Gulf Residents Ready to Jump-Start Drilling
Slowly but surely, Louisiana is recovering from the BP spill. But oil workers are still tied down by the White House’s decision to only grant a small number of drilling permits. Slowly but surely, Louisiana is recovering from the devastating blow it was delivered when BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil …GOP Won't Win Debt Blame Game
If the U.S. does experience a credit downgrade, the Republican party's reputation for economic competence will take a big hit in the eyes of voters. There may be less in Standard & Poor’s new negative outlook on US debt than meets the eye. There’s no actual downgrade of the US credit rating …How to Beat Trump
If the GOP really wants to finish off Trump, Republican candidates had better learn to speak to the anxieties of voters and offer real solutions to the economic crisis. This post by Ed Kilgore about Donald Trump seems to me very astute. The Republican establishment has perceived [Trump] as a …Obama Stays Silent on Syria
The uprising in Syria gives the U.S. a chance to advance its interests and ideals, but Obama's insistence on engaging authoritarian regimes may squander the opportunity. The U.S. response to the recent events in Syria reveals that the Arab revolts have not completely shaken President Obama’s faith …It's About Time Congress Takes on BP
A year after the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded, killing eleven and dumping oil into the Gulf of Mexico, one legislator is fighting to hold BP accountable. One year ago, the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, killing eleven workers and injuring sixteen more. The …The GOP's DOMA Dead End
Republicans have committed to spending valuable political capital to attack gay marriage. But if they looked at the polls, they'd know its a lost battle. A political movement that doesn’t have its eyes on the road ahead won’t like what it finds when it gets there. On Monday, Republicans …Did U.S. Overreact to Debt Outlook Shift?
There's a lot of buzz about Standard and Poor's shift in outlook on U.S. debt. But a change in outlook isn't the same as a downgrade and, by itself, does little or nothing. There's a lot of buzz in Washington about Standard and Poor's shift in outlook on the United States' debt. I'm not sure if …Washington Moves Slowly After Debt Warning
S&P's debt outlook announcement shocked Washington. But with Congress out of session and members focused on jobs and gas prices, we're still no closer to a long-term debt deal. Standard and Poor’s unexpected announcement yesterday that it had put United States sovereign debt on watch with …Debt Debate: What Would Hamilton Do?
To get a fresh perspective, I attempted to contact the spirit of Alexander Hamilton for his take on the current political and economic debates in Washington. To get some perspective on current political and economic debates, I attempted to contact the spirit of Alexander Hamilton by resetting …Confessions of a Climate Change Convert
I used to join the right in dismissing concerns about climate change. But then I was defeated by the facts. I was defeated by facts. It wasn’t all that long ago when I joined others on the right in dismissing concerns about climate change. It was my firm belief that the science was unsettled, …Debt Downgrade: Are Voters Paying Attention?
Wall Street may have sent a stern warning over the debt, but voters and media still seem more concerned with political sideshows like Donald Trump. The past day or so I experienced that odd feeling that I might be existing in parallel but separate universes, a situation wherein two (or more) …Fold On Feds' Online Gambling Crackdown
Over the weekend, FBI agents raided the nation’s three largest online poker sites. The crackdown is a colossal waste of government time and resources. Over the weekend, FBI agents working with U.S. Attorneys for the Southern District of New York raided the nation’s three largest online poker …Wall Street's Wake-Up Call
Neither President Obama's deficit reduction plan speech nor Congress' response seem to have settled market fears about America's soaring debt. This morning Standard and Poor’s put its long-term rating on United States sovereign debt on negative outlook. The equity market, as I write, is off by …Debt Default Fears Hit Wall Street
Wall Street's reaction to S&P's downgrade of the outlook on U.S. debt should be a warning to Republicans not to use the debt ceiling as a political football. S&Ps recent downgrade of the outlook on American debt isn't surprising. But the market's rapid decline in its wake should be a warning …Qaddafi's Choice: Power or Prison?
Before Libya, the White House was warming to the idea of an international criminal court. But now Qaddafi's fears of a war crime trial are hampering efforts to find an exit plan. "The Elba option is impossible in the modern world," sighed an unhappy German diplomat. Elba is a small, scenic …How the Super-Rich Scored on Tax Day
This year, the IRS reports that the average federal income tax rate on the 400 highest adjusted gross incomes is 17%. Want to know how? Just look to the tax code. Historically, the Internal Revenue Service makes an announcement the first week of April that they have arrested a public figure or …Red Light Cameras: The Latest Govt Rip-Off
While many libertarian battles against perceived government overreach seem excessive, the campaign against red light cameras may be a winner. Libertarians have mobilized this year against perceived government over-reach. Some of the causes seem excessive: opposition to seatbelt laws and carbon …Obama Dems Back Away From Big Government
Before his budget negotiations with the GOP, Obama's accepted an important fact: a large part of his base doesn't want to be tied down defending the welfare state. In a recent Washington Post piece Sally Kohn suggested that the liberal emphasis on tolerance as a social good has hampered the …On the Frontline With Ivory Coast's Rebels
Ivory Coast's civil war hit the headlines this week. The conflict actually began over a decade ago as a military pay mutiny. I know because I was there. The West African state of Cote d’Ivoire was in the news cycle this past week, where a six month power struggle culminated with French and UN …