Epstein Secrets

. Italian voters rejected both Europe's main response to high government debt — cut spending, raise taxes — and a major rebuke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was the main architect of the austerity policies. The resentment of austerity is no mystery. The Italian economy has contracted for six consecu

— and a major rebuke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was the main architect of the austerity poli

f allowing the sequester to take effect could be less damaging than the consequences of going back on his promise not to allow any new tax revenues Boehner has now dug himself into a corner, refusing to even discuss an increase in revenue and insisting in his typical colorful language that it was time f

reezes and visa bans on March 17, and may widen that list to include close Putin associates at a summit in Brussels today and tomorrow. Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, Russia's biggest EU trading partner, said it's too early to start economic retaliation. "We will make very clear that in the case of f

to start economic retaliation. "We will make very clear that in the case of further escalation we will be ready to introduce economic sanctions," Merkel told reporters before the EU summit. Sanctions require the agreement of all EU governments, a consensus-building process that can't match Putin's s

ittee Chairman Robert Menendez of New Jersey. "The speaker is proud to be included on a list of those willing to stand against Putin's aggression," Boehner's spokesman, Michael Steel, said in an e-mail. Edward J. Krauland, a partner at the law firm Steptoe & Johnson who's a specialist on international

reezes and visa bans on March 17, and may widen that list to include close Putin associates at a summit in Brussels today and tomorrow. Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, Russia's biggest EU trading partner, said it's too early to start economic retaliation. "We will make very clear that in the case of f

to start economic retaliation. "We will make very clear that in the case of further escalation we will be ready to introduce economic sanctions," Merkel told reporters before the EU summit. Sanctions require the agreement of all EU governments, a consensus-building process that can't match Putin's s

ittee Chairman Robert Menendez of New Jersey. "The speaker is proud to be included on a list of those willing to stand against Putin's aggression," Boehner's spokesman, Michael Steel, said in an e-mail. Edward J. Krauland, a partner at the law firm Steptoe & Johnson who's a specialist on international

procrastination—known universally as "kicking the can down the road"—Europe has reached the moment of truth. It's binary. Either German Chancellor Angela Merkel has to bow to the logic of her predecessor but one, Helmut Kohl, who always saw monetary union as a route to federalism, or it's EFTA_R1_02204146

th. It's binary. Either German Chancellor Angela Merkel has to bow to the logic of her predecessor but o

r negotiations when it came to light that they were negotiating a plan to raise far more revenue than the deal that Obama was ready to strike with Boehner. Instead of a grand bargain, in late July the White House and Republicans agreed to raise the debt ceiling enough for about eighteen more months o

ywhere." The greater damage, in his view, was the way the leaks heightened suspicions among foreign leaders. Obama enjoyed a good relationship with Angela Merkel, but he admitted that it was undermined by reports alleging that the U.S. tapped her cell phone. This, he said, felt "like a breach of trust and I

s. Obama enjoyed a good relationship with Angela Merkel, but he admitted that it was undermined by repor

cent of the popular vote. The President talked of the election breaking the "fever" in Washington. "We didn't expect the floodgates would open and Boehner would be Tip O'Neill to our Reagan," Dan Pfeiffer, a senior adviser to the President, said. But reelection, he thought, had "liberated" Obama. The

weaker at -22.9% (Renault -33.5%, Peugeot -23%) • Spain's Rajoy says it may be 'very complicated" to achieve 6.3% deficit to GDP target in 2012 • Merkel suggests may be willing to consider Greek debt write-off once they reach budget surplus (Bud) • EU ministers may reach ECB oversight deal on Decemb

last. Eurozone finance ministers meeting again today to further discuss Greece, Cyprus, Spain. No major updates on fiscal cliff talks with Geithner/Boehner making the rounds on the Sunday talk shows and both indicating very little willingness to compromise thus far (Politico). SPA's +3 handles = 1417.5

ollars says WSJ (BNP denies) (WSJ<http://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904353504576566821711712348.html>) (trading -7.5%) Germany's Merkel says that euro-area countries must avoid an "uncontrolled insolvency" in Greece Italy sells C3.9 billion of a new five-year benchmark bond as borro

lyst day, Japan Industrial Production, RBNZ Official Cash Rate, CS Capital Goods /Aerospace & Defense Conference (London), Earnings (PLL) Thursday: Boehner delivers speech about the economy, CPI, Empire Manufacturing, Philadelphia Fed Index, EU Commission will publish its interim economic forecasts, Ear