Rising demand will result from rising supply.

Hyped-up entrepreneurs are indeed a benefit, but when it comes to lifting the economy, 70 years of experience has demonstrated that rising demand is crucial, and must come first. Only then do suppliers really become active, to satisfy the customers knocking on their doors.


THE Bush tax cuts encourage this customer demand, though not efficiently. They work best if every dollar of forgiven taxes is spent. Unfortunately, only a third is being spent, according to Joel Slemrod and his colleagues at the Office of Tax Policy Research at the University of Michigan. The rest has been saved or used to pay down debt, the office found in recent surveys.

By this reckoning, the Bush tax cuts will not do much to lift the economy. The $117 billion in fiscal 2003 gives birth to only $40 billion in effective stimulus. Much more of the cuts, perhaps every nickel, would have been spent if the money had been channeled to the states instead, to pay the salaries of teachers who were fired to balance budgets. The economy surged in the third quarter, but as Mr. Slemrod notes, "the tax cuts were not a major part of that growth.''
gmb: damn... at least somebody does this simple math and gets it right.

The United States has not adopted the WHO initiative. The Bush administration has requested -- but not yet received -- $15 billion from Congress over five years to be spent on as-yet-undescribed HIV prevention and treatment campaigns in 14 hard-hit nations.
Gee. Congress hasn't given Bush the money? I wonder why?
(hint: compassionate conservatives simply don't exist. They are a fairy tale, for people who believe in fairy tales)

We told you so! We really did!
And why should we expect anything good from Bush? Has he in fact done anything well? Why should war be an exception?

Banking on Iraqi oil? uh oh

It's "pile on Krugman" from the right. Reynolds, Postrel, Sullivan, about Krugman receiving 50K from Enron for sevices rendered. "just reported in the NY Times!" they shout! No one is covering.
Ummm, that same Times article noted that 1/24/2001 (almost 3 years ago!) Krugman himself reported that transaction.
So, read the right wing stuff. But don't quit until you follow the link to the source of the news. Then judge: was there anything there?
In this Krugman attack, absolutely no.
(They don't like the cover to Krugmans book in Austrailia. Tough shit. It's* a free country.)

* Austrailia

The NY Times editorial said it perfectly: Thanksgiving was about having enough. That's what you give thanks for. That's part of the American Dream. And, when you have more than enough, you share. And you can't delegate every last bit of this part: you have to do it yourself, and being thankful for the extra, and thankful that there is someone who finds what you have to offer useful.

[Bush is]..a U.S. president who has shown he understands the value of patience and courage in the face of terror.
This is how Safire views Bush. Is Bush "patient?" Are his actions "courageous"? Is he battling terror?

True or false: all ways to fight a war are equal and any and all military actions are "good".
My fellow countrymen: far far too many of you have answered "true". Many of you believe that god is for the United States and as god can make no error, then neither can the United States or this president, George Bush. We cannot understand god, but we must trust.
We of this generation have been given a free country, handed up through the days and years since her founding. The abdication of responsibility for faith is unworthy of such freedoms and you will not keep them.

I really don't know what a fast growing economy means without considering debt and deficit spending, not to mention, just what the hell is growing??? Anything having to do with people at all???

Economy Grew Even Faster Than First Thought in 3rd Quarter
By KENNETH N. GILPIN

Published: November 25, 2003


he economy grew at an 8.2 percent annual rate in the third quarter, the government reported this morning, a much more torrid pace than the 7.2 percent that was the initial estimate.

It is the fastest pace of growth since the first three months of 1984. While welcome, economists said growth at that level is not sustainable. Indeed, most expect the rate of growth is slowing in the current quarter.

