In a op-ed piece in today's N. Y. Times Nobel Prize Economist Paul Krugman bemoaned the Obama economic recovery plan as far too little to really fix anything.

Mortgage default rates rose in 2006-7, leading to ongoing foreclosures. In early 2008, Bank of America acquired mortgage giant Countrywide Financial Corporation, whose predatory lending practices drew outrage in the housing bubble. While certainly not the only lending institution to suffer scrutiny or ill-repute, many blame them publicly for the ensuing economic crisis.

Barack Obama promised us radical health care reform. Understandably the loss of Tom Daschle, who was indeed uniquely well qualified to push health care legislation, has damaged the progress of potential improvement to our nation's health care. But the loss of Daschle is far from the only problem.

MSNBC's "1600 Pennsylvania avenue" is reporting that the Senate has reached an agreement on the Stimulus package. Apparently most of the bill has been agreed upon and the bill will shortly pass. Things may not, however, be as good as they seem.

First Geithner, now Daschle. Why can't Obama's people pay their taxes?! Tom Daschle apparently forgot to pay for his driver and car which cost 128,000 dollars. Apparently Daschle corrected the error and paid the fees on January 2nd. But this brings up a question, do we want people running this country who can't remember to pay what they owe in taxes!

As a resident of Milwaukee Wisconsin I've enjoyed frequently shopping at Schwartz Bookshops, which is a locally operated and wonderfully run chain of four bookstores which have operated in Milwaukee - and the surrounding area - for 82 years. Sadly, I have just learned that the chain is closing all stores on March 31.

In a sad sign of the times, Detroit’s two newspapers announced today that they will begin three day home delivery of the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News. The two dailies will focus on their online editions primarily.

Hoping to create jobs and bolster Medicaid health programs, Democrats in Congress want a slice of the economic stimulus bill to go to states.

Pending home sales throughout the nation jumped 7.4 percent in August, the largest increase since October 2001. In fact, pending home sales are showing a steady increase since March signaling that the housing recovery is in its early stages.

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Steve Preston has allocated $3.92 billion to state and local governments to help stabilize some of the countries hardest hit foreclosed areas.