Big city mayors lining up at the bailout trough.
Politico says Obama considering medical marijuana opponent, recovering addict for drug czar position. Fear the ex-addict who enters the public policy debate to “prevent others from making my mistakes.”
Penguin escape.
Thing is, it would likely lose by a huge margin if ever put to a popular vote.
Shocking!
Get this kid a uniform and a balcony.
Ninety-three days in jail for . . . illegal outdoor furniture?
Glenn Greenwald on Obama’s disappointing early moves regarding executive power. Good to see at least one leading leftist holding the Dems accountable on this.
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TheAgitator.com
I can’t be arsed to look up all the numbers now, but I really suspect that what these cities need is a clear message from DC to go F themselves. Has any of the three actually reduced it’s budget in real terms? I doubt it.
If the fed caves in to playing Santa Claus for these (or any other) cities, it will be endorsing fiscal irresponsibility on a huge scale. Every city in the country will have its hand out for federal gravy. I mean, moreso than they already do.
I think that well encapsulates the attitude that many have toward the bailout and the whole bailout mentality: It’s free money that DC is giving away and you’d be a fool not to get in on the scam.
Three things should be absolutely clear. First, it’s not the federal government’s obligation to bail out any other government, period. Second, it’s bad policy to do so and doing so will only encourage more municipal governments to spend beyond their means.
Third: The federal government is well beyond broke! It is in no position to be bailing anyone out, even in the counter-factual case that it were a good idea to do so. The mayors (and governors and auto industry and everyone else, apparently) seem to think that the federal government is some sort of magic money machine. But, it can only get money through direct currency inflation (printing it), borrowing (bond sales), or taxing. All of those hurt the economy by undermining currency, by diverting money from better investments, and by discouraging wealth generation directly.
Jeezus! Paulson has been a major dope throughout all this, but I surely hope he still has the sense left to send these yahoos packing.
BTW, the Ian Freeman case is outrageous, especially in light of that video. I was sort of expecting to see someone being a bit cheeky with the judge, who finally got riled and overreacted. But, it really looks like the judge immediately took an aggressive stand and punished this Freeman for taking a few extra seconds to find his chair as the hearing came to order and then very reasonably assuming that he was supposed to stand when the judge addressed him by name.
I don’t know anything else about that judge, but that sort of “I am the king of this court and all shall obey my slightest whim on threat of imprisonment” attitude is entirely inappropriate for anyone on the bench. If the judge were to lose his job over this, we would no doubt hear how it’s unfair that he was thrown aside because of one mistake. Anyone making that claim should be referred to the treatment of Mr. Freeman and understand that either judges are held accountable for their actions in the courtroom, or mistreatment like that handed down to Freeman will continue.
BTW, it’s tough to tell in the piece, but it looked like Freeman was unassisted by council, which should be entirely appropriate for this sort of case. But, I worry that the judge took the attitude that many judges do that it’s okay to mistreat someone who doesn’t have a lawyer by his side to show him the ropes and defend him against an aggressive judge.
You didn’t actually believe any of that bullshit from Obama about reforming the legal system, did you?
I think those are Arizona State University students as their hand symbol is very similar to The Shocker….still, funny as hell.
If people start refusing to sit when told by a judge, our whole system breaks done.
I started a rule at my work that everyone must stand when I enter a room (or leave). It’s boosted productivity, but I had to put my boss in cuffs for contempt.
If the fed caves in to playing Santa Claus for these (or any other) cities, it will be endorsing fiscal irresponsibility on a huge scale.
Personally, I think the endorsement of fiscal irresponsibility went off the scale the minute the bailout was conceived. It’s no surprise to me now to see that the (hush) money’s being spread all around.
So are they demonstrating one of their favored “enhanced interrogation techniques” in that White House photo?
That’s the kind of gesture I’d expect by the executive that gives the finger to the Constitution every morning.
BTW. I’m a long time supporter of Ian “Freeman” Bernard’s talk show Free Talk Live. I think its absurd for the judge to use his authority to jail a non-violent activist because he dare question the legitimacy of the criminal process to prosecute the non-violent crime of failing to a remove his tenant’s couch from his tenant’s front yard. If you’d like to support Ian’s radio show like I do you can contribute here.
It’s getting worse. No amount of naive “but-we-elected-a-black-President” will convince me otherwise.
Good for the Penguin.
I never thought for a second that the drug war would be any different under Obama ever since he picked Biden to be his VP. Change my ass.
“The federal government is well beyond broke! It is in no position to be bailing anyone out, even in the counter-factual case that it were a good idea to do so.”
I beg to (pessimistically) differ. Every politician in DC has been given a clear message by the voters that “we” don’t care enough to hold them accountable for deficit spending. Every politician KNOWS that no debt number is so large as to panic voters. Just print more money. The objective in DC is to get paid and get re-elected, not solve this crisis. They are experts in these two areas.
Actually, they don’t even bother printing money. They couldn’t keep up with their spending! They just enter big numbers in a spreadsheet.
Eventually–after this bailout fails…and another one after that fails–Americans will suffer greatly for not requiring accountability. Of course there will still be a battle to fight as most Americans continue to believe “the answer is more government” while they gladly do their part and eat from cans of Patriot Brand cat food. I believe it is impossible to avoid this catastrophe and complete collapse is the only exit to this passionate love affair Americans have with Dem/Repub big-government.
On the bright side, a whole generation of Americans are going to learn how to end their love affair with money and materialism. Ah…the wisdom of the noble poor.
[...] http://www.theagitator.com/2008/11/17/morning-links-106/ [...]
Go, penguin, go!
the guy with the lawn furniture should’ve imitated the penguin when Rusty the Bailiff came over to arrest him…
Freedomfan, the mayors asking for money are under no delusions about the ability of the government to pay. They just don’t care. If they can get bailout money, they will get elected for another term, and that’s as far ahead as they feel they need to plan. “Fuck the taxpayers, they should’ve been smart enough to get elected to public office.”
Government “…can only get money through direct currency inflation (printing it), borrowing (bond sales), or taxing.”
Maybe 2% of the population understands how government accesses money.
The borrowing creates the same debt problems individuals and businesses would face. You use revenue (in this case current and future tax revenue) to pay interest–hard to find a less efficient use of such a valuable asset.
Why are all those people signing “I Love You” to themselves?
This assumes that he just ain’t done be smart enough to understand these simple concepts. Because I don’t believe that he’s stupid (and you shouldn’t either, the guy is well educated and has worked in high profile positions), the only other logical explanation is that these are PURPOSEFUL actions. The question then becomes “to achieve what goal”?
Given the recent posts by Digby, Greenwald and Billmon, I expect that the prominent left bloggers will be much more wary of their president than Red State ever was of theirs.
That says a lot about the true allies of libertarianism.
I can’t imagine the Supreme Court reversing itself and suddenly upholding the Bill of Rights.
Love the penguin. How awesome that it is intelligent enough to realize that the killer whale (which is a species of dolphin actually, not a true whale) is more dangerous to it than the boat full of humans.
Greg Pants (#12)
“… eat from cans of Patriot Brand cat food”
ROFLMAO
As for Mr. Ian “Freeman” Bernard – that was a complete setup.
Look at the guy who walked between him and the judge. He already knew “the plan” before the Judge ordered Mr. Bernard into custody. Two deputies and 4 guys in suits to “aid” in his arrest! Come on.
I’m happy to report that Ian “Freeman” Bernard was released from jail on Monday, after only 4 days. Apparently the negative publicity got the attention of people in charge.
Links to the updates, just as with the original story, can be found at 93days.com.