Archive for the Politics/Economics category
Two conservative commentators on MSNBC, after they’re off the air, caught saying what they really think about the veep choice.
by Rio Flores on September 3rd, 2008
This is awesome
Photographic Evidence: RNC is a Bust Compared to Obama Rally in Same Venu
by Rio Flores on September 3rd, 2008
Comparing the photos, the difference in enthusiasm is amazing. Both photos below are from Xcel Energy Center. The first is the Republican National Convention - this should pretty much be the largest republican event all year. The second is an Obama rally at the same venue on June 3, 2008.
Wow.
and
As Mark Welch put it:
As photographic evidence confirms, there were more empty seats even in prime-time than there are at the end of a Dodger game. At the Democratic Convention, if you didn’t take root two hours before anything important, the fire marshal wouldn’t let you in. Here, you walk right up and find a nice bar stool and table looking directly at the stage. A sign of flagging enthusiasm?
Comparison Republican Convention Soure [Wonkette]
Comparison Obama Source [flickr]
Is the Housing Market As Bad as Mainstream Media Would Have You Believe? Distorting the Numbers
by Rio Flores on July 10th, 2008
The headlines are bad. In May and in June.
The U.S. housing situation is quite bad, one of the worst markets in history. It’s a complex situation that’s difficult to understand in aggregate. But rather than provide any real data or insight allowing readers can make their own conclusions, mainstream media wraps the most sensational data points they can find in a fear mongering fluff piece that provides no insight whatsoever.
This month, foreclosures were up 53% from a year ago. This means that from June 2007 to June 2008, foreclosures were up 53%. Last month, foreclosures were up by 48% from a year ago. Sadly, as most Americans are competely math illiterate, few understand what that even means.
On a month to month basis, from May to June, that’s actually not as terrible as the headlines would have you believe. If you look deeper into the data, it’s actually siginicantly improved. This month, “One in every 501 U.S. households either lost the home to foreclosure, received a default notice or was warned of a pending auction.” Last month, it was one in every 483. That’s a significant improvement.
Even the source for this info, Realty Trac, Inc., agrees that this may be good news. What picture do they paint? “Foreclosure Activity Deflating or Just Deferred?”
“One could argue that this chart shows that the bulk of the properties that were at risk for foreclosure have migrated through the process and are now being repossessed by the foreclosing lenders. There is not a continued massive surge in defaults and auction notices, so once the lenders have disposed of their REO inventory, the real estate market can start to return to normal.”
Teaching Evolution In the US
by Rio Flores on April 4th, 2007
An interesting, though dated, map from strangemaps on the teaching of evolution. It’s from the March 2002 issue of Scientific American.
And the Simpson’s take…
Republican Senators Flip-flop on Escalation
by Rio Flores on February 6th, 2007
Last night, Senate conservatives successfully blocked debate on a bipartisan anti-escalation resolution. At least eight senators who claim to oppose sending more U.S. troops to Iraq voted the wrong way, supporting the conservative filibuster. They include Sens. John Warner (R-VA) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE). John Warner (R-VA) actually introduced the anti-escalation resolution in question, voting against his own bill.
read more | digg story
“Where Does Greed Stop?” -Ted Kennedy
by Rio Flores on January 26th, 2007
We need more of this…
“We have now had amendments that have been worth over 200 billion dollars… Amendments that have been offered. We’ve had amendments on education of 35 billion dollars. We’ve had health-savings amendments that will benefit people with average incomes of $112,000… We’ve had those kinds of amendments and we’re looking at the Kyl amendment at 3 billion dollars. But we still cannot get two dollars and fifteen cents — over two years. Over two years!
“What is the price, we ask the other side? What is the price that you want from these working men and women? What cost? How much more do we have to give to the private sector and to business? How many billion dollars more, are you asking, are you requiring?
“When does the greed stop, we ask the other side? That’s the question and that’s the issue.”
Manhattan - After Sea Levels Rise
by Rio Flores on January 25th, 2007
[via Scienceblogs.com]
From Vanity Fair, a photo of what Manhattan might look like if sea levels continue to rise. Photo illustration by John Blackford; original photograph by Cameron Davidson. Related article: “While Washington Slept,” by Mark Hertsgaard.
US Presidential Speeches: Words of their Day 1776-2006
by Rio Flores on November 3rd, 2006
A very cool Digg find for political junkies: Chir.ag has taken major presidential speeches and turned them into into tag clouds.
You can use the slider at the top to go back to George Washington see the emphasis in his speeches on “Assembly” and “Constitution.” Abraham Lincoln, predictably, uses the word “Emancipation” a good number of times. Bill Clinton spends a great deal of time focusing on “Welfare,” “bipartisan” and other domestic issues. Unsurprisingly, W’s most used word is Terrorist.
Support Our Troops: Republicans Talk the Talk. Democrats Walk the Walk
by Rio Flores on October 25th, 2006
via DailyKos
With a brother on his third tour in Middle East, I’ve often wondered why a Republican controlled congress consistently fails to provide for our troops in the “War on Terror.” Aren’t Republicans constantly talking about how tough they are on terror and how much they love our men and women in uniform? Uhm… Not so much, it turns out!
The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America took a look at legislative votes that directly affected American troops, veterans and their families. They looked at 324 votes on proposals ranging from healthcare and veterans’ benefits to medical research dedicated towards helping injured soldiers. Every single last Senate Democrat has been more supportive of the troops than any of the Senate Republicans. When it comes to their actual votes, not rhetoric, over the past five years, it’s clear who talks the talk and who walks the walk.
You can see the full results at the IAVA website or take a look at this handy chart from Bob Geiger, sorted by letter grade.
The IAVA is a nonpartisan organization. These voting patterns are so striking, that they leave little wiggle room for any Republican apologists.
Money Changes Everything - The Challenges of Economic Inequality Among Friends
by Rio Flores on May 8th, 2006
Last Sunday’s New York Times Styles section has a great article inspired by the recent film, Money Changes Everything. It dives into the awkwardness of large economic disparities among friends, of all ages, which the article suggests are largely the result of two recent phenomena. The first is the very rapid income growth of the top 1% and even 5% percent of the population when most Americans are seeing their real wages stagnate or decline. The second is the much higher numbers of college students from lower-income households (even if, as a percentage of total students enrolled, this number is shrinking).
Perhaps surprisingly to some, the pressure to blend in among peers is intense and goes in both directions. There is probably the better known story of individuals like me who attended college on scholarships and students loans. Many of my friends drove cars my parents couldn’t afford. I left college with over $70k in college debt and $7,000 in credit card debt - much of that the result trying to keep up with my better financially off international friends.
On the other end of the spectrum, there are those affluent students who prefer to simply blend in – feigning an inability pay for a taxi or brining up other gripes so as to not put off their less wealthy peers.
I highly recommend reading the full article here.