The Begs: Ford's Political Requests
First in a series on the Big Two and a Half's Begs: Ford's political requests.
Robert Ficano to Richard Shelby: Suck. On. This.
Wayne County's Executive, Robert Ficano, is taking it directly to Richard Shelby for his opposition to the Big Two and a Half auto makers.
Good Question
Judge Vaughn Walker seems unwilling to abdicate his Article III function to give the telecoms immunity for breaking the law.
Two and a Half Paths Diverged in the Woods
The Big 2.5's fates have now diverged.
Soft Power
David Sanger confirms our earlier suspicions: part of the logic behind Obama's foreign policy team is to have people in place who can shift our security strategy to a greater emphasis on soft power.
Acorns
Both Susie and Joe linked to this story saying there are no acorns this year.
As the story points out, though, that's true for just some parts of the country.
Simmons has a theory about the wet and dry cycles. But many skeptics say oaks in other regions are producing plenty of acorns, and the acorn bust here is nothing more than the extreme of a natural boom-and-bust cycle.
We've got 5 mature oaks
RIP Tanta
"Tanta" from Calculated Risk passed away today. Thanks to her for helping us through this troubled time.
Trash Talk: Wherein the Champs Shoot Themselves in The Foot Thigh
Will Plaxico's latest idiotic stunt let the Skins stay in the hot race in the NFC East?
Fold The Holder Nomination
The meme that has been floated by Glenn Greenwald and several others that Eric Holder's involvement in the Chiquita matter is just principled, zealous representation of his client akin to the heroic souls that have taken the mantle of defending Gitmo detainees. I admire Glenn Greenwald's writing and respect his work immensely, but I take pretty big issue with this position. In fact, Eric Holder was closer to a mob consigliere than principled criminal defender.
The Big 2.5 on Main Street
I've been talking about the bloat among the ranks of the American manufacturers' car dealerships in just about every post I do on the auto crisis. My premise is two-fold. First, one of the big problems the Big Two and a Half have in restoring their brands to credibility--even though the quality of their cars now matches the Japanese--is that there are too many dealerships out there given the number of
James Jones versus Hillary in the Middle East
Will Hillary and Obama's choice for NSA butt heads over plans for I/P peace?
Girlz Out Loud
Just so you know, I'm still watching the Sunday show line-ups to see whether all the smart girlz who were on during the election still get invited back.
And FWIW, we've got two girlz of significance this week: Laura Bush (well, I'm not going to tune in, but she is a girl and she'll be on before pickling hour), and Claire McCaskill.
Still in Turkey Coma Open Thread
I should say "back in turkey coma" since I just had a hot turkey sandwich and feel a giant nap coming on.
The turkey, btw, was absolutely superb--those crazies who think turkey doesn't taste good are like Sunday school teachers who poo poo sex because, well, let's just say they were never really credible experts.
Obama's Success: Must Have Been The Shoes Before Him
America, indeed humanity, stands on the verge of a seminal moment in history. A turning point that inalienably alters our existence in so many ways, writ large and small, that it is hard to grasp. We are about to to inaugurate a black man, Barack Obama, President of the United States; a job that is still, despite all, the singularly most important and powerful position in the world. How did we get to this moment?
Pisco Sours: As Easy as Falling Off a Bike the Wagon
Earlier in the week, the blogosphere buzzed over this photo of Bush drinking Peru's national drink, a Pisco Sour. There was a lot of discussion about whether Bush had falled off the wagon or not--but the discussions of what a pisco sour is fell short, I felt, of what my good friend Jeff had taught me in grad school (Jeff, who is Peruvian, whined for a year straight that he couldn't get proper Peruvian, as opposed to Chilean, pisco in Ann Arbor).
Trash Talk - Thanksgiving Stuff Yer Face Edition
It's Turkey Day!!! Time to get fat and happy people. And then, when you cannot have one more round of food, you simply must have one more wafer thin mint! Hey, is anybody out there having the John Madden specialty of Turducken instead of turkey? Okay, this is a short trash talk for the Thursday Thanksgiving Day games only.
In Defense of Turkey
Why are Big Media Matt and the Great Orange Vegetarian Satan attacking turkey, when they apparently don't even know about heritage birds?
Obama and the Guvs
In an exceedingly well-timed meeting, Obama will get together with the nation's governors to get their support for his massive stimulus program.
The Hatfill Search
Aside from the fact that Stephen Hatfill's girlfriend kept her own bottle of Cipro hidden inside a Mason Jar full of coffee, the most interesting part of the searches conducted on Stephen Hatfill in 2002 is his Florida storage locker. It appears to be a collection of Hatfill's toys left over from his days in Zimbabwe and elsewhere.Soldier of Fortune magazineFlight computerA confidentially marked document titled "Presentation Exercise Urban Guerilla Warfare"
GM the "Failed Business Model" Pays Its Retiree Pensions; Exxon Doesn't
You know how Richard Shelby thinks GM has a failed business model? Well, apparently it's way ahead of corporate giant Exxon in honoring its obligation to retirees.