It may be difficult to understand, but Bush in spending billions, killing thousands has made things worse, not better. People just cannot seem to understand the concept of leave it alone! Or do something simple.
Instead, we have something like Hollywood movie, Lethal Weapon: Bush version, where in chasing down one bad guy hundreds of cars get wrecked, cars drive through buildings, run over sidewalks, trucks explode, and there never are consequences... ? Right.
No. We are dealing with real life here and Bush has not a clue. And perhaps, neither do you, dear reader.
You just don't hit a hornets nest with a stick. You don't jump on a board to see if it might break. You don't pick at scabs and you don't try a frontal assault on an epidemic: you contain it, and evenly and thoughtfully remedy the problem. That is exactly the way to approach terrorism. And exactly the opposite of what that traitor to everything America really stands for has actuallyd done, and continues, apace, unchecked.
Oh, by the way, if you oppose the war, the FBI is interested in you. That's just fact. I mean, shit, they put it in the newspaper.

Return to Veitnam era politics but with a vengeance! NOW there is LAW that allows protest to be a crime, called "terrorism": as in "either you are for us or against us", and there is no such thing as "disagreement"

F.B.I. Scrutinizes Antiwar Rallies
Published: November 23, 2003
The memorandum, circulated on Oct. 15 � just 10 days before many thousands gathered in Washington and San Francisco to protest the American occupation of Iraq � noted that the bureau "possesses no information indicating that violent or terrorist activities are being planned as part of these protests" and that "most protests are peaceful events."

Dean in Iowa
Dean goes negative on Gephardt on the war, and that's gotta be stupid and mean. No serious Democrat (thus, we exclude at least the likes of Zell Miller) was FOR the war. Most believed that giving Bush a strong hand would force Saddams hand. Indeed, that is what was asked for: how can Saddam believe the threat if you haven't even given me the power?

Freedom is beautiful," Bush said Thursday .
Thousands accross the world protest, and Bush thinks it's quaint: fuck democracy, fuck the voice of the people (rd: rabble). A rational persons might express some concern that so very many people are seriously opposed to his policies. But Bush lives in a world of his own. What concerns many is that he's fucking up the world WE live in.

I smell revolution in the air. There was internal opposition to the first one, and a LOT of it. And it happenned anyway.
Here we have all the elements we need: we have George (again!), we have a runaway oligarchy that is buying up EVERYTHING: they just bought AARP. They have a disasterous foreign policy, and killer domestic policy, focus on trade (for the wealthy and nothing for plain people) and we have good ol' religion, which just might turn out to be THE enemy. Gay marriage might be THE ticket to bring THEM out to start the revolution by ratcheting up the oppression.

On the one hand, this might look like it helps Bush by involving more of the world in anti terror activities. On the other hand, Iraq becomes more and more irrelevant: here we are, tying up whole armies in Iraq and the terrorism is spreading. On yet another hand, and pacified Iraq would be a great launch site against terrory. Off to another hand, so would Turkey, and that didn't require Iraq.
Finally, they may come to the conclusion reached long long ago ("Who killed Daniel Pearl'): it's Pakistan. And some Saudi money.

Series of Bombs Rocks Downtown Istanbul
At Least 26 Killed, More Than 450 Injured
By Molly Moore and Fred Barbash
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, November 20, 2003; 10:49 AM
ISTANBUL, Nov. 20 -- Two powerful explosions, closely synchronized, ripped through Istanbul Thursday, killing at least 26 and injuring more than 450, according to preliminary reports from health authorities. The targets included the British consulate and a British bank.

don't mix church and state :-)
Mass. Ruling Boosts Same-Sex Marriage
By JENNIFER PETER
Associated Press Writer
Published November 18, 2003, 4:14 PM CST
BOSTON -- Massachusetts' highest court ruled 4-3 Tuesday that the state's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional and gave lawmakers 180 days to come up with a solution that would allow gay couples to wed.

NY Times
Clark supports flag desecration amendment.
(bye bye, General Clark. Back to the GOP, please.)

Israeli Ex-Security Chiefs Warn of Catastrophe Israeli Ex-Security Chiefs Warn of Catastrophe
Former Security Service Heads Tell Sharon to Change Course
By Ravi Nessman
The Associated Press
Friday, November 14, 2003; 3:43 PM
JERUSALEM -- Four former Israeli security chiefs sharply criticized Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's policies toward the Palestinians on Friday, warning in unusually bold terms that Israel is headed for catastrophe if it does not reach a peace deal soon.
gmb: I submit this applies to the US, too. I submit it is directly attributable to Bush, and no other, ever in our history.

