MONDAY’S MINI-REPORT…. Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Not surprisingly, Faisal Shahzad pleaded guilty today to the attempted Times Square car-bombing. And to think, we managed to get a guilty plea without torture. Imagine that.
* Not good: oil collection at the Deepwater Horizon wellhead slowed today because of weather and maintenance issues.
* Key 6-3 ruling from the high court: “In a case pitting free speech against national security, the Supreme Court on Monday upheld a federal law that makes it a crime to provide ‘material support’ to foreign terrorist organizations, even if the help takes the form of training for peacefully resolving conflicts.”
* Iraq: “Two car bombs exploded near a government-owned bank in central Baghdad on Sunday, killing at least 26 people and injuring more than 53, police said.”
* Good move, but the details will matter: “Facing growing pressure from around the world, China’s central bank announced Saturday that it is prepared to allow the country’s currency to float more freely against the dollar and other foreign currencies, potentially raising the cost of Chinese goods.”
* The White House is getting behind the DISCLOSE Act in a more forceful way as the possibility of a vote draws closer.
* German Chancellor Angela Merkel is very wrong about the economy, and is putting the global recovery at risk with her focus on deficits.
* Expectations were low when the Home Affordable Modification Program was approved. The disappointing results, then, were predictable.
* Looks like there will be a Consumer Financial Protection Agency coming out of conference, but it will exist within the Federal Reserve.
* While the Republican establishment throws Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) under the bus over his pro-BP remarks, the GOP caucus isn’t exactly united.
* Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) is apparently annoying some of his colleagues with his efforts to pass a climate/energy bill.
* I’ve occasionally given Mika Brzezinski a hard time, but her remarks this morning, marveling at Rudy Giuliani’s lies, were terrific.
* The court’s “balls and strikes” metaphor has never really worked.
* Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) not only continues to say truly insane things, he also seems to think he knows something about Socrates and Plato. What an unbelievable clown.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
