Late Wednesday President Obama announced the resignation of acting IRS Commissioner Steven Miller in a move many saw as the president taking action to correct mistakes made during the IRS targeting of conservative groups. … Read More
The top five myths about Guantánamo Bay
As pressure mounts to close the US’s detention camp in Cuba, what would be the implications for its policy on terrorism? Renewing his push to close the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, President Obama said what many of his critics have been saying for years – that it is inefficient,…
4 reasons why Obama should push for a carbon tax
We are at an unacknowledged turning point for the economy and the environment. We could, right now, substantially reduce our debt and deficit projections, take a major step toward a better environment, create a simpler and fairer tax system, make job creation easier, and raise economic growth a bit. For all of these reasons, we could and should adopt a carbon tax.Taking this step depends on two men: President Obama and Senator Max Baucus, chair of the Senate Finance Committee. Both men want to leave an important legacy, and both are in a unique political position: they still possess real political power, but neither will ever face another election. (Obama, of course, is limited to two terms, and Baucus has just announced that he will retire.) Acting together, the two of them could completely change the odds of enacting a carbon tax this year.Continue Reading… … Read More
US Syria position spells ‘tens of thousands’ more deaths
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Washington is wrestling with a moral-political-military equation over Syria. The question is how, if at all, Americans might support getting involved.
President Obama’s warning still stands: if Damascus uses – or has used – chemical weapons, it can expect Washington to loosen the brakes placed on intervention so far. Limited air strikes, using drones or setting up a no-fly zone?
There just isn’t any political groundswell in favour of military action.
White House spokesman Jay Carney reiterated: “It is our policy that we have not [provided] and are not providing weapons to the Syrian opposition. But we are continuing to review our options.”
Even if there is a political will somewhere, after a decade of losing American lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, and spending billions of dollars there, now a low profile seems advisable. Analyst Steven Cook with the Council of Foreign Relations think tank suggests that’s just common sense.
Cook said: “The cynical view is that the President is buying time in order to build diplomatic support for some sort of political solution that the two parties in Syria really aren’t interested in.”
Some Republicans are arguing for a muscular intervention to topple the Assad government, which they want to believe could end the fighting.
Cook made a stark prediction: “We are stuck with observing a protracted civil war that is going to kill many more tens of thousands and drive many more tens of thousands of people out of their homes.”
Our correspondent in Washington said: “So far, President Obama’s inaction on Syria has served him well, politically, with most Americans being against any involvement whatsoever. A US intervention at this point would be a no-win situation for Obama and would only prompt Republican attacks, no matter what he decides.”
More about: Armed conflicts, Bashar al-Assad, Syria, USA, Weapons
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Earth to D.C.: Repeal the sequester
Economic forecasters exist to make astrologers look good. Most had forecast growth of at least 3 percent (on an annualized basis) in the first quarter. But we learned this morning (in the Commerce Department’s report) it grew only 2.5 percent.That’s better than the 2 percent growth last year and the slowdown at the end of the year. But it’s still cause for serious concern.First, consumers won’t keep up the spending.Their savings rate fell sharply — from 4.7% in the last quarter of 2012 to 2.6% from January through March.Add in March’s dismal employment report, the lowest percentage of working-age adults in jobs since 1979, and January’s hike in payroll taxes, and consumer spending will almost certainly drop.Median household incomes continues to decline, adjusted for inflation. Another report out today showed consumer confidence fell in April.Second, the recovery continues to be wildly lopsided. The only thing really keeping it going is the rip-roaring stock market. But the stock market only boosts the wealth of the richest 10 percent of Americans, who own 90 percent of stocks (including 401-K retirement accounts).Continue Reading… … Read More
