Monday, January 22

Please Hold

Please browse the reading material while your complaint is being processed.

Thomas Sowell says to lighten up on the 20/20 war critiques.

Donald Labro points out one of the unintended consequences of Pelosi's 100 hour blitz.

Written in 2004, Romeo St. Martin analyzed the politics of Sprinfieldians.

The New York Times accuses Dinesh D'Souza of treason. "Hello, Pot. This is Kettle."

Friday, January 19

'08 Forecast

The 2008 election is a real free-for-all. It reminds me of the Simpsons' episode "Run, Homer, Run" in which dozens of Springfieldians run for Mayor. (It was a parody of Gray Davis' recall election.) With everyone believing they have a shot at filling G.W.'s shoes, I've put together a few thoughts on some of the contestants.

Democrats

Senator Hillary Clinton: It's hard for a front-runner to keep the lead. It doesn't help that it's her against every other candidate. She's disliked by the far left and hated by the far right. She may gain popularity among the moderate voters, but Hil will do more to rally the Conservative base than the anti-war zealots. Ruling: Hil has the best shot at winning the primary, but will hurt her party more than she helps it.

Senator Barack Obama: He's the latest American Idol contestant. Even Simon Cowell would like his "I'm just a normal guy" routine. It seems to be working. However, getting votes is the key to an election and if he's in a race against the attack dog herself, (see above) it's going to be hard to garnish enough of a following to even win the Iowa caucus. Ruling: This guy may be a stud you'd wanna chit-chat with at a bar, but he's no president.

Dennis Kucinich: I was thrilled when I heard the former (almost recalled) mayor was running. There is always a need for at least one clown in a circus (See: Dean, Perot, Dukakis). Unfortunately, the electorate doesn't know who he is. If he gathers five percent of the vote in the primary, I'd be shocked. Kucinich is running solely on ideological grounds. Ruling: Kucinich has as much of a chance at winning as Jack Bauer does at becoming ACLU president.

John Edwards: For him, Round Two has to go better than the first. Edwards may be the only candidate able to rally a firm Democratic base. His "aw shucks, mister" son-of-a-mill-worker schtick may even be attractive to moderates, but his radical-left agenda will hinder his efforts, not help them. Ruling: California may love him, but he won't be able to turn the Midwest blue.

Bill Richardson: Pundits say, "Well, he does have a chance if Obama and Clinton fall early in the game." The people who matter - voters - say, "Bill who?" Ruling: This governor has only a slim chance in New Mexico.

Al Gore, Joe Biden, and John Kerry have yet to throw their hats into the rings. Premature Ruling: None of them stand a chance unless the election is a referendum on Global Warming.

Prediction: Hillary takes the primary, but still struggles in the much-coveted Midwest.

Republicans

John McCain: As a lover of Texas Hold'em, I compare Sen. McCain's complete support of a troop surge to going all-in, pre-flop, with a K-10 off-suit. He has a pretty good chance of getting top pair, or even a straight, but an ace may match the one Hillary's holding. If the surge goes well, he'll be happy to see that K-K-2 on the flop. If it doesn't work out as planned, that 10-A-7 may not be enough to fall back on. Ruling: He'll only have a chance if this surge works by October 2008.

Mitt Romney: Governor Romney has one thing going for him: Health care. The change in approach to publicly funded health care across the next two years will definitely shape the 2008 election. Mitt has an attractive approach, even to some members of the GOP. However, being a Mormon won't rally the religious Right. Ruling: Romney's got an uphill battle that won't last past the primary.

Mike Huckabee: This Arkansas governor is the mirrored reflection of Bill Richardson - a nobody. He has a good agenda for America. Ruling: Huckabee may think he has a chance, but the voters won't give him the time of day.

Rudy Giuliani: Hey, it's everyone's favorite mayor! This guy's been riding his 9/11 heroism and anti-crime stance since 9/12. The right doesn't like him and left writes him off as a nuisance. It seems that the only people who approve of him are the moderates. And we all know moderates don't win elections, your base does. Ruling: Giuliani won't be able to raise money, let alone beat McCain.

