AlterNet Blogs

AlterNet's focused blogging

Study Shows 'Center-Right Nation' Narrative Spiked Immediately After Election Day
Posted by David Sirota, Blog for Our Future on November 21, 2008 at 8:19 PM.

When I wrote my first column about the "center-right nation" and subsequently launched the "Center-Right Nation Watch" series on this blog I predicted that the news media would actually increase its usage of this term after Obama won. I did a Lexis-Nexis search of the term, and was the first to note the trend and make the prediction that "if Obama wins, expect more frantic talk from the fringe about how electing a black man billed as an Islamic Karl Marx obviously means our country is more conservative than ever."

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

Study Shows 'Center-Right Nation' Narrative Spiked Immediately After Election Day
Posted by David Sirota, Blog for Our Future on November 21, 2008 at 8:19 PM.

When I wrote my first column about the "center-right nation" and subsequently launched the "Center-Right Nation Watch" series on this blog I predicted that the news media would actually increase its usage of this term after Obama won. I did a Lexis-Nexis search of the term, and was the first to note the trend and make the prediction that "if Obama wins, expect more frantic talk from the fringe about how electing a black man billed as an Islamic Karl Marx obviously means our country is more conservative than ever."

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

Will Gen. Jim Jones Be Obama's National Security Advisor?
Posted by Chris Bowers, Open Left on November 21, 2008 at 4:42 PM.

CNN is reporting that retired General Jim Jones is the leading candidate to become Obama's national security advisor. There is good reason to believe this reporting, given that Jones was one of sixteen names on the "semi-short list" for Obama's Vice-President. While Jones was taken out of contention when it was revealed he supported John McCain, in the third debate Obama still mentioned him as an advisor he would "surround" himself with when elected President. So yeah, this report is probably accurate.

Although not as bad as keeping Gates as Secretary of Defense (I'm not sure any cabinet appointment could be that bad), it would still be a very disappointing selection. Jones, as already noted, supported McCain, and was also offered the deputy Secretary of State job in the Bush administration. He turned the offer down, but turning down an offer like that from the Bush administration in mid-2007 isn't exactly a progressive master stroke. Not many people are keen to jump on board an administration with a sub-30% approval rating and only twenty months left in office.

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

Obama's (Rumored) Pick for Secretary of the Treasury Makes Wall Street Happy
Posted by Steve Benen, Washington Monthly on November 21, 2008 at 3:36 PM.

Of the three apparent cabinet moves this afternoon, we know a lot about Hillary Clinton, quite a bit about Bill Richardson, but comparably less about Timothy Geithner. If he's going to be the Secretary of the Treasury in the midst of a historical financial crisis, it's probably worth taking some time to get to know him.

I've read two solid pieces lately on the likely next Treasury Secretary. The first was back in September, when Robert Kuttner wrote a fascinating item on Geithner's background and expertise.

Unlike many senior Treasury and Fed officials, Geithner is not a high roller from a big bank or investment house but a public-minded civil servant. He has neither a doctorate in economics nor an M.B.A. After receiving a master's degree in international economics from Johns Hopkins University, he worked as a research assistant to Henry Kissinger and then joined the Treasury, where he was posted as an assistant attache in Japan. He came to the attention of both Larry Summers and Robert Rubin and quickly moved up the ladder. He was a key player in the containment of the Asian financial crisis of 1997-1998 and later went to the International Monetary Fund as a top official. Despite being a Democrat, he was named president of the New York Fed after two stronger and more conservative candidates withdrew. 

Geithner's admirers span the spectrum from Republican financial mogul Pete Peterson to liberal Democrat Barney Frank. One can infer from his broad fan base three possible conclusions: Wall Street is so clubby and politically powerful that permissible policy differences just aren't that great; or maybe Geithner is all things to all people; or perhaps, in a deep crisis, truly talented and effective people can earn broad respect.

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Wanted: A New Slogan for Coal
Posted by Bruce Nilles, Sierra Club on November 21, 2008 at 2:33 PM.

With dozens of new coal plants across the country now on hold because of last week's ruling requiring a second look at carbon emissions, the coal industry is stepping up its game. Already in Kansas they've sued the Sebelius administration in an attempt to prevent states from acting to fight global warming. 

We're stepping up our game in response and need your input. 

