Political Punditry Beyond 11/6/2012

[Karl Henning]

The most sober column I've seen from Jennifer Rubin in . . . months. (When she finally drank the Kool-Aid™ for Romney, she took it big.)

Third, insiders can be dim and cut off from reality, just as grassroots organizers can be. Do the new NRSC chiefs Sens. Jim Moran (R-Kan.) and Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) know anything about choosing candidates in Illinois or New Hampshire? I don't know, but it is concerning when the freshman senator from Texas begins by popping off with the very sort of language that puts off voters outside of the conservative base. ("I'm pretty certain Mitt Romney actually French-kissed Barack Obama.")

The point is that you need people with good judgment and out-of-the-bubble-of-the-base thinking heading the effort if you are going to expand and not further contract the GOP's appeal.

[Karl Henning]

Oh my.

http://www.youtube.com/v/dX_1B0w7Hzc

[Todd]

The wealth tax idea in the Gray Lady once more!  $500K in assets is apparently "rich" now.  No way this would discourage saving and investing.  And then there's the whole small business thing, which even the author acknowledges:

By contrast, people with wealth tied up in property and small businesses might have real trouble coming up with enough cash to pay the tax.  This is a problem that can be solved, or at least mitigated, by making payment periods flexible over several years.

Over several years?  I believe he means in perpetuity. 

If this type of idiocy gathers steam, I advise investing in safe manufacturers via an offshore account. 

[kishnevi]

The wealth tax idea in the Gray Lady once more!  $500K in assets is apparently "rich" now.  No way this would discourage saving and investing.  And then there's the whole small business thing, which even the author acknowledges:

By contrast, people with wealth tied up in property and small businesses might have real trouble coming up with enough cash to pay the tax.  This is a problem that can be solved, or at least mitigated, by making payment periods flexible over several years.

Over several years?  I believe he means in perpetuity. 

If this type of idiocy gathers steam, I advise investing in safe manufacturers via an offshore account.

It would perhaps be worthwhile reviewing the history of the estate tax, and the reasons why the tax exemption was raised again and again over the years.....

[Todd]

It would perhaps be worthwhile reviewing the history of the estate tax

Perhaps, or perhaps not.  This proposal is broader than the estate tax.  It's a switch to outright, annual state confiscation based on assets.  Of course, the intention is to replace income taxes with asset taxes.  Sounds nice, I suppose, but that has a zero percent probability of occurring.  But I can see people obsessed with "fairness" saying to the rich ($500K+ per the author's formulation) that they really ought not to have so much.  The state knows better what to do with such excess wealth.  I wonder how much traction this would get if the net present value of future transfer payments and pensions - especially state pensions - were included in asset calculations.  But that probably wouldn't be fair. 

Incidentally, the estate tax exemption is slated to fall to $1 million next year.  Will that happen?

[Karl Henning]

Bring on the popcorn!

[Karl Henning]

Mike Huckabee is out to demonstrate that Romney isn't the only Republican with a tin ear.

[Todd]

Bring on the popcorn!

It will be interesting to watch the outcome of establishment Republicans battling conservative Republicans.  In some states and jurisdictions, more conservative is better from an electability standpoint, but nationally it is not, at least not without someone closer to Reagan than the current crop.  I see a big part of the Republican future in someone like George P Bush.  He's almost a dream candidate in some respects: an hispanic Bush.  It may be worth watching the Texas Land Commissioner race in 2014.

[Sammy]

Mike Huckabee is out to demonstrate that Romney isn't the only Republican with a tin ear.

Have you ever watched Huckabee's show on Fox News.  I saw it once - could make one puke.

[Mirror Image]

Have you ever watched Huckabee's show on Fox News.  I saw it once - could make one puke.

Yeah, Huckabutt is another one of these Republican losers that thinks having a show on Fox somehow puts him on the road to stardom.

[Bogey]

I feel that the Republican party has also kept George W. Bush at a decent distance from chiming in.  It may now seem that his policies are much more "electable" and they may want to reconsider.  Plus, I believe that you will see a bit of "nostalgia" begin to work for the 43rd President.

[Bogey]

[Karl Henning]

I shall feel a bit like that on duty at the museum shop this evening : )

[Bogey]

I shall feel a bit like that on duty at the museum shop this evening : )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSHr4ubuD64

[kishnevi]

Having been at work today from before  6 AM until 4 PM, I think Bogey's cartoon is not realistic enough.  The cowboy should be on the ground, being trampled by the cattle, and the observer would be able to notice that at least half the cows involved are, even for bovines, remarkably idiotic.   (That will tell you what sort of day I had!)

Karl, which museum is that?

[Bogey]

Having been at work today from before  6 AM until 4 PM, I think Bogey's cartoon is not realistic enough.  The cowboy should be on the ground, being trampled by the cattle, and the observer would be able to notice that at least half the cows involved are, even for bovines, remarkably idiotic.   (That will tell you what sort of day I had!)

Karl, which museum is that?

Hope today is going much better for you.   

[Bogey]

Really beginning to enjoy Harvell's editorial cartoons. 

[Karl Henning]

Having been at work today from before  6 AM until 4 PM, I think Bogey's cartoon is not realistic enough.  The cowboy should be on the ground, being trampled by the cattle, and the observer would be able to notice that at least half the cows involved are, even for bovines, remarkably idiotic.   (That will tell you what sort of day I had!)

Karl, which museum is that?

MFA Boston.

[Todd]

Anyone want to start a pool on whether this gains traction?