Emptywheel has the scoop, and it’s pretty convincing.
Month: May 2008
McCain Staffers Questioned in Rick Renzi Corrupt Land Deal
They have beeninterviewed in connection with the corrupt land swap deal. It appears that the prosecutors have requested documents from McCain, but that he has not yet turned them over.
Reporter Says Upper Management at Networks Prohibited Real Journalism in Run Up to War
On Anderson Cooper, Jessica Yellin said that network execs killed stories critical of Bush and the invasion of Iraq.
I am so not surprised.
Two Snaps Up for Barack Obama
Barack Obama has stated that if elected, in his first 100 days he will hold a comprehensive review of all Bush executive orders, and overturn those that he feels are unconstitutional.
PTSD by the Numbers
I came across this on Eric Alterman’s Altercation, in one of the letter from Ken G of Cherry Hill, NJ that he published, detailing the basics of combat related psychological stress:
Studies during World War II determined that the average rifleman in combat maintained peak efficiency up to about 90 days of cumulative combat. Thereafter, efficiency decreased and ultimately, if not otherwise wounded, they became “psychiatric casualties” after 200 to 240 cumulative days in combat. Once they became “psychiatric casualties,” soldiers could be treated and made useful again in rear echelon duties but they were rarely able to become effective combat rifle men again. It was further determined that “Rest and Recuperation” (R & R) could “stop the clock” on the cumulative days of combat, but it could not “turn back the clock.” In other words, whether a rifleman served in combat for 240 consecutive days or for 240 single days with R & R in between, they were still likely to become psychiatric casualties. Interestingly, studies during the Vietnam War initially did not seem to support the figures calculated in World War II. However, further study determined that actually the figures from World War II were correct, but, since in Vietnam a soldier was invariably a target to insurgent snipers and mortar barrages and bombs whether on a search and destroy mission or at base camp or on R & R in Saigon, the “combat clock” continued to tick even during times that were seemingly non-combat. In others words, it is not the least bit shocking that most of the men who served as riflemen for a one-year tour in Vietnam suffered from some level of PTSD upon completion of their tour.
Note that the surge required 15 months tours, so people in the military and the administration knew that they were breaking the bulk of the soldiers who are so deployed.
Larry Craig to Write Book
My guess is that the title will be Zen and the Art of Bathroom Etiquette.
Heh.
The New McScarfyism*
It started innocently enough, with an ad from Dunkin’ Donuts:
Rachael Ray, who gets pictured eating in so many places that I expect the Phoenix Mars lander to snap a picture, doing an add for Dunkin’ Donuts frozen drinks.
Notice the paisley silk scarf? So did Michelle Malkin (sorry, no link to her, ever), and she claimed that it was the Arab headdress known as the Keffiyeh, and that Dunkin Donuts was “hate couture”, and an endorsement of Jihad.
Well, the donut and coffee purveyor, did not do the sane thing, which would be to suggest that Malkin needs her meds adjusted, but pulled the ad and issued an apology, once again showing how American business capitulates to Jihadists.
Why am I calling Malkin a Jihadist? Let’s compare Ray and run the numbers:
- Woman’s parents were born and raised in the country which has had the longest Islamist insurgency, the Phillipines?
- Woman born in the United States to parents who were not legal residents at the time, giving them a leg up in getting their green card, aka the, according to Malkin, an “Anchor Baby”.
- Uses threats and intimidation against perceived enemies, including the publication of names and addresses.
- Wears a Keffiyeh.
It’s pretty clear to me which one is a Jihadist.
In any case, I am now boycotting Dunkin Donuts for capitulating to a terrorist.
*Credit where credit is due. I did not come up with this term. Tritumi at SP gets credit for this.
Economics Update
The economy grew more than previously estimated in Q1 of 2008, at an 0.9% annual rate adjusted for CPI, as opposed to the previously reported 0.6%. Note that this still a contraction, as inflation, even the official bogus CPI understates true inflation by well over 1%.
Not surprisingly, treasuries fell, as the revised numbers show more potential for inflation.
New jobless claims rose +4000 to 372,000, just above the estimate of 370,000, which, to me at least, reinforces my thoughts on the trajectory of the economy.
Crude oil prices fell to $126.62/bbl, but retail gasoline hit another record. That’s 22 straight days.
The FDIC issues a very grim report on banks, with bank profits falling by more than 50% and “problem” banks on the rise.
This is, of course, largely tied into the real estate bubble, which appears to be popping in Britain (yet again), with prices falling 2.5% over the last month, and 4.7% year over year.
In the US, I think that those people expecting a turn around will be disappointed, as 30 year fixed mortgage just topped 6%, with indications of more to come, particularly since selling the loans will become harder, as S&P just lowered the ratings on 1,326 Alt-A residential mortgage back securities (RMBS).
Whoever Did This Will Have American and Iraqi Blood on Their Hands
There are allegations that US troops are handing out coins with Christian bible verses to the residents of Fallujah, which the military has now confirmed:
U.S. Marines are handing out this coin,
imprinted with a Gospel verse, to Fallujah residents.
