The moment that declaration was made, oil prices jumped over $18 a barrel.Davidson wasn't buying it, being the economics correspondent that he is. Davidson:
I'd say this is the single most obviously untrue statement I heard in the debate.... Never in human history have oil prices spiked that high or anything like that.Then Davidson swiftly supported his assertion by reminding listeners of the date of Republican Guard resolution, and presenting a brief summary of oil price movements immediately after the Senate resolution, deftly sending Biden scuttling for the cover of an MBNA mobile hospitality suite. Oh, wait a minute --- he didn't do that at all. Instead, evidently based mainly on his high respect for his own opinions, Davidson declared that the "generally accepted risk premium" added on top of the market price of oil accounting for "all the political tension in all the world is about 10 or 15 percent." And so, he concluded:
...the idea that one vote having to do with Iran at one moment would cause such a dramatic increase in prices is utterly unjustified.I'm just a simple country editor, but I feel that an NPR fact check should make reference to some facts. This should have been a simple one to put to bed, too. But here I am, cranky as ever before bedtime, and I still don't know whether or not Biden's a big fibber about Iran. And the answer is not insignificant, either, issue-wise: if rattling sabers at Iran can affect oil prices or supplies, Matt and Stacey Merlot should be aware of that before committing to buy a bomb-Iran magnetic yellow ribbon for the Land Cruiser. (They might be able to get one at the NPR Gift Shop.)
This exciting public radio journalism circle-jerk format is so awesome that it deserves its very own special name: let's call it a "fuct check." They do it all the time.
The collective "lizard brain animal spirits" of greed and fear that is the futures market shifts like the wind or a flock of birds aflight. Fight-or-flight is balanced by pleasure (or it's perceived fiat stand in, money) moment to moment. Evolution, which we won't be escaping from any time soon, has honed this reaction to a fine edge to be skittish and fear the worst. This is how the traders and everyone else managed to be here, now. Only later is some weighing done and a more reflective opinion formed (i.e., bombing Iran just might internally strengthen a weakening fundamentalist Iranian regime and support aspirations of regional dominance).
ReplyDeleteEither the scales are falling oft these jaded eyes, or the level of hypocrisy is growing exponentially. Admittedly the "track" for candidates is to first pander to the base (while sufficienty differentiating yourself) and upon winning the nomination then "move to the middle", as they say, for the Big Show. With raw ambition, special interest funding, entire armies of organization and almost every waking hour involved, it is not a hobby. They will do and say anything to win. This is what our democratic republic has become. Even the original Athenians excluded women and slaves, but something like real choice and representation is needed -- be it via a third party or otherwise. Other democratic systems, such as the Nordic countries, seem to be more matter of fact. Candidate A stands for x,y,z, and candidate B for q,r,s -- so vote already. But instead we get spun, and polled, and pandered to, until a fine amorphous mist is eminated and directed as calculated to please and only as an afterthought is the manufactured and artificial scent of truth applied. Think of it as a political New Car Smell that wears away all too quickly.
P.S. the recent Lou Dobbs appearance on Democracy Now was very instructive as to tools, techniques, and strategies of "debate". If such is one's cup of tea, it's worthy of study. Amy and Juan, in a very rare occurance, came off badly while making one or two telling points. Irrespecitve of position, Ole Lou has it going on upstairs.
Lou Dobbs is up on a table screeching about a (mexican) mouse on the floor when, in fact, what's there is just an inert piece of fuzz. His primitive sympathetic ANS is working-- fight, flight, fright-- for no good reason.
ReplyDeleteAmy Goodman's amygdala seems to be functioning correctly. But she's a reporter, not a debater. So the fact that Lou can score some debate points by screeching eruditely about something imaginary doesn't make him a winner.