BN-Politics Posts TOC: Feb 1- Mar 31, 2009

Mar 29 -Mar 31, 2009

(Mar 30)

GM CEO Rick Wagoner to Resign: It's About Time

Bank Execs Might Give Back TARP Money if They Can't Pay Themselves Obscenely Well

(Mar 29)

North Korea Prepares to Launch Long-Range Missile Over Japan in April; Japanese Prepare to Shoot It Down

Tales of the Torture Administration: Harsh Interrogation Led to False Leads

A Further Comment on the Jake DeSantis "I Resign from AIG" Letter

Paul Krugman: The "Obama is Wrong" Newsweek Cover Piece

Mar 22 -Mar 28, 2009

(Mar 28)

Bizarre Comments About Obama and Buyer's Remorse from The Economist Magazine

SEC Goes After Chicago Investment Group, Freezes Assets

Financial Times Explains Why Giethner-Summers Plan is Basically a Sham

Red River Flooding Update

Houston's Methodist Hospital to Pay $9+ Million to Settle Medicare Fraud Suit

Two Execs Sentenced to 20+ Years for Fraud, etc.

(Mar 27)

Human Rights Watch: Israel Unlawfully Used White Phosphorous as Weapon Against Civilians

Idiot Wind: The Republicans Show Off Their Charts

Obama Warns of Pending Attacks by al Qaeda from Pakistan Safe Haven, Explains Strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan (News & Commentary Round-Up)

Republicans Have a Better 'Plan': Tax Cuts for the Wealthy, a Budget with Imaginary Numbers, & Some Boffo Charts!

(Mar 26)

Miami Doctors & Assistants Plead Guilty to $10 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

Cry Me A River: AIG VP's Resignation Letter (round-up Included )

(Mar 25)

"Hey Paul Krugman" (A Song)

News Round-Up: Congressional "Conservadems" Perform Radical Surgery to Obama's Proposed Budget, Including Health Care Expansion?

(Mar 24)

Geithner's Proposal: Does Treasury Want a Never-Ending TARP, and Where's the Accountability?

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Mn) Wants Her Constituents "Armed and Dangerous" Over Cap-and-Trade

Econ4U: Beware of So-Called "Free" Credit Reports

(Mar 23)

Former SOS Madeleine Albright Discusses Pakistan & Why Its a Major International Headache; Why Women are Better Diplomats; & What She Really Thinks About Various World Leaders (3-20)

US Missile Strikes in Pakistan "Take Heavy toll on Al-Qaeda" (Also Civilians); Meanwhile, a New Strategy Emerging in Afghanistan?

Economist Brad DeLong Defends Geithner Plan; Progressives Respond; Sen. Judd Gregg (R) Joins Chorus of GOP Critics, but Holds Back on Sharing the GOP's Much Better Ideas for a Fix

(Mar 22)

Sweeping Oversight Proposed re: Executive Pay & Other Things

Can Somebody Please Take the Damn Economy Away from Geithner? [Part 2]: James K. Galbraith Disses the Geithner Plan

Mar 15 -Mar 21, 2009

(Mar 21)

Congressman Alan Grayson on Why AIG Went Broke ; Questioning Change to Valuation Rules ("Let's Make Inches Larger While We're at It")

Portia di Rossi Apologizes to All Those She Hurt by Marrying Ellen

Can Somebody Please Take the Damn Economy Away from Geithner?

Spot the Connection: Dead Baby Jokes, The Rules of Engagement in Gaza, & The Immorality of Showing Mercy to the Enemy During a Holy War (A News Round-Up)

(Mar 20)

Corruption's Role in the Failure of our So-called "War on Drugs"

WealthTrack: Investor Watchdog Pat Huddleston on Investment Scams

Guilty Plea re: Army Officer's Iraq-War-Related Bribery

Palin to Reject Federal Stimulus Funds?

(Mar 19)

House Passes a Bill to Levy a 90% Tax on Executives at Rescued Firms; Political Posturing Intensifies

Geithner Issues Mea Culpa; Dodd Qualifies Previous Statement

AIG Scapegoats Feel Your Anger

"What's the Big Deal? It's a 10th of 1% of the Money We Gave Them for Sucking": Jon Stewart Tracks "The Enragening" (A Twofer)

(Mar 18)

AIG Execs Explain Why They Deserve Their Bonuses; AIG Explains Why It Has to Pay Them

Michael Steele Hasn't Kept His Promise to Make the GOP Hip-Hop, So Princess Sparkle Pony Does it For Him

Right-eous Wrath Part 2: Colbert Forms Angry Mob

Rage Against the Machine: Sen. Grassley Urges Japanese Model for AIG Execs ("Resign, or Go Commit Suicide")

(Mar 17)

Update: AIG to Give Bonuses and the Resulting Political Theatre

New Times in El Salvador

(Mar 15)

Tales of the Torture Administration: What Happened at the CIA Black Sites?

