The Congressional Republicans are certainly impressing our foreign allies. The ABC reports on a speech by Australia’s version of the Secretary of the Treasury: Swan attacks Republican ‘cranks and crazies’

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has delivered a speech labelling some elements of the United States Republican party as “cranks and crazies”.

Mr Swan’s speech at the Financial Services Council breakfast in Sydney comes less than two months before the US election.

His speech referred to political gridlock over spending cuts and tax increases due to kick in early next year, which could tip the US economy back into recession.

“Let’s be blunt, the biggest threat to the world’s biggest economy are the cranks and crazies that have taken over parts of the Republican Party,” he said.

“Despite (US president Barack) Obama’s goodwill … the national interest was held hostage by the rise of the extreme right Tea-Party wing of the Republicans.

“There can be few things more alarming in public policy than a political group which was genuinely prepared to see the government of the United States default on its obligations in order to score a political point.”

When the US sneezes other countries catch cold or even pneumonia. We have already had a rating agency downgrade the US because of the last standoff, and the next one could produce recession. As long as the Republicans continue to play stupid games, and people fail to understand that the economy isn’t growing because of a lack consumer demand, not a lack of business confidence, the US will slide back into recession.

Position: 36.1N 28.2W [10PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: East-Southeast [120°] near 9 mph [15 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 65 mph [100 kph].
Wind Gusts: 75 mph [120 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 275 Miles [445 km].
Minimum central pressure: 981 mb.

Currently about 190 miles [ 305 km] South-Southwest of the Azores.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Azores.

Nadine is beginning to transition to a post-tropical cyclone after bringing tropical storm conditions to most of the Azores.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]