Objective review of Republican candidates for President

[Todd]

If you need to go back a couple of centuries IOW my point is effectively made.

I'm going back only one century, before the now evil Wilson became prez.  If a society chooses to roll back social programs it would, in theory, be possible to have fast growth with small government.  That's what some people want.  Most do not.  It will not happen.

We are running out of steam on the computer, Internet, satellite era. Now we need to find something new. I would increase energy investment with a smart electric grid that rapidly allocates power where needed and cuts resistance loss on long lines. That's a big project, the kind government ought to be involved in. We also need a more vigorous space program. What else? Improved air traffic control and new airports (new runways on old ones, too). We have to think synergistically about the entire transportation network and how it works, or doesn't. The fact that some of these are liberal pet projects is not an argument against them IMO.

I disagree with the assertion that we are running out of steam.  Overall investment, measured in R&D dollars as a percent of GDP, has never been higher, at least according to the National Science Foundation.  The expense has shifted to the private sector, which I view positively.  In terms of basic infrastructure, I have no problem with government involvement in developing a new power grid, enhanced air traffic safety, and roads, though at least in the case of the first item, I'd prefer using tax incentives to spur the development rather than government mandates.  (On the flip side, I also have no problem with private roads, though those really won't catch on; companies have learned they may not always be especially profitable.)  We need to be careful about silly projects, like bridges to nowhere and train systems that no one will use.  I live in a choo-choo happy state, and 2-3 times a week, I see a poorly thought out train that is less than 50% full.  Opponents to the train pointed out long before it was completed that a far cheaper alternative would be enhanced bus use, but that's not as slick as a new train.  All alternatives should be explored when building out infrastructure.

As to space, the military space program is still quite robust, and unmanned exploration is continuing apace - if memory serves, we are currently investigating six different celestial bodies simultaneously, a new record - so I'm not convinced that a huge new push is needed there.  I'd have to see some cost-benefit analyses regarding specific projects before thinking it was a good idea.  Going to Mars sounds nice, for instance, and would be a great achievement in itself, but it wouldn't really add much value to society as a whole as existing technologies would be refined rather than entire new ones developed.  Given that space travel is in many ways a mature technology, I'd like to see a lot of it handed over to the private sector for commercial exploitation.  Of course, when China gets closer to going to the moon, various politial types will get all riled up, and the space program will get more public funding.  I just hope to not see politicians saying that we have to beat China to the moon again, as one did a few years ago, when the Chinese government announced its plans to go.

[eyeresist]

Is it possible for a country to grow rich with low taxes and low government investment?

Depends what you mean by "country". It's a recipe for a few people to grow immensely rich, in which case the average income etc is raised. But my understanding is that in the US, and the rest of the West for that matter, the majority of people remained pretty damned poor until the post-WW2 boom. As Douglas Adams put it, "nobody was really poor. At least, nobody worth speaking of."

[Karl Henning]

The New Newt is even less constrained by reason, law and prudence than the Old Newt.

But then, that could be what the Tea Party likes about him.

RTWT here.

There are certainly enough contradictions in his record, and he carries more baggage than an overburdened hotel porter. When National Review, that keeper of conservative ideological standards, recently criticized Gingrich for "his impulsiveness, his grandiosity, his weakness for half-baked (and not especially conservative) ideas," its editors were reciting from a catechism that his critics wrote long ago. Meet the new Newt, same as the old Newt.

RTWT here.

. . . the next drama in this fascinating train wreck of a campaign.

[eyeresist]

National Review, that keeper of conservative ideological standards, recently criticized Gingrich for "his impulsiveness, his grandiosity, his weakness for half-baked (and not especially conservative) ideas,"

Of course, only the bolded section bothers the Base.

Gee, snark much?

[Mirror Image]

I'd give an objective review of the Republican candidates if there were actually some running...

[snyprrr]

I'd give an objective review of the Republican candidates if there were actually some running...

good one!

[kishnevi]

But then, that could be what the Tea Party likes about him.

RTWT here.

RTWT here.

