The Era Of Irresponsibility

The Really: Was America's version of free markets just a clever ponzi scheme?

President-elect Barack Obama in a speech at George Mason University this morning laid the blame for the current economic disaster firmly at the feet of the unregulated markets touted by the Reagan, Greenspan, Bush doctrinaires.

In a crisp, clean speech outlining the huge problem facing Americans Obama outlined what will be necessary to come back from the hole the Gordon Gekkos have wrought.

Then in a speech writing blunder (somebody has to watch that kid) Obama said the Administration would even work weekends if necessary. Huh?

Karl Rove Declares Obama Presidency A Complete Failure

The Really: Rove attributes the economic collapse to the complete failure of the Obama administration.

Karl? He isn't the President. Your looking-glass world has come to an end. Please go away. Thank you.

Some election defeats can be measured arithmetically, by lost votes and seats. But what befell Republicans on 4 November has the feel of a Götterdämmerung. Suddenly Ronald Reagan, the party's patron saint during a generation of conservative dominance in America, is a figure from a remote and vanished past. Of George W Bush, once seen as Reagan's heir, no more need be said. As for Karl Rove, aka "Bush's Brain" and once touted as architect of a boundless Republican future, he is now to political strategizing what Alan Greenspan is to central banking.

The Independent

Get Out Your Hobo Stick And Watch Sullivan's Travels

The Really: Maybe Preston Sturge's classic film is just what we need right now.

It's Sullivan's Travels and it was in a string of hits by the highest paid director/writer of his time Preston Sturges. Released in 1941 it tells the story of director John L. Sullivan who wants to make a social-problems film called 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' (get it, the Cohen brothers used it as the title of the Clooney film a few years back-ed) When his producers point out that he knows nothing about trouble or poverty, he goes on the road as a hobo. Joined by a down-on-her-luck aspiring actress, the results are hardly the kind of trouble he had in mind.

Enjoy this clip.

Really!

The Really: AIG fiasco and the general economic breakdown at the 2:00 mark left in this clip from the well-received and highly-rated SNL Update Thursday! Really!