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    The constitution does not provide for first and second class citizens.

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    unfuckingbelievable

    I tried to post on this yesterday, but Li’l Kim clogged my intertoobz:

    July 8 (Bloomberg) — Morgan Stanley plans to repackage a downgraded collateralized debt obligation backed by leveraged loans into new securities with AAA ratings in the first transaction of its kind, said two people familiar with the sale.

    Morgan Stanley is selling $87.1 million of securities that it expects to receive [...]



    what do politicians hate more than anything else?

    Doubt. Doubt = weakness, and weakness = electoral failure.

    So it’s a minor miracle when a politician reaches the right conclusion and, despite his doubts, acts on it:

    SANTA FE — The Bill Richardson who announced a repeal of the death penalty in New Mexico on Wednesday was not the same Bill Richardson who usually shows up for face time with the news media.

    [...]



    Why Isn’t Simon Johnson the Treasury Secretary?

    This is the most succinct explanation I have come across of where we are at and of what to do with regard to the financial crisis affecting our country.  I hope Obama and Congress are listening.  From Bill Moyers Journal (you can watch the video here):

    February 13, 2009

    BILL MOYERS: Welcome to the Journal.

    The battle is joined as they [...]



    who’s getting thrown in the briar patch?

    I’m hoping it’s Obama – but he’s already given away the store in the form of tax cuts and striking family planning and the National Mall renewal from the bill. Maybe he just wanted to give the Republicans enough rope to hang themselves.

    I certainly hope so, because even if this stimulus bill works perfectly and creates/saves 4 million jobs, it won’t get [...]



    what robert reich said

    See, Ed, I was right:

    The real problem is on the demand side of the economy.

    Consumers won’t or can’t borrow because they’re at the end of their ropes. Their incomes are dropping (one of the most sobering statistics in Friday’s jobs report was the continued erosion of real median earnings), they’re deeply in debt, and they’re afraid of losing their jobs.

    Introductory [...]