One, from my new favorite conservative columnist, Bruce Bartlett on the stimulus. He concludes that the evidence suggests that it worked, and continues to help the economy. The worst elements of it? Tax cuts. Worst, in that they aren't actually helping the economy, while putting money into state and local governments, and even assisting with unemployment benefits is actually contributing to the GNP in a positive way.
Second, I have to note that Sarah Palin came to Norman the other night for a "book" signing. Evidently, the Palinites from all of Oklahoma made the pilgrimage to see the addled celebrity, and my friends reported seeing a lot of "Palin 2012" signs. There were some protestors there, including one who held up a sign saying something like, "darn, I thought I was going to get to see Tina Fey." That was my favorite.
But on a serious note, I have noticed that Palin likes to bring her Down's syndrome child (Trig) to her speaking engagements. I have no problem with that, as far as it goes, and certainly never had a problem with her bringing that child to term. But on several occasions, people notice her bringing the child to the podium to hold up to the crowd before handing off to an aide. This tactic of using her child as political prop lowers her in my estimation almost as much as her recent statement that the "birthers" have a "fair question" about Obama's birth certificate.
I know that many conservatives (including a few here) think that Palin is irrelevant and unimportant. But her celebrity among the right and her continued relevance in political discussions (poll numbers, etc) make her relevant. She is the face, like it or not, of the modern Republican party, and every irresponsible thing she does (which is often) exposes just how unserious the right is about responsible governing. That should never be ignored. And won't be, I am afraid, until the "grownup Republicans" step up and rescue their party from Beck and Palin and their disgusting ilk.
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I heard a businessman say that obama, and the liberals in congress, know that what they are doing to the economy is going to make it worse, but they are willing to risk that in the pursuit of power and control. It will be interesting to see if they can pull it off.
Is there a reason I get trolls who clearly can't read? Evidence shows that stimulus is reading and Palinite idiot reads that as the liberals are ruining the economy?
Come back when you get a brain cell, troll. Otherwise, I start deleting your moronic comments.
I think whether the stimulus bill is working is still open for debate. This article is a bit dated, but argues the stimulus has had basically nothing to do with any economic recovery this country has had. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204731804574385233867030644.html
The authors obviously have a bias, but at this point, not many people don't when it comes to the stimulus.
LB, I don't doubt there is some debate. But the idiot troll completely ignored the CBO information. That was really my point.
And speaking of that, I think the CBO stuff is pretty compelling. But I am further struck by the fact that your WSJ article is so completely wedded to the Friedman model of economic analysis. As you probably know, I am more and more Keynsian the more I read.
I was thinking about that the other day, btw. My wife and I were talking about all of the groups we knew who were struggling for fundraising this year. It struck me that the decline in investment in government and education has created just that many more places that have to fundraise. When the economy is good, that works quite well, but during a down time, everyone struggles. In effect, conservative economics has made every part of the economy prone to the boom bust cycle of the market. I would prefer some parts be more stable.
I know I am going to regret this because I am in the minority. I have a mostly "meh" opinion of Palin the majority seem to either worship her or hate her with a passion. Therefore, I manage to irritate everyone when I discuss her.
I read the transcript of the Palin interview and my take is that she was trying to be diplomatic and not piss off the lunatic, birther fringe. What she said was obvious. Of course people have the right to make anything a topic of inquiry, but that doesn't mean that the rest of us will take them seriously. Palin didn't bring it up, the interviewer did and she seemed to indicate that she wouldn't make it an issue, nor has she at any other time.
She is the face, like it or not, of the modern Republican party
She is 'a' face, not 'the' face. While she enjoys a level of popularity, I wouldn't say she is a shoe in for the nomination. This may partly be wishful thinking on my part. I would like to have 2 good choices, and Palin doesn't fall into the category of good choice.
Steve, I just think you are giving her too much credit. And even if you are right, it shows a degree of cowardice in the face of the birthers. Chris Hitchens said of her that (and you know I can't stand that guy a lot of the time) she has spent most of her public career wanting to have it both ways. She isn't completely opposed to evolution, but then again, she thinks that the creationists have a point. She believes there is some climate change, but won't address the human component. Didn't say that God was on our side in Iraq, but came damn close to saying exactly that. Here she doesn't say that the President isn't a citizen, but says that it is a reasonable thing for others to question. No, it isn't. And let's not forget the numerous times she tried to suggest that Obama was "palling around with terrorists (remember the plural there--not just Bill Ayers she was talking about)."
