The great news about the economy, Ecuador leans to the right, and other items

All the news that's not fit to print on the economy. Update: Blame Bush! As if that wasn't enough, even the NYT is saying

The Dow Jones industrial average swept past 12,000 for the first time Wednesday, extending its march into record territory as investors grow increasingly optimistic about corporate earnings and the economy.

(h/t Instapundit)

Ecuador Leans Back To Right

Notably, Noboa had a real economic program, openly praising globalization and vowing to negotiate a U.S. free trade pact as Ecuador's neighbors Peru and Colombia have done. He promised to pay the nation's bills and assured citizens that dollarization, which has brought the only monetary stability Ecuador has ever known, will stay. "He was coming clear with ideas," she said.
As a result, Noboa surprised everyone on election day and even took a five-point lead in the initial count. Now, with the official count on, he's two points ahead of Correa. At the runoff on Nov. 26, he will be well-placed to fight on the battleground of ideas, where he's shown new strength.
Tibau fears Correa may still be able to pull it off. But the pool of smaller candidates' votes has some promise for Noboa. A libertarian candidate took 10% of the vote, a center-left moderate drew 16% and the third-place finisher, a leftist, has a bitter political feud with Correa

NBC doesn't know Menendez is under investigation?

Trade restrictions stick it to consumers

How can the removal of a tariff from a foreign company be a tax break for an American company? A tariff taxes foreign goods and helps domestic manufactures charge higher prices than they could in a free market. By any definition, that's a special-interest privilege. Government interferes with free trade to help favored businesses. But if a tariff is a privilege, how can suspension of a tariff also be a privilege? I guess in the topsy-turvy world of Washington, everything government does -- or doesn't do -- is a privilege for someone.

Austin Bay reviews Steyn's "America Alone"

Oprah had Frank Rich flogging his new book (Rich has a new book?), and I'm glad I missed it, but Bill O'Reilly and Michelle Malkin Take on Oprah Winfrey, and Ms Underestmated has parts one and two of the Church of Oprah show.

Just in time for the holiday shopping season

Larwyn's links
Having Long Since Hit Bottom
Busted: WVWV Group ABC Described as 'Non-Partisan' Is Dem GOTV Front
If at first you don't succeed, With Air America On Ropes, Original Founders Start New Liberal Network, 'Nova M'
Too Close to Clinton for Comfort?

For over a year, Congressman Weldon tried unsuccessfully to get Pentagon officials to forensically go through old hard drives to look for remnants of critical pre-9/11 intelligence on Mohamed Atta from the Able Danger program

Read it.

And don't miss
The Sanity Squad popdcast. I wouldn't want to be in a dark alley with Siggy when he gets mad (btw, that's a compliment).