Already through our new website and online video at CoalIsNotTheAnswer.org, tens of thousands of people have learned the truth about coal -- revealing the reality behind the coal industry's slick $40 million advertising campaign that masks the harmful and polluting nature of coal-fired power plants.

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

Wanted: A New Slogan for Coal
Posted by Bruce Nilles, Sierra Club on November 21, 2008 at 2:33 PM.

With dozens of new coal plants across the country now on hold because of last week's ruling requiring a second look at carbon emissions, the coal industry is stepping up its game. Already in Kansas they've sued the Sebelius administration in an attempt to prevent states from acting to fight global warming. 

We're stepping up our game in response and need your input. 

Already through our new website and online video at CoalIsNotTheAnswer.org, tens of thousands of people have learned the truth about coal -- revealing the reality behind the coal industry's slick $40 million advertising campaign that masks the harmful and polluting nature of coal-fired power plants.

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

Franken: Coleman's Lead Is Less Than 100 Votes
Posted by Sam Stein, Huffington Post on November 21, 2008 at 2:04 PM.

Aides to Al Franken's campaign said on Friday that the deficit they face against Norm Coleman in their Senate recount is now less than 100 votes.

"It is fair to say that Norm Coleman's lead is now in the double digits," said Marc Elias, a lawyer for the campaign. He added, more optimistically that, "there are more Democratic areas with votes left to be counted than Republican."

The Franken math is not official. They are basing their findings both on the 51.1 percent of the state-wide recount that they have completed, but which is not reported by the Secretary of State, as well as a portion of the 800-or-so contested ballots that they believe will be easily resolved.

The dwindling margin separating the two camps, however, is making for high political drama. If Franken's numbers are to be believed, the Democratic challenger has more than halved his deficit with just over half the recount completed. The election, in short, could be decided by a single digit difference, though there is no telling if the margin will continue to close at the same pace.

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

Franken: Coleman's Lead Is Less Than 100 Votes
Posted by Sam Stein, Huffington Post on November 21, 2008 at 2:04 PM.

Aides to Al Franken's campaign said on Friday that the deficit they face against Norm Coleman in their Senate recount is now less than 100 votes.

"It is fair to say that Norm Coleman's lead is now in the double digits," said Marc Elias, a lawyer for the campaign. He added, more optimistically that, "there are more Democratic areas with votes left to be counted than Republican."

The Franken math is not official. They are basing their findings both on the 51.1 percent of the state-wide recount that they have completed, but which is not reported by the Secretary of State, as well as a portion of the 800-or-so contested ballots that they believe will be easily resolved.

The dwindling margin separating the two camps, however, is making for high political drama. If Franken's numbers are to be believed, the Democratic challenger has more than halved his deficit with just over half the recount completed. The election, in short, could be decided by a single digit difference, though there is no telling if the margin will continue to close at the same pace.

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

Reports: Clinton Accepts Secretary of State Nomination; Geithner and Richardson Also Likely Cabinet Choices
Posted by Satyam Khanna, Think Progress on November 21, 2008 at 1:11 PM.

The New York Times reports that Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) "has decided to give up her Senate seat and accept the position of secretary of state." According to MSNBC, it is "also expected Monday" that New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson will be named Commerce Secretary,” and New York Fed President Tim Geithner is expected to be announced as Treasury Secretary, "barring last minute changes."

Who Is in Charge? Economic Crisis Worsens Because of Transitional Power Vacuum
Posted by Digby, Hullabaloo on November 21, 2008 at 1:02 PM.

Krugman brings up something this morning that I was coincidentally chatting about over dinner with a friend last night -- what are the ramifications of having the lamest of lame ducks visibly uninterested and engaged at this moment of economic crisis, (not to mention a congress that has time to laud convicted felons in their midst but can't seem to stick around to deal with this huge problem developing in Detroit?) I vaguely recalled something similar in 1932 but couldn't remember the details.
Krugman fills in the blanks:

There is, however, another and more disturbing parallel between 2008 and 1932 -- namely, the emergence of a power vacuum at the height of the crisis. The interregnum of 1932-1933, the long stretch between the election and the actual transfer of power, was disastrous for the U.S. economy, at least in part because the outgoing administration had no credibility, the incoming administration had no authority and the ideological chasm between the two sides was too great to allow concerted action. And the same thing is happening now.

