Speaking Personally

Mr. Donnelley went to congress again for money.  He drove this time.  He arrived at capital hill in GM's plug in electric the Volt...a game changer if there ever  was one.  Automotive lore is filled with game changers; Ford Taurus, Chryslers's Minivans, Studebaker, Packard, Pierce Arrow, Moon, and Detroit Electric.  Sometimes the "game changers" really do change the game but more often they are simply the final move.  Whatever happens to Detroit's motor companies the US will need to replace with  newer forms of transportation its current fleet of recreational trucks encouraged by exemptions from mandated fuel economy standards. 

President-elect Obama on Meet The Press seemed to describe for GM a prospect of government funded extra-judicial bankruptcy with a plan to save jobs and plant capacity for production of energy efficient cars without government getting into the day to day management of the company.  He said some auto companies, presumably Ford, are doing a better job.  Chrysler was not mentioned.

Expect rafts of regulation in the financial world to restore transparency and responsibility.

He rejected increases on fuel taxes when so many families are struggling.  He believes on principle that the economy does best when its benefits are widely spread and made clear that the trend of awarding more of  productivity increases to upper income citizens through tax policy will be reversed.

Rod Blagojevich, governor of Illinois, was arrested this morning accused of disgracing himself by seeking favors for state contracts and appointments.  He has been a good friend to liberal causes just as Senator Stevens was a good friend to federal employees. However, corruption is corruption and politicians need to learn it is a career ender.  

On Tuesday its snowing in central Kansas -- time to make chili and get ready to install a TV scheduled for delivery late this afternoon.  I have been window shopping for over two years.  I expected to buy from Sam's but they didn't have the highly rated by Consumer Reports model I want so Sears got the sale.  

Three 

Important Stories

FOMC Revolt ?

Education and income were strong factors in vote against gay marriage

New Province, of Something, Begun 

Quotes and Pointers

 

'Say what you will about the Bernanke plan, but at least he is trying to save the economy — not rescue speculators.'
Barry Ritholtz 

'Baldassare said it's difficult to say from the polling why people with higher incomes and a college degree tend to support same-sex marriage.

"It has to do with exposure to different ideas," Baldassare said, struggling to interpret that link. "It's perceptions about lifestyle differences, tolerance for differences, broader view of social trends and issues — all those things tend to come with more education.

"I didn't really expect to find this" in the survey, he added. "I hadn't thought about probing it."'

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_11131721

'But still the question remains: Of what are they a Province? But of course that does not matter, because the Constitution and Canons, provisional though they may be, make no reference to any point outside the province except to say that they will be in communion with those they wish to relate to, and who will relate to them. There is no mention of the Archbisho

p or the See of Canterbury.'
Mark Harris

 

Out and About on the Net.

 

URBAN TAKEDOWN: MUMBAI

Report Links State Gun Laws To Rates of Slayings, Trafficking

ECRI: Economy Still Worsening (New Week, Same Title) 

et alli is cross posted at The Intelligence Forum 

A.Word.A.Day from Wordsmith.org:  absquatulate