Here’s a list of articles that I have been reading today (organized by topic):

Economics and the Financial Crisis

• Judging Downturns, by Greg Mankiw

Finance

• Eugene F. Fama: Economist

Fama/French Forum: “In an interview conducted by Professor Richard Roll, famed University of Chicago economist Eugene F. Fama discusses his life, research, and contributions to the field of finance.”

Foreign Policy

• Taking Iran Seriously, by Daniel Coats, Charles Robb, and Charles Wald

Wall Street Journal: Tehran is on course for a nuclear weapon next year.

Health Care Reform

• Reviewing the checklist from the President’s speech, by Keith Hennessey
• Did Obama rescue the public option? (Prediction Markets assessment of last night’s address by President Obama to Congress)

The Intrade Gazette: “The market did receive a bump in price but with Obama indicating he is willing to compromise on the public option the chances of it being passed remain modest. The market closed yesterday at 27.9%, up from the previous days close of 20.0%. Many Democrats feel the public option is essential to effective reform. However, the market clearly feels that compromise or outright defeat is the likely outcome.”

• Why Liberals Should Drop the Public Option, by Matt Miller

Washington Post: “”Switzerland and the Netherlands . . . cover all their citizens using private insurers, and they do so for much less cost.”

Politics

• It’s Still the Economy, Stupid, by Daniel Henninger

Wall Street Journal: This could be America’s greatest failed presidency.

• Why are Jews Liberal?, by Norman Podhoretz

Wall Street Journal: “I’m hoping buyer’s remorse on Obama will finally cause a Jewish shift to the right.”

When I read Mr. Podhoretz’s essay this morning, the following quote (about liberal versus conservative world views) stood out in particular:

“…I think it fair to say that what liberals mainly see when they look at this country is injustice and oppression of every kind—economic, social and political. By sharp contrast, conservatives see a nation shaped by a complex of traditions, principles and institutions that has afforded more freedom and, even factoring in periodic economic downturns, more prosperity to more of its citizens than in any society in human history. It follows that what liberals believe needs to be changed or discarded—and apologized for to other nations—is precisely what conservatives are dedicated to preserving, reinvigorating and proudly defending against attack.”