When in doubt, empty the clip

The title is especially pertinent this week; between economic agitation, academic wrangling, mathematical uncertainty, emergency preparation and good old-fashioned allergies, I have a full plate.

- Congress is unsure of how to alleviate our economic woes, as throwing wads of money at it seems to exacerbate the situation:

The Federal Reserve Board, with support of the U.S. Treasury, invoked emergency powers to lend as much as $85 billion to American International Group Inc. to save the firm from collapse. At the start of the week, Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. filed for bankruptcy. That followed the bailout of Bear Stearns Cos. in March, and the takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac earlier this month.

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin said in a speech on the Senate floor that President George W. Bush isn't in a position to propose regulatory overhaul legislation because he is close to leaving office ``and the Congress is not in a position to pass it.''

Horse-shit. Congress is merely unwilling to do anything about it. Somehow, they managed to overwhelmingly (98-0) pass a resolution supporting any necessary force for eradicating terrorists, but they are "not in a position to pass" anything in this instance, as anything but standard operating procedure would mean relinquishing power over the markets. And they just can't do that.

At least someone was speaking out against it, but ~400:1 odds ain't that great.

- Speaking of the blame-anyone-but-ourselves mentality from our leaders, we're not alone.

- Possible blowback from the endless attacks regarding Palin; I'm still not voting for McCain, and I'm still not overly impressed with Palin, but I love how the Obama-zombies are snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Either way, bread and circuses are guaranteed; pay no attention to the figures behind the curtains.