Hastert and the Foley Scandal (Josh Marshall) from Talking Points Memo
"Set aside whether this past had any role in Hastert's office's laggard response to warnings about Foley. Hastert was hiding an explosive secret. He must have been terrified of exposure. A thundering denunciation of Foley would seem like the kind of move which almost would have invited a past victim to step forward."
Friday, June 5, 2015
Hastert Scandal Largely Unearthed back in 2006!
Flashback: Investgative Journalist Broke Ex-Speaker Hastert Blackmail Sex Scandal in 2006 from Infowars.com
These folks had little or no credibility back in 2006 -- but boy are they crowing now!
"In 2006, Hastert was involved with the cover-up of a major sex scandal involving Republican congressmen. ... “There is also much focus on the relationship between House Speaker Dennis Hastert and his chief of staff, 56-year old Scott Palmer. Hastert and Palmer, Hastert’s longtime unmarried adviser, live together in a DC townhouse along with Hastert’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Mike Stokke, while Hastert’s wife Jean lives in Yorkville, Illinois and stays at a hotel when she visits Washington."
These folks had little or no credibility back in 2006 -- but boy are they crowing now!
"In 2006, Hastert was involved with the cover-up of a major sex scandal involving Republican congressmen. ... “There is also much focus on the relationship between House Speaker Dennis Hastert and his chief of staff, 56-year old Scott Palmer. Hastert and Palmer, Hastert’s longtime unmarried adviser, live together in a DC townhouse along with Hastert’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Mike Stokke, while Hastert’s wife Jean lives in Yorkville, Illinois and stays at a hotel when she visits Washington."
Woman says her brother was a victim of ex-Speaker Hastert
Woman says her brother was a victim of ex-Speaker Hastert from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"A woman today named her deceased brother as a victim of sexual abuse by J. Dennis Hastert, the former House speaker, saying the abuse took place while he was a student at the Illinois high school where Mr. Hastert was a wrestling coach."
"A woman today named her deceased brother as a victim of sexual abuse by J. Dennis Hastert, the former House speaker, saying the abuse took place while he was a student at the Illinois high school where Mr. Hastert was a wrestling coach."
Gay Therapy Programs - A Form of Consumer Fraud?
Can Sexuality Be Changed? (Olga Khazan) from the Atlantic
"A trial in New Jersey this week will determine whether telling gay people that they can become straight constitutes consumer fraud. The ruling might mean the end of so-called “conversion therapies” for good. ... The case is being brought by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Alabama-based civil-rights group, which is arguing that JONAH-style treatment—and other “gay conversion therapies” like it—amount to consumer fraud. Quite simply, the SPLC argues, conversion therapy doesn’t work. People can’t become ex-gay, and making promises to the contrary is a false bill of goods."
"A trial in New Jersey this week will determine whether telling gay people that they can become straight constitutes consumer fraud. The ruling might mean the end of so-called “conversion therapies” for good. ... The case is being brought by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Alabama-based civil-rights group, which is arguing that JONAH-style treatment—and other “gay conversion therapies” like it—amount to consumer fraud. Quite simply, the SPLC argues, conversion therapy doesn’t work. People can’t become ex-gay, and making promises to the contrary is a false bill of goods."
The GOP's Worst Enemy: Fox News?
Fox News Eats Its Own (Bill Scher) from Politico
"The GOP’s worst enemy is turning out to be the friendliest network. ... The recent gaffes on Fox News by Republican candidates are not because Fox News journalists are suddenly out to get Republicans. It’s because even a softball question can trip up a candidate not ready for prime time."
"The GOP’s worst enemy is turning out to be the friendliest network. ... The recent gaffes on Fox News by Republican candidates are not because Fox News journalists are suddenly out to get Republicans. It’s because even a softball question can trip up a candidate not ready for prime time."
Rubio's Continuing Problems with Cuban Voters
Cubans Really Don't Like Marco Rubio from Mother Jones
"... they saved a particular brand of venom for Marco Rubio. Cab drivers, bartenders, artists—everyone seem to have something to say about Marco Rubio, and none of it was kind. A few suggested that as a Cuban-American Rubio should display some concern for economic struggles of every day Cubans..."
"... they saved a particular brand of venom for Marco Rubio. Cab drivers, bartenders, artists—everyone seem to have something to say about Marco Rubio, and none of it was kind. A few suggested that as a Cuban-American Rubio should display some concern for economic struggles of every day Cubans..."
Jeb's Continuing Problems with Conservatives
Romney Had Problems With Conservatives. Jeb’s May Be Worse from the Wall Street Journal
"Jeb Bush may have a lot of advantages as the 2016 race begins – money, name recognition, a network of supporters. But Mr. Bush has a problem with conservatives. How bad is it? Compare his standing to that of 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney, who famously struggled to win over his party’s base. Mr. Romney’s numbers appeared healthier than Mr. Bush’s, around the same point in the races."
"Jeb Bush may have a lot of advantages as the 2016 race begins – money, name recognition, a network of supporters. But Mr. Bush has a problem with conservatives. How bad is it? Compare his standing to that of 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney, who famously struggled to win over his party’s base. Mr. Romney’s numbers appeared healthier than Mr. Bush’s, around the same point in the races."
Thursday, May 28, 2015
TODAY'S BIG NUGGET: Imperialism Not Looking So Bad These Days
It’s Time to Bring Imperialism Back to the Middle East (Robert Kaplan) from Foreign Policy Magazine
"Empire may have fallen out of fashion, but history shows that the only other option is the kind of chaos we see today. ... Totalitarianism was the only answer to the end of Western imperialism in these artificial states, and totalitarianism’s collapse is now the root cause of Middle East chaos."
Now, I should say that neither I (nor, I suspect, Mr. Kaplan) are actually suggesting that America or Europe resume an old-style imperialist approach to the Middle East. But his argument certainly showcases the historical upside to imperialism in this era where instability is becoming the norm.
"Empire may have fallen out of fashion, but history shows that the only other option is the kind of chaos we see today. ... Totalitarianism was the only answer to the end of Western imperialism in these artificial states, and totalitarianism’s collapse is now the root cause of Middle East chaos."
Now, I should say that neither I (nor, I suspect, Mr. Kaplan) are actually suggesting that America or Europe resume an old-style imperialist approach to the Middle East. But his argument certainly showcases the historical upside to imperialism in this era where instability is becoming the norm.
Obama's National Security Legacy
Obama the Carpenter: The President's National Security Legacy (Michael O'Hanlon) from Brookings
"Gauged by more reasonable and normal standards, however, Mr. Obama has in fact done acceptably well. Both his critics and his defenders tend to use unrealistic benchmarks in grading his presidency. If we use the kinds of standards that are applied to most American leaders, things look quite different."
"Gauged by more reasonable and normal standards, however, Mr. Obama has in fact done acceptably well. Both his critics and his defenders tend to use unrealistic benchmarks in grading his presidency. If we use the kinds of standards that are applied to most American leaders, things look quite different."
Are America and China Spiraling toward War or Peace?
Are America and China Spiraling toward War or Peace? (Peter Harris) from the National Interest
"Contrary to much conventional wisdom and international relations theories, which tend to predict hostility between rising and established powers in world politics—a law-like dynamic that the Harvard political scientist Graham Allison has called the “Thucydides’s Trap”—Goldstein portrays the emerging U.S.-China relationship as highly contingent upon human agency. Whether peace obtains between the United States and China, he argues, will be determined by strategic choices rather than structural forces."
"Contrary to much conventional wisdom and international relations theories, which tend to predict hostility between rising and established powers in world politics—a law-like dynamic that the Harvard political scientist Graham Allison has called the “Thucydides’s Trap”—Goldstein portrays the emerging U.S.-China relationship as highly contingent upon human agency. Whether peace obtains between the United States and China, he argues, will be determined by strategic choices rather than structural forces."
