The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

The Ryan Budget

I’m tempted to call it “The Savage Young Ryan Budget,” but seriously, folks: House Republicans did the smart thing yesterday, and don’t let worry-wart Allahpundit tell you any different. Not a single Democrat voted for it, and DCCC Chairman Steve Israel’s boast that this will help Democrats recapture the House is nonsense. Let the Democrats […]

Boehner’s Bargain Approved 260-167; 59 Republicans Vote ‘No,’ 81 Dems Vote ‘Yes’

Reported by Robert Costa at National Review, noting that Michelle Bachmann, Mike Pence and Allen West were among the Republican “no” votes, while the Democrats voting “yes” included Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. Y’know, I think that pretty much settles the argument of whether this was a good deal from the conservative perspective. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz voted for it, […]

‘No Poor Man Ever Gave Me a Job’

As an impoverished American — hey, buddy, you wanna try raising six kids on a freelance journalist’s income? — I look on in amusement at the self-described “Patriotic Millionaires” who insist that they should pay more taxes. I agree with Moe Lane: “Raise Your Own Damned Taxes.” Contrary to all the class-warfare demagoguery pouring forth from […]

It’s a ‘Framework,’ Not a ‘Plan’

Last night I glanced at the White House talking-points outline of Obama’s Big Important Speech and had to smile at the effrontery of this part: $4 Trillion in Deficit Reduction: The President is setting a goal of reducing our deficit by $4 trillion in 12 years or less. This deficit reduction would be phased in […]

Word of the Day: Sharing!

Just as I predicted, Obama’s Big Deficit Speech was big on sharing: As a country that values fairness, wealthier individuals have traditionally borne a greater share of this burden than the middle class or those less fortunate. . . . To meet this challenge [i.e., ballooning deficits], our leaders came together three times during the […]

‘Shared Sacrifice’ = Tax Increases

Today, Obama will give a major speech on deficits and here’s an Associated Press video report in which the reporter uses the phrase “shared sacrifice” to describe the president’s plan to call for repealing the Bush tax cuts: White House spokesman Jay Carney said Tuesday that the plan Obama will outline on Wednesday at George […]

Smoke, Mirrors, Some Assembly Required

Some of the conservative pundits who were doing victory laps over Friday’s budget deal — and you know who you are — need to admit they were taken in by the D.C. spin machine: Details of the $38 billion worth of spending cuts factoring in last Friday’s 11th-hour budget that averted a government shutdown have […]

It Looks Like The Debt Limit Increase Will Make The CR Fracas Look Like Beanbag

by Smitty Keith Hennessy has a detailed post, from which I’ll mooch his bullet points: First, a temporary continuing resolution has a hard deadline, while a debt limit increase does not. Second, defaulting on a debt obligation is potentially far more serious than a temporary government shutdown. Third, a freestanding debt limit increase bill doesn’t […]

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