analysis policy in all the world

Thứ Bảy, 30 tháng 1, 2010

Larwyn's Linx: The Obamarang and Nanshy Peloshi

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QOTD:

"Looking out at the motley crew seated before him for the big speech, the president seemed at times to be pretending that he had never seen these people before in his life." -- Gail Collins

Thứ Sáu, 29 tháng 1, 2010

And Saul Alinsky laughed: Economy still in freefall

Democrats were relieved to finally locate accurate 'hockey-stick' graphs -- until they discovered that the charts represented mortgage defaults.

Freddie Mac reported that the rate of serious delinquencies - at least 90 days behind - for conventional loans in its single-family guarantee business increased to 3.87% in December 2009, up from 3.72% in November - and up from 1.72% in December 2008...

But maybe Fannie Mae is okay...

Or not.

Fannie Mae reported today that the rate of serious delinquencies - at least 90 days behind - for conventional loans in its single-family guarantee business increased to 5.29% in November, up from 4.98% in October - and up from 2.13% in November 2008 ... it is important to note these stats do include Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) loans in trial modifications.

Gee, Mr. Lenin, isn't central planning great?

Suddenly I feel like Neo from The Matrix.

Well, this is certainly different [BMW]

BMW's new supercar appears destined for production:

...BMW is reportedly planning for a model run of between 5,000 and 10,000 units in 2013... [and] ...BMW has no plans to ditch the radical plug-in hybrid powertrain, which put out 356 horsepower and a stonkin' 590 pound-feet of torque in the concept. That means we'll get something similar to the turbocharged three-cylinder diesel range extender and twin electric motors powered by a lithium polymer battery pack that was featured in Frankfurt. Sounds great so far, and BMW claims the performance will be even better than the 4.8-second 0 to 60 run quoted for the concept.

Naturally, some of the Vision's more outlandish exterior bits will go the way of the Dodo, but IL reports BMW's target of weight is still under 3,000 pounds, meaning that high-tech composites and construction techniques are a veritable lock. Price for this next-gen eco-friendly supercar? Nothing announced – but if you have to ask... well, you know the rest.

Another hybrid supercar: this is getting almost passe.

Deadeye

Samuel sent this one in:

One of the best marksmen in the FBI was passing through a small town.

Everywhere he saw evidence of the most amazing shooting. On trees, on walls, and on fences there were numerous bull's-eyes with the bullet hole in dead center.

The FBI agent asked one of the townspeople if he could meet the person responsible for this wonderful marksmanship. No problem. The marksman turned out to also be the town drunk.

"This is the best marksmanship I have ever seen," said the agent to the man. "How in the world do you do it?"

"Nothing to it," said the wobbling man. "I shoot first and draw the circles afterward."

The Obama Recovery Continues: More Than a Dozen Banks Seized by the FDIC in January Alone

140 banks were shuttered by the FDIC in 2009. Thanks to the Obamaconomy, the U.S. is on track for a double-digit increase in failed institutions. Based upon January's results, at least 156 banks will fail in 2010.

Regulators have shut down two banks in Georgia, and one each in Florida and Minnesota, boosting to 13 the number of bank failures so far in 2010, following 140 closures last year in the punishing economic climate.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on Friday took over the four: First National Bank of Georgia... Community Bank and Trust of Cornelia, Ga.... Florida Community Bank of Immokalee, Fla.... and Marshall Bank of Hallock, Minn.

It would seem these banks never received the memo that President Obama has saved or created over four hundred quadrillion jobs since his historic election.

"Desperate Presidents Do Desperate Things"

Dan from New York:

Remember the Limbo song that asks "how low can you go?" Prediction you can take to the bank: by 2012 we're going to find out.

WSJ, REVIEW & OUTLOOK, JANUARY 29, 2010

Obama v. the Supremes

Alito wins the oral, and factual, argument.

In the case of Barack Obama v. Supreme Court of the United States, that was some oral argument on Wednesday night. With the Justices arrayed a few feet in front of him in the House chamber, President Obama blistered their recent decision defending free political speech for corporations and unions. As Democrats in Congress and Cabinet members rose and applauded around them, the Justices sat stern-faced, save for Samuel Alito, who was seen shaking his head and mouthing the words "Not true."

Bravo, Justice Alito.

We're not among those who think the Supreme Court is above criticism. Especially in recent decades as the judiciary has become more political, and has encroached on the powers of Congress and the executive, politicians in the other branches have an obligation to defend their powers. Mr. Obama may have exhibited bad manners in sandbagging the Justices without warning on national TV, but he has every right to disagree with their rulings.

But could a graduate of Harvard Law School at least get his facts right? "Last week, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law to open the floodgates for special interests, including foreign corporations, to spend without limit in our elections," Mr. Obama averred. "Well, I don't think American elections should be bankrolled by America's most powerful interests, or worse, by foreign entities."

Let's unpack the falsehoods. The Court didn't reverse "a century of law," but merely two more recent precedents, one from 1990 and part of another from 2003. Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce in 1990 had set the Court in a markedly new direction in limiting independent corporate campaign expenditures. This is the outlier case that needed to be overturned.

Mr. Obama is also a sudden convert to stare decisis. Does he now believe that all Court precedents of a certain duration are sacrosanct, such as Plessy v. Ferguson (separate but equal, 1896), which was overturned by Brown v. Board (1954)? Or Bowers v. Hardwick (a ban on sodomy, 1986), which was overturned by Lawrence v. Texas (2003)?

The President's claim about "foreign entities" bankrolling U.S. political campaigns is also false, since the Court did not overrule laws limiting such contributions. His use of "foreign" was a conscious attempt to inflame public and Congressional opinion against the Court. Coming from a President who fancies himself a citizen of the world, and who has gone so far as foreswear American exceptionalism, this leap into talk-show nativism is certainly illuminating. What will they think of that one in the cafes of Berlin?

Desperate Presidents do desperate things, and Mr. Obama's riff against the Supremes reveals a President who — let us try to follow Mr. Obama's admonition about changing the "tone" of our politics — lacks grace under pressure.

Was it just my imagination or did the President appear angry and upset during the State of the Union? As if he wanted to use a cattle-prod on the American citizenry to help them understand? That what he's trying to do is good for them... and that he knows best?

Problem is -- the American form of government is not well-suited for a Chavez wannabe.

Linked by: Michelle Malkin. Thanks!

Buyer's Remorse

Ben sent this one in:

Thứ Bảy, 30 tháng 1, 2010

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Thứ Sáu, 29 tháng 1, 2010