China Looking to Project its Naval Power
China, Updating Military Strategy, Puts Focus on Projecting Naval Power from the New York Times
"China intends to project naval power in the open ocean in coming years, and not just defend the country’s coastal waters, according to a strategy paper released on Tuesday. The paper, the first policy document issued by the Chinese military in two years, comes at a time of growing Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea. China’s efforts to enforce its disputed claims to vast stretches of the sea by building up artificial islands and structures on reefs and outcroppings have drawn the
Philippines and its ally the United States into a test of wills in the region."
"China intends to project naval power in the open ocean in coming years, and not just defend the country’s coastal waters, according to a strategy paper released on Tuesday. The paper, the first policy document issued by the Chinese military in two years, comes at a time of growing Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea. China’s efforts to enforce its disputed claims to vast stretches of the sea by building up artificial islands and structures on reefs and outcroppings have drawn the
Philippines and its ally the United States into a test of wills in the region."
Evading Bitter Truths on the Iraq War
Was the Iraq War a Crime or a Mistake? Yes. (Jonathan Chait) from New York Magazine
"... liberal critics are correct that the war was not merely an honest mistake. But they have framed their indictment of the Bush administration’s intelligence manipulation in such a way as to help it, and its defenders, evade the truth."
"... liberal critics are correct that the war was not merely an honest mistake. But they have framed their indictment of the Bush administration’s intelligence manipulation in such a way as to help it, and its defenders, evade the truth."
India to Launch First Homegrown Aircraft Carrier
India to Launch First Homegrown Aircraft Carrier from National Interest
"India is set to launch its first indigenous aircraft carrier later this month, according to local media reports. ... The carrier is set to undergo testing starting in 2017, and—if everything goes to plan—will be inducted into India’s navy sometime in 2018. India currently operates two aircraft carriers, both of which are foreign built."
"India is set to launch its first indigenous aircraft carrier later this month, according to local media reports. ... The carrier is set to undergo testing starting in 2017, and—if everything goes to plan—will be inducted into India’s navy sometime in 2018. India currently operates two aircraft carriers, both of which are foreign built."
The Age of the Overeducated Barista is Here to Stay
The Economy Is Still Terrible for Young People (Derek Thompson) from the Atlantic
"The era of the overeducated barista is here to stay. College graduates are still spending more and more years (and money) to get worse and worse entry-level jobs."
"The era of the overeducated barista is here to stay. College graduates are still spending more and more years (and money) to get worse and worse entry-level jobs."
New York City's Public-Housing Crisis
New York City's Public-Housing Crisis (Alana Samuels) from the Atlantic
"Many of the city's enormous low-income residences are in need of millions and millions of dollars of repair work. Why are they still standing at all?"
"Many of the city's enormous low-income residences are in need of millions and millions of dollars of repair work. Why are they still standing at all?"
The Cost of an Adjunct
The Cost of an Adjunct (Laura McKenna) from the Atlantic
"The plight of non-tenured professors is widely known, but what about the impact they have on the students they’re hired to instruct?"
"The plight of non-tenured professors is widely known, but what about the impact they have on the students they’re hired to instruct?"
Why Obamacare makes me optimistic about US politics
Why Obamacare makes me optimistic about US politics (Ezra Klein) from Vox
"Five years after its passage, Obamacare stands as a monument to much that's wrong with American politics. But it also, increasingly, is evidence of much that's right with it, too."
"Five years after its passage, Obamacare stands as a monument to much that's wrong with American politics. But it also, increasingly, is evidence of much that's right with it, too."
The "Inherent Fragility" of the Bush Campaign
Jeb Bush's Many Problems (David Frum) from the Atlantic
"Bush’s ability to raise large amounts of money has distracted attention from the inherent fragility of his campaign. But there are many reasons to be skeptical of his ability to secure the Republican nomination, much less win the White House, and the early months of his undeclared campaign have done little to dispel those doubts. Here are six: ..."
While, as usual, Frum makes some valid points, I could come up with a similar list on the "inherent fragility" of the Hillary Clinton campaign. Both of these candidates come with SO MUCH historical baggage, it's anyone's guess as to which will be the most burdened by it.
"Bush’s ability to raise large amounts of money has distracted attention from the inherent fragility of his campaign. But there are many reasons to be skeptical of his ability to secure the Republican nomination, much less win the White House, and the early months of his undeclared campaign have done little to dispel those doubts. Here are six: ..."
While, as usual, Frum makes some valid points, I could come up with a similar list on the "inherent fragility" of the Hillary Clinton campaign. Both of these candidates come with SO MUCH historical baggage, it's anyone's guess as to which will be the most burdened by it.
With a Record this Bad (By their OWN LIGHTS) What Can the GOP Run On?
Reagan, Bush, and the Search for a Usable Republican Past (Jonathan Chait) from New York Magazine
"What makes the question so devilish is that the ranks of the living presidents offer no answer to the question that can square with conservative doctrine. ... The other two, George Bush and George W. Bush, have been excommunicated for committing real or imagined ideological heresy. The Reagan answer was not a mistake — it was the reflection of a party lacking a usable past."
"What makes the question so devilish is that the ranks of the living presidents offer no answer to the question that can square with conservative doctrine. ... The other two, George Bush and George W. Bush, have been excommunicated for committing real or imagined ideological heresy. The Reagan answer was not a mistake — it was the reflection of a party lacking a usable past."
GOP 2016 Agenda: Defend Old Policies?
Why the GOP Can't Get No Satisfaction (Jim Messina) from Politico
"My British experience — including insights from Mick Jagger — taught me that the Republican Party could end up like Ed Miliband. ... So far, during the 2016 cycle, Republican presidential candidates seem dedicated to defending old policies across the spectrum from going back to pre-crisis rules for Wall Street to attacking the science of climate change to constantly focusing on restricting women’s health care decisions."
"My British experience — including insights from Mick Jagger — taught me that the Republican Party could end up like Ed Miliband. ... So far, during the 2016 cycle, Republican presidential candidates seem dedicated to defending old policies across the spectrum from going back to pre-crisis rules for Wall Street to attacking the science of climate change to constantly focusing on restricting women’s health care decisions."
How Jeb Bush Stumbled His Way Through Four Days Of Iraq Questions
How Jeb Bush Stumbled His Way Through Four Days Of Iraq Questions from Talking Points Memo
"More than a decade after President George W. Bush invaded Iraq in 2003, his brother, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R), ended up in his own Iraq quagmire this week. The likely presidential contender for months somehow had managed to avoid talking much about his older brother even as he began to steam toward a White House bid."
"More than a decade after President George W. Bush invaded Iraq in 2003, his brother, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R), ended up in his own Iraq quagmire this week. The likely presidential contender for months somehow had managed to avoid talking much about his older brother even as he began to steam toward a White House bid."
TOOL-OF-THE-MONTH AWARD WINNER!!
Jeb Bush: It's 'Just Really Arrogant' To Say The Science Is Decided On Climate Change from Reuters
"Look, first of all, the climate is changing. I don't think the science is clear what percentage is man-made and what percentage is natural. It's convoluted. And for the people to say the science is decided on, this is just really arrogant, to be honest with you," he said. "It's this intellectual arrogance that now you can't even have a conversation about it. The climate is changing, and we need to adapt to that reality," he said.
"Intellectual arrogance..."! Translation: "Don't let those east-coast liberals, Jews and effete snobs tell you what to think!" Of all the GOP contenders for 2016, I can honestly say that I had the most respect for Jeb Bush -- both as someone who was demonstrably smarter than his brother AND largely unwilling to say the stupidest stuff running rampant on the right. No more. When it comes to climate change, Jeb KNOWS better -- but to get the nomination he is willing to spout anti-environmental nonsense and be a total tool for climate-change deniers. Most pols sell their souls in increments. Jeb just moved over to selling his at the bulk rate.
