Goldman's reputation is suddenly as toxic as the credit default swaps and other inexplicably exotic financial instruments it used to buy with glee. That's bad for the one thing it values more than anything else: business. Being the prime target for popular and political outrage could put Goldman first in line for draconian new regulation. So it has, reluctantly, decided that the time has come to speak out, to fight its corner. That's how, on one of those bright autumnal New York mornings when anything seems possible -- even an invitation to break bread with the masters of the universe -- I find myself walking past the security guard who held up Michael Moore and into the building with no name.
The Bushes entered and departed the sprawling military facility in secret, having told the base commander they did not want press coverage of their visit, a source told Fox News.
Former President George W. Bush and his wife Laura secretly visited Fort Hood last night and spent "considerable time" consoling those who were wounded in Thursday's shooting spree, Fox News has learned.
The Bushes entered and departed the sprawling military facility in secret, having told the base commander they did not want press coverage of their visit, a source told Fox News.
The couple was described as "deeply concerned" about military families on Fort Hood after Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan allegedly opened fire on soldiers and civilians, killing 13 and wounding 38.
The Bushes, who have a 1,600-acre property known as Prairie Chapel Ranch less than 30 miles from Fort Hood in central Texas, spent between one and two hours visiting the wounded and their families.
For a genuine presidential war on the press, see the one FDR waged in the 1930s.
How touchy can you get?
The White House fires a few pop-guns in the direction of Fox News Channel, and suddenly everybody from Louis Menand in The New Yorker to Michael Scherer in Time to Charles Krauthammer in the Washington Post is heralding the Obama administration's declaration of war on Rupert Murdoch's cable station.
The direct declaration came not from Barack Obama, but underlings Anita Dunn, who called Fox the communications arm of the GOP; David Axelrod, who said Fox isn't really a news station; and Rahm Emanuel, who invoked the president's views to say, "It's not a news organization so much as it has a perspective." The closest His Obamaness has come to criticizing Fox on the record was in June, when he complained of "one television station that is entirely devoted to attacking my administration."
o get a genuine picture of what a war on the press looks like, you can't fan the pages of Nexis for grouchy things George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, or even Richard Nixon said about reporters, newspapers, and networks. You've got to go back to the 1930s, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt raged against the press like noisy clockwork.
Roosevelt's fury couldn't have been more displaced, in part because newspapers and reporters received him like a conquering hero after his 1932 election, reports Graham J. White in his 1979 book, FDR and the Press:
The initial victory of Franklin Roosevelt over the Washington press was swift and glorious. Demonstrating a virtuosity that amazed them, the new president took the Capital correspondents by storm, winning, from the outset, their affection and admiration; securing, over the crucial early stages of the New Deal, their allegiance and support.
Roosevelt especially disliked "interpretive reporting," which Time and Newsweek were popularizing, writes Betty Houchin Winfield in her 1990 book, FDR and the News Media. Roosevelt recoiled when a reporter asked him what interpretive angle the president would take if he were to write a piece about the Democratic Party's 1934 landslide victory. "I think it is a mistake for newspapers to go over into that field in the news stories," Roosevelt said. His prescription for what reporters should do for readers: "Give them the facts and nothing else." (One can almost see Dunn and Axelrod giving Fox the same advice.)
The president reserved his greatest disdain for press proprietors, whom he blamed for what he considered unfair and distorted coverage. "It is not the reporter" who is responsible for "colored news stories and the failure on the part of some papers to print the news," Roosevelt said in December 1935. "It goes back to the owner of the paper."For a genuine presidential war on the press, see the one FDR waged in the 1930s.... more
Dick Cheney was already going down in history as one of the most influential vice presidents ever. Now he's taking flak for being one of the most vocal ex-VPs, too. Since leaving office, Cheney has gone from White House booster No. 2 to White House critic No. 1. Agree with him or not, however, he's hardly an outlier: There's nothing more American than ex-presidents and VPs slamming their successors.
