Today’s edition of quick hits.
* The Fed isn’t optimistic: “The Federal Reserve on Wednesday sharply lowered its projection for the U.S. economic growth this year, citing blows from the housing and credit debacles along with zooming energy prices. It also expects higher unemployment and inflation. Even with the more downbeat outlook, Fed officials left the impression that they would not be inclined to cut interest rates further.”
* Political theater: “Amid increasing public outcry over record-shattering oil and gas prices, senators on Wednesday hauled industry executives in to testify about the recent runup. The Senate Judiciary Committee called the hearing to explore the skyrocketing price of oil, which jumped over $4 a barrel to a new record of over $133. The committee grilled executives from Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips Co., Shell Oil Co., Chevron and BP as to how their companies can in good conscience make so much money, while American drivers pay so much at the pump.”
* Teddy left the hospital this morning: “Sen. Edward M. Kennedy gave a thumbs up to well-wishers and kisses to relatives as he walked out of the hospital Wednesday, a day after learning he has a cancerous brain tumor. A square bandage at the back of his head marked the spot where doctors performed a biopsy Monday that led them to diagnose the Massachusetts Democrat with malignant glioma. Experts say such tumors are almost always fatal.”
* It’s painful to hear such misguided rhetoric: “Hillary Clinton compared her effort to seat Florida and Michigan delegates to epic American struggles, including those to free the slaves and win the right to vote for blacks and women.”
* Fascinating report; read the whole thing: “There are many problems facing the United States today: a faltering economy, a health-care crisis, and the continuing war in Iraq, to name a few. But viewers of some of the most prominent cable news programs are presented a different reality, one in which one issue stands above all others: illegal immigration. Media Matters Action Network undertook this study in order to document the rhetoric surrounding immigration that is heard on cable news. When it comes to this issue, cable news overflows not just with vitriol, but also with a series of myths that feed viewers’ resentment and fears, seemingly geared toward creating anti-immigrant hysteria.”
* Dan Froomkin reported on a big development that’s gone largely unnoticed: “Top White House officials waved off early warnings from the FBI that interrogation tactics being used on detainees might be illegal, according to a new report from the Justice Department’s inspector general.”
* The NYT keeps needing to run corrections on Bill Kristol’s columns. That should tell the editors something.
* Something to look out for: “John McCain’s campaign is using their campaign website to encourage supporters to post supportive comments on political blogs, including the most well-known liberal site in the blogosphere. And to make things easier, they’re including talking points with which sympathizers can use to get out the McCain message…. McCain supporters are asked to send the details of their comment to the campaign, which in turn will verify it and then reward the supporter with ‘points’ (assumedly to accumulate for McCain swag).”
* Hmm: “The U.S. military, in a shift, has postponed the release of a report detailing allegations of Iranian support for Iraqi insurgents, according to people familiar with the matter.”
* Of all the possible responses to the new ad from VoteVets.org, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) appears to have picked the worst one.
* EPA scandal, Part I: “The head of the Environmental Protection Agency refused to say Tuesday whether he had any specific discussions with President Bush that would have caused him to reverse his agency’s position and deny a waiver California needed to move ahead with stringent auto emission standards.”
* EPA scandal, Part II: “A Senate panel voted narrowly Wednesday to overturn EPA’s decision blocking California and more than a dozen other states from limiting greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. The bill by California Democrat Barbara Boxer passed the Environment and Public Works committee 10 to 9, sending it to the full Senate.”
* McCain finally seems to have learned who runs Iran. It’s about time.
* Michael Savage is beneath contempt.
* Alex Castellanos is no better.
* Douglas Feith believes we found “a serious WMD threat” in Iraq. Poor guy is clearly confused.
* Geraldine Ferraro went on Fox News today to complain about “black journalists” who, she believes, have been unfair to Hillary Clinton. I miss the time when Geraldine Ferraro was a respected figure. I really do.
* And finally, Obama drew 75,000 people for an event in Oregon over the weekend, but some conservatives are crying foul because the Decemberists, a Portland-based indie rock band, appeared at the show, which some on the right argue exaggerated the numbers for the campaign. Jason Linkins argues that the right is off base, since as the Decemberists “are a modestly successful indie outfit, more apt to perform at venues such as the 1,200-person capacity 9:30 Club, it would be more accurate to suggest that the promise of an Obama rally is a great inducement to come see the Decemberists, rather than the reverse.”
Anything to add? Consider this an end-of-the-day open thread.
