And Digby, too. And this is pretty damned interesting, too. Josh Marshall: It turns out that one of the features of the 2005 Bankruptcy bill was to put derivative counter parties [like CDS holders] at the front of the line ahead of other creditors in bankruptcy proceedings. Actually, from what I can...

Great piece by Michael Lind in today’s Salon on the timid liberalism of Obama’s policies, an absolute must-read. Here’s an excerpt: I’m sympathetic to the argument that the public, after nearly half a century of conservative anti-government propaganda, will oppose the direct ...

Once upon a time, I worked for a guy who spent a lot of money on a high-priced executive coach. He and other members of upper management would attend weekly meetings in a penthouse office and role-play different scenarios under his guru’s guidance. My boss would always come back eager to test ...

“So we’ll let you continue to rape and pillage - just not as often. And you won’t be paid as much for it.” WASHINGTON - Just four months ago, the pharmaceutical industry was prepared for the worst. Drugmakers feared that Barack Obama would press for price controls on prescrip...

The horror goes on. And in the meantime, Congressional “moderate Dems” are fighting to make sure the only people who will get real help are on Wall Street! (Thanks, Rahm, for insisting we starve all the progressive primary candidates of cash. Have you explained that stategy yet to your n...

Oh, boo fucking hoo. And by the way: her district is considerably more liberal than this “business friendly” Dem. She’s more interested in wielding obstructionist power as a minority DINO....

On cramdowns, via Chris Bowers....

I read this in Salon this morning, and I’ve been brooding over it all day. Mick Arran points out that the powers that be only get worked up about class war if they start losing the war. That pretty much sums up the dynamic of this country for the past 30 years or so. (I remember reading in som...

And it’s about damned time. They’ve sucked so much out of the fresh-water aquifers, they have to desalinate the drinking water. (Why do you think everyone in Florida drinks bottled water? The tap water tastes like crap.) You know, for a Republican, Charlie Crist is pretty good: LEE — I...

The WSJ’s “Microtrends” columnist talks about the unprecedented wave of layoffs in law firms and other white collar professions: What is a laid-off lawyer to do? They principally had their savings in the stock and housing markets, which have been decimated. Unlike many blue-collar ...