Yesterday, I wrote about the post of Commerce Secretary, arguing that Big Tent Democrat was wrong in claiming that the "the Commerce Secretary is a meaningless post". BTD responded in the comments saying: You and one of your commenters seem not to have understood what I wrote - I did not s...

Jack Kelly: When in the last election Democrats spoke of a "culture of corruption" in Washington, few realized they were making a promise. The Obama administration is not yet three weeks old but already features a growing collection of ethically challenged officials. The late-night comics have notic...

The Hamtastic Mary Katherine, a favorite of this blog and all meat byproducts, warns us of the  incoming Trade Rep. (I know, exciting stuff but it gets better and “better”, I mean worse) being touted by one Pres. Barrington H. O’Snobba for The Great Trade War Czar : Rep. Xavier Be...

Would George W. Bush and Dick Cheney have sought economic advice from, say, James Galbraith, a well-known progressive economist (and Mother Jones contributor)? That's a rhetorical question. But look at the composition of Barack Obama's Economic Recovery Advisory Board, which he unveiled on Friday mo...

With tax cheats Tim Geithner and Tom Dasche in or on their way to cabinet positions, Don Surber looks at some of the other associations of the man in the White House: Let us review the list of people who belong in jail he has hung out with over the years: William Ayers. Rod Blagojevich. Tony Rezko. ...

While many of us spent today watching Obama's inauguration, few news sources have reported on where the money for the lavish inauguration festivities comes from. Contrary to what it may seem, it is not public money. Rather, inauguration funds are raised by the incoming administration. Positive Steps...

The Obama inaugural is dominating the news, even here. But if you think we’re bad, visit any major American news outlet — at least 75% of the top stories are adulatory pieces about The One. Thanks to C. Cantoni, Insubria, JD, JW, VH, and all the other tipsters who sent these in. Headlines and ar...

With top cabinet posts and senior White House positions filled, the Obama administration's process of appointing influential New York bundlers to coveted sub-cabinet positions is well underway. But this time around, it's not entirely clear who the well-connected bundlers need to be lobbying for jobs...

Normally, I am one of Barry Ritholtz’ fans, often indulging “The Big Pictureâ€�’s expansive prose and deft selection of this chart, that graph or the other political-economy cartoon that collectively has its finger right on the pulse of this week’s market week after week.  I fear, howe...

(NOTE: Copies of what seemed to be a draft of an inaugural invocation by Pastor Rick Warren arrived in the fax machines of several prominent journalists this morning. This site does not vouch for the authenticity of the draft, although each of the statements does conform to material in Pastor Warren...