FYI. The St. Louis Fed report showed that speculation amplifies underlying market forces. During times of real shortages (leading up to 2008), it increased the prices; once the recession hit, it accelerated their decline.

So, any regulation of speculation will have at best a short term effect, which may be all any politician needs.

Summary is available free. pdf costs $2.95

Speculation has only short-term effects unless there is an inherent mismatch between supply and demand, as there was in 2008. Speculation drove up energy prices to the point of creating a worldwide recession (in cooperation with other factors.) Once demand fell even slightly below supply, the price crashed.

Suppose the NFL Players’ Association followed through on its strong statement and announced a boycott of the Super Bowl if the law passes, and the NFL begins making contingency plans. Would that hold the House’s attention for more than six minutes. That may be a bit too much to expect, but how about armbands or other signs of solidarity with the workers of Indiana?

Democrats will be mostly unified, save for perhaps Nelson and Lieberman.

Lieberman a Democrat? Where have you been for the last 30 years?

Israel has been far from blameless, over the past 60 years, but the UN voted for an Arab Palestinian state in 1948, and it was rejected by the Palestinians and the Arab “allies.” It only became an Israeli issue in 1967.

Also, the use of the word “apartheid” is unjustified and only inflames the issue, as explained recently by Richard Goldstone, who knows something of the issue.

RE: Elizabeth Warrren quote:

“We should take nothing off the table, but the facts are still emerging,” the Senate candidate said when asked if she would support military action against Iran.

Her position is consistent with what every decent negotiator would do. Most Presidents (except the current one) “take nothing off the table” before any negotiation.

Hey Mike!

Ever hear of the Fourth Amendment?:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated

A man’s tent is his castle.

CORRECTION: Anadarko was not a contractor to BP. The were a minority partner in the field although BP had operational control.

The current Republican Party is like a princess turned into a frog by a curse from a wicked witch (called the Tea Party.) They keep seeking a handsome prince or princess (Oops! no lesbianism implied in this group) to kiss them and make them attractive again.

Unfortunately, the curse is too strong. Each of the saviors who kissed the frog (Romney, Bachmann, Perry, etc., etc.) has also been turned into a frog.

And (we hope) the country will live happily ever after without them.

My late father (then a retired CPA) once showed me that since he continued to work as an arbiter in NYC while collected Social Security, his marginal tax rate (including decreased SS payment, US, NYS and NYC taxes) was over 91%, He continued to work, even though his income was nowhere near $100 million, or even $100,000, per year.

He did so because he valued his work, and it was of value to others. Those who cannot say that about their jobs (or coupon clipping) are of no use to society and should consider changing their jobs or (as Roseanne suggested) ending their useless lives.

Touche Chaz! We need more public figures to take a stand like yours!

Are you sure we want to live the period from July 14 over again, or are you just saluting Bastille Day?

Apart from being odious, the statement if FALSE. About half of taxpayers pay no income tax, but they do pay the payroll tax, sales taxes, etc.

The right wing always talks about the income tax, and chooses not to consider other, regressive taxes.

So long, EW, and thanks for the fish!

Yours has always been the first page I go to on FDL.

Oh, and what Neal said about the subjunctive!

Luke,

“Media” is a plural noun. You should write “The news media are …”

I guess knowledge of English is not a requirement if your name is Russert.

“Nepotism is OK, as long as you keep it in the family.”

When I worked for the military-industrial complex, I had access to many US documents our our nuclear subs, all of which were classified. The Russians, however, had published similar data, which was considered unclassified.

To classify Russian, or leaked, documents would imply that they were correct. By not doing so, one might conclude that they were erroneous. In this case, one might conclude that they were valid. Without that implication, they could not be used as evidence. Catch-22 rules!