Investors may not have needed more proof of the fragile state of the economy — but it came today in the form of a Labor Department report that said new claims for jobless benefits hit a 16-year high last week. Many were former Republican representatives who’d fogotten their conservative base.

If there’s still hope for a bailout for the auto industry, the Senate’s majority leader says it’s “not going
to be easy,” — sort of like driving an American car.

A bipartisan group of senators is hoping to get some relief for automakers. Barney Frank has offered to get some of his friends to stop by and host a party for them. “Maybe we can do for them what they’ve been doing to the consumers for years,” he volunteered.

Read More →

Millions of Chinese-made toys for children have been pulled from shelves in North America and Australia after scientists found they contain a chemical that converts into a powerful date rape drug when ingested. Orders for the toys have skyrocketed in San Fransisco.

The heads of GM, Ford, and Chrysler continue their push for a $25 billion lifeline as they return today to
testify before Congress. They point out that Christmas is on the way and their union employees are due for their annual year-end bonus.

Auto executives told a Senate panel yesterday and will tell a House committee today that if their companies fail, otherbusinesses will also be pulled under, including such things as restaurants with drive-thrus and pay-to-park lots.

Read More →

A Somali official is vowing to rescue a hijacked Saudi oil tanker “by using force if necessary.” Their hope is to chase the ship until it runs out of gas.

CEOs from the three big American auto makers are in Washington. Senators have made prospects of a
bailout plan for Detroit less than certain, however, all those who were re-elected have offed to buy new cars.

Some of President-elect Barack Obama’s top economic advisers say the U.S. needs a substantial stimulus package to avoid a deep recession. Unnamed sources say he hopes to hold “a big benefit concert” to help raise the money.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission once again has delayed action on setting rules for farm-raising sage
grouse in the state. The decision is to leave all the grousing to the democrats.

President Bush says the government will expand to the entire country the opening of extra flight lanes typified by
the East Coast “Thanksgiving Express” lane made available by the military a year ago. Democrats immediately criticized the President, noting that “Turkeys can’t fly” Instead, they hailed Barak Obama’s idea to expand
to the entire country the opening of extra flight lanes typified by the East Coast “Thanksgiving Express” lane made available by the military a year ago.

Read More →

Rupert Murdoch repremanded the media, saying they had dug themselves “a deep hole” and had lost credibility. The media responded by ignoring the story and going in search of stories that would bring better ratings.

An extensive new research study has found that unhappy people watch more TV while those consider themselves happy spend more time reading and socializing. Television executives now have ordered the newsrooms to quit the “happy coverage” of Obama and focus on more stories that will make the public unhappy.

Read More →