Econ4u on how Much Money Cramer Might Have Lost You

Mar 8-Mar 14, 2009

(Mar 14)

Stewart v. Cramer: Jon Sums up CNBC and Wall Street, Jim Appears Humbly Apologetic

A Turning Point in Journalism History? Reactions to Stewart versus Cramer

(Mar 13)

Stewart vs. Cramer: The Whole Uncensored Interview

CNBC and Financial Television: Puppets in the Pre-Meltdown Show

From the Back of His Winged Unicorn of Hope, Obama Promises that The Economy Ain't As Bad as It Seems (w/ Bonus Cynical Cartoon)

Politicians Still Dancing for Banks: Citigroup's History of Messing up and Getting Taxpayer Bailouts

Irony Bites Bill Richardson's Butt

Gov. Palin Flip-Flops on Earmarks Again

Securities Lawyer Pleads Guilty to Stock Manipulation Schemes

(Mar 12)

Sen. Vitter Crashes the Gate; Gets Himself Investigated by Transportation Security Administration

Seymour Hersh: Cheney's "Executive Assassination Ring"

(Mar 11)

Seize the Moment, Mr. President

Ex-Congressional Staffer Pleads Guilty to Selling Influence

Why are Republicans Attacking Alan Grayson?

Citigroup Downgrades Wal-Mart Stocks over Possible Workers' Gains, but Ignores Executive Looting

Freeman Withdraws Nomination for National Intelligence Council

Hitachi Among Others to Plead Guilty to Price Fixing re: LCD Monitors

(Mar 10)

Jim Cramer and Jon Stewart on Jim Cramer

More Violence in Iraq: 33 Die at Iraq Peace Conference (News Update)

75 Year Old Syrian Woman Sentenced to 40 Lashes, Prison, & Deportation in Saudi Arabia

The Nutterdammerung ("Twilight of the Wingnuts: the Opera") Continues: Limbaugh vs. Gingrich

Krugman on the Stimulus Package: It's Too Little. Will Obama Realize This Too Late?

Republican Party: Limbaugh or Limbo?

(Mar 9)

Calling Out the Do-Nothings

Treasury Official Helped Bank Commit Fraud: Who's Watching the Watchdogs ?

Rep. Grayson Grills Fed Vice Chair re: Bailout Transparency

Tax Court Contracting Official Sentenced in Bribery Case

Wall Street Journal Says it Knows Where Some of AIG's Bailout Billions Went

(Mar 8)

"You Can Fool Some of the People All of the Time" Part 3: David Frum Bemoans the GOP's Domination by Rush Limbaugh

Bank Nationalization Debate: Let's Not Share Only the Pain...

Arms-Gate: The First Lady Exercises A Fundamental Right

Reactions to the Obama Administration's Proposal to Overhaul the Student Loan Industry

Despite What the Blowhards Are Telling You, Real Economists Think "Massive" Stimulus Package is Too Small. So Why the Dearth of Media Coverage?

Mar 1-Mar 7, 2009

(Mar 7)

Ex-Congressional Staffers Indicted on Corruption Charges

More Alleged Health Care Contractor Fraud

Siegelman Update: Appeals Court Upheld Most Charges

The Great Tax Debate: How Media Tries to Manipulate Ordinary Voters to Speak Against Their Own Interests

(Mar 6)

651,000 Jobs Lost in February, Many Never to Return; Meanwhile, the Banking Crisis Rages On. What Now?

