by Peter | 30 Sep 2008 |
Rachel Maddow just asked perhaps the most insightful question of this bailout to date: Is this economic crisis global warming or the Iraq War? Is it a real crisis that builds slowly that people fail to acknowledge, or is it a bunch of hype and hysteria over what is, in the end, nothing.Laura D'Andrea Tyson says that this credit crunch is real and real bad, and your job is at risk. Its not a bail-out, but a rescue of a broken market.Therein lies...
by Dan Nexon | 28 Sep 2008 |
This is truly a fascinating bit of rhetoric from the Russians:Russia called Saturday for a revival of the global anti-terrorism coalition that formed after Sept. 11, 2001 but started to unravel with what it called the subsequent domination by a single power — a veiled reference to the United States."The solidarity of the international community fostered on the wave of struggle against terrorism turned out to be somehow `privatized'," Russian...
by Dan Nexon | 27 Sep 2008 |
1. McCain did make one major strategic mistake in the debate. Although he may have thought that he was pushing his "change" theme by invoking his status as a "Maverick," distancing himself from Bush, and talking about earmarks, he dropped it as a framing theme in favor of "experience." He needs to at least stay competitive as a "change agent" if he wants to win the election. I assume that he'll return to this frame in later debates, but he...
by Dan Nexon | 27 Sep 2008 |
It sure looks like it. The good (unreliable) instant polls for Obama are already framing the narrative in an interesting way: given how many pundits called the debate for McCain, the question is why undecided voters saw things differently. This, in conjunction with the absence of "defining moments," seems to be driving a growing focus on issues of demeanor and body language. And here we find some real problems for McCain: his almost total lack...
by Dan Nexon | 27 Sep 2008 |
Peter's already made some good points about the debate, but I thought I would weigh in as well.I should start out with a confession. I'm a politics junkie and an international affairs geek. But I was bored stiff by this debate. And if even I was bored stiff, I imagine a lot of people out there tuned out of the debate before it ended.Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let me turn to some quick impressions.Worst MomentsObama: "Well, let me...
by Peter | 27 Sep 2008 |
Really, I think it ends up a push. Both candidates held their own, both got in some solid points, both responded to direct attacks.So, tactically a push. Strategically, though, I think the tie goes to Obama. Foreign policy is McCain's strong suit, and where Obama is seen as the weakest. Obama is significantly ahead in the polls. McCain needed a knock-out blow, and he didn't get it. Obama needed to keep his position and look like he could be...
by Peter | 27 Sep 2008 |
The further it goes, the more I like this free-wheeling style that allows the candidates to actually go back and forth a bit, responding to each other. I think it gives a bit of insight as to how well they can box their own corner.Again, Obama says "McCain is right..." I think this might be one of those things that plays better to non-pundit viewers than it does to the talking heads, in that it makes Obama look agreeable. Obama is able to start...
by Peter | 26 Sep 2008 |
Who needs a MSNBC when you can have these guys giving post-debate analysis?!?!?!If this prompts a moment of nostalgia, try this.
by Dan Nexon | 26 Sep 2008 |
The FDIC just took over Washington Mutual.Meanwhile, the Kabuki continues.Question for Brad DeLong: is this the painful end of the Age of Central Bankers?
by Rodger Payne | 25 Sep 2008 |
Paranoia strikes deepInto your life it will creepIt starts when you're always afraidYou step out of line, the man come and take you away---- Buffalo Springfield, 1967The Army Times reported on September 8 that the Army has a brand new mission -- and potential battleground: American soil.The 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team has spent 35 of the last 60 months in Iraq patrolling in full battle rattle, helping restore essential...
by Dan Nexon | 24 Sep 2008 |
I can't imagine how postponing the Friday debate will have any substantive impact on the nature or character of the bailout negotiations, so I'm going to go with the conventional wisdom and assume that this is basically a very dramatic attempt to get Rick Davis out of the headlines, give McCain a chance to close those 10+ points on economic leadership, and shift the momentum of the campaign.But really now, could the 2008 election get any more...
by Peter | 24 Sep 2008 |
While I am never one to question the wisdom of the great Yogi Berra, we're starting to get a picture of how this Presidential election will play out--and it looks like Obama is clearly in the driver's seat.*Take Nate's analysis of the electoral map and today's Washington Post poll that gives Obama a 9 point lead.Two factors are working in Obama's favor. First, historically, early September polls--after the convention bump has dissipated-- tend...