Tom Tancredo: Like Mitt, Tom's hoping for an '08 referendum. His: Illegal immigration. Like Richardson, another governor of a Western state, he thinks that if everybody else can play ball, he should too. That doesn't mean he'll win. Ruling: This guy doesn't stand a chance, but he may bring the illegal immigration debate back to the table.

Bill Frist has yet to show as much interest as he did a year ago, Newt's running only as a "last resort," and it's safe to assume Condi's out of the equation.

Prediction: McCain will take the primary by 10 points over Giuliani. However, if Newt decides to play ball, you'll have a conservative base happier than a Republican at a Ronald Reagan highway-renaming ceremony.

Tuesday, January 16

Reading Assignments

Don't forget to do your homework!

Rudy Giuliani & Newt Gingrich - Getting Iraq to Work
Mackubin T. Owens - The Surge Can Work
Jon Wiener - "24": Torture & TV
David Gelernter - What POTUS Should Say at the SOTU

A Caring Minimum Wage

Robert Pollin, econ professor at UMASS, is an uncaring prick.

Rightfully, he is criticizing the new Congressional leadership for raising the minimum wage to $7.25 per hour. Contrary to most criticisms of the left's attempt to pay teenagers more, Mr. Pollin would like to see the federal minimum wage raised to at least $10 per hour.

How insensitive! For a bleeding heart, you would think he would care more about the poor saps who have to live on minimum wage. How are people supposed to get by on a mere $10 an hour? As a true proponent of a welfare state, I suggest the minimum wage be $15 per hour.

Wait. I know you're thinking, "Rich, $15 is pocket change to the achievers of big, evil business owners and CEOs!" I hear your concerns. That's why I've accompanied my $15 per hour minimum wage with free healthcare for citizens (and non-citizens) who work (or don't work) for less than $25,000 per year. (Because in NYC, who can afford health insurance on $25,000!?)

"Where's this money coming from," you ask? If we tax the achievers - those who worked hard to get where they are - at around the Jimmy Carter 60% level, we can afford not only the economic fallout from raising the minimum wage and providing free government-run healthcare, but it will give a slap in the face to all those who studied hard in school and didn't get stuck in Iraq.

It's a plan worth looking into. Perhaps then we can expand the middle class, shrink the upper class, and decrease incentives to work harder, take more risks, and make more money.

Monday, January 15

H&C

I finally have a reason to watch Hannity & Colmes.

Thursday, January 4

Out To Lunch...

... for the next 100 hours.

Speaker (cringe) Pelosi and Company are throwing their 100 hour bash in a new attempt at American socialism. On the promised-to-be-non-partisan-but-truly-partisan-agenda:
- ban gifts and travel from lobbyists
- reform earmarks on bills
- implement "pay-as-you-go" budgeting
- enact the rest of the 9/11 Commission's recommendations
- increase the federal minimum wage
- fund more research in the area of embryonic stem cells
- cut student loan interests in half
- repeal tax cuts on oil companise
For a party that complains about a (waning) deficit, they sure are asking to spend a lot. If Democrats truly stick to a pay-as-you-go plan, Americans can expect either a cut in military funding or an increase in taxes - or both.

John Podhoretz has and interesting piece up. I've been toying with the thought of a Lincolnian style leadership during war. That is, if your guys with stars aren't making the grade, give'em the boot. Podhoretz suggests President Bush is doing just that by giving General Casey his "You're Welcome to Leave" letter. If the 43rd is attempting to mimic the 16th, there may be other heads on the chopping block.

Macworld San Francisco is this coming Tuesday. Hopes of iTV's, iPhones, and 8-core Duo's keep geeks awake at night.

In a speech yesterday, the president asked Congress - the one who opposes his every move - to give him a Presidential Line Item Veto. Fiscally, I understand the motive. However, the act was appropriately ruled unconstitutional in 1997 and it would be used primarily as a partisan sword by the executive branch if ammended to the Constitution.

Hours after Saddam's execution, a video of the hanging was released. Leave it to the Iraqis to screw up security.

I am currently reading - and flying through - Freakonomics. Quite enjoyable.

Reading Assignments
George Will: A Real Minimum Wage
Kathleen Parker: It Worked For Carter, It Can Work For Edwards
Lawrence Kudlow: Edwards Doesn't Get It
John Keegan: A Real Troop Surge = 50K