FRIDAY’S MINI-REPORT…. Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Wow: “Goldman Sachs, which emerged relatively unscathed from the financial crisis, was accused of securities fraud in a civil suit filed Friday by the Securities and Exchange Commission, which claims the bank created and sold a mortgage investment that was secretly devised to fail. The move marks the first time that regulators have taken action against a Wall Street deal that helped investors capitalize on the collapse of the housing market. Goldman itself profited by betting against the very mortgage investments that it sold to its customers.”
* Senate Dems would love to use Goldman to advance Wall Street reform, the way they used Anthem to advance health care reform.
* A new line in the sand: President Obama will veto financial regulatory reform if it fails to regulate the derivatives market.
* Blackwater: “The former president of Blackwater Worldwide and four other former officials at the embattled security firm were indicted Friday on federal weapons charges, partially the result of a raid two years ago by agents that rounded up 22 weapons, including AK-47s.”
* Good: “President Obama called Friday for Congress to pass legislation giving voting representation to residents of the nation’s capital. The House Democratic leader, Representative Steny Hoyer of Maryland, plans to bring the measure, called the D.C. Voting Rights Act, to the floor next week for a vote.”
* Wise words from President Clinton on the consequences of angry, right-wing rhetoric.
* After the Senate passed an extension of unemployment benefits, the House did the same on a 289 to 112 vote. President Obama signed it into law last night.
* A long day of conservative badgering for appeals court nominee Goodwin Liu.
* Solicitor General Elena Kagan has come under some progressive criticism over her views on executive power, but the critiques are not universal.
* CATO makes Romney look pretty foolish. (thanks to D.D. for the tip)
* I was afraid no one would get my Venn Diagram reference.
* The Washington Post really shouldn’t give platforms to bigots.
* Do you suppose the Teabaggers know Republicans voted against troop funding?
* Hoping to change the law when it comes to student loans and bankruptcy.
* I’m afraid Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) doesn’t know the meaning of the word “own.”
* Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) thinks the United States may be “reliant upon the Soviet Union” for future low-earth orbit access. He’s not very bright.
* Jon Stewart offered some worthwhile guidance to Fox News last night.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