Newt attended the same college (Emory)I did, although we were fifteen years apart (Newt was class of 1965, I was class of 1980).  I used to be a little proud of this fact.  Now it's a very embarrassing thing.  Terrifying, when you think of it, since he almost certainly had some of the same professors as I did, especially in the History Department.   

On the other hand, we remain the only university in the world who can list the Dalai Lama as a member of the faculty.

ETA: just realized that, via me, all of you can say that Gingrich, the Dalai Lama, and President Carter fall within your personal six degrees of acquaintance.

[Mirror Image]

good one!

Thanks!

[snyprrr]

...the Foreign Policy Thread...



US Foreign Policy = making the world safe for compound interest!

[Mirror Image]

...the Foreign Policy Thread...



US Foreign Policy = making the world safe for compound interest!

[jowcol]

Newt attended the same college (Emory)I did, although we were fifteen years apart (Newt was class of 1965, I was class of 1980).  I used to be a little proud of this fact.  Now it's a very embarrassing thing.  Terrifying, when you think of it, since he almost certainly had some of the same professors as I did, especially in the History Department.   

On the other hand, we remain the only university in the world who can list the Dalai Lama as a member of the faculty.

ETA: just realized that, via me, all of you can say that Gingrich, the Dalai Lama, and President Carter fall within your personal six degrees of acquaintance.

Now I'm trying to imagine the Dalai Lama as a lobbyist historian.

[jowcol]

As to Dionne's reference to the "Train wreck of a Campaign"-- it reminds me of a discussion at work about a wanna-be Machiavellian  character in another division.  My boss said " I  don't mind his being diabolical.  I just wish he was competent at it."  That tends to summarize my feeling about the whole crew-- along with Obama as well.  For all of the hype we've heard on both sides, the truth is much more banal.

Funny how Romney and Grinch Gingrich used the death of Kim Jong Il to say how this was the time to come out hard on North Korea, and lambasted Obama for not applying strong diplomatic pressue.   Hmm.  Despotic, dysfunctional country we know nothing about? Has Nukes?  Our ally has their capital 40 km from the border?  What's to lose?  I'm sure the people at the Pentagon, Ft. Meade and Langley rolled their eyes at that one. 


It just goes to show that in politics, like television, you can't go broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people...
 

[kishnevi]

Now I'm trying to imagine the Dalai Lama as a lobbyist historian.

He comes every couple of years to lead seminars and lectures on topics such as ecumenicism (Emory is actually a leading Methodist university), science and religion, etc. 

Also within the six degrees of Emory Bacon are Kenneth Cole, the Indigo Girls, the guy who heads up NPR's Marketplace Today, and the theology prof who came up with the "God is Dead" idea back in the 1960s.

[eyeresist]

and the theology prof who came up with the "God is Dead" idea back in the 1960s.

I didn't know Nietzsche was a Methodist.

[ibanezmonster]

In the Orlando Sentinel, the political cartoon was of a kid elephant sitting in Santa's lap, telling him what he wants for Christmas.
"A candidate..."

[Karl Henning]

"Logic, however, is a flimsy leash for a mind as protean as Gingrich's . . . ."

[Karl Henning]

One non-myth about Paul: He's unelectable.

Futility and tenacity . . . somehow that pair of adjectives makes me think of a certain French opera, or of a certain contemporary of Berlioz's . . . .

Ron Paul's record in the House stands out for its futility and tenacity

[Karl Henning]

For the record: Critiquing Mitt as Dudley Do-Right in a Kim Kardashian world is grossly unfair to Dudley Do-Right . . . why don't these journalists do their homework?

Don't Count Mitt Romney Out of the 2012 GOP Nomination Battle Yet

[Todd]

Futility and tenacity

And bigotry, too!  Oh, wait, I forgot, Mr Paul didn't actually read or write those articles that appeared in the journals with his name emblazened on them.  Clearly he demonstrates the leadership and managerial acumen necessary to be prez. 

The mere thought of a racist old grandpa from Texas as president is hilarious.  Maybe his supposed support among youg people is more of the ironic kind.

[Karl Henning]

Hah!