Liberal Talk Radio

GM says it needs a big loan to keep operating. Do you think they’ll get President Obama to open its checkbook more easily if they offer him this sweet, sweet ride?

This is fascinating. The Iraqis were dragging their heels on the Bush administration’s Status of Forces Agreement, but now that Obama’s been elected, they actually think there’s a change the U.S. might someday withdraw, so they’re eager to sign.
And notice how when you stop incessantly saber-rattling, everyone calms down a little bit:
Many Shiite politicians [...]

At our Tuesday night election shindig, a spontaneous chorus of the “Star-Spangled Banner” broke out at 8pm PST as the West Coast was called for Obama. We liberals seem to have found our patriotism again. The P-I’s noticed, and helpfully, they’ve provided a handy instructional guide on how to display the flag, for [...]

For a guy with “zero executive experience,” Obama seems to have this whole President thing pretty dialed:
“The level of detail that the Obama transition team is getting into is extraordinary - they are leaving no stone unturned,” said a senior former Clinton administration official who has been consulted. “I have been getting calls that you’d [...]

Great anecdote from Joe Klein:
Obama had a choice at that moment. He could thank Petraeus for the briefing and promise to take his views “under advisement.” Or he could tell Petraeus what he really thought, a potentially contentious course of action — especially with a general not used to being confronted. Obama chose to speak [...]

You know what? Fuck Joe the Plumber! Do you know how much plumbers make nowadays? In places like metropolitan New York City, plumbers are at a premium! They certainly make more than I do!

A couple of weeks ago, the Prof and I discussed the “Swedish option,” with respect to the bailouts. When Sweden faced a similar banking crisis over a decade ago, it nationalized its banks and saved its economy. The US plan was different. Instead of nationalizing the banks, we’d just buy up their [...]

From Stan Greenberg’s focus group of undecided Colorado voters, as quoted by Amy Sullivan in Time:
Even more dramatic was the shift in the voters’ personal reactions to the two candidates. Before the debate, McCain had a 48/46 favorability rating; that improved to 56/36 by the end. But that’s about where Obama started the evening—54/36. After [...]

Prescient column on the housing bubble.