Friday Nite Points

OK. It's been a long week and I'm tired. Mostly, I'm tired of being outraged at how poorly the People's Servants in Washington are actually serving the People. So, some short takes.

One. Digby catches this great quote by Barney Frank: "Having lived with this very right wing Republican group that runs the House most of the time, the notion of trying to deal with them as if we could be post-partisan gives me post-partisan depression." Well Barney, I can sympathize with how you feel. Now, get motivated and get some real help to real Americans in the manufacturing sector, eh?

Two. If this (Worst month for job loss in 34 years) isn't enough motivation, then maybe putting some thought into what the default of any of the Big 3 would mean in the fantastical credit default swap market may be in order. B over at Moon of Alabama has done just that. An automaker default translating into hundreds of billions in CDS losses ... now that is leverage I can believe in!

Three. By the way, we should take heed to what this guy has to say (h/t B). Especially when he says this:

People, especially Americans, started believing that they can live on other people’s money. And more and more so. First other people’s money in your own country. And then the savings rate comes down, and you start living on other people’s money from outside. At first it was the Japanese. Now the Chinese and the Middle Easterners.

We—the Chinese, the Middle Easterners, the Japanese—we can see this too. Okay, we’d love to support you guys—if it’s sustainable. But if it’s not, why should we be doing this? After we are gone, you cannot just go to the moon to get more money. So, forget it. Let’s change the way of living.

Four. This is simply bullpuckey! And if it were so dang important, how come no one sought to question the citizenship of "Panama" John McCain? Over at Stonekettle Station, Jim calls it a "Conspiracy of Stupid." I know the fevered swamp dwellers want nothing more than this to be true... but give it up already! YGTBFKM!

Five. China Hand is looking behind the blaring soundbites of last week's Mumbai attack (has it been a week already) and sees that not everything is as simple as you may think it is. What is simple is that two nuclear armed nations are moving towards a confrontation and defusing the tension will not simply happen because the U.S. advocates calm and caution. If that is what we are advocating.

Six. I started to put some of my own thoughts down about what Bruce Miller has been writing lately about the impending Afghanistan escalation. Suffice it to say, take a few moments to read and reflect on his pleas for a real strategy ("How many times to we have to watch this movie?" and Afghanistan and Pakistan).

Seven. Glenn Greenwald gets up in Tom Gjelten's grill for the sloppy reporting and commentary Tom and NPR broadcast in the wake of John Brennan's withdrawal from consideration as Director of the CIA. Be amazed at the power of teh "left-wing bloggers"! Never mind that Brennan had some other issues that made any potential vetting and confirmation run a bit dicey. Besides, who needs that kind of controversy? Way to go Glenn! Stay on it!

Eight. I think Col Lang is becoming fed up with the global ineptitude in dealing with those scurvy sea-dog pirates of Somalia. His readers certainly are and its a lively discussion!

Nine. I'm with Athenae. Only a few more weeks to wait for this!

Ten. And lastly. Enjoy the snark that emerges from the Rising Hegemon.