"Look, first of all, the climate is changing. I don't think the science is clear what percentage is man-made and what percentage is natural. It's convoluted. And for the people to say the science is decided on, this is just really arrogant, to be honest with you," he said. "It's this intellectual arrogance that now you can't even have a conversation about it. The climate is changing, and we need to adapt to that reality," he said.
"Intellectual arrogance..."! Translation: "Don't let those east-coast liberals, Jews and effete snobs tell you what to think!" Of all the GOP contenders for 2016, I can honestly say that I had the most respect for Jeb Bush -- both as someone who was demonstrably smarter than his brother AND largely unwilling to say the stupidest stuff running rampant on the right. No more. When it comes to climate change, Jeb KNOWS better -- but to get the nomination he is willing to spout anti-environmental nonsense and be a total tool for climate-change deniers. Most pols sell their souls in increments. Jeb just moved over to selling his at the bulk rate.
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
TODAY'S BIG NUGGET: Losing the "Martyr-state" Myth
The Many False Assumptions of Iran Hawks (Daniel Larison) from the American Conservative
"It should be mentioned here that Rubio’s thinking on Iran and its nuclear program is badly distorted by his acceptance of the absurd “martyr-state” myth and associated false assumptions about the apocalyptic views of Iran’s leaders."
"It should be mentioned here that Rubio’s thinking on Iran and its nuclear program is badly distorted by his acceptance of the absurd “martyr-state” myth and associated false assumptions about the apocalyptic views of Iran’s leaders."
Paging Mr. Cheney! Paging Mr. Cheney!
Obama Administration Faces Mounting Pressure To Answer For Torture from Huffington Post
"In a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch Friday, human rights group Amnesty International pressed the Justice Department to revisit its decision not to prosecute former officials from the CIA and the George W. Bush administration for their involvement in the agency’s post-9/11 torture program."
I'm going to quibble about the headline: Obama has nothing to "answer for" regarding torture. The real question is: Will anyone from the BUSH YEARS have to "answer for" torture? What about it, Mr. Cheney?
"In a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch Friday, human rights group Amnesty International pressed the Justice Department to revisit its decision not to prosecute former officials from the CIA and the George W. Bush administration for their involvement in the agency’s post-9/11 torture program."
I'm going to quibble about the headline: Obama has nothing to "answer for" regarding torture. The real question is: Will anyone from the BUSH YEARS have to "answer for" torture? What about it, Mr. Cheney?
Debt: A Real Leak in China's Economic Tub
Is the U.S. Economy Actually Leaving China Behind? (Derek Scissors) from Real Clear World
"U.S. debt accumulation is now slower than China's. Looking further down the road, China's economy is plainly slowing (by any measure), while the U.S. outlook is uncertain. The absolute wealth gap rose despite very rapid Chinese expansion from 2000 to 2007."
"U.S. debt accumulation is now slower than China's. Looking further down the road, China's economy is plainly slowing (by any measure), while the U.S. outlook is uncertain. The absolute wealth gap rose despite very rapid Chinese expansion from 2000 to 2007."
Ending Bulk Data Collection by the NSA
House Approves Bill That Would End NSA Bulk Data Collection from Reuters
"The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a bill that would end spy agencies' bulk collections of Americans' telephone data, setting up a potential showdown with the U.S. Senate over the program that expires on June 1."
"The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a bill that would end spy agencies' bulk collections of Americans' telephone data, setting up a potential showdown with the U.S. Senate over the program that expires on June 1."
Shutting Down Debate on the Nuclear Deal
Tom Cotton, Marco Rubio face defeat on Iran (Burgess Everett) from Politico
"Senate leaders are expected to shut down debate on a nuclear review bill, clearing the way for passage."
"Senate leaders are expected to shut down debate on a nuclear review bill, clearing the way for passage."
Pay No Attention to That War Behind the Curtain...
Jeb Bush: Iraq Questioning Is Disservice to Slain Soldiers from Bloomberg Business
"Likely Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush said Wednesday that questioning about how he would have handled Iraq War authorization “does a disservice” to military service members killed in action."
Bzzzt!! Oh pu-LEEZ!! Nice try. No -- rushing into war for false or misleading reasons is an exponentially bigger disservice to military service members who are then killed in action. It is very interesting seeing how the Bush people are seriously struggling to find responses to inevitable questions about the Iraq War, responses that pass the smell test. They are NOT there yet! - Nuggetsman
"Likely Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush said Wednesday that questioning about how he would have handled Iraq War authorization “does a disservice” to military service members killed in action."
Bzzzt!! Oh pu-LEEZ!! Nice try. No -- rushing into war for false or misleading reasons is an exponentially bigger disservice to military service members who are then killed in action. It is very interesting seeing how the Bush people are seriously struggling to find responses to inevitable questions about the Iraq War, responses that pass the smell test. They are NOT there yet! - Nuggetsman
For Seniors ... Who Want to Stay in Their Homes...
Living, and Dying, at Home (Alana Semuels) from the Atlantic
"America is aging, and most seniors want to stay in the places where they've lived for decades. Can they? What will it take?"
"America is aging, and most seniors want to stay in the places where they've lived for decades. Can they? What will it take?"
Just Another Tuesday in the GOP Lunatic Asylum...
Anti-Government Resistance Now The Beating Heart Of GOP (Leonard Pitts) from the National Memo
"Duly elected leaders, putatively responsible people, give credence to the crazy idea that the federal government is about to attack its second most populous state and we shrug because it’s just another Tuesday in the lunatic asylum of American politics."
"Duly elected leaders, putatively responsible people, give credence to the crazy idea that the federal government is about to attack its second most populous state and we shrug because it’s just another Tuesday in the lunatic asylum of American politics."
GOP Primaries: A Can't-Lose Proposition for All Wingnuts
The GOP's clamorous, counterproductive 2016 circus (Michael Brendan Dougherty) from The Week
"There is broad agreement among elite Republicans that the sheer number of serious and unserious candidates may hurt the party. It crams the debate stage, elicits shallow questions, and reduces the nationally televised answers to the tiniest sound-bites or hand-raises. It's bad for the party, and the country. It's also a can't-lose deal for any would-be candidate willing to endure flights to Des Moines and house parties in Nashua."
"There is broad agreement among elite Republicans that the sheer number of serious and unserious candidates may hurt the party. It crams the debate stage, elicits shallow questions, and reduces the nationally televised answers to the tiniest sound-bites or hand-raises. It's bad for the party, and the country. It's also a can't-lose deal for any would-be candidate willing to endure flights to Des Moines and house parties in Nashua."
Barriers to Bernie in NH
Question: Is Bernie Sanders eligible to run in the NH Democratic primary? from WMUR News [in New Hampshire]
"Gardner: Law says he must be a registered Democrat when he files."
"Gardner: Law says he must be a registered Democrat when he files."
Iraq War Continues to Bite Bush in the Butt
Laura Ingraham On Jeb's Iraq Answer: There's 'Something Wrong With You' (AUDIO) from Talking Points Memo
"Conservative radio host Laura Ingraham dropped the hammer on former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) on Monday after the likely presidential candidate said he would invade Iraq again, knowing what we know now. "You can't still think that going into Iraq, now, as a sane human being, was the right thing to do," Ingraham said on her radio show. "If you do, there has to be something wrong with you," she added."
"Conservative radio host Laura Ingraham dropped the hammer on former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) on Monday after the likely presidential candidate said he would invade Iraq again, knowing what we know now. "You can't still think that going into Iraq, now, as a sane human being, was the right thing to do," Ingraham said on her radio show. "If you do, there has to be something wrong with you," she added."
The Link Between Work-Life Balance and Income Equality
Home Economics from the Atlantic
"The central conflict of domestic life right now isn't men versus women or mothers versus fathers; it's the family against money."
"The central conflict of domestic life right now isn't men versus women or mothers versus fathers; it's the family against money."
