The Sixth Year of Stoogeland

++We've been on a roller-coaster ride for the past 5 years and this one looks pretty much the same. The political aspects of this year will be extremely ugly. The attack ads are already up courtesy of the Koch Brothers. Forgive me for not making any predictions. 2010 taught me a lesson. Never underestimate citizens voting against their own self-interest. But pay attention to the state races and the Senate. That's where the fun will be.

++It will be an awful year for the environment. China has declared 5 million acres of farmland off limits because of pollution. The tarsands area of Canada are ringed by mercury. A vast island of garbage floated north of Hawaii. Salon reports that climate change is worse than previously thought. Only radical change can avert the dire consequences of climate change but we don't do radical.

++The economy looks like it may get off life support this year unless Congress decides to destroy it again.

++The Institute for Supply Management reports that December saw manufacturing grow and hiring at its highest level since 2010.

++Wall Street finished the year with the greatest growth since 1997.

++The Democrats claim they have a way to fast track the restoration of unemployment benefits. We'll see.

++The AP yesterday had a story about the new fight over the Arctic and how the United States is lagging behind. I am ambivalent over this development since my prior rant on New Year's Eve. The Arctic region has the most available oil and natural gas reserves left in the world. But in light on climate change is exploitation really the way to go.

++The United States experienced the largest one-year jump of oil production on level. We now produce 7.5 million barrels a day, a 1 million a day increase since last year. By 2016,we will be at 9.5 million a day. 

++Yes, some people will lose their healthcare this year. The number seems to be around 10,000, not the 5 million the Republicans claim. Or maybe they are positioning themselves to claim the 5 million left off insurance in red states are Obama's fault.

++I wouldn't make much of Sotomayor's stay of the contraceptive mandate for the ACA. She was rulling on a small clause about religiously run non-profits.

++The New York Times is all pleased that Tan Man Boehner wants to pass immigration reform. That's what he said last year. I see it's only chance being late this year after the elections in a lame duck session.

++How bad is it for Obama? His approval rate went up 5 points since Obamacare started announcing its December numbers. But we haven't been exposed to the FOX hate machine the last few days. So who knows?

++Interesting, the Obama Administration has slashed democracy funding by several hundred million for the Middle East. The rationale is that they are only focusing on American national interests in the area.

++Ariel Sharon is close to death after being in a vegetative coma since 2006.

++Israel said it would hold up any announcement on settlements until after John Kerry leaves.