And technically, of course, you are absolutely right that she is only one face, but for some of us, as long as she is as popular as she is, she will be THE face of the Republican party. I doubt very much she will get the nomination either, but her popularity and celebrity status among the base is disheartening, especially when you take into consideration her complete lack of regard for the truth.
Until the grownups (such as yourself) take back the Republican party, she and Beck and Limbaugh will drive a lot of the agenda. It certainly isn't good for the GOP, and it isn't even good for the country in the long run. But it is the situation right now.
Maybe, but my initial impression was that she was just be a typical wishy washy politician.
My problem with her has nothing to with stupidity or experience. I don't think she is stupid, nor do I think she lacks leadership skills. I think her biggest problem is that she is shallow in many areas and has shown no desire to improve her knowledge in areas like foreign policy. Reagan lacked the same thing, but he sought out people to educate him in the areas where he needed help. Palin shows nothing in this.
She enjoys a high level of support because she is charismatic and says some of the right things. That will get her plenty of support, given that many voters are swayed by image and slogans.
No argument, Steve, but that still doesn't address the weakness of the GOP right now. People are usually easily swayed by image and slogan, but a good many Americans see through this particular facade. What is it about the Republican base, and the Republican party right now that makes it such an easy target for demagoguery.
I don't know. In the case of Obama, I think that many people were caught up in slogans, image, and other superficial issues. Do you believe the average voter knew much about more than one of his policy positions? That being said, the key difference between Obama and Palin is that at the end of the day, Obama is substantive.
So maybe the Brit, Neil Sankey can succeed where the Russian immigrant (from the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic) has failed, bring it on.
Poor little Birthers (still in denial about their losses), Judge Land and now judge Carter, smack down the crazies (case dismissed).
Not even “Fake News” Bill O’Reilly believes the crazies, how funny.
http://belowthebeltway.com/2009/10/29/bill-oreilly-slams-orly-taitz/
http://tesibria.typepad.com/whats_your_evidence/BIRTHER%20CASE%20LIST.pdf
To all the birthers in La, La Land, it is on you to prove to all of us that your assertion is true (TOUGH WHEN YOU KEEP LOSING CASES), if there are people who were there and support your position then show us the video (everyone has a price), either put up or frankly shut-up. I heard Orly Taitz, is selling a tape (I think it’s called “Money, Lies and Video tape”). She is from Orange County, CA, now I know what the mean when they say “behind the Orange Curtain”, when they talk about Orange County, the captial of Conspiracy Theories. You know Obama has a passport, he travel abroad before he was a Senator, but I guess they were in on it.
In my opinion the Republican Party has been taken over the most extreme religious right (people who love to push their beliefs on others while trying to take away the rights of those they just hate) and that’s who they need to extract from their party if they real want to win. Good Luck, because as they said in WACO, “We Ain’t Coming Out”.
I heard that she now wants to investigate the “Republican 2009 Summer of Love” list: Assemblyman, Michael D. Duvall (CA), Senator John Ensign (NV), Senator Paul Stanley (TN), Governor Mark Stanford (SC), Board of Ed Chair, and Kristin Maguire AKA Bridget Keeney (SC). She wants to re-establish a family values party.
I can only hope that Taitz will resist the state collectors that will be coming to collect the $20K.
Not even “Fake News” Bill O’Reilly believes the crazies, how funny.
No one on "fake news"(that one is pretty stale, I hope it goes the way of the "clinton news network" and some 8th grader comes up with something funnier) has pushed this, not even the factually challenged Hannity.
In my opinion the Republican Party has been taken over the most extreme religious right
Maybe in La La land, but here in America, this is not the case. Religious conservatives are one of many groups that the GOP tries to woo. Barry Goldwater tried to distance himself from the RR and was trounced in the process. Despite the paranoia about the "Christian Taliban", the GOP mostly just pays lip service to the RR and very little of their agenda actually becomes legislation.
I can only hope that Taitz will resist the state collectors that will be coming to collect the $20K.
Classy. I thought only the Right wished for the death of people they didn't like.
Steve, no argument that the Republican party gives the RR lip service, but Sarah Palin's popularity suggests that the Religious Right have more power in your party than you are comfortable with.
Palin "wrote" an op-ed on climate change for the WaPo the other day. Perhaps I should have put quotes around the op-ed as well, because from what I saw, it was the biggest pile of nonsense since the last time she spoke on something she knows nothing about.
But, as Sargent notes, when this woman speaks, she gets attention. She sells, even though, honestly, she has nothing substantive to offer.
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