Embittered GOP (& Karl Rove) Bitterly Decry White House's Use of Rovian Political Tactics

More Awesomeness: Congressman Alan Grayson Grills the Citigroup CEO on "The Worst Deal Since Manhattan Was Sold for $24 in Trinkets"

(Mar 5)

Wonkette: Texas Gov Writes Whiny Letter Begging for Stimulus Welfare He Claims He Doesn't Really Want

Whistleblower Harry Markopolos on Bernie Madoff and SEC

Kudos to Obama for Trying to Reduce Contractor Waste, Fraud and Abuse

Report Details how Lobbyists & Politicians Caused our Nation's Financial Meltdown

Some Supreme Court Justices Stand up to Drug Company

Judiciary Committee Secures Rove's and Miers' Testimony

(Mar 4)

Alan Grayson, the Most Awesome Guy in Congress, Apologizes to Limbaugh

"You Can Fool Some of the People All of the Time" Part 2: Rush Limbaugh, the Official Voice of the GOP

Doctor Group Settles Another Fraud Suit

(Mar 3)

Justice Joins Whistleblower Suit Against EMC Corp

AIG Gets Another $30 Billion: the Real Scandal

White House Returns Fire on Rush Limbaugh

(Mar 2)

Colbert: Let Us Adopt the Viking Economic Model

Obama Releases Bush's Secret Anti-Terror Memos

CIA Destroyed At Least 92 Tapes of "Extremely Harsh" Interrogations

(Mar 1)

Sebelius Accepts Nomination as Health Secretary -- Should Reform how Health System Deals with Private Contractors

Feb 22 - Feb 28, 2009

(Feb 28)

And the Heat Goes On: Responses to George Will's Climate Change Misstatements (& WaPo's Passive-Aggressive Response)

"You Can Fool Some of the People All of the Time": Louisiana Wants Portion of Stimulus Funding Jindal Derided

(Feb 27)

Obama's Budget: Finally, Someone Wants to Do Something About Income Disparity

(Feb 26)

Can the Banking System be Saved? Krugman: "It's Japan All Over Again"

Holder Declares End to Raids on Medical Marijuana Clubs

Catch a Falling Star: Gov. Bobby Jindal's Response to Obama Infuriates Republicans, Gets Jindal Compared to Kenneth the Page

(Feb 25)

U.S. Export-Import Bank Employee Indicted for Bribery

Bailed Out Bank Spends Gobs of Money on Golf Tournament

Obama's Congressional Address

(Feb 24)

What Will Obama Say in His "Reaganesque" Address to Congress?

Rupert Murdoch -- Yes, Rupert Murdoch -- Apologizes for Accidentally Racist Cartoon at The New York Post

Bipartisan for Bipartisan's Sake Part ## : Survey Shows Public Gets It, Even if the GOP Doesn't

(Feb 23)

Army Charity Fails to Help as Many Soldiers as it Could've?

Profiles in American Courage: A Pragmatic Obama Says, "Hang on Tight"; Bill Clinton Says, "Put on a Happy Face!"; Meanwhile, NYT Columnist Maureen Dowd Says: "The Only Thing to Fear is...Everything"

(Feb 22)

Wall Street Journal Goes Decades Back to Find Dirt on Bill Moyers

UBS Settlement: is Swiss "Right Wing" as Corrupt as American "Right Wing"?

Feb 15 - Feb 21, 2009

(Feb 21)

Obama Admin Says US Due Process Rights Inapplicable to Detainees at Bagram AFB; Pentagon Defends Guantanamo

Republicans Who Couldn't Bring Themselves to Vote for the Stimulus Seeing the Benefits for Their Own States

Kerry and Other Dems to "Unclench Fists" and Open Diplomatic Discussions with Syria

Obama Extends Bush's "Covert" War Within Pakistan (Commentary Round-Up)

(Feb 20)

Republican Senators Paying Big Bucks for Coleman's Seat to Remain Empty

Did Forensic Doctor and Dentist Create Evidence of Guilt?

Gonzales Plans to Cooperate with Investigators, Says He "Always" has Been Cooperative?

(Feb 19)

Marijuana Sales Reportedly Stable Despite Economy

(Feb 18)

Bristol Palin on Reproductive Rights & the Temperate Joys of Teen Motherhood

Obama Unveils Welfare Plan for Homeowners

Greenspan and Other Free Marketeers Favor Nationalization of Banks (or "Some Banks")

Michele Bachmann for the Stark Raving Looney Party: "We're Running Out of Rich People"

(Feb 17)

Mini-Madoff: SEC Charges Stanford International Bank in $8 Billion Fraud Scheme

A Different Angle on the Tax-Cuts-Equal-Economic-Growth Myth

More Alleged Contractor Fraud re: Iraq and Afghanistan: Shipping Company to Pay $26.3 Million to Settle Cases

Another "Suspected" U.S. Missile Strike in Pakistan Kills 26

Business as Usual: Doctors Charged with $10 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

AT&T to Pay $8.2 Million to Settle False Claims Act Case

(Feb 16)

America's Very Own Monster Raving Looney Party? or Is It Possible to be Sane and Also a Republican?