If that makes Cheney unpatriotic, he's in good company. There's a proud tradition of former executive-branch leaders disparaging sitting presidents. The most notorious example—the ur-ex-presidential critic—is Herbert Hoover. After losing the presidency to Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1932, Hoover spent the next nine years railing on him. Like Cheney, Hoover was a conservative Republican. He thus believed that the New Deal insulted American values and that the Roosevelt administration "violated the principles that reach the very foundation of our nation and race." Hoover quieted down after Pearl Harbor, when the country rallied around the president. But he returned to form under John F. Kennedy, whom Hoover called a socialist.
But Hoover wasn't even the first. Presidential and vice presidential disputes stretch back to the founders. During the election of 1800, sitting veep Thomas Jefferson slammed sitting president John Adams—his own boss—as a monarchist. Adams, in turn, painted Jefferson as a revolutionary and atheist who would destroy the churches. (That was before 1804, when the 12th Amendment was passed, putting both president and vice president on a single ticket.) After losing the presidency in 1828, John Quincy Adams made a second career out of criticizing Andrew Jackson and pro-slavery Democrats from his post-presidential perch as a congressman from Massachusetts.Dick Cheney was already going down in history as one of the most influential vice... more
The Frustrated Rockstars discuss mixing politics and rock like Bono from U2 and Wayne Coyne from the Flaming Lips with Eric Von Haessler from The Regular Guys Show. Opening Act: Google and record labels partner to make it easier to download music. Enjoy Red Brick Beer!The Frustrated Rockstars discuss mixing politics and rock like Bono from U2 and Wayne... more
he man chosen by Barack Obama to lead the war in Afghanistan also helped cover up the friendly-fire death of NFL player turned soldier Pat Tillman, writes Jon Krakauer. He administered a fraudulent medal recommendation to keep the public in the dark. So why isn’t anybody talking about it?he man chosen by Barack Obama to lead the war in Afghanistan also helped cover up the... more
This is probably the most realistic and smartest take of what's going on in Afghanistan today. Of course General McChrystal is going to write a report saying he can "win" this war if only he had more resources. That's his job...he's a military general. The question still stands: what is a win? How much will it cost? And given how much a defined win will cost, will it be worth it? This article seeks to define the terms of these questions and it's well worth a look!This is probably the most realistic and smartest take of what's going on in... more
Something is wrong in America and in a government of, by and for the people, we're the only ones who can make it right. I don't know about you but I'm sick of all the wingnuts on TV declaring that healthcare reform is going to kill my grandma, that climate change is a myth, that our president, who's only been in office 9 months, is a socialist and responsible for the last 30 years of Republican misadventures. If you're as sick and tired as I am of the politics in America today, check out this video. There's something we can do, but we're all going to have to stand up and take to the streets and make our voices heard.Something is wrong in America and in a government of, by and for the people, we're the... more
When Obama became president people thought all comedy had beenen ensued during the last eight years would go away but the republicans proved us wrong this year.
On ""Real Time" Friday night, Bill Maher decided to end his show by mocking all the Republicans who have become prime targets for jokes now that George Bush is no longer front and center. "It turns out there were plenty of ridiculous Republicans behind him that we just couldn't see," Maher said. "His stupid star doth shone too brightly."
WATCH:When Obama became president people thought all comedy had beenen ensued during the... more
You wouldn't really go out of your way to "discourage" something that wasn't real, would you?You wouldn't really go out of your way to "discourage" something that wasn't real,... more
A riveting Academy Award-winning critique of the government's history of militarization, made all the more timely by the current war on terrorism.
The Panama Deception documents the untold story of the December 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama; the events which led to it; the excessive force used; the enormity of the death and destruction; and the devastating aftermath. The Panama Deception uncovers the real reasons for this internationally condemned attack, presenting a view of the invasion which widely differs from that portrayed by the U.S. media and exposes how the U.S. government and the mainstream media suppressed information about this foreign policy disaster.
