Author Archives: Michael Froomkin

Let the GOP Food Fight Begin

Posted on January 30, 2008 by Michael Froomkin

The week before Super Tuesday should see the GOP dumping its opposition research on McCain. (And there's so much to mine.)

This anti-McCain ad is in one way quite brilliant:

The Republican base ought to hate this. But in another way it's quite insidious. If McCain survives this sort of onslaught, it may make him more electable by making him seem less conservative.

Is that a bug or a feature?

(FWIW I think that McCain's real weakness is character. One gets the feeling that too many people who know him personally think that he's a wacko; and too often he talks like a warmonger.)

Posted in Politics: US: 2008 Elections | Comments Off on Let the GOP Food Fight Begin

The Ownership Society, version 2.0

Posted on January 30, 2008 by Michael Froomkin

Calculated Risk has a graph which shows Homeownership Rate: Cliff Diving.

What this means is that the home ownership rate today is back to where it was in, say, 2001 and still falling.

In other words, most of the million or so families who have been foreclosed on this year are not buying new homes — how could they get the credit? — but renting (if they can pass the credit check for that!) or moving in with family. Or living rough? (Or is that what comes next?)

Posted in Econ & Money: Mortgage Mess | Comments Off on The Ownership Society, version 2.0

Edwards Pulls Out

Posted on January 30, 2008 by Michael Froomkin

It's soon to be official: after his weak showing in Florida, John Edwards is pulling out of the race.

I guess that means I'm an Obama supporter now. Not that I couldn't support Clinton, but I have enough doubt about the people she surrounds herself with and attracts — DLCers for example — that Obama seems a better bet.

I also think Obama will have an advantage in foreign relations, as he'll be perceived as more of a clean slate than someone named Clinton. He's been an opponent of the Iraq war from the start, and still has a better, clearer position than Clinton on ending the war and removing US troops from Iraq (even though Edwards's position was better still). He's better on telecoms issues too.

That said, on domestic issues there's also much to like on paper about the Clinton candidacy as compared to Obama's especially on health care. How much of that would survive contact with lobbyists and Republicans is the question.

Whoever it was who said that Obama is running as (Bill) Clinton and (Sen.) Clinton is running as Gore got it mostly right. I didn't want either as my first choice; even if I get my third choice it is sure to be much better than the remaining alternatives.

And I hope Edwards becomes Attorney General. That would be something.

Posted in Politics: US: 2008 Elections | 8 Comments

Best Sub-Head of the Day

Posted on January 30, 2008 by Michael Froomkin

The day is young, but I declare the sub-head to Radio controlled male contraceptive developed to be the best sub-head of the day.

As the sub-head says, “What could possibly go wrong?”

Posted in Science/Medicine | 1 Comment

Bush Blinks

Posted on January 30, 2008 by Michael Froomkin

Like the House, the Senate yesterday also passed a 15-day FISA extension. Bush had said he had to have six years on nuthin' and previously threatened to veto a 30-day extension. But the WashPo says that he'll sign it — I guess that someone over there grasped that unlike three years ago, if you say the sky will fall without the authority the bill gives you and you veto it at the same time, someone might ask an embarrassing question before printing your press release.

I remain very pessimistic about the ability of Senate Democrats to grow spines on this issue, although it is encouraging that weathervane Nelson (D-Fl.) voted for cloture on Monday, and that his DC phone people are saying he'll vote to remove telecom immunity from the bill; this seems something of an about-face from last week's vote to bury the Judiciary Committee version of the bill, but I'll take what I can get.

The bright spot in the story is that prospects on the House side are somewhat better. It helps that key right-wing Democrats are facing some tough primary challenges from progressives. Sometimes, just sometimes, elections help keep people focused on what their constituents want.

Now, about that war…

Posted in Civil Liberties | Comments Off on Bush Blinks

FISA Short Course

Posted on January 30, 2008 by Michael Froomkin

Sen. Feingold demonstrates how he explains problems with FISA to constituents in a 30-second demo.

Meanwhile, the House passed a 15 day extension of the current (awful) version of FISA. And then it went into recess. Which is actually good, as it puts the Senate GOP on the spot and will probably spike some of their worst parliamentary delay tactics.

Posted in Civil Liberties | Comments Off on FISA Short Course