And now, my third and final blogroll post, this one primarily focused on politics and economics. A number of interesting things today, such as the recession starting to go full-bore as the stock market tanks, Citigroup writing off more than US$9b in losses only to receive more than US$12b in fresh capital, and more examples of the Bush administration oppressing dissent and relying on FUD to further their mindboggling agenda to undermine and destroy the US Constitution (in other words, business as usual for those chaps). Articles here include:
* Huckabee: ‘amend the Constitution’ to ‘God’s standards.’
* Citigroup Posts $9.83 Billion Loss and Will Cut Jobs - New York Times
* Citigroup raises US$12.5b in fresh capital - Channel News Asia
* U.S. stocks tumble; Dow industrials drop more than 200 points
* Stocks tank on recession fears
* Court Limits Shareholder Suits Against Vendors, Banks (Update2) - Bloomberg
* Protestors Should be Seen and Heard
* How to Rig an Election? Ask the Author
* 'War on Terror' Allies Form Information Consortium
* Fratto’s FISA Fearmongering: In 3 Weeks, Terrorists ‘Can Be Free’ To Make Calls Without Surveillance
Huckabee: ‘amend the Constitution’ to ‘God’s standards.’
from Think Progress by Satyam
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/15/huckabee-amend-the-constitution-to-gods-standards/
How anybody can take this guy seriously, I don't know. He's downright scary, he is.
Citigroup Posts $9.83 Billion Loss and Will Cut Jobs - New York Times
from Google News
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/business/16citi.html?hp
Citigroup has posted a huge loss in a day where the US stock market has taken a beating.
Citigroup raises US$12.5b in fresh capital - Channel News Asia
from Google News
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world_business/view/322740/1/.html
Fresh from a $9.83B write-off, it seems only logical that Citigroup would get a fresh round of financing worth $12.5B, putting them ahead almost $3B. Good show! :S
U.S. stocks tumble; Dow industrials drop more than 200 points
from MarketWatch.com - Top Stories
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/story.aspx?guid=%7BFAB3450E%2D8043%2D4AF6%2D9CB5%2DACA872509257%7D&siteid=rss
More coverage of today's US stock market retreat. Signs of the recession? Methinks so...
Stocks tank on recession fears
from CNN.com
http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/15/markets/markets_0100/index.htm?eref=rss_topstories
And more coverage on the recession as it gets well underway...
Court Limits Shareholder Suits Against Vendors, Banks (Update2) - Bloomberg
from Google News
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aGjsaJp__bpI&refer=home
In an interesting ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court has limited who shares liability, effectively restricting who shareholders can sue to recoup their losses. This is not welcome news for shareholders, and it clearly puts business in front of individuals. Not what I'd consider a surprising ruling from this panel, though it's unclear at this point the impact it will have. Hopefully Marginal Revolution will post something on this ruling.
Protestors Should be Seen and Heard
from ACLU Blog by blog@aclu.org (Rachel Myers, ACLU)
http://blog.aclu.org/index.php?/archives/446-Protestors-Should-be-Seen-and-Heard.html
This is just a quick blurb from the ACLU highlighting another case of blatant discrimination and a violation of freedom and free speech by the Bush Administration. Protestors in New Mexico were required to stay back 150 yards from the presidential motorcade, while supporters with a "God Bless George Bush! We Pray for You!" sign were allowed to stand up close. This is a perfect example of how Bush and co. want to only see what they believe to be truth, and not acknowledge reality. No surprise that everyone is disillusioned with this country and its political "leaders."
How to Rig an Election? Ask the Author
from Freakonomics Blog by Melissa Lafsky
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/how-to-rig-an-election-ask-the-author/
A first-hand account of how to play dirty (illegal) politics from a convicted criminal turned author. Oh, yeah, he worked for the Republicans. Gee, I'm so shocked... You know the government has too much power when winning elections because such nasty, high-stakes business.
'War on Terror' Allies Form Information Consortium
from Slashdot by Zonk
http://politics.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/01/15/134259&from=rss
The FBI is leading a consortium of the anti-terror allies, including Canada, the UK, Australia, and NZ, in an information-sharing system. Apparently this DB will hold biometric data (among other things?). As if we didn't feel like we were in enough of a police state already, right? It's kind of scary how this stuff is just quietly put in place, with nobody objecting. If it were implemented by force, I'm sure a rebellion would be at hand.
Fratto’s FISA Fearmongering: In 3 Weeks, Terrorists ‘Can Be Free’ To Make Calls Without Surveillance
from Think Progress by Matt
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/15/fratto-on-fisa/
Nothing irritates me more than FUD, especially when it's lies, lies, and damn lies. This time, the Bush administration is arguing that the end of the world will arrive in about 3 weeks if FISA isn't renewed and expanded. Nevermind the unconstitutional nature of their plans, or the fact that we have known criminals running the whole program (that's right, those men guilty of high treason in the offices of the President and Vice President - after all, isn't failure to uphold one's oath to the Constitution a betrayal? I think so.). Call your Congressional Representatives and Senators now to express your displeasure.
