August 11, 2026

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

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…]

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

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…]

A Brief Review of the “Buffett Rule”

When your opponents come to the table and your negotiation position begins with “I won,” it’s hard for the President to move middle ground compromises in the interest of America. Barack Obama started his administration with a winner take all attitude and he has long since passed the point where he is willing to compromise on anything but his own terms. {cont…]

Because the NSA hates competition, President Obama brings us National Stalking Awareness Month

No one should be able to follow and watch your every move unless, of course, that person works for the federal government and is authorized by the PATRIOT Act, which President Obama reauthorized in part on May 26, 2011 (roving wiretaps, search of business records, and surveillance of “lone wolves” suspected of terrorism). Or, perhaps, the Department of Defense which, after said federal stalking occurs, may detain you indefinitely without any process.

But only if you are suspected of terrorism, of course. [cont…]

Why hope for a one-term Obama Presidency relies on this question: can Mitt still beat Newt?

Recently, I’ve been getting calls, texts and emails from my less politically involved friends and family, and they all seem to be asking one question: Is there any hope for Mitt? Or can we expect four more years of Obama after Newt Gingrich gets trounced in the fall? The messages come to me from Texas, […]

Book Review: “Confidence Men: Wall Street, Washington, and the Education of a President” by Ron Suskind

Ron Suskind’s a good writer, but he’s also in love with Barack Obama. Well, maybe not in love, but he’s certainly not an objective or dispassionate observer. Even while he’s observing that Obama may not have been ready for the Presidency, he’s lavishing praise on the politician. I read as long as I could, but […]

Twelve Adults and the CBO: How many adults in the room?

The much ballyhooed Congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction–aka the “supercommittee”–was supposed to hear a history of the debt crisis today. You can imagine how well that was going to go over.  Partisans from both sides were prepared, I’m sure, to lay blame for the federal government’s fiscal problems at their opponents feet. “It […]