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Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue and the inspiration for The Devil Wears Prada, attended a “town hall” for top fashion designers on Tuesday.  When designers lamented retail prices dropping during the recession, Wintour suggested price-fixing.  An industry official informed her that is illegal.  Her response:

“Is that something we can change? We have friends in the White House now.”

The Wall Street Journal summarizes Rep. Charlie Rangel’s ever-expanding ethics questions in an editorial this morning.  While the evidence they exhibit is widely known, it’s curious that Rangel refuses to pay his own taxes while he is advocating a massive tax hike to pay for health reform.

Ever notice that those who endorse high taxes and those who actually pay them aren’t the same people? Consider the curious case of Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel, who is leading the charge for a new 5.4-percentage point income tax surcharge and recently called it “the moral thing to do.” About his own tax liability he seems less, well, fervent.

…

The House Ethics Committee is investigating Mr. Rangel on no fewer than six separate issues, including his failure to report the no-interest loan on his Punta Cana villa and his use of rent-stabilized apartments. It is also investigating his fund raising for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at City College of New York. New York labor attorney Theodore Kheel, one of the principal owners of the Punta Cana resort, is an important donor to the Rangel Center.

 

All of this has previously appeared in print in one place or another, and we salute the reporters who did the leg work. We thought we’d summarize it now for readers who are confronted with the prospect of much higher tax bills, and who might like to know how a leading Democrat defines “moral” behavior when the taxes hit close to his homes.

This ad will go up on Sunday backing the House health bill. 

That’s right.  As discussed yesterday, Rahm Emanuel made the claim that the Administration had “rescued the economy,” according to an interview with the New York Times.

But today, we learn that jobless claims rose above expectations last week:

The Labor Department says its tally of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 30,000 to a seasonally adjusted 554,000. That’s above analysts’ estimates of 550,000.

Could this really be a “Mission Accomplished” moment?

As Obama preps for tonight’s news conference, the public is becoming increasingly hostile to his healthcare plans. A new Rasmussen poll out today shows a majority of Americans are opposed to Obama’s reforms.

The health care reform legislation working its way through Congress has lost support over the past month. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 44% of U.S. voters are at least somewhat in favor of the reform effort while 53% are at least somewhat opposed.

Today’s 44% level of support is down from 46% two weeks ago, and 50% in late June.

Opposition has grown from 45% in late June to 49% two weeks ago and 53% today.

As in earlier surveys, those with strong opinions are more likely to oppose the plan rather than support it. The current numbers: 24% strongly favor and 37% strongly oppose.

If Democrats force the plan through, they risk a backlash from independent voters, 60% of whom oppose the legislation. Additionally, 78% of voters believe the plan will lead to middle class tax hikes.

One statistic that Republicans should keep in mind in the coming weeks is this gem:

Another factor that may be playing a role is underlying public skepticism about the legislative process. Americans, by a two-to-one margin, believe that no matter how bad things are, Congress can always make it worse.

Obama may claim he is fixing healthcare, but he also promised he would fix the economy. He made it worse.

Former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine will announce that he plans to run for Ohio Attorney General. 

Former U.S. Senator Mike DeWine says he plans to run for Ohio attorney general.

 

The 62-year-old Republican told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he believes he can make a difference as attorney general and would be nonpartisan.

…

Delaware County Prosecutor Dave Yost already has announced plans to seek the GOP’s nomination for attorney general. Incumbent Richard Cordray, a Democrat, has said he plans to seek re-election.

Full disclosure: My first internship was with DeWine during his years in the Senate.

She has certainly left the door ajar.

Does she still want to be the first female POTUS?

 

“That’s not anything I’m at all thinking about.” Adds she is “100 percent focused” on her current job as Secretary of State.

 

Has she given up hope of one day having the job?

 

“I don’t know, but I doubt very much that anything like that will ever be part of my life.”

 

“Well, I’m saying no because I have a very committed attitude to the job I have. And so that’s not at all on my radar screen.”