A Conservative Estimate (again, excuse the pun)

My Way News - CBO Sees $1.76 Trillion Deficit Ahead:
"WASHINGTON (AP) - The federal deficit will shrink dramatically this year but will total $1.76 trillion over the next decade, and could be double that estimate if President Bush's tax cuts are made permanent, the Congressional Budget Office said Thursday."

Are We In A Recession?

A Car-Sales Indicator Suggests a Recession Is Near or Already Here - New York Times:

If a recession is under way, this economic recovery will have been the least beneficial one ever for the new-car dealers. The best inflation-adjusted year-over-year increase in their revenue during the recovery was 6.9 percent, far below the peaks of other recoveries.

There is, of course, no mystery now as to what the problems are for car dealers. They are pinched by the slumping real estate market because people can take less money out of home equity to buy cars. And soaring gasoline prices have made driving much more expensive and new-car payments more burdensome. In July, sales at gasoline stations accounted for 10 percent of all retail sales, the highest figure in decades.

Dealers are hurting. The rest of us may soon share their pain.

So it would seem. I can tell you that in my neck of the woods recession has been evident for some time (we never got out of the last one here in upstate New York).

Ironically, I happen to be in the market for a new car and have ordered a Honda Fit to arrive sometime in October. That doesn't mean much for the local area since I've returned to work for the state and no longer sink or swim with the local economy. It was while in the private sector that I became unemployed despite (because of?) a technical background and two decades of experience.

The lack of media coverage on the economy is directly proportional to the same lack of media coverage of everything else that points to the dismal record of the current administration in everything it touches. When the damn bursts, the overflow of bad news will be astonishing. That's my prediction. And the damn will break. The cracks are leaking all ready.

Right On! (excuse the pun)

Firedoglake - Firedoglake weblog » Late Nite FDL: Pride (A Deeper Love): "The only way you could be a right-winger is to think that somehow, God has made you and your kind better than everybody else. You have to so believe in your entitlement that you think your privilege is some kind of God-given right. You can’t accept or comprehend the notion that on the inside you are no different than that black man, that Palestinian woman, this homeless family, or that billionaire. No better. No worse."

The Race Continues

My Way News:
"The latest Quinnipiac University poll, conducted between August 10-14, shows Lieberman leads Democrat Ned Lamont, a wealthy businessman with little political experience who has played on anti-war sentiment, by 53 percent to 41 percent among likely voters in November's election. The Republican candidate Alan Schlesinger drew 4 percent, the poll shows."

This is where Lamont needs to show he's more than just the anti-war candidate and give the people a view of his complete platform; a platform that conforms with the national Dem platform and also meets the needs of his constituents. He needs to show he can be a good senator and leader, that he represents the interests of all good people and not just the Dems.

Interesting that Leiberman gets almost all of the Republican vote. Like Jon Stewart said recently, "He's the best Democrat I know who's also a Republican." If he wins the election, that means the Reps win. We can't let that happen!

Cosmogenium's Quote Of The Day:

The Washington Monthly:
"When pollsters predict a Democratic win this November, I'm hopeful but cautious. But when the lobbyists start betting serious money on the proposition, maybe it's time to start believing."

This is in reference to a story about the K-Streeters' new push to recruit formerly forbidden Democrats. Grover's club has lost it's exclusivity clause just in time to start corrupting the next ruling party (or will we be too smart for that? Stay tuned).

And Even Worse...!!!

Bush Tried To Cut Bomb Detection Funds, Congress Rejected $6 Million Cut For DHS Explosives Technology - CBS News:

(AP) As the British terror plot was unfolding, the Bush administration quietly tried to take away $6 million that was supposed to be spent this year developing new explosives detection technology.

Congressional leaders rejected the idea, the latest in a series of Homeland Security Department steps that have left lawmakers and some of the department's own experts questioning the commitment to create better anti-terror technologies.

Proof again that BushCo cares not a bit about the safety of U.S. citizens (unless they have a lot of money to donate to their campaigns, and only then until the next election)! They talk tough on security, but they don't really support it with intelligent funding. Bet they wouldn't have tried this if Haliburton had the contract.

U.S. Rushed Brits to Bust Terror Plot

TPMmuckraker August 12, 2006 06:17 PM

Unfuckinbelievable! BushCo must have wanted the bust in time for Cheney's speech. At least they know how to turn terror into PR. Now if they could only figure out how to stop nurturing it in the Middle East and elsewhere....