- Wind power generating capacity increased by 47% in 2007. A hopeful and impressive increase.
- Fareed Zakaria on Iraq:
The Democrats are having the hardest time with the new reality. Every candidate is committed to “ending the war” and bringing our troops back home. The trouble is, the war has largely ended, and precisely because our troops are in the middle of it.
Hmm. It seems if the war “has largely ended,” then we should be able to bring the troops home. No?
- A story I wish some good journalists would get to the bottom of: this Sibel Edmonds matter. Where is the American news media? I think we can peel a few reporters off the missing white women beat and cover this.
- Bill Gross:
“It’s a sad testament to think the Fed has to cut interest rates eight days in front of a meeting to salvage the equity markets,” said Gross, the founder and chief investment officer of Pacific Investment Management Co., in a Bloomberg Television interview. “The U.S. economy is in a rather sad state of affairs in that it depends on housing and stock prices to keep going.”
Indeed, the biggest rate cut in a quarter century–triggered by an emergency meeting, no less. Bonddad has graphs illustrating that over the past six years, when interest rates have been at their lowest levels in 40 years, household debt has been souring. So the ultimate solution to this mess is to slash interest rates again?
- A contrast in predictions:
Merrill Lynch:Merrill Lynch forecasts nationwide U.S. home prices could decline 25% to 30% over the next three years, as new supply and weak demand weigh on the market. . . [David] Rosenberg added the S&P 500 may decline an additional 20% to 25% to breach the 1,100-point level if the market follows historical precedents at times when the U.S. economy is in recession.
Goldman Sachs’ Abby Joseph Cohen chief U.S. portfolio strategist continues to forecast a Dow return of 11% by year-end. She sees the Dow at 14,750 by year-end (Briefing.com)
I report, you decide.