Friday, May 1, 2015
News Nuggets 1516
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| DAYLEE PICTURE: A cowboy overlooking Monument Valley in Utah. From National Geographic. |
TODAY'S BIG NUGGET: Learning the Lessons of Imperial Power
Coming to Terms With American Empire (George Friedman) from Real Clear World
"... if the United States thinks of itself as an empire, then it will begin to learn the lessons of imperial power. Nothing is more harmful than an empire using its powerful carelessly. It is true that the United States did not genuinely intend to be an empire. It is also true that its intentions do not matter one way or another. Circumstance, history and geopolitics have created an entity that, if it isn't an empire, certainly looks like one."
"... if the United States thinks of itself as an empire, then it will begin to learn the lessons of imperial power. Nothing is more harmful than an empire using its powerful carelessly. It is true that the United States did not genuinely intend to be an empire. It is also true that its intentions do not matter one way or another. Circumstance, history and geopolitics have created an entity that, if it isn't an empire, certainly looks like one."
The Real Choices with the Iran Nuclear Deal
The New Deal (Jessica T. Mathews) from the New York Review of Books
"Judging it begins and ends with clarity about what choices are truly before us. That has a simple answer: there are only two alternatives to a negotiated deal."
"Judging it begins and ends with clarity about what choices are truly before us. That has a simple answer: there are only two alternatives to a negotiated deal."
China's $28 Trillion Problem
China Has a Massive Debt Problem from Bloomberg View
"China has a $28 trillion problem. That’s the country’s total government, corporate and household debt load as of mid-2014, according to McKinsey & Co. It’s equal to 282 percent of the country’s total annual economic output. ... China’s also trying to prop up a $10.4 trillion economy that’s decelerating and probably will continue to do so through 2016, or so says the International Monetary Fund. The economy expanded 7 percent -- the leadership’s growth target for this year -- in the first quarter, the weakest since 2009 and a far cry from the 10 percent average China managed from 1980 through 2012."
"China has a $28 trillion problem. That’s the country’s total government, corporate and household debt load as of mid-2014, according to McKinsey & Co. It’s equal to 282 percent of the country’s total annual economic output. ... China’s also trying to prop up a $10.4 trillion economy that’s decelerating and probably will continue to do so through 2016, or so says the International Monetary Fund. The economy expanded 7 percent -- the leadership’s growth target for this year -- in the first quarter, the weakest since 2009 and a far cry from the 10 percent average China managed from 1980 through 2012."
China's "Banks" --Finally Becoming Real BANKS?
China Rethinks Safety Net for Its Banking System from the New York Times
"When the United States started insuring customer deposits, the government wanted to instill faith in the country’s financial system, which had been broken by a string of bank runs and failures during the Great Depression. China wants to do the opposite. With the introduction of deposit insurance on Friday, Beijing is looking to shake the public’s faith, namely the long-held belief that the government will bail out troubled banks. In short, China is trying to introduce risk into the system."
"When the United States started insuring customer deposits, the government wanted to instill faith in the country’s financial system, which had been broken by a string of bank runs and failures during the Great Depression. China wants to do the opposite. With the introduction of deposit insurance on Friday, Beijing is looking to shake the public’s faith, namely the long-held belief that the government will bail out troubled banks. In short, China is trying to introduce risk into the system."
Where China is Advancing ... and Where it Isn't
China’s new, better ‘leap forward’ (Robert Samuelson) from the Washington Post
"“China’s leap forward in science and engineering,” write Freeman and Huang, “is one of the defining events in modern intellectual history.” Still, they caution against overstating China’s advances."
"“China’s leap forward in science and engineering,” write Freeman and Huang, “is one of the defining events in modern intellectual history.” Still, they caution against overstating China’s advances."
What Putin is Trying to Prove in Ukraine
Welcome Back to Kiev (Vitaly Klitchko) from the Wall Street Journal
"The fighting in the east has targeted Ukraine’s industrial heartland, shutting down mines and factories. All of this is a response to the Maidan movement, because from Moscow’s perspective it is existentially vital to prove that people can’t prevail over corruption, can’t determine their own future and can’t prosper without bowing to a foreign leader."
"The fighting in the east has targeted Ukraine’s industrial heartland, shutting down mines and factories. All of this is a response to the Maidan movement, because from Moscow’s perspective it is existentially vital to prove that people can’t prevail over corruption, can’t determine their own future and can’t prosper without bowing to a foreign leader."
Looking for a New "Culture War" -- Conservatves Will Always FInd One
The New Enemy Within (Peter Beinart) from the Atlantic
"... while they still depict themselves as under cultural assault, they don’t generally identify feminists as the ones leading the attack anymore. Increasingly, they blame Muslims."
"... while they still depict themselves as under cultural assault, they don’t generally identify feminists as the ones leading the attack anymore. Increasingly, they blame Muslims."
Echoes of a Recession: Half of Americans have money worries
Half of Americans have money worries (Bernie Becker) from The Hill
"Half of Americans have deep concerns about their financial situation, according to Gallup. The 50 percent of people in the U.S. who have money worries is basically unchanged from the 49 percent Gallup found in 2014."
"Half of Americans have deep concerns about their financial situation, according to Gallup. The 50 percent of people in the U.S. who have money worries is basically unchanged from the 49 percent Gallup found in 2014."
The Mythes Surrounding "Life Expectancy"
Zombies of 2016 (Paul Frugman) from the New York Times
"... the Social Security Administration issued a report showing that almost all the rise in life expectancy has taken place among the affluent. The bottom half of workers, who are precisely the Americans who rely on Social Security most, have seen their life expectancy at age 65 rise only a bit more than a year since the 1970s. Furthermore, while lawyers and politicians may consider working into their late 60s no hardship, things look somewhat different to ordinary workers, many of whom still have to perform manual labor."
"... the Social Security Administration issued a report showing that almost all the rise in life expectancy has taken place among the affluent. The bottom half of workers, who are precisely the Americans who rely on Social Security most, have seen their life expectancy at age 65 rise only a bit more than a year since the 1970s. Furthermore, while lawyers and politicians may consider working into their late 60s no hardship, things look somewhat different to ordinary workers, many of whom still have to perform manual labor."
Robots and Jobs: An International Perspective
Will Robots Kill the Asian Century? from the National Interest
"The rise of technologies such as 3-D printing and advanced robotics means that the next few decades for Asia’s economies will not be as easy or promising as the previous five."
"The rise of technologies such as 3-D printing and advanced robotics means that the next few decades for Asia’s economies will not be as easy or promising as the previous five."
Testing Students and Testing Teachers
This Is Why These Students Stopped Taking Tests (Casey Quinlan) from Think Progress
"Cuomo laid out a controversial agenda for school reform, which included making students’ standardized test scores 50 percent of teacher evaluations, with the other half determined by outside evaluators’ and school officials’ observations. ... The opt-outs are in part a reaction to years of education reform efforts that are focused on teacher evaluation through standardized tests and growing frustration with common core state standards, a voluntary set of standards implemented in 46 states and the District of Columbia."
"Cuomo laid out a controversial agenda for school reform, which included making students’ standardized test scores 50 percent of teacher evaluations, with the other half determined by outside evaluators’ and school officials’ observations. ... The opt-outs are in part a reaction to years of education reform efforts that are focused on teacher evaluation through standardized tests and growing frustration with common core state standards, a voluntary set of standards implemented in 46 states and the District of Columbia."
The REAL Disconnect between Robots and Jobs
Fighting Robots With Robots (Froma Harrop) from the National Memo
"It sounds so efficient. Robots make the running shoes, sell the running shoes and buy the running shoes by the most cost-effective means possible. But there’s a problem. Who’s going to pay for the running shoes? I mean, if a robot can do your job taking drink orders, reading ultrasounds or selling washing machines, how are you going to earn the wherewithal to buy stuff?"
"It sounds so efficient. Robots make the running shoes, sell the running shoes and buy the running shoes by the most cost-effective means possible. But there’s a problem. Who’s going to pay for the running shoes? I mean, if a robot can do your job taking drink orders, reading ultrasounds or selling washing machines, how are you going to earn the wherewithal to buy stuff?"