Hold the Vitriol
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Published: November 12, 2003 Since then, Europe has matured and become much less polarized � becoming more like (Old) America. And unfortunately the U.S. is transforming itself into the classic European pattern of reinforcing cleavages. A red state/blue state divide overlaps an evangelical/secular divide and a Fox News/Al Franken divide.
The most striking cleavage is the God Gulf, and it should terrify the Democrats. Put simply, liberals are becoming more secular at a time when America is becoming increasingly religious, the consequence of a new Great Awakening. Americans, for example, are significantly more likely now than in 1987 to say they "completely agree" that "prayer is an important part of my daily life" and that "we all will be called before God on Judgment Day to answer for our sins."
The Pew survey found that white evangelicals are leaving the Democratic Party in droves. Fifteen years ago, white evangelicals were split equally between the two parties; now they're twice as likely to be Republicans. Likewise, white Catholics who attend Mass regularly used to be strongly Democratic; now they are more likely to be Republican.
Since Americans are three times as likely to believe in the virgin birth of Jesus as in evolution, liberal derision for President Bush's religious beliefs risks marginalizing the left.
gmb: oh boy. (except I don't know about any derision about Bush's religious beliefs. I'd say that's simply not true. The man is an idiot, but his religious beliefs are fine, so long as they aren't used to run the United States. And this virgin birth stuff: ummm, that pretty much means Christians, yes? And most of them don't accept a theory of evolution??
This article also talks about "Bush hatred", liking the democrats to the GOP: the man is totally full of shit. Its all based on an article by Molly Ivins who details Bush disasters, and who concludes "If this makes be a Bush hater, sign me up." It is a thoroughly reasoned essay. Kristoff now joins Friedman and worthless columnists in the NY Times.

Never Love a Stranger

By WILLIAM SAFIRE
Published: November 12, 2003
WASHINGTON � Both power centers of the Democratic establishment � the Kennedy left and the Clinton middle � are frantic at the prospect of losing control of their party to Howard Dean. They fear a McGovernesque debacle that would hand the G.O.P. a super-majority in the Senate.
...
It is in the Clintons' interest for the 2004 Democratic nominee to lose respectably, not in a landslide, laying the basis for a 2008 comeback that would be impossible if Dean were in the White House.

gmb: I saw this coming. McAuliffe has a hand in this, too. But its not about a debacle, its about money and the shift of power in the democratic party to a new leader, one who is actually more democratic.

Panama Challenges Miami as Free Trade Headquarters
By CHRISTOPHER MARQUIS
Published: November 11, 2003
ANAMA, Nov. 5 � In a region that relishes a good beauty contest, the competition is heating up between Miami and this Central American nation to be chosen as the headquarters for a future Free Trade Area of the Americas.

G Bush has fucked up the America's bad enough to hurt Florida and brother Jeb. So, how will George spend more money (that is the money of the people of the United States for government, not for personal use by George) to save the Free Trade Headquarters, which, by the way, should move to Panama so that this eternal banana republic shit can stop. And maybe Cuba could get a fair shake.

Bush got exactly 87.5 billion. Right to the dime. Wow, THAT is really good budgeting!!!! (yeah, right)

When Resolve Against Bush Melts
Hill Usually Defers to Commander in Chief on Military Issues
By Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, November 9, 2003; Page A08
In a seeming display of political independence, the Republican-controlled Senate defied President Bush in mid-October and voted to convert $10 billion of his proposed aid package to Iraq into a loan. Two weeks later, senators quietly converted the reconstruction money back into an outright grant, without so much as a roll call vote.

Short fused! YEAH! These long fused creeps have studied their navels, stroked their beards and tamped their pipes quite long enough: how about "We're mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore!"

THE CONTENDERS : Howard Dean Short-Fused Populist,
Breathing Fire at Bush
By Evelyn Nieves
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, July 6, 2003; Page A01

So far, it seems that Dean is Dean is Dean: how very strange The man just seems to actually be who he is. Could it be???

