Today, the Securities and Exchange Commission, according to CNN, “bans short selling of financial stocks on U.S. markets to “strengthen investor confidence.

In February 2008, Senator Chuck Hagel wrote to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, copied to Defense Secretary Robert Gates and National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, warning that our policies with Kosovo, Serbia, and elsewhere in Europe could be brewing up a storm with Russia.

Live Broadcast by Ustream.TV Today at 4 pm EST, join us for LIVE STREAMING here at The Washington Note. I will be chairing a session with retired four-star General and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Europe Wesley Clark for a discussion on the national security and economic crises facing America.

Those such as Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson who advocate increasing economic ties with China often argue, persuasively in my view, that China’s economic development is likely to lead to political reform and a more cooperative international disposition.

While I’m taking pot shots at traditional media outlets (see below), I’ll second this important post by Betsy Baker, which I found via TWN reader Caitlyn Antrim’s invaluable Ocean Law Daily.

CNN aired a one-hour special called Sarah Palin Revealed last night. I don’t love the use of the word “revealed.” It’s clearly sensational. But given how much shocking information about the GOP vice presidential nominee has come out this week, and how many new questions have been raised, it’s really not worth complaining about.

Tonight, The Washington Note and the New America Foundation are hosting a film screening of “The Battle in Seattle” — a film about the famous anti-WTO protests. This film has an unusual cast, including Woody Harrelson and Charlize Theron among others.

In this interview with former New York Mayor Ed Koch, CNN anchor Carol Costello goes after Koch and the New York Times on the story that then Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin sought ways to possibly ban books at the local public library.

Is Tina Fey Sarah Palin? Or Sarah Palin Tina Fey? — Steve Clemons

I don’t have time or interest in spending time attacking the pugnacious, rude, and ingnorant Sean Hannity — but I do want to commend the American Prospect‘s Robert Kuttner for standing his ground and sticking to substance when Hannity was such a miserable host.