links for 2008-09-06

• European economic integration and trade: how big was the boost? - Vox EU
• A New View On TV - WSJ.com
• McCain Claims about Obama Tax Policy: just plain wrong - ataxingmatter
• If McCain’s Tax Cuts Will Create Jobs, Why Haven’t Bush’s? - EconomistMom
• Obama Economic Advisor Goes on Offense Against McCain - RTE
• Drilling makes us more dependent on foreign oil - knzn
• Is Monetary Policy Really Too Loose? - Macro and Other Market Musings
• Rising unemployment - Econbrowser

Comments

[anne]

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/9/5/headlines#4

September 5, 2008

Obama Finds Common Ground with O'Reilly in Fox News Appearance
By Amy Goodman

Shortly before Senator McCain gave his speech, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama appeared on the Fox News program The O'Reilly Factor with Bill O'Reilly. It was Obama's first appearance on Fox News since privately resolving a dispute with the channel that kept him away for several months. Obama and O'Reilly appeared to find common ground on several foreign policy issues, including Iran, Pakistan and the so-called US troop surge in Iraq.

Sen. Barack Obama: "Bill, what I've said is—I've already said it succeeded beyond our wildest dreams."

Bill O'Reilly: "Right! So why can't you just say, I was right in the beginning, and I was wrong about the surge?"

Sen. Obama: "Because there is an underlying problem with what we've done. We have reduced the violence…"

O'Reilly: "Yeah?"

Sen. Obama: "…but the Iraqis still haven't taken responsibility. And we still don't have the kind of political reconciliation. We are still spending, Bill, $10 [billion] to $12 billion a month."

O'Reilly: "And I hope, if you're president, you can get them to kick in and pay us back."

Sen. Obama: "They've got $79 billion in New York!"

O'Reilly: "And I'll go with you!"

Sen. Obama: "Let's go!"

O'Reilly: "We'll get some of that money back."

[Oh?]

[anne]

http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2008/09/his-first-run-for-presidency-collapsed.html

September 5, 2008

"HIS first run for the presidency collapsed, in 1987, after a bizarre act of plagiarism. Bizarre because Joe Biden not only borrowed the words of another politician, Neil Kinnock, the leader of the British Labour Party. That is par for the course in modern politics. He borrowed his life-story, too. He claimed that he was the first Biden to go to university and that his ancestors had worked down a coal mine, both untrue. The only thing he did not claim was to be Welsh." *

* http://www.economist.com/research/articlesBySubject/displaystory.cfm?subjectid=3856663&story_id=12010845

-- As'ad AbuKhalil

[anne]

Something particularly interesting happened to Sarah Palin in these last days, something that was echoed happily by self-styled liberals here and there and everywhere. Palin among other concerns and accomplishments as Governor, increased spending for special needs children in Alaska. Increased, not decreased, but there were ferocious reports that Palin had cut such spending, which given her personal circumstances was taken to mean the Governor was an impossible hypocrite.

Without looking, I have found a campaign to denigrate Palin that is breathtaking and thoroughly unprincipled. That though is how women are evidently to be treated when they are the wrong sorts of women.

I will not be forgetting or forgiving.

[anne]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/06/us/politics/06church.html?hp=&pagewanted=print

September 6, 2008

In Palin’s Life and Politics, Goal to Follow God’s Will
By KIRK JOHNSON and KIM SEVERSON

Interviews with pastors point to a firm conclusion: Sarah Palin’s foundation and source of guidance is the Bible.

[Here we find the new American political vetting, which is beyond disgraceful. From here, we will need to re-write the Nicene Creed to the candidate's creed. Remind me to stop going to church from now on, but what will happen when the New York Times send reporters to Father L to ask about me? I will just have to give up my dream to be Vice President, but I thought Obama at Saddlerock Church was beyond saddening.]

[Bruce Wilder]

The article on television is somewhat interesting, in showing that the effects of television on cognitive intelligence and social tolerance is not all bad. Good and bad, the effects of television were huge, and deserve much more attention in the narratives and analyses of American social and political development.

[hari]

Follow-up to EU/FMs meeting which ended today in Avignion/Fr.

*Russia to complete (final) implementation of six point ceasefire agreement with France/EU Chairman.

*OECS requested to undertake a comprehensive report on The Caucasus conflict (Aug 6-7) with a view to identifying the party responsible for originating the conflict.

*Sept 8the meeting in Moscow between EU Troika and Pres. Medvedev to decide on the way forward in The caucasus.

