federal Government through the USDA runs . . . wait for it . . . a risk management agency (an insurance company) for farmers.
View ArticleQuitters
-Much has been written about the polling suggesting the disillusionment of the lefty Democratic base. -Although I'm a relative newcomer to the dkos party (c my UID #) and a relative newcomer to the...
View ArticleGo to the movies Mr President - You might learn something
Why? Your Presidency is starting to look a lot like a quote from The Candidate"What do we do now?"Your negotiating stance seems to consist entirely of a quote from The Godfather"I'm going to make him...
View ArticleAnne Mitchell (whistle blower nurse) ACQUITTED
Short Diary -A jury in West Texas took less than an hour Thursday to acquit a nurse who had been charged with a felony after anonymously complaining to the state medical board that a doctor at her...
View ArticleA legitimate philosophical disagreement?
President Obama"I think we're establishing that there are actually some areas of real agreement," he said, stopping for a minute outside the gates. "And we're starting to focus on what the real...
View Article"...reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be...
So closes the appendix authored by Richard Feynman in the report of the commission on the Challenger disaster, and like BP, NASA was criticized for its lack of openness with the press.The Challenger...
View ArticleThe One Percent Doctrine
Dick Cheney's operating philosophy was to consider an event with a one percent probability of occurring as certainty when evaluating the policy/response of the administration. The one place we need...
View ArticleOnce is happenstance, twice is coincidence, . . .
and the third time is enemy action. So writes Ian Fleming in Goldfinger. From ABC News - OSHA statistics show BP ran up 760 "egregious, willful" safety violations, while Sunoco and Conoco-Phillips...
View ArticleA Note on Limiting the Debt Ceiling for the Banksters- Be Careful What You...
The tea party is in favor of voting down an increase to the debt ceiling, which would place the US in technical default on its debt obligations. The right wing is licking its chops, waiting to chop...
View ArticleA note on Corporate "Personhood"
Its a little like "truthiness" when applied to a corporation. To witCorporations are people, my friendSpeaking to an occasionally rowdy crowd two days before the Ames Straw poll, Republican...
View ArticleWhat Mitt's undisclosed tax returns might reveal
Recent articles about Mitt's tax return disclosure make it clear that their is some posturing going on with respect to: 1. what they will release, and 2....
View ArticleFraming: Mitt's tax rates are far more unfair than those of poor people
The right wing is distracting everyone from Mitt's taxes by complaining that poor people pay no federal income taxes. LINKOne recent diarist made comparisons of Mitt's tax rate to his/her own rates....
View ArticleIf you want free stuff . . .
Lost . . .in the discussion of the inconsistencies between Mitts assertion that he left Bain in February 1999 and the incontrovertible fact that he was representing something different to multiple...
View ArticleAmerica Inc.? Joe Soptic is us.
Rmoney referred to America as a business enterprise today. Joe Soptic worked for a company that was taken over by Rmoney/Bain in a levered transaction. His employment was terminated, he lost...
View ArticleA short diary about people who pay no income tax
Mitt,You allegedly pay no income tax.That makes YOU a parasite . . . a $20MM per annum parasite on the American economy. Enjoying all the benefits thereof and paying nothing. You are proud of...
View ArticleBreaking - Romney files amended tax return on 11/7
$10,000 says that Romney files an amended return taking all his charitable deductions the day after the election.One other observation - PWC tax has Romney as a client. There is no assurance...
View ArticleLet them fly coach - a modest proposal to pressure the republicans
Here's the idea.1. The sequester requires mandatory cuts to most government programs without giving the executive any discretion to triage the victims.2. As I understand it, the FAA will be forced to...
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