Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category
Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 by BH
Mark Cuban writes:
In looking at the Democratic platform, there are a few things I agree with, but on the economic side, other than being ok with him raising my effective tax rate to 40pct, there isn’t a lot of his economic policy that I do agree with him on. So ...
Posted in Economics, Politics | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 by BH
"And I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords," as Kent Brockman would say. On a serious note tonight is an amazing victory for Senator Obama and it is a great day for our country. Senator McCain was right to note that it is a shame Obama's grandmother could not ...
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Monday, November 3rd, 2008 by BH
With only one night to go both candidates are making last ditch efforts to woo undecided voters. History suggests this is silly. What they should do is grab some popcorn and a beer and settle down on the couch to watch the some Monday Night Football. Crazy? Nah. See, the ...
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Thursday, October 30th, 2008 by BH
Here's Senator Obama: "My Bible tells me there is nothing wrong with helping other people, that we want to treat others like we want to be treated. That I am my brother's keeper, and I am my sister's keeper. I believe that."
Ahem, and Ahem.
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Sunday, October 26th, 2008 by BH
The world financial system is melting down. The credit markets have ceased trading. The State has taken a controlling stake in some of the banks. Governments are guaranteeing bank deposits. People are contemplating putting their money in tins or buying gold if they can afford it. The capitalists ...
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Sunday, October 26th, 2008 by BH
Interviewed in the WSJ:
He [Fred Smith] has come to hold the get-rich-quick Wall Street financiers in more than a little disdain. He views the heroes of the U.S. economy as the companies that actually produce real goods and services. He sees the Wall Street collapse as an inevitable byproduct of ...
Posted in Economics, Politics | 1 Comment »
Thursday, October 16th, 2008 by BH
Important differences remain between modern pirates and the old-school variety. For example, while 18th-century pirates were at war with all governments, some Somali pirates appear to enjoy state sponsorship, which makes them quasi-privateers. Further, unlike old-school pirates who more or less lived in their own outlaw world, the Somali variety ...
Posted in Economics, Politics | No Comments »
Thursday, October 16th, 2008 by BH
"These problems were caused by the government," he said. "If you see a building on fire, you don't call the arsonist who caused the fire."
Walter Williams is not impressed with the bailout (inrich). The link also contains a video worth watching, but it does not look like there is any ...
Posted in Economics, Politics | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 15th, 2008 by BH
Nothing much to say about tonight. I liked this comment from one of the 538 guys (538):
9:36 EDT: [Nate] This debate is beginning to resemble a typical comment thread at FiveThirtyEight.
Dan Drezner has some more substantive thoughts. I didn't think Senator McCain did as well on economic policy as Dan, ...
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Wednesday, October 15th, 2008 by BH
If you actually watch the debate, instead of Project Runway, you might enjoy playing a little drinking game. Every time Senator McCain says "my friends," take a drink. If you are still alive after his introductory remarks then you are the winner. There is no need for any other rules ...
Posted in Entertainment, Politics | No Comments »
Sunday, October 12th, 2008 by BH
Andrew Gelman, a statistician and political science professor, explains. HT goes to Andrew Gelman, at his other blog.
Posted in Economics, Politics | No Comments »
Friday, October 10th, 2008 by CJB
Is it fair for the McCain campaign to raise the Ayers-Terrorist issue? Yes, it is a legitimate issue to raise his connection with Mr. Ayers a former domestic terrorist, but I think it is mere hyperbole and does an injustice to the argument to suggest or imply that Sen. Obama ...
Posted in Politics | 1 Comment »
Monday, October 6th, 2008 by BH
A while back Steve Landsburg wrote (The Atlantic):
Banks don't lend their own money; they lend other people's (their depositors' and their stockholders'). Just because the banks disappear doesn't mean the lenders will. Borrowers will still want to borrow and lenders will still want to lend. The only question is whether ...
Posted in Economics, Politics | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, October 1st, 2008 by BH
But what tradition did Reagan represent? The debate between realists and liberal internationalists leaves no explanation for Ronald Reagan ’s eclectic foreign policy choices and the extraordinary outcomes he achieved. The conventional foreign policy traditions don ’t fit. Realists and liberal internationalists try to claim Reagan but they ...
Posted in National Security, Politics | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 1st, 2008 by BH
Experts are constantly telling investors what to buy. Sometimes they give us good advice and sometimes not. So surely the fact that there are experts who give investment advice can't explain the trillion-dollar bubble and subsequent meltdown we're now witnessing. The key additional fact is that experts were selling advice ...
Posted in Economics, Politics | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 30th, 2008 by BH
Why the vote on the Paulson Plan failed, from Dani Rodrik:
It is so obvious that I am puzzled why no-one is talking about it. If so many House members voted against the plan so as not to run afoul of their local constituents, it must be the case that those ...
Posted in Economics, Politics | No Comments »
Monday, September 29th, 2008 by BH
While discussing the financial crisis at lunch today our discussion turned to the giant from Bentonville. You may remember that several years ago banks were freaking out that Wal-Mart might enter their marketplace (BW):
The retailing giant's relentless push into financial services is starting to send shivers through the banking industry. ...
Posted in Economics, Politics | No Comments »
Sunday, September 28th, 2008 by BH
Casey B. Mulligan, now a blogger, writes:
The non-financial sector today looks nothing like it did in 1930. The weak correlation between asset prices and non-financial sector performance and the strong profitability of today’s non-financial capital are two good reasons to scoff at the idea that the non-financial sector will collapse ...
Posted in Economics, Politics | No Comments »
Saturday, September 27th, 2008 by BH
Ben S. Bernanke jumped into the political fray this week when he urged quick action from Congress to deal with "grave threats'' to the financial system. Now he's trying to jump back out.
The Federal Reserve chairman hasn't returned to Capitol Hill after two days of congressional testimony earlier this week. ...
Posted in Economics, Politics | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008 by BH
Ryan Avent offers lots of wisdom and debunks some of the silliness of David Cay Johnson (the Bellows):
But what about things like credit cards and revolving business loans? Look, if we get to the point where banks are restricting basic credit lines on which nearly all Americans depend for use ...
Posted in Economics, Politics | No Comments »