Needlenose

Pondering the Federal Reserve’s acquisition of controlling interest in AIG, the mega-insurer, close on the heels of the government takeover of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Matt Yglesias opines:

I hadn’t really ever thought that the Bush administration was going to wind up giving us the large scale nationalization of industry, but I’m not sure what else you call it. . . . With the auto industry also clamoring for bailouts, we’re perhaps moving in the direction of Lenin’s New Economic Policy, in which a market economy exists on small scales while the state controls the “commanding heights” of heavy industry and finance.

Via The White House:

President George W. Bush calls Texas Governor Rick Perry, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2008, to discuss the impending storms that are expected to strike Texas and areas of the Gulf Coast region as a result of Hurricane Gustav.

Update – LA Times:

Not only is President Bush keeping atop the reports of Tropical Storm Gustav, but the White House press office is keeping atop efforts to report that he is keeping atop the reports.

In other words, the president’s staff wants us to know he’s paying attention.

From Yahoo News yesterday:

Sad, but probably true.

His master’s voice.

Via the Associated Press: “U.S. President George Bush chats with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as they walk to a welcome banquet in honor of the 2008 Summer Olympic games at the Great Hall of People Friday, Aug. 8, 2008 in Beijing, China.”

You take it from there.

From the Associated Press today, covering Barack Obama’s appearance on a talk show:

Obama refused again and again during an interview that aired Sunday to give hints on whom he might pick for a running mate, but he did describe the qualities he’s looking for. Shyness and blind loyalty are not among them.

“I’m going to want somebody with independence, who’s willing to tell me where he thinks or she thinks I’m wrong,” Obama said in an interview that aired Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

The remark came in the twilight of the Bush White House, an administration famous — and much-criticized — for the value it has placed on loyalty within its ranks.

Silly, biased AP! Â The problem with excessive loyalty in the Bush administration isn’t that Dubya makes decisions, and Cheney simply says, “Yes, sir.”

It’s that Cheney makes decisions, and Dubya simply says, “Yes, sir.”

(Dubya being briefed on the California wildfires on Thursday, via the Associated Press.)

San Franciscans weigh renaming sewage plant after Bush

“No, George, the box on your back doesn’t need more power; it’s
working fine… and could you please stop calling it an ‘arc reactor’?”

Via Reuters: “U.S. President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush depart the White House for the presidential retreat Camp David for the weekend.”

Not quite the full story, I’m sure you agree. Please explain for us in the comments.