PBS interview about financial crisis with Joe Stiglitz

It's a long read, but it's very good. During the interview, Stiglitz discusses the failure of regulation, the lack of transparency with the banks (even today) and where the economy may be going as Europe falters. If you enjoy economics, grab a cup of coffee and have good read.

Here's a taste of the interview after he was asked about Geithner and Summers joining (and leading) the Obama economic team:

He was told that appointing this team would present a problem, because even if they gave the right advice, it will be tainted. People will see it as reflecting the interest of the banks and people who were linked to the deregulation, to the flawed policies. You're bringing in the same plumber that caused the problem. ...

Of course the real risk was that they would not give the right advice, and that would turn out to be the case. I wasn't surprised, because at that point it was already clear where he was getting his advice from, who he was listening to.

The only thing that was perhaps a little bit of a surprise was the disjuncture between "Change you can believe in," the slogan, and the team that was put in place, which was, yes, change a little bit from the Bush team, but only a little bit.

In that same section, Stiglitz throws in what many - myself included - believe about Obama and where he fits on the political scale. He may have some liberal beliefs but for the most part, he's a "don't-rock-the-boat conservative. Read the rest of this post...

Neo-Nazis win 6 percent of Greek vote, will have 19 deputies in Parliament

I don't care how bad things are with immigration or any other issue, you don't vote for neo-Nazis, especially when you're a country that was occupied by the Nazis.  AFT:

Greek neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn warned rivals and reformers Sunday that "the time for fear has come" after exit polls showed them securing their entry in parliament for the first time in nearly 40 years.

"The time for fear has come for those who betrayed this homeland," Golden Dawn leader Nikos Michaloliakos told a news conference at an Athens hotel, flanked by menacing shaven-headed young men.

"We are coming," the 55-year-old said as supporters threw firecrackers outside.

Read the rest of this post...

Kent State, 1970, new tape evidence: "They heard someone shout 'prepare to fire' then give an order"

As you know, this week is the anniversary of the Kent State Killings.

On May 4, l970, members of the Ohio National Guard fired into a crowd of Kent State University demonstrators. The guardsmen fired 67 rounds in 13 seconds, killing four students and wounding nine. One of the wounded was paralyzed permanently.

This post is a fast three-parter.

■ First, the new evidence. Via Digby we learn, after all these years, there was indeed an order to "Fire" (my emphasis and paragraphing):

Inevitably, National Guard leaders insisted that the Guardsmen had not been ordered to fire; either they shot in self-defense or, at worst, acted on their own. Three hundred FBI investigators found no proof of a plan to shoot students; the Department of Justice closed the case three times in as many years. It took until 1979 for a civil suit to be resolved, with the state of Ohio issuing a mild statement of regret and paying $675,000 to the victims and their families.

And yet there is no resolution of this tragedy. Just before the May 4th demonstration began, a Kent State communications major who lived in a dorm overlooking the Commons decided to record it. Setting the microphone of his tape deck in his window, he created the only real-time account of the shooting.

The original was destroyed by the Department of Justice in 1979, but a copy of the tape surfaced in a collection of evidence given to the Yale University Library.

In 2010, at the request of two Ohio newspapers, forensic experts used technology not available in the 1970s to evaluate a digital CD of the tape.

They heard someone shout "prepare to fire" and then give an order. Two seconds later, the gunshots begin.

■ Kinda reminds you of this, doesn't it?

It does me. Welcome to the State, protecting itself.

■ Finally, another version of the music Chris featured. (Sorry, this one may come pre-ad-dled; it's from the copyright owners themselves, WMG. Our Betters; gotta love their love of property rights.)

Neil Young in concert, 1971, acoustic only:



Occupy, folks — and be sure to do it non-violently, or you will fail to grow. We do need you to grow.

GP

(To follow on Twitter or to send links: @Gaius_Publius) Read the rest of this post...

Breaking - Socialist Hollande defeats Sarkozy in French elections

Liberation's photo of John meeting then-candidate
and now French President-elect, François Hollande last summer.

