They said American International Group was too big to fail, necessitating last month’s $85 billion loan from the federal government. But at what point does AIG become too fiscally irresponsible to save? First came news that just days after that bailout, AIG’s main U.S. life insurance subsidiary spent $440,000 on a California spa and golf retreat for insurance agents – an event that White House press secretary Dana Perino rightly called “pretty despicable” Wednesday and that prompted Barack Obama to say during Tuesday’s debate that “the Treasury should demand that money back and those executives should be fired.” Then this week the Federal Reserve agreed to loan AIG up to $37.8 billion, on top of the $61 billion it had tapped as of Sept. 30 from the other bailout. Enough already.
Top campaign officials for both parties, pollsters and independent experts are predicting potentially big gains in Congress by Democrats this election, the New York Times reported. Earlier polls had shown the public giving Democrats much higher marks than Republicans on most of the top domestic issues. But the past few weeks’ economic turmoil has boosted Democratic chances even more. As a result, 23 House seats now held by Republicans are considered toss-ups and four others are leaning Democratic, while only eight House seats held by Democrats are considered toss-ups. And in the Senate, three GOP seats are leaning Democratic and five others, including that of Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., are now toss-ups.
Turns out the Mavericks don’t appreciate John McCain being called a “maverick.” The Maverick family of Texas has been making a name for itself in libertarian and progressive politics since the 1600s. And the term “maverick” comes from Samuel Augustus Maverick (in photo), whose unbranded cattle in the 1800s became know as “mavericks.” Current family members chafe at the claim that McCain is not part of the Republican herd, given how often he votes with his party. “He’s a Republican,” Terrellita Maverick said. “He’s branded.”
John McCain compared Barack Obama during Tuesday’s debate to Herbert Hoover (in photo), saying Obama wants to raise taxes in a time of deep economic uncertainty and shrinking growth. Hugh Hewitt of Townhall.com says that “the argument about the disastrous economic policies being pushed by Obama must be made by McCain every day going forward.” Hewitt contends: “I don’t want to put the country through Great Depression 2.0, and I don’t want a vast army of academics and social engineers descending on D.C. with plans on how to remake America in their own extremist image.”
After more than a decade of contentious debate about another Big Ditch bridge, planners have come up with an idea that just might fly – a bridge from 13th Street west of the Big Ditch onto I-235. That would ease the crush of traffic at the Zoo Boulevard and Central Avenue bridges as Wichita’s west-siders try to get to and from downtown jobs. Most important for gaining neighbors’ support, the latest plan would leave 13th Street east of the Big Ditch unaffected. The cost and funding are uncertain at this point. And in truth, the Big Ditch could use more than one new span, including the one previously discussed from 25th Street North on the east side to 29th Street North on the west. But the latest bridge plan makes a lot of sense.
