"The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter." —Mark Twain
The continuation of war by other means
That’s what Walt Whitman called it, and I like it. It has a small-town feel to it, and makes you feel as if your vote counts. Donna and I chose early by mail-in ballot; I hope everyone reading this chose as well. Whichever way you voted, you made history today. But back to choosing day, […]
Here’s what I wrote on my Facebook status bar yesterday: “Paul is uncomfortable about the upcoming presidential candidates’ debate, and he doesn’t quite know why.” An American friend who is following the campaign from her distant home in Australia wanted to know whether I had some sort of awful premonition. No, I responded, I didn’t. […]
I plan to retire at the end of the month and go on Social Security. This morning my financial advisor suggested I put off retirement until the economy recovers. My first thought? If I don’t go on Social Security now — now as in before the end of this year if not sooner — Social […]
. . . the more I think the bailout bill was about buying time for the Bush/Cheney administration. Time for them to finish their terms and run off to Dubai before everything collapses. Oh, sure, it was about making the rich richer . . . with these guys it’s always about that (and, it turns […]
I never thought I’d thank a member of the GOP for anything, but I owe House Republicans* a high five for shooting down the Wall Street Welfare Bill this morning. Oh, thanks also to the 95 House Democrats who voted no with them. Of course this leaves us in a “now what?” situation. Maybe now […]
I was fascinated by this exchange during Katie Couric’s interview of Sarah Palin the other night: Couric: Have you ever been involved in any negotiations, for example, with the Russians? Palin: We have trade missions back and forth, we do. It’s very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia. As Putin rears […]
A proposal (which I have CC’d to my congressmen) for paying back the American taxpayer for bailing out Wall Street: Impose, as some have already suggested, a .25 per cent trading fee on all future stock transactions. But better yet, put the money collected into an interest-earning fund, then return all, or a substantial portion […]
Listened to Nice Polite Republicans most of the day, and all I heard was scare talk. We’re going to lose our savings, our 401Ks, our IRAs. Putting the money in the mattress won’t work because that’ll cause hyperinflation and a cup of Starbucks’ll cost 6.5 million. Unless we do something quick. Unless we give this […]