Gallup: Americans’ Global Warming Concerns Continue to Drop.
“In response to one key question, 48% of Americans now believe that the seriousness of global warming is generally exaggerated, up from 41% in 2009 and 31% in 1997, when Gallup first asked the question.”
Washington Post: Powerful men attract PYTs, but powerful women are a turn-off.
“How many men can resist the bold advances of a beautiful young intern or a flattering media groupie that fawns on your every word? Are we saying that are men the weaker sex when it comes to controlling their basic instincts? But isn’t it precisely the crucible of leadership to resist temptation, have self-control, and live by a higher standard?” Conversely, I’d say political leadership is about bluffing, strategic concealment. Playing your opponent’s hand. The political gamble itself becomes the attraction, and that bleeds into other aspects of a legislator’s life. We’ve seen it throughout history.
Reuters: Big majority wants Wall Street regulation.
”The findings suggest that 82 percent of Americans want the government to clamp down more strongly on Wall Street excesses, with a particular emphasis on bonus schemes that have rewarded employees at loss-making companies such as American International Group.” I could care less about the bonus schemes ... they’re a drop in the bucket compared to the other ‘excesses.’
USA Today: Toyota could face criminal charges related to safety recalls.
Washington Post: Massa flirts with the right, but Beck isn’t tickled.
‘Explained verity’ was one of Edward R. Murrow’s philosophies. Doubt B will risk it again. Blech.
NY Times: Toyotas Are Safe (Enough).
”So go out today and buy a Toyota. It’s the patriotic thing to do.” Exactly.
Washington Post: ‘Al-Qaeda 7’ smear campaign is an assault on American values.
“If Cheney and her group object, they should prepare a blanket denunciation of the federal judiciary. Or maybe what they really don’t like is that pesky old Constitution, with all its checks, balances and guarantees of due process. How inconvenient to live in a country that respects the rule of law.” Presumably, they’d oppose Abraham Lincoln, for his creative ‘moonshine’ defense of murder suspect William Armstrong ...
Miller-McCune: An Omnipotent Enemy Comforts Us.
“According to one school of thought, this tendency to exaggerate the strength of our adversaries serves a specific psychological function. It is less scary to place all our fears on a single, strong enemy than to accept the fact our well-being is largely based on factors beyond our control. An enemy, after all, can be defined, analyzed and perhaps even defeated.”
Politics Daily: Glenn Beck Urges Listeners to Leave Churches That Preach Social Justice.
“Communists are on the left, and the Nazis are on the right. That’s what people say. But they both subscribe to one philosophy, and they flew one banner ...” Is it a coincidence that when you Google “Jesus social justice” you get a load of Catholic sites? Curious.
Good grief.
Don’t tell me this thing could fly. Ah, only in ground effect. Wouldn’t these be good for driving off Somali pirates?
CNN: Bill Mauldin stamp honors grunts’ hero.
“… the United States Postal Service deserves a standing ovation for something that’s going to happen this month: Bill Mauldin is getting his own postage stamp.” Abso-f’ing-lutely. If you don’t know Willie and Joe, you know nothing about WWII.
NewWest.Net: Sage Grouse Listing Denied.
Rather than chicken out, I’d grouse too.
NPR: Top Republicans: Yeah, We’re Calling Obama Socialist.
So, Socialism is the new Communism.
Washington Post: FDA warns of salmonella risk from common flavor enhancer.
IMPORTANT. “Thousands of types of processed foods — including many varieties of soups, chips, hot dogs and salad dressings — may pose a health threat because they contain a flavor enhancer that could be contaminated with salmonella, the Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.” Here’s the list. There’s a Trader Joe’s item on there.
SF New Mexican: New Mexico lawmakers OK tax increases.
“Lawmakers sent the governor a measure that will generate more than $200 million by raising several taxes. Included is a one-eighth cent increase in the state’s 5 percent gross-receipts tax on goods and services. New Mexicans also will resume paying a tax on food, which will average about 2 percent statewide. Pending in the Senate was a proposed 75-cents-a-pack increase in the cigarette tax to raise $33 million, and measures to finance capital improvement projects.” Incumbents who voted for this are going to be nonstarters in the next election, once the food tax hits the streets.
The Nation: Back Talk: Martha C. Nussbaum.
“Disgust, though, is different because it has this singular type of irrationality. It’s not noncognitive; it has an idea. But the idea repudiates some aspect of ourselves. It embodies a kind of self-loathing.”
Mother Jones: Sting’s Uzbek Dictator Problem.
”Famed rockers regularly play private gigs for people you might not enjoy meeting on a street corner. There was the New Year’s gig Beyonce played for Moammar Qaddafi’s son, Hannibal; Jimmy Buffett’s appearance at the infamous orgy of decadence thrown by ex-Tyco CEO Dennis Kozlowski for his wife; and the intimate affairs Michael Jackson and Celine Dion put on for the Sultan of Brunei (whose regime is not known for its hospitality toward women, or its appreciation of human rights).” Remember the song ’Sun City‘?
New Scientist: What is causing deformities in Fallujah’s children?
“In 2004 Fallujah was the scene of heavy fighting in which the US military eventually regained control of the city. Local people told the BBC they suspect US forces used white phosphorus and depleted uranium (DU), although this has not been proved.” Depleted uranium is already implicated in many health maladies. If America won’t do the research, let’s hope Britain does.
Atlantic, McArdle: Toyota Drags Rivals Down With It.
“Toyota is a sort of desperate company right now. So it’s not surprising that they’ve rolled out 0% financing on many of its most popular models. Nor is it surprising that this has forced American automakers to follow suit.” Too bad they didn’t unlatch the financial coffers earlier. Perhaps their dip wouldn’t have been so precipitous.
Foreign Policy: The Shooting War.
Reuters: Republicans rip on Bunning.
“Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown said that Bunning was simply concerned about paying for the benefits package - but asked if he shared that concern, Brown said, ”I have to go,” and took a call on his cell.”
Atlantic, McArdle: Jim Bunning Plays Chicken with Unemployment Benefits.
“If Bunning wants to hold up something, how about finding some useless defense appropriations to complain about?”
The Atlantic: Paying Taxes: So Easy, a Caveman Can Do It.
”What if paying taxes were as easy as paying your credit card statement? That would be ... well, much easier! And it would be the future if Congress took up Sens. Ron Wyden and Judd Gregg’s new tax reform plan, which in addition to dramatically changing the tax code by eliminating subsidies and tripling the standard deduction, would also give the IRS the ability the send taxpayers a one-page statement to review and sign — just like you get in the mail from your credit card company.”
CommonDreams.org: Cracking Down on Fracking.
“There is virtually no federal oversight of fracking, leaving the budget-strapped states to do the job with a patchwork of disparate regulations. They are no match for the major, multinational drilling and energy companies that are exploiting the political goal of ‘energy independence.’” Demand real Federal oversight of fracking fluids. Otherwise you’ll be able to light up your tap water, too. Thanks, Linda!
NY Times: Bernanke Reaffirms ‘Extended Period’ of Low Rates.
“Ben S. Bernanke, the Federal Reserve chairman, signaled on Wednesday that he did not plan to begin raising interest rates anytime soon, saying the economic recovery would remain halting for months to come.”
