links for 2008-11-10

Obama rosts his new Chief of Staff in 2005.

"If a more intense physical expression of anger and frustration is needed, why not have sit-ins at marriage-license bureaus in California? It could be modeled on the sit-ins at segregated lunch counters in the 1960s. The demonstrations would be targeted at government buildings — rather than at churches. And after all, it's government policy we're legitimately protesting, not religious doctrine." AMEN. This is a civil rights issue and should be treated as such.

"If I find Obama’s position on abortion to be be as disrespectful and hostile to human dignity as the right’s torture apologists, indeed more so, which therefore makes him unacceptable in my eyes, it is not so outlandish or bizarre to imagine that there are pro-lifers who understandably feel the same revulsion for the party that created the torture regime. It is not so strange when these pro-lifers act to hold that party accountable. Does that vindicate Prof. Kmiec’s arguments for Obama concerning abortion? No, but it does put them in perspective." Indeed, I found that neither party was a party of life in this election, so I pressed on to other matters.

"Obama has said the civilian and military court-martial systems provide 'a framework for dealing with the terrorists,' and Tribe said the administration would look to those venues before creating a new legal system. But discussions of what a new system would look like have already started."

Guess I'd learn, though…

"The financial crisis that afflicts the country is largely a result of speculative bubbles, built on false hopes, in the housing and stock markets. Many Americans thought that they would rise in the economic hierarchy from one or another of these investments, and their disappointment is profound. As dreams have been lost, the gap between the wealthiest and those struggling to provide basic items for their families will become more evident and more painful.

"The best way to battle gratuitous inequality is to make our financial institutions better embody the true principles of risk management. Financial theory is all about incentives for people to work effectively, and diversifying against random shocks by sharing them among many investors. At its essence, finance is really more about helping and sharing than 'beating the market'.” AMEN.

I'm giving ClusterShot a try.

What Presidents since FDR have said and done in the first 100 days. (via kottke)

"Fellow Connecticut Senate Chris Dodd, who has spoken out in favor of Lieberman remaining in the party, explained as much to reporters on Friday:

"'What does Barack Obama want?… He's talked about reconciliation, healing, bringing people together. I don't think he'd necessarily want to spend the first month of this president-elect period, this transition period, talking about a Senate seat, particularly if someone is willing to come forward and is willing to be a member of your family in the caucus in that sense.'

"A Democrat close to Lieberman, meanwhile, said he thought that keeping Lieberman in the fold 'would be a good move for Obama as a way to make real his promise of new politics, a less partisan Washington and more unity. He would do so at some risk. Obviously there is a liberal wing of the party that wants Joe punished… '" That's our President!

That was Bryan's first tribe.