Links: 2009-06-22

• Public Support for the Public Option – 538

  More evidence that the American public supports a public plan

• Obama’s Make-or-Break Summer – Frank Rich, NYTimes

  Forget the first 100 days. Obama’s test begins now.

• Is it "Schlocky" to Compare Life Expectancies Between Countries? – 538

  Good points on healthcare across countries

• A Stain to Erase in South Carolina – Kathleen Parker, Washington Post

  "DePass’s comment to a friend, appalling as it was, clearly wasn’t intended to do harm, and his punishment may have exceeded the crime. At the same time, this pernicious form of passive racism has been exposed for the poison it is. If Republicans ever want to see the Oval Office again, they’ll have to purge their tent of this foul air."

• A Public Plan (Cont’d.) – Karen Tumulty, Swampland

  Most Americans want a public plan

• "Guess Who Wishes Bush Was Back" – David S. Broder, Washington Post

  "Obama is fortunate that the public does not see a clear alternative coming from congressional Republicans. But he misses being compared on a daily basis with his predecessor. Thus, the irony of Obama people saying, "Bring back Bush.""

• Xstrata ‘eyes 41bn Anglo merger’

  This would a huge boon for Glencore, the Swiss giant with a large stake in Xstrata. Obviously, the commodities world is getting its mojo back.

• Is this the death of the dollar? – Telegraph

  Good article using the fake U.S. bond story as a jumping off point. "whether fake or otherwise, the story underlines one important point about the world economy at the moment: that the tension and paranoia surrounding the fate of the US dollar has hit a new high. It went to the heart of the big question: will the central bankers in Japan, China and elsewhere continue to support the greenback even in the wake of the worst financial crisis in modern history, or will they abandon it as America’s economic hegemony dissipates?"

• Goldman to make record bonus payout – Guardian

  It’s back to business as usual in the City and on Wall Street

• El negocio del ftbol se asfixia por la crisis – Finanzas

  This is a Spanish-language article which says that the monster deals which brought Kaka and Ronaldo to Real Madrid hide the truth that Spanish football is reeling from the financial crisis.

• Reforming financial regulations in America – The Economist

  "Mr Obama’s aides have concluded that a more ambitious overhaul of America’s sprawling regulatory system would expend too much political capital with too little benefit. That bodes poorly for their willingness to face down special interests over the details of even this limited proposal. Who will have to hold more capital, and how much?"

Distraction of the Day: the Cult of Obama (The President as Super Hero)