Or the fraternity boys who overdose on alcohol -- trying to prove how dumb they are? Or the talking heads on television who seem to revel in showing that they can't speak a word of a foreign language. Same thing: they fall all over themselves proving that they are dumb!

There is a culture of stupidity in the country, and that is what the Republicans play to!

Posted at August 7, 2008 3:40 PM in response to McCain Mocks Obama's Accurate Claim About Tire Pressure

Correction:

"Or that evangelicals and Christians and the Israeli government itself, do not know how to properly defend Israel, that they are acting contrary to their own stated goals, . . . "

You mean like their war against Hezbollah in Lebanon two years ago? The Israeli air force bombing civilian areas in Lebanon? Is that what you consider wisdom in self-defense?

Posted at May 16, 2008 5:34 AM in response to President Bush's Despicable Attack on Barack Obama

You mean like their war against Hezbollah in Lebanon two years ago? The Israeli air force bombing civilian areas in Lebanon? Is that what you consider wisdom in self-defense?

Posted at May 16, 2008 5:31 AM in response to President Bush's Despicable Attack on Barack Obama

Great Post, Senator Kerry. Please keep up your efforts at this critical time.

Here are some other issues that I think ought ought to be raised:

Was Richard Nixon an appeaser when he debated Kruschev? or when he advocated recognition of "Red" China?

Was Henry Kissenger an appeaser when he advocated detente with the Soviets and Chinese? or when he negotiated an end to the Viet Nam war with Le Duc Tho?

Throughout the cold war we had discussions with the Soviets. Moreover, there were constant "cultural exchanges" throughout much of that period. Wouldn't we be better of re-opening diplomatic relations with Iran, and Cuba, and establishing cultural exchanges? This does not mean that we accept the policies of the government -- only that we recognize that governments do not necessarily represent the people.

Does the Bush administration represent the American people?

Posted at May 15, 2008 6:00 PM in response to President Bush's Despicable Attack on Barack Obama

Mr. Baker,

Very good post: you have raised some excellent points. You have not mentioned, however, the giant risk to the economy and the financial health of the country if Fannie and Freddie go under because of over-leveraging.

Posted at May 15, 2008 5:44 PM in response to Progressives and the Housing Bailout

Isn't it misleading to talk of "homeowners" who have an interest-only mortgage -- i.e. little or no equity?

Many of the new class of homeowners never had the down payment or income to qualify for purchase of a home in the first place. They have little or no equity invested in the home. They are essentially renters. Should the taxpayers at large be paying to maintain the "owner" status of such people, rather than letting them revert to being renters?

Should the taxpayers bail out those people who refinanced their homes in order to buy a toy, such as an SUV, or a vacation?

Perhaps some of this "populist" sympathy may be misplaced, and works to the advantage of the morons who created the loans to cut their losses.

Moreover, a bailout this large puts the taxpayer, and the general economy, at great risk. Fannie and Freddy are overextended as it is, and this bailout puts them under even greater stress. The current mess is the consequence of "over-leveraging". To bail out the housing sector is more hair of the dog that bit us.

Posted at May 15, 2008 5:42 PM in response to Progressives and the Housing Bailout

Indeed. It seems that Senator Clinton has failed the Commander in Chief test. She is so focused on winning the nomination that she has lost all touch with reality. Is this kind of determination in the face of self-destruction that we are looking for in the Commander in Chief? Hasn't the current Commander in Chief made the dangers of such poor judgement abundantly clear to us?

Speaking of which, what kind of marks on the Commander in Chief exam should Senator McCain be given?

Posted at May 11, 2008 6:55 PM in response to Hillary Holds Private Conference Call With Her Super-Dels: "I Know This Is Not Easy"

" I mean if your going to take an interest in this race, at least educate yourself beyond the 8th grade education"

shouldn't that be "you're"?

Posted at May 11, 2008 12:32 PM in response to Hillary Holds Private Conference Call With Her Super-Dels: "I Know This Is Not Easy"

Why aren't the politicians, including Obama, talking about the fundamental problems regarding oil: supplies are declining and demand is growing. Nor are the talking heads addressing this issue. I am reading "Twilight in the Desert," a 2005 publication by an oil analyst Matthew R. Simmons, about the imminent peaking of oil production by Saudi Arabia and its effect on the global economy.

One striking thing early in the book is a review of the oil embargo of 1973. It was motivated in part by the declining dollar (the guns and butter approach to fighting the Viet Nam war), and by Nixon's support of Israel in the Yum Kipper war. But more fundamental factors were the peaking of U.S. oil production in 1970 and growing international demand.

The Nation is not facing reality regarding the future of oil supplies and demands; and no one, neither the politicians nor the "talking heads", are educating the American public about the facts.

Apparently things will have to get worse before they get better.

Posted at May 6, 2008 5:58 PM in response to The Gas Tax Holiday: A Rare Teaching Moment in American Politics

I, for one, have subscribed to the Financial Times -- it is far more informative.

Posted at April 11, 2008 5:57 PM in response to Sputtering Toward the Rubber Room