The article's portrayal of the Chief Justice as a Machiavellian manipulator of the "swing" justice(Kennedy) I find particularly interesting. The fact that Kennedy fell for the bait makes him look more like a loose cannon patsy than a middle ground mediator i.e. Sandra Day O'Connor.

...so far Hollande has impressed me with his low key approach to not only France's, but Europe's economic problems, which are, of course, intertwined. Now, if he can only convince his German partners that it is also in their best interest to remove the economic noose that's dangling around the necks of their other euro partners! The U.K. unfortunately will remain deluded until David Cameron is dragged to the tower with his friend Rupert Murdoch.

This I believe is an important story albeit a bit arcane for those who don't dabble in small growth stocks. Leave it to Matt Taibbi to find out what's happening under the rock! The only thing missing from the article is how naked short selling can affect the small companies( the actual innovators) that depend heavily on investment to build investor confidence...not all can recover as in the case of Overstock. I believe a large part of the problem is that the SEC is underfunded by ... More »

Krugman brings up an important point here that has often been glossed over in the press, namely that it is in Germany's interest that the markets in Southern Europe recover. The interests of the majority of the German people and the German banks are no more identical than they are here in the U.S..

I must commend Rick Steve's for taking a very courageous stand on an issue that is the root cause of many problems in the MidEast, one that divides many Americans, Jews and non Jews, alike. Unfortunately, Israel has become a predominantly religious state, bolstered by indiscriminate American aid and that alone is not good for either Israelis, the Palestinians or Americans. The issue is so complex and so politically charged that it is is no wonder it has become taboo for civil ... More »

It seems obvious to me that Panetta's semantic faut pas was using the word"permission" instead of "consensus" to describe current U.S. policy on military intervention coordinated with allies. Nevertheless, this could be serious and the president as commander in chief needs to be aware that he is ultimately responsible for any adverse consequences resulting from military action even if it is coordinated with allies. The specifics here seem to regard Syria and a much more complex ... More »

...a perceptive assessment of the sad and serious consequences of austerity in Greece and the ramifications it could have for other economies if basic social inequities as well as corruption are not addressed.

The fact that Shadid was fluent in Arabic set him apart from most other correspondents in the MidEast. He was better able to relate what people were thinking and his own perceptive analysis based on his observations added an invaluable dimension to his reporting.

Although I have not read the Murray book Krugman refers to, the moral decline theme is a thread that frequently invades the conservative narrative and here, I think, Krugman uncovers a not always subliminal link to racist sentiments. With a black president that undercurrent has surfaced more frequently i.e. the decline of white working class standards must be attributable to the rise of the non-white population which is now more visible in the media. For those on the right the ... More »

...at the very end of the article "the fight against the privatization of water" indicates growing support for a reversal of copycat policies that seduced many European countries to mimic the U.S. in privatizing industry prior to the global recession. I find this especially significant, along with a renewed emphasis on investment in education.

...revealing and revolting

Celebrities sometimes get short shifted when they venture into politics and they do so at the risk of alienating fans. Nevertheless, they often have a much greater influence than the average reporter. Streisand's articulate message is but one commendable example. The kind of social advocacy Sean Penn has manifested in New Orleans and Haiti is yet another.

This is a complex issue and it's difficult to understand all the ramifications...but if Murdoch is for the bill and Wikipedia is against it, I have no problem knowing where to come down. Google and other internet companies may have other issues to disagree with but I'm thankful that they can add the clout to oppose bad legislation.

There are a lot of insights here that challenge prevailing business concepts that emphasize group activity i.e. "brainstorming" as a productive use of time in order to promote creativity, when in reality it's often as productive as that other annoying concept invented by the Harvard Business Review, "multi-tasking".

The complex issue of broadband is difficult for the average citizen to decipher and I am no exception. But in view of what consolidation has brought to other media i.e. T.V. and radio, it is evident that any move is this direction for broadband would be against the public interest.

...what I like about this article is the emphasis on challenging the cynicism in politics with a real solution. We all know that cynicism leads to voter apathy, which has too often been the death knell of progressive legislation. The article opens the door to hope with a well focused remedy.

The distinction Krugman makes between the type of jobs created, and the type of jobs destroyed by Bain Capital is particularly perceptive.

The article also presents a good argument for supporting one's local newspaper despite the availability of online alternatives.

.."contrived neutrality" is, I believe, an accurate description

I am finding some "contrived balance" in the video that contradicts Lessig's claim of what needs to be done. First, he states that he was once a believer in Reagan's policies and without refuting any of the policies the former president espoused, he goes on to tell us we should all "keep our principles" and find common ground. Well, this may be possible with someone like Ron Paul, but Reagan?...and his present day disciples? How can you find common ground with people that pull ... More »