Traditional marriage gets a SCOTUS smackdown
The incomprehensible right-wing logic that’s poised to go down in flames from Salon
"Even a typically conservative majority can't save gay-marriage opponents now. At least one of these men will break."
"Even a typically conservative majority can't save gay-marriage opponents now. At least one of these men will break."
HIGHER ED NUGGET!!
The Slow Death of the University (Terry Eagleton) from the Chronicle of Higher Education
"From Cape Town to Reykjavik, Sydney to São Paulo, an event as momentous in its own way as the Cuban revolution or the invasion of Iraq is steadily under way: the slow death of the university as a center of humane critique. ... Some years ago, I resigned from a chair at the University of Oxford (an event almost as rare as an earthquake in Edinburgh) when I became aware that I was expected in some respects to behave less as a scholar than a CEO."
"From Cape Town to Reykjavik, Sydney to São Paulo, an event as momentous in its own way as the Cuban revolution or the invasion of Iraq is steadily under way: the slow death of the university as a center of humane critique. ... Some years ago, I resigned from a chair at the University of Oxford (an event almost as rare as an earthquake in Edinburgh) when I became aware that I was expected in some respects to behave less as a scholar than a CEO."
Scott Walker's Approval Drops In Wisconsin
Scott Walker's Approval Drops In Wisconsin from the Huffington Post
"Marquette is the only non-partisan pollster to survey Wisconsin since the 2014 midterms. The results, coming after years of relatively steady ratings for the governor, could represent either a significant outlier from earlier polling or a marked drop in Walker's standing."
"Marquette is the only non-partisan pollster to survey Wisconsin since the 2014 midterms. The results, coming after years of relatively steady ratings for the governor, could represent either a significant outlier from earlier polling or a marked drop in Walker's standing."
Relationship Sours Between Bush And Rubio
Relationship Sours Between Bush And Rubio As GOP Primary Heats Up from the Huffington Post
"Bush allies have started quietly spreading negative information about Rubio's record. Also, supporters of the two Miami politicians are drawing contrasts between Rubio, a 43-year-old son of Cuban immigrants, and 62-year-old Bush, a member of one of the nation's most powerful political dynasties."
I am SOOO Surprised!!
"Bush allies have started quietly spreading negative information about Rubio's record. Also, supporters of the two Miami politicians are drawing contrasts between Rubio, a 43-year-old son of Cuban immigrants, and 62-year-old Bush, a member of one of the nation's most powerful political dynasties."
I am SOOO Surprised!!
Emerging Talking Points AGAINST Clinton's Run
Martin O'Malley Goes After Hillary Clinton For Leading By 'Polls,' Not 'Principles' from the Huffington Post
"Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) went after Hillary Clinton Thursday, accusing her of changing policy positions based on polls rather than her convictions. It's the first time the prospective Democratic presidential candidate has attacked Clinton since she announced her presidential bid Sunday."
"Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) went after Hillary Clinton Thursday, accusing her of changing policy positions based on polls rather than her convictions. It's the first time the prospective Democratic presidential candidate has attacked Clinton since she announced her presidential bid Sunday."
SCIENCE NUGGET!!
Judge’s ruling grants legal right to research chimps from Science
"In a decision that seems to recognize chimpanzees as legal persons for the first time, a New York judge today granted a pair of Stony Brook University lab animals the right to have their day in court."
"In a decision that seems to recognize chimpanzees as legal persons for the first time, a New York judge today granted a pair of Stony Brook University lab animals the right to have their day in court."
SCIENCE & NATURE NUGGET!!
‘De-extinction’ of the woolly mammoth: A step closer from the New York Times
"Four thousand years after the woolly mammoth vanished from the Earth, scientists have deciphered the genetic blueprint that may offer a key to bringing it back. By comparing DNA recovered from two long-dead individuals, a team of researchers have sequenced the species’s entire genome — effectively providing a gene-by-gene instruction manual on how to build a mammoth."
"Four thousand years after the woolly mammoth vanished from the Earth, scientists have deciphered the genetic blueprint that may offer a key to bringing it back. By comparing DNA recovered from two long-dead individuals, a team of researchers have sequenced the species’s entire genome — effectively providing a gene-by-gene instruction manual on how to build a mammoth."
Thursday, April 16, 2015
News Nuggets 1515
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| DAYLEE PICTURE: Ballooning in Bagan in Myanmar. From Bloomberg. |
Check out my latest appearance on the Lynn Cullen Live! Program HERE.
EDITORIAL: Republican Rage Growing, Not Abating as Obama heads into His Twilight Years
A New Phase in Anti-Obama Attacks from the Editorial Board of the New York Times
"It is a peculiar, but unmistakable, phenomenon: As Barack Obama’s presidency heads into its twilight, the rage of the Republican establishment toward him is growing louder, angrier and more destructive. Republican lawmakers in Washington and around the country have been focused on blocking Mr. Obama’s agenda and denigrating him personally since the day he took office in 2009. But even against that backdrop, and even by the dismal standards of political discourse today, the tone of the current attacks is disturbing. So is their evident intent — to undermine not just Mr. Obama’s policies, but his very legitimacy as president."
"It is a peculiar, but unmistakable, phenomenon: As Barack Obama’s presidency heads into its twilight, the rage of the Republican establishment toward him is growing louder, angrier and more destructive. Republican lawmakers in Washington and around the country have been focused on blocking Mr. Obama’s agenda and denigrating him personally since the day he took office in 2009. But even against that backdrop, and even by the dismal standards of political discourse today, the tone of the current attacks is disturbing. So is their evident intent — to undermine not just Mr. Obama’s policies, but his very legitimacy as president."
Tracking Iran's Nuclear Program, Looking Ahead and Looking Back
An Intel Success: Tracking Iran's Nuclear Program (Joshua Rovner) from the National Interest
"For all the criticism of its performance, the intelligence community has done well to keep up with Iran’s nuclear activities over the last decade."
Regular readers of this blog know that I have been arguing that US intelligence has been well aware of what has been going on inside Iran's nuclear program for some time. This item gives further support to that view. -- Nuggetsman
"For all the criticism of its performance, the intelligence community has done well to keep up with Iran’s nuclear activities over the last decade."
Regular readers of this blog know that I have been arguing that US intelligence has been well aware of what has been going on inside Iran's nuclear program for some time. This item gives further support to that view. -- Nuggetsman
ENERGY NUGGET #1: Renewables are Now Ascendent!!
Fossil Fuels Just Lost the Race Against Renewables from Bloomberg
"This is the beginning of the end. ... The race for renewable energy has passed a turning point. The world is now adding more capacity for renewable power each year than coal, natural gas, and oil combined. And there's no going back. The shift occurred in 2013, when the world added 143 gigawatts of renewable electricity capacity, compared with 141 gigawatts in new plants that burn fossil fuels..."
"This is the beginning of the end. ... The race for renewable energy has passed a turning point. The world is now adding more capacity for renewable power each year than coal, natural gas, and oil combined. And there's no going back. The shift occurred in 2013, when the world added 143 gigawatts of renewable electricity capacity, compared with 141 gigawatts in new plants that burn fossil fuels..."
ENERGY NUGGET #2: Big Oil and the Auto Industry
Big Oil Is About to Lose Control of the Auto Industry: A pollution-free revolution is coming from Bloomberg
"While the U.S. pats itself on the back for the riches flowing from fracking wells, an upheaval in clean energy is quietly loosening the oil industry's grip on the automotive industry. Presentations by analysts at Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) this week pick away at the idea that supply alone is behind the plunge in crude prices to $50 a barrel. The presentation also shows that low-pollution cars are gaining ground, weakening the link between oil and driving. The result: Future transport is likely to look a lot different than what the major oil companies are fueling now."
