Stephen Colbert Does the Impossible

He finds a use for Bud Lite^® Lime: as an instructional tool:^*



Brilliant!

^*Because drinking that sh%$ is not a good idea.

Call Me a Cynic………

So Barack Obama has repeated his promise to be out of Iraq by August 31.

Note that this involves a lot of weasel words, the core phrase being, "America’s combat mission in Iraq would end."

That doesn't mean that there won't be soldiers there, and that they won't be shot at, but rather that they are providing "Training and Logistical Support."

Shades of American advisers in Vietnam.

I don't think that Obama wants to stay, but he does not have the strength to tell the Pentagon to get the F%$# out and shut the F%$# up, and because the generals still want a little war, because it's good for careers, and because a real peace dividend would interfere with their consulting gigs in retirement.

I am not suggesting that the Pentagon is unpatriotic, any more than I would suggest that the telemarketing industry is, but they view their benefit to be an independent good for the nation, which does not serve the nation.

This is why robust civilian control of the military is essential for a civil society.

I may be wrong in my prediction, I am wrong more often than not, but I fear that I am right.

Colorado Senate Race-Primary Update

It looks like Andrew Romanoff, who recently sold his house to lend money to his campaign, appears to have moving ahead of incumbent appointee corporate raider/DINO Michael Bennet in the polls, with the most recent poll showing a lead of 48%-45%, though the Bennet campaign is claiming that they still hold a 4 point lead in internal polls, 41%-37%.

Note that the rule of thumb is that undecideds break at least 2:1 for the challenger, so either number looks like a very likely loss for Bennet, which to my mind would be a good thing.

Real Democrats win, and then they push good policies in office.

Rather unsurprisingly, the Obama administration come out rather strongly in favor of Bennet, as it has routinely in the case of Corporatocrats this cycle.

The primary is next Tuesday, and here's hoping that Romanoff wins, particularly since the Republicans seem to be busy self-destructing in their primary.

Damn, Another Store to Boycott

Target is making donations to a PAC supporting notorious homophobe Tom Emmer's campaign for Governor of Minnesota.

They claim that they made the donations because that Emmer is "Business Friendly."

It ain't friendly to my business, which I will take elsewhere until they make an abject groveling apology.

Signs of the Apocalypse, Republican Tax Cuts Edition

Who is the latest economics notable criticizing the Republican desire for never ending tax cuts?

Why it's 1980s wunderkind David Stockman, who was Ronald Reagan's director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Not only does he excoriate supply side, "Tax Cuts Pay for Themselves," mentality, he lays the financial crisis at the feet of these policies.

We are living in Bizarro world when David Stockman is the voice of reason.

Economics Data Points for Last Week

So, GDP growth has fallen sharply, down to a 2.4% annual rate in the 2^nd quarter, as compared to the anemic-for-a-meaningful-recovery 3.7% in the 1^st quarter, which appears to indicate that the recovery is running out of steam.

What's more, the base number is overly rosy to begin with, since it is driven by inventory restocking from industries that had drawn down to the bone, home builders rushing to beat the tax credit deadline, and a significant increase in government spending.

Consumer spending rose by only a 1.6% annual rate.

What's more, initial unemployment claims remained above 450,000, at least 50K above a tepid recovery in employment.


I'm beginning to agree with Mohamed El-Erian of PIMCO, who says that employment has become a leading indicator, since it drives consumer spending.

Fun at Garage Sales

Charlie already has a snare drum and a glockenspiel, and today, when we were driving home, we passed a garage sale that had a nearly complete drum set, a bass drum, and 3 different sized tom-toms, and associated mounting hardware, at about 1/3 of their normal price.

We need to get a bass drum pedal, and a high hats, and some cymbals (crash, ride, and splash).

He's already demonstrated the ability to use the drums in a Rock & Roll setting, he and his sister Natalie spent the past three weeks at Day Jams, a Rock and Roll day camp, so he'll be able to practice his skills.^*

He's well on his way to be a heavy metal hebe.

We have videos from the concerts, and I will be posting them shortly.

Both of the kids were both very good.

^*Yes, the idea of a child practicing drums does fill me with a bit of trepidation.