At the western entrance to the Iraqi city of Fallujah Tuesday, Muamar Anad handed his residence badge to the U.S. Marines guarding the city. They checked to be sure that he was a city resident, and when they were done, Anad said, a Marine slipped a coin out of his pocket and put it in his hand.
Out of fear, he accepted it, Anad said. When he was inside the city, the college student said, he looked at one side of the coin. “Where will you spend eternity?” it asked.
He flipped it over, and on the other side it read, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16.”
and
The U.S. military confirmed Thursday that a Marine in the Iraqi city of Fallujah was passing out coins with Gospel verses on them to Sunni Muslims, a U.S. military spokesman in Fallujah told McClatchy Thursday.
A single Marine, a lone gunman, whatever.
I call bullsh$#. If someone did this, than dozens of people knew that it was being done.
New York to Recognize Same-Sex Unions From Out of State
Kudos to Governor Patterson for directing state agencies to, “all state agencies to begin to revise their policies and regulations to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions, like Massachusetts, California and Canada.”
That sound you hear is wingnut heads exploding, as they just got outmanouevered.
This will doubtless be statute in 2009, when the NY State Senate goes Democratic.
DNC Lawyers Rule That Only Half of FL and MI Delegates Can Be Seated
Honestly, I think that awarding them half their delegates is probably the best way to go.
It still leaves the question as to how the Michigan undeclared delegates are selected though.
Saturday’s DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting should be rather interesting.
Dallas and Minneapolis Fed Presidents Hint at Increasing Interest Rates
This development is in no way surprising. Evidence of inflation, even if the CPI data has been massaged to meaninglessness, is everywhere, and the seasonal adjustment in July will yield some truly awful numbers.
Ahmadinejad Foe Elected Speaker of Parliament
This is not at all surprising. Except to the degree that he inflames the west, Ahmadinejad appears to be considered the George W. Bush of Iran, a complete loser and not too bright.
Ali Larijani, the new speaker, was previously the chief negotiator for Iran’s nuclear program, but should not be considered a moderate:
Larijani, who has also been a culture minister and head of the state-run broadcasting operations, has emerged as a powerful politician in recent years, running against Ahmadinejad for president in 2005. He was a critic of the country’s nuclear policies under the reformist president, Mohammad Khatami, and opposed the decision to suspend uranium enrichment. Yet his position moderated after he became the nuclear negotiator in 2005 and tried to press back against Ahmadinejad’s radical approach, which had left Iran increasingly isolated.
He is considered close to Ayatollah Khamenei, who has the final word on state matters. Larijani remained Ayatollah Khamenei’s representative at the Supreme National Security Council despite his October resignation.
Bank of America Cans Countrywide CEO
Something weird is going on. Bank of America just fired David Sambol, Countrywide’s president and chief operating officer (technically, he’s retiring), when they had previously said that he would head their combined mortgage operation.
My guess that someone uncovered some more “chocolaty goodness” at the center of Countrywide…only it wasn’t chocolate.
It might also be some sort of attempt to queer the deal on BoA’s part, because they realize that it’s a really bad idea.
Viacom Going Postal On YouTube
The DMCA is pretty clear on this. If someone posts something to an internet service, and they get a notice, and then take it down, it’s no harm, no foul.
This appears to be YouTube at a glance, but Viacom is now claiming, “that YouTube is guilty of public performance of such content due to the way it presents and plays the videos“, because it allows for embedding and sharing (actually referrals) to the material.
This is going to get very, very ugly.
Nepal to Become Republic
The Constituent Assembly there has voted to abolish the monarchy.
This is a good thing. The real question is what will happen when the Maoists actually start facing a competent political opposition, which should happen in the next 5-10 years.
What Was the First Concert You Attended?
Jessica Valenti asks, “What’s the first concert you attended?”
Not counting events where the band was secondary, it was John Entwhistle on a solo tour, backed up by a pretty decent band called Rat Race Choir, who did a set on their own before he came on.
The opening act was called Gotham City, and was a bad Heart clone.
At The Channel, in Boston.
Poll: Gay Marriage Ban Likely to Fail in California
The Field Poll survey found 51 percent against approving a possible November ballot measure to prohibit gay marriage, with 43 percent in favor. A slightly differently worded question on the same issue found 54 percent opposed and 40 percent in favor.
Once again, the right wing is on the wrong side of history and morality.
McCain’s Economic Guru Lobbying for Swiss Bank
Olbermann broke the story of Phil Gramm was a lobbyist and vice-chairman for UBS, the Swiss bank embroiled in the problems of the subprime market.
Straight talk express, my ass!
Finally!!!! SEC Looks At Prime Enabler of the Big Sh%$pile!
The SEC is looking at how the ratings agencies do business:
The U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) is looking into the workings of the three main credit rating agencies, prompted by their handling of the subprime crisis and a report of computer errors at Moody’s
. “We sent letters to Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch asking for them to get back to us on aspects of their methodology,” said Erik Sirri, director of the SEC’s trading and markets division.
The basic problem, however, is that they are paid by the people that they rate, creating an inherent conflict of interest.
This is at the core of many of the problems that we are seeing now. The felons are running the prison.