One Utah

If you read only one article this week, read this one:
Suddenly, the doctor was at the door to my mother’s room again. He waved me out into the hall. He needed a medical directive. Immediately. Her vital signs were tanking. If we were going to put a tube in her, and put her on machines [...]

Simple Sarah Palin has released her own report clearing herself of any misdeeds in “Troopergate.”

I stumbled upon this video and was impressed by its classic neo-con-esq, fear-peddling quality.
It is important evidence of the kind of gratuitous deception that has been allowed and swallowed whole by many of our fellow countrymen. People like Sarah Palin who have never had a passport and therefore sense of proportion or context, just fear.

We are well and truly screwed.
At this point the recession train has left the station; the financial and banking crisis train has left the station. The delusion that the US and advanced economies contraction would be short and shallow – a V-shaped six month recession – has been replaced by the certainty that this [...]

Ever been to Kentucky?

Two interesting points:
Ezra Klein:
The template is broken. One striking lesson of the campaign has been the reduced salience of the culture war stuff. Rove and Bush could gesture towards identity politics. They could hide behind issues like abortion and guns and the role of the church. McCain has had to state it all explicitly. He’s [...]

“The year 1929 reached almost the end of its third quarter under the promise and appearance of increased prosperity, particularly in the United States. Extraordinary optimism sustained an orgy of speculation. Books were written to prove that economic crisis was a phase which expanding business organization and science had at last mastered. “We are apparently [...]

I’ve touched on this topic before. Offit, literally, wrote the book on the subject. What he has to say:
There is no known cause or cure for autism [snip]
The reason that I wrote the book is because of what happened after the studies exonerating vaccines had been performed and published. The media, using the [...]

“We are here to stand up for the unborn, to stand up against the dogs of hate who defend abortion on demand,” Wimmer said. [snip]
The supporters said the cost of the fight will not be an issue. Wimmer said that a group based out of Washington, D.C., which he would not [...]

I spent whatever free time I have had today sifting through the coverage of the financial mess. Despite the way the Masters of the Universe are running around with their hair on fire (or maybe because of it), most Americans seem to be regarding the situation with a somewhat cold eye.
Public opposition to the [...]

I’ve been trying to get a handle on today’s events. Based on what I’m reading, I think most people are a bit in shock.
Here’s what happened:
The bailout failed to pass the House.
The Dow crashed 777.68 points.
I don’t think anyone really has any idea what to do now.
House Republicans had a crazy ass plan (TM) [...]

David Sirota:
1. BAILOUT’S INHERENT FISCAL INSANITY COULD MAKE PROBLEM WORSE
2. EXPERTS ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SAY THIS BAILOUT COULD MAKE THINGS WORSE
3. THERE ARE CLEARLY BETTER AND SAFER ALTERNATIVES
4. ANY INCUMBENT VOTING FOR THIS PUTS THEMSELVES AT RISK OF BEING THROWN OUT OF OFFICE
5. CORRUPTION AND SLEAZE IS SWIRLING AROUND THESE BAILOUTS - [...]