The Linkrod: Issue #10

The Linkrod
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ISSUE #10 - Thursday, 16th October 2008

Bagehot, The Economist
"The riddle of Gordon Brown"
http://www.economist.com/world/britain/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12427804

DJR's gist: Amid a collapsing global economy, almost unnoticed has been the manner in which Gordon Brown overturned his political position. Not long ago, he was a political catastrophe biding his time before the approaching and inevitable capitulation of his Government to the resurgent Tories. Now, he is a trail-blazing visionary taking a global lead in attempts to bring the credit crunch under control, with other world leaders seemingly following his every command and his actions gaining plaudits from Nobel Laureate economists. What's the story? Bagehot explains...

See also: Joseph Stiglitz, The Guardian - "Paulson tries again"

Ross Douthat, The Atlantic
"Tonight's debate"
http://rossdouthat.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/10/tonights_debate.php

DJR's gist: All that needs to be said about this is quoting the opening sentence: "In ninety minutes of crisply-moderated tedium, we learned exactly one interesting thing: That Barack Obama is almost eager to talk about Bill Ayers, and John McCain can barely bring himself to grind out the syllables necessary to make something vaguely approximating a point on the subject.

Ben Macintyre, The Times
"The white lie that keeps Barack Obama awake at night"
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/ben_macintyre/article4950484.ece

DJR's gist: The "Bradley Effect" is a supposed trait in US elections involving African-American candidates where polls overestimate support for the Black candidate, due to voter intentions not matching their outward statements. That is to say, people say they'll vote for the black candidate in public, but in the privacy of the voting booth, they can't bring themselves to do it and bail. Democrats are hoping that evidence of this effect gradually fading proves correct, or else the world could be in for a very nasty surprise come 4th November.

Cindy Saine, Voice of America
"'Joe the Plumber' - Unexpected Star of US Presidential Debate"
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-10-16-voa59.cfm

DJR's gist: So some chap called Joe Wurzelbacher is now famous across America and hero-worshipped by the same kind of nutcases who think Sarah Palin is a good idea for a Vice President, going by the name as "Joe the Plumber". His fame has come as a result of his name being mentioned a staggering 23 times in last night's final Presidential debate, as John McCain made a last-ditch effort to connect with the independent voters who are deserting his campaign. To the credit of Joe, this interview with him shows that he has a degree of substance behind his scepticism of Obama - it's just a shame that his name is already being seized upon by Sarah Palin - calling out to "Joe and Jane the Plumber". Probably "Sixpack" as well.

See also: E.J. Dionne Jr., The Washington Post - "What Joe the Plumber Can't Fix"

Anita Hamilton, TIME Magazine
"Google-Phone Review: Brains over Beauty"
http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1850888,00.html

DJR's gist: A review of the new "Android"-powered "Google phone" compares it to Apple's iPhone. Conclusion? The GPhone is probably better and technogeeks will love it... but the average "Joe Sixpack" will probably stick to the good looks of the iPhone... at least until Google's open-sourced software platform really begins to register with phone manufacturers.

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