The Torture Administration Continued: Former Gitmo Guard Speaks Out

(Feb 15)

Investigators Look into Bribery by Senior Military Officers but Need to Look Higher

Air Force Seargent Took Bribes from Drug Traffickers

Contractor KBR Pays $579 Million to Settle Bribery Charges

Feb 8 - Feb 14, 2009

(Feb 14)

Farewell to "Bipartisan for Bipartisan's Sake" -- Obama Administration: "Message Received" (Bloggers Respond)

Congress Approves Stimulus Package; Specter Says Republicans "Didn't Want Their Fingerprints On It"; Obama Learns a Little Lesson (News Round-Up)

Seven Memphis Cops Robbed Drug Dealers of Cash & Drugs -- and Sold the Drugs

SEC Charges Wall Street "Professionals" RE: Insider Trading Ring

(Feb 13)

Friday the 13th Points...

(Feb 12)

Prosecutor Subpoenas ex-Republican Senator

Three Republicans Help Mess up Stimulus Bill

(Feb 11)

Fox News Presents GOP Press Release as a News Story?

Geithner "Plan" for the Banking Industry Provokes Sarcasm, Outrage, Despair, & Bitter PostPartisan Laughter

(Feb 10)

Senate Passes Stimulus Bill: Will Tax Cuts for Corporations and Wealthy Folks Work, and What about Contractor Waste and Fraud?

Whistleblower Blasts SEC over Handling of Madoff

Leahy Wants to Investigate Bush Administration

What is "Extraordinary Rendition," and Why is it so Horrible?

(Feb 9)

The Obama Administration's First Civil Liberties Test: FAIL? (Commentary Round-Up)

Arlen Specter on Why He Supported the Stimulus Package; Ross Douthat: "Blame the Centrists"

Bipartisan for Bipartisan's Sake Part 2: Krugman & Others on What It Gets Us

(Feb 8)

Regulators Close Three More Banks

Economists Want Stimulus Package Soon, "Free Market" Folks Flip-Flop Again

Feb 1  - Feb 7, 2009

(Feb 7)

Bipartisanship for Its Own Sake: "Deal" "Reached" on Economic Stimulus Bill Following Free-Style Spending Cuts (News & Blogger Round-Up)

Criminal Probe of Troops' Electrocution Deaths Doesn't Prevent KBR from Winning Taxpayer-Funded Contract for Electrical Work

(Feb 6)

Treasury Over-Paid Bailout Funds by $80 Billion?

Worth Considering: Actor Val Kilmer Might Run for Governor of New Mexico

Record High U.S. Jobs Loss, Yet Republicans Want Tax Cuts for Wealthy Folks

Krugman says Economy Poised at Cliff's Edge, Political Theater Must Stop

Justice Ginsburg Diagnosed with Cancer

(Feb 5)

Obama Knows What You Need, Even If He Won't Tell You: "Now is the Time [for Bipartisan Horse-Trading] (The Op-Ed)

(Feb 4)\

Obama's Executive-Pay Caps Don't Address the Root Problem

Another Nominee with Tax Troubles: Killefer Bows out

FDA Failed to Follow Up on Mercury-Tainted Corn Syrup

NY Times Urged Daschle to Withdraw Name, and Daschle Did So

(Feb 3)

A New Law Man in Town: Eric Holder --- the First African American AG --- Confirmed (News Round-Up)

A New Law Man in Town: Eric Holder --- the First African American AG --- Confirmed (News Round-Up)

A Failure to Differentiate: Obama's Policy on Extraordinary Rendition versus the Other Kind (Scott Horton Explains)

(Feb 2)

Hearing Today about Military Contracting, Waste, Fraud, and Abuse

Today, Will Rove Finally Comply with a Congressional Subpoena?

Republican Governors Pressure Congressional Republicans to Pass Stimulus Package

Dowd Wants Disgorgement, Which Would be a Good Start

(Feb 1)

Will Obama Administration Consider Preserving CIA Renditions as Anti-Terrorism Weapon?

Lieberman Makes a Funny Joke About Waterboarding

Why the Stimulus Package Could/Won't/Might Not Work & Why It's Still Better Than Doing Nothing (Econoblogger Round-Up with Commentary by the Ignorant Layperson)