"While the U.S. pats itself on the back for the riches flowing from fracking wells, an upheaval in clean energy is quietly loosening the oil industry's grip on the automotive industry. Presentations by analysts at Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) this week pick away at the idea that supply alone is behind the plunge in crude prices to $50 a barrel. The presentation also shows that low-pollution cars are gaining ground, weakening the link between oil and driving. The result: Future transport is likely to look a lot different than what the major oil companies are fueling now."
ENERGY NUGGET #3: The Declining Reserves of Petro-states
Oil-Rich Nations Are Selling Off Their Petrodollar Assets at Record Pace (Javier Blas) from Bloomberg View
"In the heady days of the commodity boom, oil-rich nations accumulated billions of dollars in reserves they invested in U.S. debt and other securities. They also occasionally bought trophy assets, such as Manhattan skyscrapers, luxury homes in London or Paris Saint-Germain Football Club. Now that oil prices have dropped by half to $50 a barrel, Saudi Arabia and other commodity-rich nations are fast drawing down those “petrodollar” reserves. Some nations, such as Angola, are burning through their savings at a record pace, removing a source of liquidity from global markets."
"In the heady days of the commodity boom, oil-rich nations accumulated billions of dollars in reserves they invested in U.S. debt and other securities. They also occasionally bought trophy assets, such as Manhattan skyscrapers, luxury homes in London or Paris Saint-Germain Football Club. Now that oil prices have dropped by half to $50 a barrel, Saudi Arabia and other commodity-rich nations are fast drawing down those “petrodollar” reserves. Some nations, such as Angola, are burning through their savings at a record pace, removing a source of liquidity from global markets."
Police -- Living with Decades of Killings and Set-ups
When Cops Cry Wolf (Frank Serpico) from Politico
"I call it “testi-lying.” It has been a regular practice in police forces across the United States, at least since I served on the NYPD: official testimony that is made part of a police after-action report but is a pure lie, an invention. In the old days police would carry a “drop gun” or a “drop knife”—an inexpensive weapon cops would bring along on patrol to drop onto or next to a suspect they had taken out so they could say he had threatened them. Today you don’t even need to do that; all you have to do to justify the use of deadly force if you are a police officer is to say that you feared for your life, for whatever reason. If the victim dies, that just means there will be one less witness around to contradict the testi-lie."
"I call it “testi-lying.” It has been a regular practice in police forces across the United States, at least since I served on the NYPD: official testimony that is made part of a police after-action report but is a pure lie, an invention. In the old days police would carry a “drop gun” or a “drop knife”—an inexpensive weapon cops would bring along on patrol to drop onto or next to a suspect they had taken out so they could say he had threatened them. Today you don’t even need to do that; all you have to do to justify the use of deadly force if you are a police officer is to say that you feared for your life, for whatever reason. If the victim dies, that just means there will be one less witness around to contradict the testi-lie."
Has Hillary Learned from her 2008 Experience?
What losing in 2008 taught Hillary about how to win in 2016 (Jonathan Allen) from Vox
"When Hillary Clinton launches her campaign Sunday, she’ll do something no other plausible presidential candidate – including Clinton herself – has done before: she’ll run like a woman. If she plays it right, it will be a feature, not a bug, of Hillary for President (2016 remix). The feminine motif will be fully integrated into her persona, her rhetoric, and her platform, according to interviews with a half-dozen sources close to Clinton. That’s a hell of a pivot from her 2008 campaign ..."
"When Hillary Clinton launches her campaign Sunday, she’ll do something no other plausible presidential candidate – including Clinton herself – has done before: she’ll run like a woman. If she plays it right, it will be a feature, not a bug, of Hillary for President (2016 remix). The feminine motif will be fully integrated into her persona, her rhetoric, and her platform, according to interviews with a half-dozen sources close to Clinton. That’s a hell of a pivot from her 2008 campaign ..."
Hillary Clinton's 2016 Campaign Kickoff
Hillary Clinton's 2016 Campaign Kickoff Will Look a Lot Like Her 2000 Senate Run from National Journal
"The Democrat is starting with an up-close-and-personal approach, mirroring a strategy she successfully employed in her first campaign for Congress."
"The Democrat is starting with an up-close-and-personal approach, mirroring a strategy she successfully employed in her first campaign for Congress."
Why Hillary Clinton Is Probably Going to Win the 2016 Election
Why Hillary Clinton Is Probably Going to Win the 2016 Election (Jonathan Chait) from New York Magazine
"Unless the economy goes into a recession over the next year and a half, Hillary Clinton is probably going to win the presidential election. The United States has polarized into stable voting blocs, and the Democratic bloc is a bit larger and growing at a faster rate. ... Here are the basic reasons why Clinton should be considered a presumptive favorite:..."
"Unless the economy goes into a recession over the next year and a half, Hillary Clinton is probably going to win the presidential election. The United States has polarized into stable voting blocs, and the Democratic bloc is a bit larger and growing at a faster rate. ... Here are the basic reasons why Clinton should be considered a presumptive favorite:..."
Rubio and Bush: Rivals (Yes) and Friends (??)
2016 Ambitions Turn Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush Protégé, Into Rival from the New York Times
"As Marco Rubio debated whether to run for the United States Senate in 2010, he made a pledge steeped in loyalty and deference: He would never challenge his political mentor, Jeb Bush, if the former Florida governor wanted the job himself. This time around, Mr. Rubio is not asking for permission. Mr. Rubio’s plan to enter the presidential campaign here on Monday, upstaging Mr. Bush in his own backyard, signals a decisive, Shakespearean turn in a 15-year relationship so close, personal and enduring that friends describe the two men as almost family."
"As Marco Rubio debated whether to run for the United States Senate in 2010, he made a pledge steeped in loyalty and deference: He would never challenge his political mentor, Jeb Bush, if the former Florida governor wanted the job himself. This time around, Mr. Rubio is not asking for permission. Mr. Rubio’s plan to enter the presidential campaign here on Monday, upstaging Mr. Bush in his own backyard, signals a decisive, Shakespearean turn in a 15-year relationship so close, personal and enduring that friends describe the two men as almost family."
A New Cut at the "Emerging Democratic Majority"...
The Invisible Democratic Majority (Russell Berman) from the Atlantic
"The survey of more than 25,000 adults throughout 2014—a much broader sample than traditional opinion polls—found that Democrats retain a wide advantage among younger Americans. Fifty-one percent of Millennials (defined as people ages 18-33) either identify as Democrats or lean that way, compared to 35 percent who identify as or lean Republican. The gap isn't as wide as it was during Obama's first victory in 2008, but it is virtually unchanged from his re-election year of 2012. Democrats also expanded their edge with Generation X..."
"The survey of more than 25,000 adults throughout 2014—a much broader sample than traditional opinion polls—found that Democrats retain a wide advantage among younger Americans. Fifty-one percent of Millennials (defined as people ages 18-33) either identify as Democrats or lean that way, compared to 35 percent who identify as or lean Republican. The gap isn't as wide as it was during Obama's first victory in 2008, but it is virtually unchanged from his re-election year of 2012. Democrats also expanded their edge with Generation X..."
Sobering News for the Walker Campaign
Poll: Scott Walker Approval Underwater, Trails Hillary In Head-To-Head from Talking Points Memo
"The poll, released Thursday, found Walker's approval rating among registered voters at 41 percent while 56 percent said they disapproved of the job he's been doing. In October 2014, 49 percent said they approved of Walker's job performance while 47 percent said they disapproved."
"The poll, released Thursday, found Walker's approval rating among registered voters at 41 percent while 56 percent said they disapproved of the job he's been doing. In October 2014, 49 percent said they approved of Walker's job performance while 47 percent said they disapproved."
HEALTH AND DIETING NUGGET!!
You should never diet again: The science and genetics of weight loss (Traci Mann) from Salon
"To maintain a new weight, you have to fight evolution. You have to fight biology. And you have to fight your brain."
"To maintain a new weight, you have to fight evolution. You have to fight biology. And you have to fight your brain."
CLASSIC SCI-FI NUGGET!!
