UPDATE (Thursday evening): The event is now over, and you can replay the live-blog at the bottom of the BMG front page. Unfortunately, I have to say that it was a bit of a disappointment. Never really dug into the reasons why MA … [Read more...]
Archives for March 11, 2009
Robert Lappin – a hero for our time
http://www.bostonherald.com/bu... Many union retirement funds were totally depleted by having invested with Madoff, leading to "more 60 year old roofers and carpenters" who will not be able to retire soon - if … [Read more...]
Swaptions: A train wreck coming down the Pike
The current transportation debate has put a spotlight on how we restore and protect the integrity of our transportation system but should also illuminate the road that brought us here - specifically, the amount of risk accepted by our … [Read more...]
Pump Up the Gas Tax
Pumping up the gas tax by 19 cents a gallon hasn't met with universal acclaim in the four western counties, even though it would give public transportation in this part of the world a real shot in the arm. So here's a video of my friend Leo … [Read more...]
On Pike Swamptions, from someone who gets it.
One of the swaption deals arranged by UBS has ballooned from an original payment received of $22 million to a looming termination penalty due of around $400 million. The Lehman Bros. swaption, which was used as an offset, was unfortunately … [Read more...]
Transport: Nope, still don’t get it
Things must be pretty tense on Beacon Hill these days. Mary Connaughton's aggravated. Aloisi's irritated. Therese Murray is dissed.Again ... the frustrating thing about the Transport Reform Rodeo down at the State House is the … [Read more...]
Pulled Pork Sangies, Anyone?
Even the suggestion that Obama still wants to pursue earmark reform prompted pushback from a top House Democrat. "I don't think the White House has the ability to tell us what to do," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., defiantly told … [Read more...]
the dangers of centralized messaging
I finally got around to reading the Sunday New York Times piece on Jonathan Krohn, the 14 year old who spoke at CPAC. The kid sounds impressive; I wouldn't have chosen Bill Bennett as a role model, but kudos to Jonathan for … [Read more...]
Spirit Guides say Apocalypse
Take Brian's open letter to Obama and compare and contrast that to the directions taken thus far. http://www.brianoleary.info/ Think wars, food shortages, bio "accidents" as asking people to instantly reverse life long held belief systems … [Read more...]
What is Obama’s Afghanistan Policy?
I realized to my surprise this evening while listening to this interesting interview with a brave woman who runs the first woman-run business in Kandahar, that I have no idea what President Obama's definition of an Afghanistan victory is. … [Read more...]