Sunday, September 21, 2008
Why Several People Come to this Blog
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
McCain on Health Care: Changiness We Shouldn't Believe In
by Tom Bozzo
Over at Angry Bear, I have a long post up discussing whether McCain's health care tax credits are really a tax cut (and for whom), and whether the plan makes any sense otherwise. (Hint: I'm a small-e economist for Obama.)
Labels: Health Care, John McCain
Monday, September 15, 2008
(Almost) Betting the Farm
by Tom Bozzo
In alarm-clock land, NPR seemed to be in "Don't Panic!" mode as the news of course led with the Lehman story but they didn't mention, e.g., European markets being down 4-5% as of this (Monday early AM CDT) writing. Then David Wessel of the W$J was asked if this was the wildest time ever, and he lifted my spirits by answering that he was not alive in 1929.
We ran the nightmare scenario courtesy of Nouriel Roubini here at AB over the weekend. Our own Ken has an excellent follow-up explaining why we really should be glad that his Old Firm was bailed out as in that case a broader financial 'contagion' was 99 and 44/100 percent likely; if the financial world was Smart then the Lehman failure ought to be priced in. It's the 'if they were smart' part that's worrisome in a 'how do you think we got into this fine mess' way.
Suzanne showed this morning that she's been the spouse of an economist maybe a little too long, as she asked, "Would I be doing my part to help the situation if I went shopping today?"
In alarm-clock land, NPR seemed to be in "Don't Panic!" mode as the news of course led with the Lehman story but they didn't mention, e.g., European markets being down 4-5% as of this (Monday early AM CDT) writing. Then David Wessel of the W$J was asked if this was the wildest time ever, and he lifted my spirits by answering that he was not alive in 1929.
We ran the nightmare scenario courtesy of Nouriel Roubini here at AB over the weekend. Our own Ken has an excellent follow-up explaining why we really should be glad that his Old Firm was bailed out as in that case a broader financial 'contagion' was 99 and 44/100 percent likely; if the financial world was Smart then the Lehman failure ought to be priced in. It's the 'if they were smart' part that's worrisome in a 'how do you think we got into this fine mess' way.
Labels: Crisis Management, Econoblogs, Moral Hazard
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
The Apotheosis of 'Fake News'
by Tom Bozzo
Campaigns can't buy that sort of coverage. (Cf. Don Pedro at Economists for Obama.) The question is what impact does it have relative to 30-second ad buys and/or the traditional media's 'opinion differs on shape of the world' approach.
Campaigns can't buy that sort of coverage. (Cf. Don Pedro at Economists for Obama.) The question is what impact does it have relative to 30-second ad buys and/or the traditional media's 'opinion differs on shape of the world' approach.
Labels: Daily Show, John McCain
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Republican Party drops all pretense of Libertarian community
by Ken Houghton
That myth can now officially be laid to rest. As evidence, we have, first, the quintessential "Libertarian" band, boldly declaring "If you choose not to decide/You still have made a choice":
It used to be that when someone declared themself a "libertarian," you could reasonably assume that they were a Republican who did drugs.
That myth can now officially be laid to rest. As evidence, we have, first, the quintessential "Libertarian" band, boldly declaring "If you choose not to decide/You still have made a choice":
And, as the counterpoint, the 2008 Reublican National Convention delegates, most especially the lady at 3:26 who declares "a choice is not freedom of choice."
US version:
Canadian link
I await the news of Glenn Reynolds's head having exploded.
Labels: Glibertarianism, pop music, Republican Party
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Bloody Brilliant
by Ken Houghton
Labels: 2008, John McCain, Politics, Video
'Joe Biden On Fire'
Friday, September 05, 2008
Through the Looking Glass, My Friends
by Tom Bozzo
Which is to say, "stop me before I kill again":
As Brad DeLong says, the Cossacks work for the Czar. Bonus:
I can only conclude that the McCain strategy to deflect press attention away from the massive defects of the candidates policies and the candidates themselves hinges on the threat that contemplating a Republican pitching to Republicans that a Republican should be elected for opposing Republican policies would cause a massive cranial explosion.
Actual headline this morning as I started up NYTimes.com:
Which is to say, "stop me before I kill again":
As Brad DeLong says, the Cossacks work for the Czar. Bonus:
I can only conclude that the McCain strategy to deflect press attention away from the massive defects of the candidates policies and the candidates themselves hinges on the threat that contemplating a Republican pitching to Republicans that a Republican should be elected for opposing Republican policies would cause a massive cranial explosion.
Labels: IOKIYAR, John McCain
