News of Note:
- Congress "passed that bill", or at least part of it.
- If only Americans revered Ronald Reagan
- Does the 99% really live like this?
- Our President, hard at work solving the "no NBA" problem
- Make sure to avoid obscene words, such as "Jesus"
- How's that "Arab Spring" working out for you, Egyptians?
- Super Committee admits it has failed
- Congress talks of changing rules to avoid defense cuts
Tonight's Crazy Story:
School Calls Cops After 12-year-olds Kiss
An elementary school called the police when two students kissed. Police later determined that no crime was committed.
The Final Five: Number 5
The Federal Government and…Child Care?
Peter Wehner discusses Pelosi's idea to do for child care like she did for health care. "Now most of us, if we had problems finding a babysitter, would ask for names from friends, neighbors and perhaps the parents of classmates. We might inquire with people in our Bible study, father-son book club or soccer league. We would consider putting up an announcement in the local library or going through a baby-sitting service. We might place an ad in a local newspaper. But what we wouldn’t assume is that this was a job for government to get involved with. ... It’s hard to imagine what areas of life exist, if any at all, that a modern-day liberal believes is beyond the proper scope and reach of the federal government."
There's Always Time for a Laugh:
"Energy Secretary Stephen Chu testified before Congress yesterday that he thought it was a good idea to lend $535 million of our tax dollars to the solar panel company Solyndra right before they went bankrupt. If he'd taken all of that money, put it in a big pile and set it on fire, it would have produced more energy than Solyndra."
-Jay Leno, 11/18/11
The Final Five: Number 4
One Year After the GM IPO...How Is Our $50 Billion Investment Looking?
Mike Opelka analyzes the payback the U.S. has received from its "investment" in GM, and what must happen for the taxpayers to get their full money back. "In order for the American taxpayer to be made whole on the investment we made in just GM, the share price for the automaker needs to climb to $53, more than double the current price. Can GM’s stock rebound and jump from $21 to $53, providing the government a chance to “take a few chips off the table?” Most analysts will give you a simple two-word answer to that question: It’s doubtful."
Debt Watch:
At the close of business on Friday, the national debt stood at:
$15,040,208,108,195.33
The Final Five: Number 3
Why Occupy Wall Street Is No Tea Party
Eugene Slaven discusses the differences between the Occupy protests and the Tea Party. "There are fundamental differences between the Tea Party and OWS that made the former a formidable political force and will render the latter an inconsequential soon-to-be historical footnote. ... From the beginning, the Tea Party was primarily made up of middle-class, fiscally conservative Americans who opposed government expansion under President Obama and the Democratic Congress. They organized and rallied peacefully, picked up after themselves, and didn't cost taxpayers a dime. The Tea Party called for less debt, less spending, and less government intervention in the economy. They didn't always offer detailed policy proposals, but they did espouse coherent philosophical and economic principles."
Tweet of the Day:
Larry Sabato:
Yes, Mr. President, we're all really optimistic Congress will use the next year well & sing Kumbaya & compromise. #whenpigsfly
The Final Five: Number 2
Answer to DC Stalemate is Democracy
Jonathan Tobin argues that the 2012 election will be what settles the stalemate in Washington. "The problem isn’t the fault of senators and representatives who “won’t compromise,” but the fact that control of the current Congress is split between a House that was won by the GOP in 2010 and a Senate that is still controlled by Democrats who were swept in with their victories in 2006 and 2008. Expecting either party to betray their bases in the name of a vacuous compromise that would please no one was always unrealistic. The only way to end the standoff is a new election that will present the voters with a clear choice between the competing visions of the two parties. Fortunately, there is one scheduled less than a year from now that can easily settle the question."
Food for Thought - A Quote from our Founders
"Democratical States must always feel before they can see: it is this that makes their Governments slow, but the people will be right at last."
-George Washington
The Final Five: Number 1
The Choice: Squabble or Govern
Robert Samuelson argues that Obama has failed to show any leadership during the debt ceiling/super committee process. "What we could have is a small budget deal. Deficits over the next decade could easily exceed $9 trillion; proposals by Republicans and Democrats might cut this by about $1.5 trillion. Toomey's concession should create a basis for a negotiation, if both sides want an agreement. Small successes today could rebuild trust, leading to larger successes tomorrow. Failure will further corrode the public's already rock-bottom confidence in its political 'leaders.'"
Tomorrow in History
November 22, 1963
- President John F. Kennedy is shot and killed during a motorcade in Dallas, Texas.
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