[anne]

Notice carefully the wording, such that the "peaceniks" of the 1960s have suddenly come to find the truth and to be necons:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/weekinreview/07traub.html?ref=world&pagewanted=print

September 7, 2008

Coming to Grips With Russia's New Nerve
By JAMES TRAUB

Of course, American policy will not be shaped only by our view of Russia. Our European allies, especially Germany and France, are more dependent on Russian energy and trade than we are, and far more directly threatened by Russian aggression. European officials, by and large, have been every bit as appalled by Russian behavior as Washington has been; but most have taken a less confrontational line. Sheer proximity made ideological anti-Communism an unaffordable luxury for Europe a generation ago; the same may be true for an anti-Russian posture today.

In America, though, where we do have the luxury, the struggle between Russia and Georgia feels almost Miltonic. Even some former '60s peaceniks find themselves sounding like neocons, who no doubt would say the peaceniks have finally woken up to the truth. Or perhaps there's another explanation: that there's all the difference in the world between an enfeebled and defensive empire, and a nation emboldened by vast wealth and brimming with resentment at past humiliations. This Russia does not look so very containable.

[hari]

Whoever James Traup/NYT/Weekly Review may be, he's invaribaly a dude who doesn't understand the historical forces of European integration and cooperation with Russia.
Unlike American neocons (or peaceniks a la 60s), what's evident in the expression of US foreign policy today is a culpability to military force rather than peaceful co-existence with Russia (and China).

Today's decision by EU/FMs meeting in Avignion/Fr made clear that EU desires a level playing field with US on policy decision-making regarding European theatre of security policy.

And (separately) Merkel went straight out to declare we cannot have *bilateral policy* initiated by US with Poland/Czec - outside of Nato - and impact EU security and stability long term. This, she claimed, is unacceptable.

So, it seems, the playing field is being carefully prepared for next US Admin by EU - principally as it affects Russia. The stakes are high and closer security cooperation within EU by adoption of Lisabon Treaty (if adopted by Ireland) will re-enforce its own paradigm shift across Atlantic relations.

[anne]

We are currently incapable of understanding the extent to which we define our influence overwhelmingly in military terms, which is highly destructive and increasingly limiting going forward; that even after Afghanistan and Iraq and Somalia since 2002.

[anne]

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/news-georgia-ossetia-cheney.html?ref=world&pagewanted=print

September 6, 2008

Cheney Accuses Russia of Intimidation
By REUTERS

Vice President Dick Cheney, in the sharpest U.S. criticism of Russia since its brief war with Georgia, on Saturday accused Moscow of reverting to old tactics of intimidation and using “brute force.”

[hari]

China has today supported US-India nuclear technology exemption decision, in Vienna, by Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) of which China is also a member.

Interesting that a Chinese institutional expert (in Bejing) is claiming that Chinese top leadership intervened to support India's exemption (requested by US), inspite of Chinese hawks not supporting it.

Apparently, the vote was held-up (last night) by Ireland and Austria - and they turned to China for lead on final vote!

It says that China delivered in favour of India. The *quid pro quo* being India must now facilitate resolution of the q' of Tibetan Autonomy within mainland China.

Moreover, China now expects India to embrace a final resolution of its joint boarder conflict in the Himalayas, since 1962 Sino-Indian War. (I wrote a book on it).

With nuclear power technology for generating Indian domestic electricity released by NSG decision today, the Chinese know that as a non-signatory of NPT, India is being given a previleged position in context of nuclear proliferation; therefore India must guarantee its own non-proliferation of know-how to rogue states - which it has thus far.

This historical NSG decision is quite different from the current impasse with Iran nuclear power programme - which I certainly hope will eventually be resolved on amicable basis by US/EU - although Iran is a signatory to NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty).

[anne]

Excellent; China during the border skirmishes with India use to publish maps, a flow of maps each differently drawn which drove the Indians wild. That is the sort of diplomacy China is used to in reaching for compromise; experiment by changing terms of compromise repeatedly and almost be formula. Similarly with the alternate day formulaic skirmishes with Quemoy and Matsu.

[hari]

The McMahan Line was drawn by British Imperialism in 18th cent and was inaccurate in many places - while India insisted on its (British) inheritance. China claimed its revisions based on cultural contiguity. Which explains why the parties went to war - a misunderstood war!

[anne]

Nicely explained.

[Barkley Rosser]

anne,

Care to provide a source on your claim that Palin increased funding for special needs kids? It would make sense, of course, and Alaska has been overflowing with revenes (she was handing it out to citizens) thanks to high oil prices, even as she was borrowing money to build roads (totally fiscally irresponsible and idiotic), but indeed I have seen quite a few reports saying she cut the funding for special needs kids. So, you should provide a source, preferably one not coming from the McCain or Palin campaigns, please.

[Barkley Rosser]

anne,

As for Biden, your Angry Arab is not a very reliable source. Who went to college in his family before him, please?

I have commented previously that I have a problem with him having plagiarized and also with his links with the banking industry. However, politicians stealing each others' lines is not the same as academicians doing so in papers. And it would appear that Biden has gotten his act together and gained some gravitas in the last 20 years.