Clinton Conspiracy Thoughts

I wonder if Obama's thinks Hillary won't be able to survive vetting, or namely, that the vetting would bring up enough juicy stuff on Bill that it might undermine her? This is all idle speculation and a bit stupid as she did seek to become President! However, the Hillary campaign refused to disclose their tax data or any donor information regarding the Clinton Global Initiative.

From Capitol Hill to Foggy Bottom

Hillary is slated to become the next Secretary of State.

The National Review

Here's an article on how the National Review has become increasinly crappy and hacktastic.

Chapter 11 for GM

The best argument I have heard for keeping GM out of chapter 11 is that they won't be able to obtain DIP (Debtor-in-possession) financing and thus will actually end up in Chapter 7.  However, if this is the reason why they need a bailout as opposed to bankruptcy couldn't the government provide the DIP financing?  Then you can sustain GM through the reorganization, and more importantly, a reorginazation in fact occurs.

Update: Brad Delong suggests the government provide DIP financing.

Stretching Those 15 Minutes

It appears that Joe the Plumber has a blog.

NHTSA Uses the Web

NHTSA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the kind folks who make your auto manufacturer issue a recall have created a free email subscription service where can keep tabs on whether your car has a recall or a technical service bulletin.  This is a handy feature if you own a Volkswagen like yours truly.

Bankruptcy not Bailout

Stephen Bainbridge has a good rundown on why GM should go into bankruptcy as opposed to receiving a bailout.

More on the Franken-Coleman Recount

The Big Question, a Star Tribune blog, attempts to explain some of the newly appearing votes. This is where I have always thought the Democrats have shined in terms of shenanigans. Republicans subtract, Democrats add. I honestly think Franken will win at this point whether or not there were in fact enough votes in the first place as it seems the votes will appear one way or another.

Putin Plotting

to get back in the Kremlin in 09.

The Big Three Up the Ante

Now they are asking for an additional $50 billion as opposed to an additional $25 billion.

PeP Links: Transition and Conservative Crackup Edition

Transition:

Here is the bio on one of the frontrunners for the next Supreme Court vacancy.  When my employer (Uncle Sam) was being sued he was on the panel and had an excellent grasp of the record and asked really inciteful questions.

Here is the Scotus Blog with a more thorough list of possible SCOTUS appointments.

Here is a piece from TNR on Tim Geithner who is a short lister for the Treasury.  Larry Summers is mentioned also as a likely candidate.  I tend to think Summers has a greater chance if for no other reason than that Geithner is currently pretty busy as president of the Fed Reserve Bank of New York where he is playing a central role in trying to contain the financial meltdown.  Paul Volcker is another contender.

It appears Rahm Emanuel will be Obama's  Chief of Staff.

John Podesta, former Clinton Chief of Staff, is the head of the Obama transition team and is a candidate for energy secretary.

Conservative Crackup:

Here is a panel of conservatives on the conservative crack up and what to do moving forward. My favorite suggestion is Tucker Carlson's that we actually put forth a candidate that has demonstrates some degree of fluency in English.

Over at Culture 11 Conor Friedorsdorf proposes a series of panels to discuss the political challenges facing conservatism and possible policy responses.  I love the idea for the title- Conservatism- What the F-ck? (Obviously the liberal equivalent would be: Liberalism- What the Fuck?)

And This Just Cracks Me Up:

The boys over at Powerline demanding to know when Obama will back away from this whole global warming hoax.

More Loans for Big Three

Speaker Pelosi is apparently considering giving the big three another $25 billion in loans.  This is absurd, let them go into bankruptcy.

I Love Alaska

They haven't called the Alaska senate race but it looks like Ted Stevens won. Ted Stevens was recently convicted on corruption charges.

Recount in MN

Coleman is leading with a couple hundred of votes. Since the margin of victory is so small there will be an automatic recount.

The Most Unconvincing Spin Award

Goes to Robert Novak.  I love this quote in particular:  

"He may have opened the door to enactment of the long-deferred liberal agenda, but he neither received a broad mandate from the public nor the needed large congressional majorities."

I think it is clear that Obama has a mandate, what he does not have is much fiscal room to maneuver.  

Barack Obama Wins

Nobody has called it yet but it is clear that he will win in a walk. It has been clear for awhile but nonetheless people are paying attention tonight as if it were going down to the wire.

No Shame in Staying Home

I am going to go and vote this morning and encourage all of my readers to as well (that's five votes right there).  However, there is something of a fetish made about participation without any observation made regarding the quality of that participation.  If you don't pay any attention to politics, have no notion about our system of governance, or the candidates who are attempting to win your vote, maybe the best and most responsible thing you could do is stay home.  We have a very low participation in voting when compared to other developed countries, but there is also much wider spread apathy regarding governance.  Anyhow, here is an old fortune column from Greg Mankiw on the virtues of not voting for those that aren't terribly engaged.

Your Vote Doesn't Count

Here is Gordon Tullock on why you shouldn't vote.

You Stay Classy Kentucky

Check this out, this is horrible.

The Difficulites with a Homeowner Bailout

David Leonhardt has a good article on the difficulties surrounding a bailout for homeowners. Leonhardt believes a bailout will incentivize those underwater on their mortgage but able to make payments to conveniently fall behind. Such a plan does seem rife with perverse incentives.