Free Republic

The Dow was up 64.12 today, closing at 11,342.89. CNBC and MSN Money reported that the previous high close was 11,337.92, in January 2000. Today's close was a six-year high for the Dow (rather than the five year high reported by Reuters).

A longtime friend who served with me from across the aisle in Congress, the late Bob Wilson, enjoyed self-deprecating stories. Addressing a party rally in his first campaign more than 50 years ago – in conservative Coronado, yet – Bob inveighed against government spending. Someone in the audience asked him about a law to limit the amount of debt our federal government should be allowed to run up on taxpayers. “That sounds like a fine idea,” the eager young candidate responded. “I'd surely vote for it.” The questioner seemed less pleased than Wilson expected. “That's already the law,” the fellow...

NEW YORK - The Dow Jones industrial average crossed 11,000 Monday for the first time since before the 9/11 terrorist attacks, buoyed by a New Year's rally that has sent stock prices soaring. Wall Street's best known stock indicator rose to 11,001.26 shortly after 1 p.m. EST, the first time since June 13, 2001, that the index of 30 blue chip stocks traded above that milestone. It last closed above 11,000 on June 7, 2001, when it stood at 11,090.74.