Daily Archives: March 23, 2009

No stock drop this time for Geithner

March 23, 200912:38 p.m.

Bailout PlanSo far, Wall Street approves of the Obama administration’s plan to buy toxic assets from banks. The market went up sharply this morning after Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner outlined the plan. Last month, the market tanked after Geithner announced a vague overview of the plan.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Economy, President Obama | Comments (31)

Obama can’t fill jobs fast enough

March 23, 200912:36 p.m.

obama39The Obama administration’s credibility and productivity are not being helped by all the empty desks. According to Newsweek, the British government can’t even get its calls to the Treasury Department returned, and “a superstrict vetting process” — no lobbyists or tax problems — “has weeded out or driven off some otherwise very qualified candidates.” One nominee for a top job related to the bank bailouts dropped out last week because of a 1990s nanny problem. Is this any way to stock an administration? At least Obama still has some time, Newsweek noted: “To fill all Senate-confirmed positions took Ronald Reagan 194 days, George H.W. Bush 163 days, Bill Clinton 267 days and George W. Bush 242 days.”

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under President Obama | Comments (18)

Political motive behind Brownback’s support?

March 23, 20096:02 a.m.

brownback3Sam Brownback’s official — and admirable — reason for supporting Gov. Kathleen Sebelius for secretary of Health and Human Services is that Barack Obama won the election and deserves the right to appoint qualified people to his Cabinet. But Brownback’s people have reportedly been telling anti-abortion groups that there is a political motive for wanting Sebelius in Washington, D.C.: It likely takes her out of the running to take over his Senate seat in 2010. If so, such reasoning is “wrong on two counts,” Tom McClusky, a lobbyist with Family Research Council Action, told U.S. News & World Report. “They’re putting politics before policy,” he said. “And secondly, the Republicans are trying to predict an election two years out, which is impossible.”

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Kansas delegation, Kansas government | Comments (41)

Open thread 3/23

March 23, 20096:01 a.m.

screamthe14

By The Editors | Filed under Open thread | Comments (210)

Dubious, bogus and utterly phony headlines

March 23, 20096:00 a.m.

spoofslogo12The following satirical headlines come from borowitzreport.com and theonion.com:
IN NEW TERROR VIDEO, AIG DEMANDS HUGE RANSOM FROM U.S.; Shadowy Group Seeks Bonuses, Golf Retreats
CHENEY TO PEN BUSH’S MEMOIR; First Vice President in History to Write President’s Book
LOCAL OFFICE BETTING ON WHO WILL WIN NCAA TOURNAMENT POOL AT OTHER OFFICE
FDA APPROVES SALMONELLA
U.S. TROOPS IN IRAQ EXCITED TO FINALLY RETURN TO AFGHANISTAN

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Spoof headlines | Comments (4)