Great Moments in American Foreign Policy

Russia (headed by the thuggish dictator with the soul-transparent eyes) invades and beats up on a small neighboring country that happens to be a valuable US ally. Using all of his diplomatic skill, President Bush...uhm, gives Putin another big hug. Sigh. Is there anything else that can go wrong between now and January 20, 2009? Will Dubya get us into a war with China through some maladroit bungling in Beijing? Has Canada invaded yet?

UPDATE: As Georgia desperately tries to surrender, it becomes more and more apparent that the whole invasion was in reality Putin's clumsy warning against NATO expansion.

UPDATE 2: Never fear! Dubya is on the case!

Send Your Tax Dollars to Red China!

Spend them at Wal-Mart, the focus of evil in the modern world. Actually, as I think Bill Maher put it, the only way to help the American economy with your tax rebate check would be to spend it on hookers, meth, or Indian Casinos.

We Are Not Amused

Our economic overlords in Red China are evidently displeased that we have dared to complain about the poisoned toys, dog food and seafood they are dumping on us. They are now threatening to destroy the US dollar if we continue to meekly suggest that maybe just maybe they could perhaps do something about their make-believe Monopoly money, the yuan. Another glorious victory in the inevitable dialectic march for globalization!

Free Market, My Ass!

Kos has a great piece that encapsulates in one story the bitter truth that all that Republican rhetoric about the wonders of the "free market" is just so much hogwash (or in this case, mad cow wash). In reality, the GOP, as the official mouthpiece for corporate America, actually favors a sort of crony capitalism, an oligarchy like that of Singapore, Russia or China. Government intervention in the "free market" is perfectly fine, as long as it supports the continued dominance of the wealthy and powerful entrenched interests.

Milton Friedman: Champion of Liberty

Was he really the fount of all liberty in the Twentieth Century? Or just a shamelessly hypocritical academic who favored free markets over free people and flirted with free market authoritarianism of the sort we now see rampant in China, Russia and Vietnam? You make the call.

The Rich Get Richer

Yes, yes, all terribly shocking news, of course. But you can't blame just the Republicans. Only Nixon could go to China; only Clinton could've passed NAFTA. NAFTA (and the entire cult of "Free" Trade) are systematically destroying the US economy. I have said it before, and I will say it again: you canNOT be a global economic superpower if you don't make anything. You canNOT be a global economic superpower if the only available jobs in your country are delivering pizza and repairing consumer electronics made in other countries. You canNOT be a global economic superpower if all you do is sell resources to other countries to make things to sell in your country. In fact, that makes you the Belgian Congo.

Remember when...

...Conservatives were in a lather over Red China "taking control" of the Panama Canal? Turns out, foreign control over vital American ports? Not that big a deal.