How to judge economic phenomena is often in the eye of the beholder. One man's problem is often another man's comfort. One country's helpful subsidies to a particular sector can be a bane to that same sector in another country.

Many voiced defenses and attacks on Rush Limbaugh and his relationship with the GOP this week, but a predictable pattern emerged in which Republicans defended Rush and his apologizers while Democrats scoffed and ridiculed the man and the apologies.

The unemployment rate has risen to 8.1%. Not too unexpected.

Newt Gingrich is considering running for President in 2012 (yet again). He is definitely one of my favorite Republicans.

Have at it!

While I'm not one to dwell on presidents, I found this by Jeff Hummel a little interesting...thought you all might too. I'm sure we've all seen rankings of the presidents. The usual suspects are always near the top: Lincoln, FDR, Washington, Wilson and maybe JFK. They say it takes crises to make a great president. Uneventful times, by this logic, tend to hurt a President's stature in the eyes of historians and political scientists who look to assess a value on the men who served in the White House. The times make the man in this sense.

British PM Gordon Brown will be in town to urge Congress to free their markets and give up protectionism.  That's right.  The leader of the Labour Party in the UK is telling Congress to be less socialist.

AIG losing money at incredible speeds... - Looking for another bailout.

However Consumer spending is up, reversing a trend . We'll see if that will cheer the markets up today.

We have a fairly big storm here in the NorthEast today and I am one of the very few who came in to work. Amazingly some dumbass in my department called in very "believably" sick. How are you guys doing?

Wow, I am amazed at how much Obama has tackled in the first few weeks of his presidency: SCHIP , the Ledbetter Pay Act ,  the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , an outline our withdraw from Iraq , and a budget that gives a down payment on universal healt

An article that caught my attention a few months ago titled "Use Your Illusions " (yes, a cheap knock off of the G'nR album ) by Slavoj Zizek in the Nov./Dec., 2008 edition of London Review of Books interestingly shows how the international left views the political landscape in the United States.

That's what I take from a couple of articles written by social democrats that I've read over the weekend. The pronounced and unmistakable willingness of some to justify having less as long as long as the better off have EVEN less in relation to the worse off is indeed troubling to me. The mental gymnastics that I see these people put themselves through with the full knowledge and implications of their wishes known to them is indeed cause for pause.

Excellent video about what happened on the local level in an LA High School. Well done, Drew Carey.

10 minutes well spent.

The New York Times has an article now about what's happening with the $25 Billion that were set aside for loans through the Energy Department for automobile companies and start-ups to hasten the arrival next-generation auto technology using batteries.

As of right now, the amount of money dispersed has been: $0.00.

But it's not for lack interest in companies looking for the loan money:

Yet another example of Paul Krugman's transition from economist to partisan hack

What did you think of the speech last night? After watching the GOP response I realized that I dislike Jindal.

I absolutely hate them. Few things get my free market juices flowing like disgusting cartels propped up by slovenly favoritism and privilege from government.

One day older, two days dumber.  That's what Grandpa used to say (and still does every so often).

What's the news?

Paper apologizes, to some, over Obama cartoon

Demonstrators led by civil rights activist Al Sharpton chanted "End racism now!" outside the parent company's skyscraper in midtown Manhattan and called for the jailing of Rupert Murdoch, whose international media conglomerate News Corp owns the Post.

Have a wonderful weekend.

President Obama has a plan to "incentivize" lenders to restructure mortgages that are at or near foreclosure.  The Homeowner Stability Initiative aims to make payments "sustainable", which is defined as 31% of income.  There is also a program to help refinance negative equity mortgages.

GM and Chrysler are asking for some more money as well.  GM wants $16.6 billion more, and Chrysler wants another $5 billion.  In additional news stinerman would like his student loans forgiven, which should only cost the average taxpayer slightly over 1/100th of a penny.

Who else needs a bailout today?

Hopefully someone out there is getting the day off work.  I, unfortunately, am not.

What's the good word?

As some know, there is a small chance I may run for US Congress in 2010 due to my dissatisfaction with how much of an issue "intellectual property" (mostly copyrights and patents) is in national politics.

Before I put forth my ideas, I'd like you at SC to put forth what you have to say on the matter.  Here are some questions you may want to consider:

Judd Gregg decided he didn't want to be Obama's commerce secretary after all.  Back to the drawing board for Mr. Obama.

And it looks like the stimulus package is out of conference and ready to be voted upon.  If all goes as planned, the bill should be on the President's desk before Monday.

Have a great weekend!