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

Who Is in Charge? Economic Crisis Worsens Because of Transitional Power Vacuum
Posted by Digby, Hullabaloo on November 21, 2008 at 1:02 PM.

Krugman brings up something this morning that I was coincidentally chatting about over dinner with a friend last night -- what are the ramifications of having the lamest of lame ducks visibly uninterested and engaged at this moment of economic crisis, (not to mention a congress that has time to laud convicted felons in their midst but can't seem to stick around to deal with this huge problem developing in Detroit?) I vaguely recalled something similar in 1932 but couldn't remember the details.
Krugman fills in the blanks:

There is, however, another and more disturbing parallel between 2008 and 1932 -- namely, the emergence of a power vacuum at the height of the crisis. The interregnum of 1932-1933, the long stretch between the election and the actual transfer of power, was disastrous for the U.S. economy, at least in part because the outgoing administration had no credibility, the incoming administration had no authority and the ideological chasm between the two sides was too great to allow concerted action. And the same thing is happening now.

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

Unhinged Chambliss Grabs Camera When Asked About Lawsuit
Posted by Sam Stein, Huffington Post on November 21, 2008 at 12:21 PM.

The pressures of the runoff election and the continuing questions about his ties to a large, scandal-scarred sugar company seem to be getting to Sen. Saxby Chambliss.

Asked by a reporter whether a lawsuit involving deaths at an Imperial Sugar plant -- a lawsuit in which Chambliss claims he has senatorial immunity from testifying -- were making his chances at reelection harder, the Georgia Republican responded by knocking away a nearby camera.

The video, put out by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, is another chapter in a bizarre but brewing saga that could very well affect the outcome of the Senate race.

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

Unhinged Chambliss Grabs Camera When Asked About Lawsuit
Posted by Sam Stein, Huffington Post on November 21, 2008 at 12:21 PM.

The pressures of the runoff election and the continuing questions about his ties to a large, scandal-scarred sugar company seem to be getting to Sen. Saxby Chambliss.

Asked by a reporter whether a lawsuit involving deaths at an Imperial Sugar plant -- a lawsuit in which Chambliss claims he has senatorial immunity from testifying -- were making his chances at reelection harder, the Georgia Republican responded by knocking away a nearby camera.

The video, put out by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, is another chapter in a bizarre but brewing saga that could very well affect the outcome of the Senate race.

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

Obama, the Senate, and China ... All Eying the Big 3
Posted by Jane Hamsher, Firedoglake on November 21, 2008 at 11:09 AM.

I see the Obama team is already denying this:

"President-Elect Barack Obama's transition team is exploring a swift, prepackaged bankruptcy for automakers as a possible solution to the industry's financial crisis, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Obama's team has already contacted at least one bankruptcy- law firm to say that Daniel Tarullo, a professor at Georgetown University's law school who heads Obama's economic policy working group, would call to discuss the workings of a so-called prepack, according to this person.

Since the election, Team Obama has become "trial balloon central" (if they were genuinely serious about firing the leaker, Rahm Emanuel would hit the Chief Of Staff revolving door post-haste).  They have been strategically using the media to test public opinion, but in this case I'd imagine they also did so with the intent to force the unions, bond holders and other stakeholders in the Big 3 into a more pliant negotiating position.

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

Obama, the Senate, and China ... All Eying the Big 3
Posted by Jane Hamsher, Firedoglake on November 21, 2008 at 11:09 AM.

I see the Obama team is already denying this:

"President-Elect Barack Obama's transition team is exploring a swift, prepackaged bankruptcy for automakers as a possible solution to the industry's financial crisis, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Obama's team has already contacted at least one bankruptcy- law firm to say that Daniel Tarullo, a professor at Georgetown University's law school who heads Obama's economic policy working group, would call to discuss the workings of a so-called prepack, according to this person.

Since the election, Team Obama has become "trial balloon central" (if they were genuinely serious about firing the leaker, Rahm Emanuel would hit the Chief Of Staff revolving door post-haste).  They have been strategically using the media to test public opinion, but in this case I'd imagine they also did so with the intent to force the unions, bond holders and other stakeholders in the Big 3 into a more pliant negotiating position.

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »