Archive for January, 2009

Republicans Need Ideas Other Than Tax Cuts

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Barack, Democrats, Economy, Republicans, Taxes, Video

Supply side economics are what got us to where we are currently and they’re not going to get us out. John Boehner on Meet The Press today… We all know the basic argument: you give people back more of their money, they’ll spend it wisely. Well, during these unique times I think that argument isn’t [...]

January 25th, 2009 | Permalink| 9 Comments »

Obama To Launch Recovery.gov

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Barack, Technology, Transparency

Most the following video is about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, but the big idea here is that along with the passage of the stimulus plan comes a new website (just a landing page so far) that will keep track of where and how tax dollars are being spent. Obviously this is an unprecedented [...]

January 24th, 2009 | Permalink| 8 Comments »

Oklahoma Ethics Commission: We Need More Money Because Last Year’s Increase Went For Pay Raises

By Glenn Church | Related entries in Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission thinks it needs more money to investigate ethic violations by politicians. The commission, with seven staff members, feels “stymied” without more funds. They are asking for an additional $360,000 to add five more employees. Legislators are not too crazy about giving them the money. Are they afraid of increased investigations? No, [...]

January 24th, 2009 | Permalink| No Comments »

The CBO Report That Never Was

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Economy

It’s been widely reported the past couple days that the Congressional Budget Office did a report that showed the stimulus package wouldn’t have immediate effects. Well, that has turned out to be false. From Huff Post: Reports of a recent study by the Congressional Budget Office, showing that the vast majority of the money in [...]

January 24th, 2009 | Permalink| 16 Comments »

84% Approval For Infrastructure Spending?

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Barack, Economy, Legislation, Money, Polls

Looks like Obama did a decent job convincing folks that we needed to rebuild our power stations and highways and bridges and schools. Because as pollster Frank Luntz found, the support appears to be overwhelming. From LA Times: Last month, I conducted a national survey of 800 registered voters on their attitudes toward infrastructure investment. [...]

January 23rd, 2009 | Permalink| 16 Comments »

Conservative Dem Kirsten Gillibrand Picked For Hillary’s Seat

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Hillary, New York, Senate

What a difference a day makes… ALBANY – Gov. Paterson, defying the liberal wing of his Democratic Party, has chosen little-known, NRA-backed, upstate Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton as New York’s junior senator, it was learned last night. The surprising – and, for many Democrats shocking – decision to pick the conservative [...]

January 23rd, 2009 | Permalink| 1 Comment »

Classy thank you notes versus ungrateful Gitmo ingrates

By Darren Garnick | Related entries in Guantanamo Bay

New Red Sox outfielder Rocco Baldelli, who left the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as a free agent after battling chronic injuries, just took out a newspaper ad in the St. Petersburg Times thanking the fans for their warmth and support. C-L-A-S-S-Y. Regardless of whether his mother reminded him to send a thank you note or [...]

January 22nd, 2009 | Permalink| 5 Comments »

Quote Of The Day

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Barack, Economy, Quotes

“He understands economics. He’s a very smart guy. He’s a cool rational-type thinker. He will work with the right kind of people. So you’ve got the right person in the operating room, but it doesn’t mean the patient is going to leave the hospital tomorrow.” – Warren Buffett on appropriate expectations of Obama’s economic plans. [...]

January 22nd, 2009 | Permalink| 1 Comment »

The Princess Of Camelot Has A Tarnished Crown

By Doug Mataconis | Related entries in General Politics, New York, Senate

It appears that Caroline Kennedy’s withdrawal from consideration for the open New York Senate seat had nothing to do with her uncle’s illness: ALBANY — Problems involving taxes and a household employee surfaced during the vetting of Caroline Kennedy and derailed her candidacy for the Senate, a person close to Gov. David A. Paterson said [...]

January 22nd, 2009 | Permalink| 2 Comments »

Obama Orders Guantanamo To Close After One Year

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Barack, Bush, Guantanamo Bay, Law, Torture, Transparency

Also, the words “we don’t torture” will finally be true. From NY Times: The orders, which are the first steps in undoing detention policies of former President George W. Bush, rewrite American rules for the detention of terrorism suspects. They require an immediate review of the 245 detainees still held at the naval base in [...]

January 22nd, 2009 | Permalink| 13 Comments »