The New 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Teaser Is Here & It's Amazing from the Huffington Post
"During the "Star Wars" Celebration panel on Thursday, J.J. Abrams introduced the new teaser trailer for the movie. There's more of Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron, Daisy Ridley's Rey, John Boyega's Finn and the reunion of Harrison Ford's Han Solo and Chewie. Watch the teaser above."
"During the "Star Wars" Celebration panel on Thursday, J.J. Abrams introduced the new teaser trailer for the movie. There's more of Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron, Daisy Ridley's Rey, John Boyega's Finn and the reunion of Harrison Ford's Han Solo and Chewie. Watch the teaser above."
Friday, April 10, 2015
News Nuggets 1514
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| DAYLEE PICTURE: Dramatic lightening strikes in Australia. From the Daily Mail of the UK. |
TODAY'S BIG NUGGET: China's Declining Economic Picture
We Traveled Across China and Returned Terrified for the Economy from Bloomberg View
"China’s steel and metals markets, a barometer of the world’s second-biggest economy, are “a lot worse than you think,” according to a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst who just completed a tour of the country. What he saw: idle cranes, empty construction sites and half-finished, abandoned buildings in several cities. Conversations with executives reinforced the “gloomy” outlook.
“China’s metals demand is plummeting,” wrote Kenneth Hoffman... “There is a big fear this is going to get worse before it gets better,” Hoffman said in an interview. “It’s as bad as the data looks, if not worse.”"
"China’s steel and metals markets, a barometer of the world’s second-biggest economy, are “a lot worse than you think,” according to a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst who just completed a tour of the country. What he saw: idle cranes, empty construction sites and half-finished, abandoned buildings in several cities. Conversations with executives reinforced the “gloomy” outlook.
“China’s metals demand is plummeting,” wrote Kenneth Hoffman... “There is a big fear this is going to get worse before it gets better,” Hoffman said in an interview. “It’s as bad as the data looks, if not worse.”"
The Middle East "Cold War"
The Real Achievement of the Iran Nuclear Deal (Peter Beinart) from the Atlantic
"Details of the accord matter less than the potential end of Washington's cold war with Tehran."
"Details of the accord matter less than the potential end of Washington's cold war with Tehran."
The Past Shapes People's Response to the Iran Deal
The Iran Nuclear Deal: Munich or Reykjavik? from the Atlantic
"The debate over the Iranian nuclear deal is not just a fight about present and future policy, but also a battle over the past. Both supporters and critics of the deal wield competing historical analogies. The question is: Are any of these parallels accurate?"
"The debate over the Iranian nuclear deal is not just a fight about present and future policy, but also a battle over the past. Both supporters and critics of the deal wield competing historical analogies. The question is: Are any of these parallels accurate?"
The Iran Deal: A Blow to Hardliners Everywhere
Bye-Bye Great Satan (Joe Klein) from Time Magazine
"A deal with the U.S. undermines Iranian hardliners, and gives reformers hope."
"A deal with the U.S. undermines Iranian hardliners, and gives reformers hope."
Iran’s Establishment Closes Ranks in Support of Nuclear Accord
Iran’s Establishment Closes Ranks in Support of Nuclear Accord from the New York Times
"It was perhaps the first time that conservatives — in this case mostly young people genuinely disappointed over the compromises Iran has made to reach a nuclear agreement — seemed disconnected from the power structure here."
"It was perhaps the first time that conservatives — in this case mostly young people genuinely disappointed over the compromises Iran has made to reach a nuclear agreement — seemed disconnected from the power structure here."
On Iran Deal, America Needs to Listen to its Allies
The Nuclear Deal and a Multipolar World (Daniel Larison) from the American Conservative
"The U.S. has compromised with Iran on allowing some limited enrichment because Iran would never accept giving that up entirely, but it has also been forced to recognize that the other parties in the negotiations saw no need to insist on such harsh terms. This should also make clear how limited and temporary international support for pressuring Iran on this issue will be in the absence of a final deal."
"The U.S. has compromised with Iran on allowing some limited enrichment because Iran would never accept giving that up entirely, but it has also been forced to recognize that the other parties in the negotiations saw no need to insist on such harsh terms. This should also make clear how limited and temporary international support for pressuring Iran on this issue will be in the absence of a final deal."
China's military spending directed at its "Core Interests"
Should America Really Fear China's Military? from the National Interest
"Many of Beijing’s defense investments over the last two decades are aimed at limiting Washington’s ability to intervene in areas that China describes as being of “core interest.” But just how much should Washington worry about it?"
"Many of Beijing’s defense investments over the last two decades are aimed at limiting Washington’s ability to intervene in areas that China describes as being of “core interest.” But just how much should Washington worry about it?"
GOP: "Obamacare will cause medical costs to explode! ... Oh, Never Mind"
One More Reason To Feel (Pretty) Good About Obamacare (Zach Carter) from the Huffington Post
"Millions of additional people now have health insurance thanks to the Affordable Care Act and the historic expansion of coverage it has made possible. But the nation’s total spending on medical care hasn’t exploded, as legions of “Obamacare” critics predicted it would. In fact, America’s health care bill is turning out to be a lot smaller than economists thought it would be by this point."
"Millions of additional people now have health insurance thanks to the Affordable Care Act and the historic expansion of coverage it has made possible. But the nation’s total spending on medical care hasn’t exploded, as legions of “Obamacare” critics predicted it would. In fact, America’s health care bill is turning out to be a lot smaller than economists thought it would be by this point."
The Pathway to Cleaner Energy
Clean Energy Revolution Is Ahead of Schedule (Noah Smith) from Bloomberg View
"A new study in Nature Climate Change, by Bjorn Nykvist and Mans Nilsson of the Stockholm Environment Institute, shows that electric vehicle batteries have been getting cheaper much faster than expected. From 2007 to 2011, average battery costs for battery-powered electric vehicles fell by about 14 percent a year."
"A new study in Nature Climate Change, by Bjorn Nykvist and Mans Nilsson of the Stockholm Environment Institute, shows that electric vehicle batteries have been getting cheaper much faster than expected. From 2007 to 2011, average battery costs for battery-powered electric vehicles fell by about 14 percent a year."
The Real Reason College Tuition Costs So Much
The Real Reason College Tuition Costs So Much (Paul Campos) from the New York Times
"... administrative positions at colleges and universities grew by 60 percent between 1993 and 2009, which Bloomberg reported was 10 times the rate of growth of tenured faculty positions. Even more strikingly, an analysis by a professor at California Polytechnic University, Pomona, found that, while the total number of full-time faculty members in the C.S.U. system grew from 11,614 to 12,019 between 1975 and 2008, the total number of administrators grew from 3,800 to 12,183 — a 221 percent increase."
"... administrative positions at colleges and universities grew by 60 percent between 1993 and 2009, which Bloomberg reported was 10 times the rate of growth of tenured faculty positions. Even more strikingly, an analysis by a professor at California Polytechnic University, Pomona, found that, while the total number of full-time faculty members in the C.S.U. system grew from 11,614 to 12,019 between 1975 and 2008, the total number of administrators grew from 3,800 to 12,183 — a 221 percent increase."
The Bush Machine: The Juggernaught that Wasn't?
Jeb Bush as Inevitable Choice? Republicans Say Not So Fast from the New York Times
"Jeb Bush has raised millions of dollars for a presidential run, but some major Republican donors have declined to commit to him. Three months into what allies once confidently described as a “shock and awe” drive to overcome his rivals and dominate the Republican presidential field, Jeb Bush’s early campaigning looks like the juggernaut that wasn’t."
"Jeb Bush has raised millions of dollars for a presidential run, but some major Republican donors have declined to commit to him. Three months into what allies once confidently described as a “shock and awe” drive to overcome his rivals and dominate the Republican presidential field, Jeb Bush’s early campaigning looks like the juggernaut that wasn’t."
