The Hollywood Liberal

Fitting Bookends
Opening Bookend      There couldn’t have been a better demonstration of the American people’s rejection of the illegitimacy and the colossal failure of the Geore W. Bush presidency and the damage it inflicted than the two significant but sparsely covered events that bookend his eight year reign.

Dean Will Step Aside at DNC
Howard Dean “will not seek a second term as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, clearing the way for a loyalist of President-elect Barack Obama to be named to the soon to be vacant post,” according to the Washington Post.

Marc Ambinder: “The bigger question: what happens to the DNC?  Does it become an extension of the White House? Does it retain a measure of independence? How much control does David Axelrod wish to assert over the party?”

LLN FDL: She Takes More Than She Gives
Walter Trout – She Takes More Than She Gives, filmed Nov. 8, 2006, in Berlin.

What’s on your mind tonight?

Walter Trout – She Takes More Than She Gives, filmed Nov. 8, 2006, in Berlin.

What’s on your mind tonight?

Tax Cuts: The B.S. and the Facts
That tax cuts stimulate the economy is taken as a matter of faith, but the brute facts suggest otherwise.

Terry McAuliffe Files For Virginia Governor In 2009
Terry Mac is back. Terry McAuliffe, the former DNC chairman and (very) enthusiastic national chairman of Hillary Clinton’s candidacy, has officially filed papers for a possible run for governor of Virginia in 2009, a move that has been expected for…

Confessore in the Times … Four Spitzer administration officials violated the state’s ethics law when they used the State Police last summer to gather travel documents they hoped would tarnish Joseph L. Bruno, then the State Senate majority leader, according…

Taxpayers out $135k for prince’s helicopter ride to stag party
Taxpayers out $135k for prince’s helicopter ride to stag party

Least popular president meets one of the most popular presidents-elect.
Today, President-elect Barack Obama is scheduled to meet with President Bush at the White House. The New York Times notes that the visit will be both “historic” and “perhaps awkward,” since Obama consistently criticized Bush on the campaign trail. A new Gallup analysis also finds that the meeting will be “a remarkable contrast between one […]

Today, President-elect Barack Obama is scheduled to meet with President Bush at the White House. The New York Times notes that the visit will be both “historic” and “perhaps awkward,” since Obama consistently criticized Bush on the campaign trail. A new Gallup analysis also finds that the meeting will be “a remarkable contrast between one of the least popular two-term presidents in modern times at the close of his administration, and one of the most popular candidates to win the presidency“:

Aloha State Moves to the A-List
Forget the cowboy hat. Throw on a lei. The Hawaii State Society Inaugural Ball — the first one ever — is suddenly the hottest ticket in town, replacing the Texas Black Tie and Boots ball that reigned for the past two inaugurations.

The Specter of Deflation
WASHINGTON — Until recently, the idea that deflation — the decline of most prices — was possible, let alone a potential economic danger, seemed outlandish. If anything, inflation was the threat. Led by rising oil and food prices, it was increasing in most countries. But in the past two months, deflation has suddenly become conceivable and, though still a long shot, it’s much more menacing than most people realize. The most urgent economic task for Barack Obama and other world leaders is to prevent the long shot from happening. A mild deflation — like a mild inflation — would be barely noticeable, and even pleasurable. Who doesn’t like lower prices? But beyond a few percentage points, deflation can create economic havoc by forcing debtors to repay loans in more expensive money and causing consumers to postpone purchases. In the Great Depression, deflation reigned. Consumer prices fell about a quarter from 1929 to 1933. Spending collapsed. Supply swamped demand, driving prices down. By 1933, manufacturing output had dropped 39 percent and joblessness had reached 25 percent.

Dissecting the Changing Electorate
Marjorie Connelly, New York Times