August 13, 2026

Archives for February 2012

“Time Changed Hatch” Mailer Factually Correct

February 29, 2012 by

Is Freedom Works as dishonest as Freedom Path?

This post looks at a mailer I call “Time Changed Hatch.” As with the last two mailers, I have tried to go to the primary sources and have also reached out to the Hatch reelection campaign for any kind of response they might have. They have directed me to the site realhatchrecord.com but declined to respond directly to the mailer any further. I have utilized their site to augment my research into the primary sources.

The mailer opens with the following paragraph:

“In 1976, Orrin Hatch went to Washington. And just as time has shaped Utah’s unique … [cont]

Filed Under: Republican Politics Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

In lieu of a daily post…

February 28, 2012 by

I’ve been asked to be on some kind of Deseret News live panel blogging about the election results tonight. Please join me there as we watch the primary results come in from Arizona and Michigan. Click on the image below to find the panel. Coverage starts at 5:30 PM.

You can also follow me (should you be so inclined to stalk) on Twitter under the handle @publiusdb.

Filed Under: Elections Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Educational Saving Accounts for High School Students is Good Step

February 27, 2012 by

Rep. John Dougall, known in Utah legislative circle as an “ideas guy”* and “freight train”** for the breadth and creativity of the bills he’s carrying this year, had a great idea: why not let high school students and their parents pick the public school solution that best meets their educational needs?

It’s a step in the right direction, if just a small step.

Every once in a while, a good idea comes along. One such idea was… [continued]

Filed Under: Education Reform Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Freedom Path’s “Outsourcing” Attack on Liljenquist Distorts Business Record

February 24, 2012 by

The latest mailer from Freedom Path falsifies Dan Liljenquist’s business record. The shadowy group, organized legally as a political action committee, is running fast and loose with terms and smears Liljenquist with shoddy research, obscure sources, and false information. Frankly, it’s just dishonest. [cont…]

Filed Under: Republican Politics Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Are we there yet? GOP Candidates Face-off for the Twentieth Time

February 23, 2012 by

With fingers crossed that this would be their last debate together, the final four Republican contenders for President faced off in Arizona on Wednesday night. The stakes were high—for some more than others. Without Governor Mitt Romney’s money, Senator Rick Santorum and Speaker Newt Gingrich knew that this might be their best chance to pick up undecided votes in the upcoming Super Tuesday primaries. For Romney, it was a chance to retake the lead in the race for President. Lest we forget, Ron Paul came along, too, but, despite a strong performance, is increasingly playing the role of side-kick to front-runner Romney.

So how did they do? [cont…]

Filed Under: Republican Politics Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Retirement Plans? Private Investment is still Smarter than Social Security

February 22, 2012 by

So, which system do you want to be covered by when you retire? One that has paid out an annual return of 6.85 percent or one that’s completely bankrupt and funded from current tax dollars? Apparently, America is split on that question:
50% of the workforce has no private pension coverage.
31% of the workforce has no savings set aside specifically for retirement.

I have only one question if you are part of that 50% or 31%: are you crazy? [cont…]

Filed Under: Entitlement Reform Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Obama’s 2012 Budget Proposal is a Trip to La-la Land.

February 21, 2012 by

What would you say if I told you that the Obama Administration is proposing in a budget that cuts out spending to the equivalent to getting a penny off of your Wendy’s value meal?

Let’s be clear: for an administration that has had to deal with the worst economy in decades, the Obama Administration has proven an uncanny ability to live in La-la Land when it comes time to make a budget.

I don’t say this to attack the Obama Administration on its handling of the economy. Indeed, that might be seen as a different issue. Rather, I point it out because it is significant in that budgeting is how the executive branch sets its priorities for the coming year. As yet, over the course of his tenure in the White House, the President has not had a budget survive through Congress, even when his party controlled both the Senate and House.

Further, it is widely accepted by economists that once national debt exceeds 90% of GDP (gross domestic product or the value of everything a country produces in a year), “annual economic growth tends to be about one percentage point lower.” The current GDP for the US is about$14.58 Trillion. The current national debt is at $15.087 Trillion, or about 103.45% of GDP. [cont…]

Filed Under: Fiscal Reform, The Economy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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