The 2016 State Of The Race Edition
Trail To The Chief (Howard Fineman et al) from the Huffington Post
"The candidates this year need all the socialization they can get, for different reasons. Hillary Clinton wants to convert all those Obama lists and all that Obama energy into something of her own. The others just desire some momentum any way they can get it."
"The candidates this year need all the socialization they can get, for different reasons. Hillary Clinton wants to convert all those Obama lists and all that Obama energy into something of her own. The others just desire some momentum any way they can get it."
Friday, April 3, 2015
News Nuggets 1513
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| DAYLEE PICTURE: An iguana and a Sally Lightfoot Crab on the Galapagos. From National Geographic. |
TODAY'S BIG NUGGET: The Iran Deal: "Astoundingly Favorable to the United States"
Iran gives up the bulk of its nuclear program in these terms (Max Fisher) from Vox
"... the terms in the framework, unveiled to the world after a series of late- and all-night sessions, are remarkably detailed and almost astoundingly favorable to the United States. ... The framework deal requires Iran to surrender some crucial components of its nuclear program, in part or even in whole. Here are the highlights: ... Iran would simply not have much of its nuclear program left after all this."
"... the terms in the framework, unveiled to the world after a series of late- and all-night sessions, are remarkably detailed and almost astoundingly favorable to the United States. ... The framework deal requires Iran to surrender some crucial components of its nuclear program, in part or even in whole. Here are the highlights: ... Iran would simply not have much of its nuclear program left after all this."
The Iran Deal: Substantially Better than Expected
The Deal of a Lifetime (Fred Kaplan) from Slate
"There are still questions to be answered, but the nuclear agreement with Iran is very good news. ... The Iranian nuclear deal reached in Switzerland on Thursday is a significant breakthrough. ... this framework turns out to be far more detailed, quantitative, and restrictive than anyone had expected."
"There are still questions to be answered, but the nuclear agreement with Iran is very good news. ... The Iranian nuclear deal reached in Switzerland on Thursday is a significant breakthrough. ... this framework turns out to be far more detailed, quantitative, and restrictive than anyone had expected."
Key to the Iran Deal: Inspect and Verify
A better-than-expected nuclear deal with Iran (David Ignatius) from the Washington Post
"Perhaps the most important part of the framework involves inspection and verification plans. Here, too, the United States seems to have obtained most of what it wanted."
"Perhaps the most important part of the framework involves inspection and verification plans. Here, too, the United States seems to have obtained most of what it wanted."
Obama's Deal, Obama's Legacy
What The Iran Deal Means For Obama's Foreign Policy Legacy (Howard Fineman) from the Huffington Post
"His hair almost fully gray now, his tone somber but earnestly hopeful, President Barack Obama stood in the White House Rose Garden Thursday and made a case for the centerpiece of his second term, for his vision of how to handle dangerous enemies, and for his own role in history. This was Obama at his own personal summit, carrying out what he views as his destiny: a coolly practical peacemaker."
"His hair almost fully gray now, his tone somber but earnestly hopeful, President Barack Obama stood in the White House Rose Garden Thursday and made a case for the centerpiece of his second term, for his vision of how to handle dangerous enemies, and for his own role in history. This was Obama at his own personal summit, carrying out what he views as his destiny: a coolly practical peacemaker."
Iranians celebrate nuclear deal
'This will bring hope to our life' from the Guardian [of the UK]
"Tehran residents rejoice and drivers honk their horns after the announcement of a landmark deal that will lift sanctions and avert the threat of war."
"Tehran residents rejoice and drivers honk their horns after the announcement of a landmark deal that will lift sanctions and avert the threat of war."
The Significance of the Iran Nuclear Deal
Breakthrough: Iran’s Nuclear Concessions Vindicate Obama’s Diplomatic Strategy (Joe Conason) from the National Memo
"As the president said with his usual lucidity, these negotiations — and their ultimate success — are an opportunity of historic significance to reduce the risks of war and proliferation. But the Iran talks also represent a chance to promote peaceful change in that unfortunate country, whose people desperately hope that the Rouhani government can progress toward normal relationships with Western countries, especially the United States."
"As the president said with his usual lucidity, these negotiations — and their ultimate success — are an opportunity of historic significance to reduce the risks of war and proliferation. But the Iran talks also represent a chance to promote peaceful change in that unfortunate country, whose people desperately hope that the Rouhani government can progress toward normal relationships with Western countries, especially the United States."
The Deal-Making Genious of the GOP
Conservatives Hate the Iran Deal Because They Hate All Deals (Jonathan Chait) from New York Magazine
"... the conservative case against the Iran deal is hard to take seriously because the right has made the same case against every major negotiation with an American adversary since World War II. If there is such a thing as a deal with an enemy state strong enough to satisfy conservatives, no American president, Democratic or Republican, has ever been shrewd or tough enough to strike it."
"... the conservative case against the Iran deal is hard to take seriously because the right has made the same case against every major negotiation with an American adversary since World War II. If there is such a thing as a deal with an enemy state strong enough to satisfy conservatives, no American president, Democratic or Republican, has ever been shrewd or tough enough to strike it."
On Other Foreign Policy Fronts...
America’s Rebalance to the Asia-Pacific: On Track (Janine Davidson and Lauren Dickey) from The Diplomat
"The Asia rebalance is the most misunderstood foreign policy initiative of the Obama presidency."
"The Asia rebalance is the most misunderstood foreign policy initiative of the Obama presidency."
Fracking Oil Companies: I'm Shocked ... shocked...
Big Oil Pressured Scientists Over Fracking Wastewater's Link to Quakes from Bloomberg
"Energy firms tried to slow science inquiries blaming them for earthquakes in Oklahoma."
"Energy firms tried to slow science inquiries blaming them for earthquakes in Oklahoma."
The Extent of Amrica's Global Reach
Countries where the U.S. has a military presence (Meteor Blades) from Daily Kos
"Annalisa Merelli writes These are all the countries where the US has a military presence. An excerpt: ..."
"Annalisa Merelli writes These are all the countries where the US has a military presence. An excerpt: ..."
Coming Threats to US Naval Power
Are U.S. Aircraft Carriers About to Become Obsolete? from the National Interest
"Let’s be clear: stealth is not dead, scale is not dead, and 2016 will not be the year of the swarming mechanical insect. But the ubiquity of precision weaponry and the miniaturization of sensors has brought much greater striking power to even existing aircraft and ships."
"Let’s be clear: stealth is not dead, scale is not dead, and 2016 will not be the year of the swarming mechanical insect. But the ubiquity of precision weaponry and the miniaturization of sensors has brought much greater striking power to even existing aircraft and ships."
Solar Power's "Looming Victory"
The Solar Price Revolution (Klaus Topfer) from Project Syndicate
"As Patrick Graichen, Agora’s executive director, points out, most forecasts of the world’s future energy supply fail to take into account solar power’s looming victory over its fossil-fuel competitors. Updating them would paint a realistic picture of the costs and impact of our energy production and consumption on the world’s climate, reveal the importance of renewable energy to economic development, and enable better planning of energy infrastructure."
"As Patrick Graichen, Agora’s executive director, points out, most forecasts of the world’s future energy supply fail to take into account solar power’s looming victory over its fossil-fuel competitors. Updating them would paint a realistic picture of the costs and impact of our energy production and consumption on the world’s climate, reveal the importance of renewable energy to economic development, and enable better planning of energy infrastructure."
LGBT Scouts Make Progress ... in Spite of the Scouts
NY Boy Scouts Hire First Openly Gay Eagle Scout Despite National Ban from Talking Points Memo
"The Boy Scouts' New York chapter said Thursday that it has hired the nation's first openly gay Eagle Scout as a summer camp leader, a direct and public challenge to the national scouting organization's ban on openly gay adult members."
"The Boy Scouts' New York chapter said Thursday that it has hired the nation's first openly gay Eagle Scout as a summer camp leader, a direct and public challenge to the national scouting organization's ban on openly gay adult members."
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