Five steps to easy re-election

1. Say government doesn't work.
2. Get into office. Dismantle government.
3. Disaster happens.
4. Point to this as evidence government doesn't work.
5. Profit! Or re-election. Go back to 1.

19%

Bush's approval ratings

Hey James, isn't that below the normal threshold of people who'll vote for X unless he's caught eating babies or f*cking goats live on TV? I think you've talked about dipping below some limit like that. The party loyalist reserve, I guess, in less colorful terms.

geography of psychology

The Big Five personality traits and US states, correlated -- also with things like liberalness and mortality, in later tables.

If I weren't 40 minutes overdue for bed I'd try reading it properly and analyzing it, but maybe someone can beat me to it.

Saving capitalism from the capitalists

Secretary Paulson's bailout plan is apparently to throw $700 billion at failing banks, at above market prices, without government compensation (like equity, say), and without any Congressional oversight of his decisions. Private profit, socialized losses, and amazing executive control of the economy. Senator Dodd's plan involves getting equity, and limited compensation for the executives who made the mess.

I've e-mailed my Senators before on various issues -- Lugar's office has been nice about sending snail mail replies that indicate someone read my message and crafted a personalized reply -- but given the urgency -- Paulson and Bernanke are going "empower him now! or else!" this after denying there was a problem for months -- I for the first time called the offices of my Rep and both Senators. "Oppose Paulson, support Dodd" basically.

http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

I'm reminded that McCain was part of the Keating Five, the legislative team that brought us the last banking crisis (Savings and Loan meltdown.) Is he qualified to be President now?

ETA: Paulson's Nigerian spam to America.

Sweden's experience with a similar banking crisis.

Bush bill of rights for credit card customers.

Off topic: Limbaugh's lies about Obama. "He's not African-American, he's Arab."

Now that Republican are "Red", perhaps it's time to recycle "better dead than Red". Though they'd say we will be dead if we don't go Red. Dead of boxcutters and shoebombs, I suppose.