For Dean, The Edge Widens
Democrat Rejects Public Financing Gets Union Support
By Jim VandeHei and Dan Balz
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, November 9, 2003; Page A01
Former Vermont governor Howard Dean is shaking up the Democratic presidential race by busting federal spending constraints, locking up two of the campaign's biggest endorsements and, for the first time, threatening to pull away from the pack.

Idealism in the Face Of a Troubled Reality
By Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 7, 2003; Page A01
In a speech that redefined the U.S. agenda in the Middle East, President Bush waxed eloquent yesterday about his dream of democracy coexisting with Islam and transforming an important geostrategic region that has defiantly held out against the global tide of political change.

gmb:Bush is the kind of person that gives "honesty" a bad name, something to distrust. He is the ultimate unthinking opportunist wrapped in a cloak of beatific kindness of his own imagination. A second cousin to, say, Kissenger.

Big news: the economy is zipping along at 7.2%
Big question: what is the COST of making the economy to 7.2%
What did it?
Bigger question: What IS "the economy"? What can we say with certainly about a growing or shrinking economy. MUST an economy GROW? Always? Why? What, if any, is the relationship between an economy and the size or change in size of a population?
The Economist exlains
A flood of red ink
Nov 6th 2003 | WASHINGTON, DC
From The Economist print edition
AP
America's fiscal position has deteriorated fast during George Bush's presidency. It will not be easy to reverse
Long after Dubya is back on his ranch, Americans will be trying to recover from the mess he created.

A recent article says that the anti-depressant pills are worthless: they perform no better than sugar pills, totally a placebo. (Not true, says I, but...)
In order to create a placebo effect, you have to make it credible, jump through the hoops. Suppose one actually intentionally created a placebo, and sold it, asking a credible price, etc: for the one person that it failed to help, that might have been helped with a "real" pill, you'd be out of business.
But, more important and far wider ranging: couldn't it be argued far more convincingly that religion more than anything else is nothing but a placebo effect?
So what. It works.
But then again, it doesn't: the cost to others from the placebo effect of the believers can and very very often be deadly.

This is a worthy act, courtesy of McDonalds creator, Joan Kroc
NPR Given Record Donation
McDonald's Heiress Leaves $200 Million
By Paul Farhi and Reilly Capps
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, November 6, 2003; Page A01
National Public Radio will announce today the largest donation in its history, a cash bequest from the will of the late philanthropist Joan Kroc of about $200 million.

thank you(Now this is Jewish lady!)

I wonder: is the GOP the party of Christians? Not just Christians, but the kind who call themselves Christians, Pat Robertson and heartland and born again and church goers... What is a Christian Democrat? Are all Democrats either secular white or people of color, especially people of color that are not rich? Is the current political alignment on religious grounds? An interesting phase.
What IS a Democrat? We KNOW what a Republican is. Pro war, pro church, anti government, and probably tending to the racist. Rather clear, well defined.
What is a Democrat? People looking to negotiate, trade fairly, engage in and encourage the arts, pro environment, pro government social programs, especially in cities, transportation, middle class, lower middle class and some very active upper class (rich), intellectual. Fuzzy, at least to me. This needs work.

William Pfaff: A fiction shattered by America's aggression
William Pfaff William Pfaff Saturday, November 1, 2003
The U.S. in the world
PORTO, Portugal More than nine months into the Iraq crisis, meetings between West Europeans and Americans of goodwill remain strained nondialogues in which most of the American participants find it hard to admit that the catastrophic loss of America's reputation abroad has anything to do with them.... They don't think terrorism is an Evil force the United States is going to defeat. They say instead that terrorism is a way people wage war when they don't have F-16's or armored divisions.

What if terrorism is the future of modern warfare? OR maybe terrorism is the way you fight when the battlelines are all crossed and mixed. "Modern" warfare says there has to be a line. Terrorism says, there IS no line, we're all mixed together and there is NO structure to navigate serious serious differences. Maybe that is a semi-rational basis for limited racial and cultural biases: even though you "mix", you can't really mix. You can't get out of uniform. (the nazi's solved that one by making jews put on yellow stars since you couldn't tell otherwise).