The Panama Deception includes never before seen footage of the invasion and its aftermath, as well as interviews with both invasion proponents like Gen. Maxwell Thurman, Panamanian President Endara and Pentagon spokesperson Pete Williams, and opponents like U.S. Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY.), Panamanian human rights workers Olga Mejia and Isabel Corro and former Panamanian diplomat Humberto Brown. Network news clips and media critics contribute to a staggering analysis of media control and selfcensorship relevant to any news coverage today, particularly during times of war.
Spotlight is a weekly series of investigative reports from around the world, introduced by author and Journalist Mark Hertsgaard. Mr. Hertsgaard’s latest book is “The Eagle's Shadow: Why America Fascinates and Infuriates the World."
To learn more about this film, visit The Empowerment Project.A riveting Academy Award-winning critique of the government's history of... more
Another shoe thrower was shot dead last week by US troops in Iraq. Residents told an Agence France Presse reporter in Fallujah that Ahmed Latif, whom they said was mentally disturbed, insulted the soldiers as they patrolled in the center of the city, and then hurled a shoe at them.Another shoe thrower was shot dead last week by US troops in Iraq. Residents told an... more
The Patriot Act -- a favorite tool in the George W. Bush administration's fight against terrorism -- may be renamed later this year as the Justice Act.
THE JUSTICE ACT???The Patriot Act -- a favorite tool in the George W. Bush administration's fight... more
You don’t have to look far to see the failures of the current administration. Unemployment is at an all time high since the Great Depression, businesses are failing at record speeds, American causalities overseas are increasing and terrorists around the world are plotting to destroy democracy and freedom. The real American way of life is under siege.
Eight years was not enough.You don’t have to look far to see the failures of the current administration.... more
For the first time since Hurricane Katrina left tens of thousands of families living in FEMA trailers, a federal jury heard allegations Monday that the government-issued shelters exposed Gulf Coast storm victims to hazardous formaldehyde fumes.
A New Orleans woman suing trailer maker Gulf Stream Coach Inc. and government contractor Fluor Enterprises Inc. claims her son's asthma was aggravated by elevated levels of formaldehyde in their trailer provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Gulf Stream's own tests found elevated levels of formaldehyde in its trailers in early 2006For the first time since Hurricane Katrina left tens of thousands of families living... more
The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at then-President George W. Bush at a news conference in December could be released from jail as early as Monday, his attorney told CNN on Friday..
Muntadhar al-Zaidi is serving one year in prison after his original three-year sentence was reduced by an appellate court in April.The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at then-President George W. Bush at a news... more
Medical marijuana is giving activists a chance to show how a legitimized pot business can work. Is the end of prohibition upon us?Medical marijuana is giving activists a chance to show how a legitimized pot business... more
The George W. Bush and Dick Cheney love story officially began in 2000 when Cheney was asked by Bush to be his running mate in the 2000 U.S. Elections. Cheney had previously served under GW's father, Bush senior as the secretary of defense and had been long time friend of his family. Cheney was definitely not a stranger to the White house or the Bush family.The George W. Bush and Dick Cheney love story officially began in 2000 when Cheney was... more
China owns the United States --or, at least, holds a 'mortgage'. China props up the dollar just enough to ensure that its excess production can be dumped here by way of its US retail outlet --Wal-Mart! The value of the US dollar is almost entirely dependent on China. When it ceases to be advantageous for China to prop up the dollar, the dollar will collapse.
The decline and fall of the American empire is a sorry, tragic saga. It is the story of betrayals of this nation by the likes of Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan , Bush Sr., the Shrub, and many lesser known 'agents' of the increasingly tiny cadre of ruling elites. It is the story of how GOP administrations paid off its elite base with tax cuts which have had, in fact, the effects of impoverishing the poor, enriching the rich, exporting the US manufacturing base, and exporting the jobs that it had supported.
More at link.China owns the United States --or, at least, holds a 'mortgage'. China props up the... more
