Articles from Contributor
Financial Regulatory Reform: The State Of Play
As Adam writes below, President Obama released a rather scathing statement condemning an amendment by Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., to weaken the proposed Consumer Financial Regulatory Agency. At a White House briefing today, Neal Wolin, the Treasury sherpa for regulatory reform, declined to say that the statement was a veto threat. “We …
Lunch Break: British Election Night Special Edition
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The Trader’s View On Derivatives Reform
Wallace C. Tubeville, a former Goldman Sachs VP and former CEO of derivative broker VMAC, has done us all a service. In a post on New Deal 2.0, he lays out the over-the-counter derivative trader’s view of why financial reform is a bad thing.
A level playing field is anathema to the trader. Successful traders must have advantages over
…
When Hollywood And Politics Meet: Machete, Arizona And Immigration Reform
Yes, “Machete” is actually a real movie, due for release in September, just in time for the midterm election season. And yes, it actually stars Steven Segal and Robert DeNiro and Jessica Alba and Lindsay Lohan (as a socialite/nun, of course) and Cheech, who plays a homicidal priest. But the interesting part, aside from the explosive …
The FCC To Try Again On Net Neutrality
Close readers of Swampland will remember that the Federal Communications Commission lost a big battle in the broadband regulation war back in April, when a federal court ruled that the agency did not have the legal authority to regulate what happens over broadband wires. Today, the FCC will come back with a plan to reestablish its …
BP And Obama: Playing Internet Gotcha With Campaign Finance Numbers
Politico has a scoop today tailor-made for the online, read-a-headline-and-click-away culture. “Obama Biggest Recipient of BP Cash” it blares, gaining the coveted Matt Drudge link with a dollar sign in the word “CA$H” to prove the point. In the print copy of Politico, the Drudge-bait is toned down, “Before Spill, BP Pumped Money Into …
Senate Republicans Like Their Democrats Barechested
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There is a back story to this NRSC ad. Lee Fisher, who is running for Senate, was filmed in a 2008 documentary by his son, working shirtless late at night.
The lesson here is either not to work shirtless if you ever want to be a Senator, or not to let your son film …
A Day In The Life
If this were a normal week in Washington, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs would not have been reading alerts about an attempted car bombing in Times Square during the White House Correspondents Association Dinner. (The president only found out after his comedy act was finished.) President Obama would not have spent his Sunday in a …
Predator Drones, Paris Hilton and Comedy’s Limits
Back in 2007, comedian Sarah Silverman hosted the MTV Music Awards and told a joke about Paris Hilton going to jail. “I heard that to make her feel more comfortable in prison, the guards are going to paint the bars to look like penises,” she said. “I think it is wrong, too. I just worry she is going to break her teeth on those things.” …
Election Year Terror Question: To Mirandize or Not?
Arizona Sen. John McCain, just a few months from his primary, made clear his position on “Imus in the Morning” Tuesday: The Justice Department should not give suspected Times Square car bomber, Faisal Shahzad, his miranda rights. “Obviously that would be a serious mistake until all the information is gathered,” he said.
Around the …
In Trouble, Gordon Brown Tries To Soar, Embraces Obama, Gets Interrupted
The polls are headed in the wrong direction for Gordon Brown, and he is losing newspaper endorsements. But he is not flagging one bit, as he showed today in a speech to Citizens UK. It is quite a performance, with a notable Barack Obama homage (at 2:45). But since this is a Gordon Brown speech, something had to go all wrong. So look also …
1,000 Words
From the TIME’s White House Photo Blog. (No need for snark on this one.)