France's conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy has lost to Socialist party leader François Hollande in today's national elections.  Sarkozy did close the gap, but it wasn't enough. The pro-austerity craze in Europe took a serious blow with this result today. BBC News:

Socialist Francois Hollande has been elected as France's new president, early estimates say.

He got about 52% of votes in Sunday's run-off, according to projections based on partial results, against 48% for centre-right incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy.

Mr Hollande would be the first French socialist president since 1995.

Read the rest of this post...

France heads to the polls today as Sarkozy closes the gap

Not long ago the election was thought to be a blowout, with current president Sarkozy on the losing side. Despite a stronger than expected debate showing by challenger François Hollande, Sarkozy has been closing the 10 point deficit and inching closer over the past week. In an American-style campaign, there may have been enough time to close the gap but with campaigns lasting only a matter of weeks, it may not be enough for Sarkozy. More from The Guardian:

Socialist voters face a nervous wait for the results of today's presidential election runoff between Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande after final opinion polls following Wednesday's fiery television debate revealed a late surge in favour of the outgoing president, who has trailed his leftwing rival throughout the race.

The polls indicated that Hollande was still on track to win the second round runoff vote, but revealed that the gap between the presidential rivals had narrowed from 10 percentage points a week ago to between four and six. An Ifop poll for Paris-Match showed Hollande at 52% and Sarkozy at 48%.

On Friday, before the official midnight deadline for campaigning to end, Hollande warned his supporters not to consider the election as being in the bag. At his last campaign meeting in Périgueux in south-west France, he said the battle was not yet won.

Read the rest of this post...

Biden's office now says he's "evolving" on marriage, backs off earlier support

Just got this from a Biden spokesperson:

"The Vice President was saying what the President has said previously – that committed and loving same-sex couples deserve the same rights and protections enjoyed by all Americans, and that we oppose any effort to rollback those rights. That’s why we stopped defending the constitutionality of section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act in legal challenges and support legislation to repeal it. Beyond that, the Vice President was expressing that he too is evolving on the issue, after meeting so many committed couples and families in this country."

No he wasn't. The VP explained that all marriages, gay and straight, are the same. See my earlier post. Read the rest of this post...

Biden endorses same-sex marriage, White House tries to take it back

These ongoing episodes of gay panic from the White House are, sadly, expected but not helpful.  Read the rest of this post...

Ted Nugent says Romney camp asked him to continue using violent language

And the Romney camp is refusing to deny the story.

Ted Nugent, after a Secret Service investigation, a canceled Army concert and an outpouring of criticism, said presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney's camp "expressed support" for the controversial comments he made about President Obama last month at the annual National Rifle Association meeting.

The no-holds-barred Texas rocker told CBS' "This Morning" that Romney's campaign told him to "stay on course" and not to tone it down after Nugent said he will "either be dead or in jail by this time next year" if President Obama is re-elected.

The Romney campaign responded by re-issuing the statement it put out two weeks ago, shortly after Nugent's comments at the NRA went viral.

Except the earlier statement had nothing to do with whether the Romney campaign had privately urged Nugent to continue with his controversial, and somewhat violent, comments.

It's odd that the Romney camp has such a hard time clearly condemning extremism.  Then again, they let a gay spokesman go rather than defend him against anti-gay religious right hate groups.  Not exactly a backbone of steel on this guy. Read the rest of this post...

The Go-Go's - We got the beat

The Go-Go's were such a fun band. It's not possible to listen to them and not perk up a bit.

Since so many readers like cooking and food, a quick and easy lentil salad recipe is below. I borrowed the idea from a restaurant that we visited in Greece the other week.


Although I didn't grow up eating lentils, I eat them fairly often here in France and just love them. (And an Indian curry lentil dish is one of my favorites.) In France it's fairly typical to have lentils as a side with pork and in the summer, you will often have a simple cold lentil salad tossed with a vinaigrette and parsley and maybe some chopped tomato.

It's quite similar to the French lentil salad, but also add some chopped Greek black olives and chunks of Feta cheese and if you like, red onion. I made it the other day using the classic oil, vinegar and mustard dressing but we tried it with lemon and that would be a good replacement or even addition to the mix. It's perfect for the summer and it's the type of salad that can be a main if you like. Read the rest of this post...