The Exquisite Contrarian

From Slate: Cheney lambasted the Obama administration’s efforts to try these sorts of terrorists as criminals in civilian court when they should be treated as “enemy combatants” and hauled before a military tribunal, preferably at Guantanamo.  ”It’s very important,” Cheney said, “to go back and keep in mind the distinction between handling these events as [...]

Just when you thought we were past allowing the financial sector to develop risky, economy destroying derivatives the American financial industry is back at it once again: “Amid that uncertain state, Wall Street is chugging along as if the last few years were merely a blip. At Citigroup Inc., the financial innovators are readying a [...]

Hank Paulson, the former US Treasury Secretary, has apologised for saying the “British screwed” the US in failing to save Lehman Brothers at the height of the financial crisis. Strong words from the man in charge of pulling the American (and some would say world) financial industry from the brink: more.

A new poll finds PBS among the most trusted institutions in America and the most trusted name in news. According to an annual poll conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media, 40% of Americans trust PBS’s; news and public affairs programs a “great deal.” Fox News was second at 29% and CNN was third [...]

From the New York Times: President Obama will put forward comprehensive health care legislation intended to bridge differences between Senate and House Democrats ahead of a summit meeting with Republicans next week, senior administration officials and Congressional aides said Thursday. Our take?  He probably should have done this about a year ago.  I wouldn’t want [...]