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Category Archives: RagBlog
Gore Vidal : John McCain in the Echo Chamber
Gore Vidal in 2007. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.‘Even from the corpse of the Republican Party, which Abraham Lincoln left somewhat hastily in the 19th century, this was an unusually sickening display.’By Gore Vidal October proved to be the cruelest … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged American History, Authors, Gore Vidal, Maury Maverick, McCain Campaign, Presidential Campaign, Republican Party, Texas
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Exxon Mobil’s Exxcellent Adventure : Biggest Profit in U.S. History
‘The latest quarter’s net income equaled $1,865.69 per second, nearly $400 a second more than the prior mark.’By Aaron Smith / October 30, 2008 NEW YORK — Exxon Mobil Corp. set a quarterly profit record for a U.S. company Thursday, … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged Corporate Profits, Economy, Exxon Mobil, Monopoly Capitalism, Oil Companies
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Hey John : You’re No Maverick. And We Can Prove it!
Who’s the Original Maverick? With this video from Robert Greenwald and Brave New Films, the saga of rustler John McCain — the faux maverick — and his skulduggery continues as we reexamine the Texas family that forged the Maverick brand. … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged Fontaine Maverick, John McCain, Maury Maverick, Texas, Texas History, Video
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Surprise! : Banks to Use Bailout Bucks for Mergers
The Rag Blog reported yesterday, in a story titled Salary Bonuses Constitute 10% of the Bailout that pay and bonus deals for corporate bigwigs account for about ten percent of the government bailout package. Here’s more good news: Big banks … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged Bank Bailouts, Banking, Congressional Bailout, Economy, Financial Crisis, Monopoly Capitalism
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Most Basic Iraqi Infrastructure Doesn’t Function
A woman collects an aid package from the Iraqi Red Crescent in Baghdad. The Red Cross says it cannot provide basic services indefinitely.Warning on ‘dire’ Iraq conditionsBy Imogen Foulkes / October 29, 2008 The Red Cross is warning that despite … Continue reading
The Problem Is US Interventionist Foreign Policy
Interventionism, Not Muslims, Is the ProblemBy Jacob G. Hornberger / October 27, 2008 One of the popular post-9/11 sentiments has been the one that holds that Muslims are bent on conquering the world. The notion is that Muslims hate Christianity … Continue reading
Creationism in Schools : Texas is Doomed!!
‘The latest shooting-itself-in-the-foot-moment for the Lone Star State is based on a panel to create its state science curriculum.’By Phil Platt / October 27, 2008 I simply cannot understand how Texas manages to exist day after day. The rampant insanity … Continue reading
Progressive Taxation and the Sad Saga of Joe the Plumber
Illustration by Tom Bachtell / New Yorker.It all started with Adam Smithby Steve Coll / October 27, 2008 The rise and fall of Joe the Plumber as a symbol of the American self-made man’s resistance to progressive taxation began on … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged Adam Smith, Campaign Tactics, Economy, Joe the Plumber, McCain Campaign, Taxation
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Salary Bonuses Constitute 10% of the Bailout
Demonstrators protesting in New York before the $700bn Wall Street bail-out earlier this month. Photograph: Nicholas Roberts/AFP/Getty imagesWall Street banks in $70bn staff payoutBy Simon Bowers Pay and bonus deals equivalent to 10% of US government bail-out package Financial workers … Continue reading
Fallujah: Another Failure of Bush’s Iraq Promises
Iraqi workers place concrete for a small clarifier tank for a waste water treatment plant as part of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project to rebuild the Fallujah sewer system. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo by Travis Edwards.$100-million … Continue reading
That’s the Ball Game
Thanks to Harry Edwards / The Rag Blog
Earth’s Oceans Are Deeply Troubled
Reefs including the Great Barrier Reef off Australia could begin to break up within a few decades, research suggests. Photograph: Cathie PageClimate deal may be too late to save coral reefs, scientists warnBy David Adam / October 27, 2008 A … Continue reading
















