Uncle Academic: "From 'faith-based politics to 'hope-based' policies?"

From "faith-based" politics to "hope-based" policies?  (Both, by the way, being "charity-based" -- to the investor class.  And, from another vantage point, it's a brand of hope that motivates gamblers -- from the ones pumping slots at the Seminole casino to the ones who were churning CDSs at AIG.) 

If you've time for nothing else, take in the first-listed.  The second, by the way, answers the "big question" on its final page.  

Matt Taibbi, "The Big Takeover"

• The global economic crisis isn't about money - it's about power. How Wall Street insiders are using the bailout to stage a revolution.
  Rolling Stone (19 Mar 09)
  http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/26793903/the_big_takeover
• "The Zombie Ideas Have Won" - Paul Krugman on $1 Trillion Geithner Plan to Buy Toxic Bank Assets
  Interview on Democracy Now (23 Mar 09)
  "The question is, why is President Obama going with the soft side, the hope over analysis, on this stuff?"
  http://www.democracynow.org/2009/3/23/the_zombie_ideas_have_won_paul
• Steve Parry, "UM economist V.V. Chari: Government bailout policy is 'cross your fingers and hope'"
  Whether by nationalization or bankruptcy, debt-holders (not just equity-holders -- and not tax-payers) must be made to take the hit.
  Minnesota Post (3/19/09)
  http://www.minnpost.com/steveperry/2009/03/19/7487/um_economist_vv_chari_government_bailout_policy_is_cross_your_fingers_and_hope
  

Put that together with the expansion of the war in Afghanistan, and it looks like the progressive agenda at home (green economy, health care) is in real danger of going on indefinite hold. 

• Saul Landau, "Sliding Down in Anger"
  CounterPunch (3/20-22/009)
  http://www.counterpunch.org/landau03202009.html
• Bill and Kathleen Christianson, "Obama and the Empire"
  CounterPunch (3/17/09)
  http://www.counterpunch.org/christison03172009.html

Beyond Afghanistan is the prospect of war with Iran.  The key factor here seems to be the power of the Israeli Lobby over the Obama Administration (as over the previous one, and as over Congress).  See

• Ray McGovern, "Obama Caves to the Lobby"
  Charles Freeman walks the plank.
  CounterPunch (3/12/09)
  http://www.counterpunch.org/mcgovern03122009.html
• Paul Craig Roberts, "Israel's American Chattel"
  The Charles Freeman Ordeal and the Decline of American Power.
  CounterPunch (3/18/09)
  http://www.counterpunch.org/roberts03182009.html