Politics A-Z
Utah economist Jeff Thredgold’s Tea Leaves economic update this week features an A-Z listing of domestic economic/political observations. Here’s a sample:
Arrogance—the perils of power for the Republican leadership in the halls of Congress made a mockery of prior Republican values. Add in scandal and the Iraqi situation and a perfect storm struck
Bush—very low approval ratings have limited his ability to get desired legislation passed. His Social Security reform desire is dead…his prescription drug program ought to be. His version of immigration reform will be a tough sell
Congress—the good news for the Democrats?...Majority control. The bad news?...Margins are so thin that any Presidential vetoes will be impossible to overturn without Republican support
Democrats—one positive reality of split government is that extreme positions simply have no chance of becoming legislation. Governing from the center is the only way to get anything done
Earmarks—in 1994, the Republicans called the 1,500 earmarks (pork barrel spending items) in Democratic spending bills a fiscal disgrace. This year, the Republican-controlled Congress approved closer to 15,000 earmarks, at a cost exceeding $10 billion. Did someone lose their way?
Federal Reserve—seventeen 0.25% tightening moves between June 2004 and June 2006, with the Fed then moving to the sidelines. The impact of Democratic control of the Congress on the Fed?…somewhere between zero and none
Global Economy—another year of real (inflation adjusted) growth above 4.0% now unfolding makes for the strongest four-year period since the early 1970s. Good political news here
Washington Watch
$$ for Utah Military Installations
Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett hail the Senate's approval of an appropriations bill that includes funding for Utah military installations and projects (see Hatch and Bennett press releases).
Matheson Introduces Blue Dogs
Rep. Jim Matheson joins "members of the Blue Dog Coalition to introduce newly-elected Blue Dog Co-Chairs and present the 9 new Blue Dogs-elect. Matheson has served as Co-Chair for Administration during the 109th session of Congress" (see press release).
Regional Politics
The West's Growing Political Clout
Howard Fineman: "American politics has always been defined (or imprisoned) by Mason and Dixon, by regional rifts engendered by slavery, the Civil War and the Bible Belt. But now the relevant names are Lewis and Clark. The land west of the Mississippi, especially west of the 100th meridian, is the new swing region -- and the place where Democrats hope to win the White House. 'It's our 21st-century-majority strategy,' said Simon Rosenberg of the New Democratic Network.... The westward trend is clear. For the first time, leaders of the House and Senate are from the Far West. Democrats put Nevada in a crucial early spot in the presidential-selection process, and will hold their convention in Denver. Republican front runners have Western roots (Sen. John McCain from Arizona, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a leader of the Utah-based Mormons).... The key presidential swing states now: the cluster of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada" (Newsweek).
National Politics
McCain to the Rescue
In his "On the Trail" column for NationalJournal.com, Chuck Todd describes why he thinks Sen. John McCain will be the savior of the Republican Party.
Blog Watch
The Senate Site reports post-caucus meeting: "Fourth congressional district. We're going to go for it" (see also here, here, and here).... Utah Taxpayer says: "Sen. Lyle Hillyard is sponsoring legislation that would annually deposit oil and gas severance tax revenues above $41 million into the permanent state trust fund. Interest from the permanent state trust fund would be used for long-term capital projects. ... This proposal is long overdue".... Paul Rolly explains why outgoing SL Co. Sheriff Aaron Kennard is "a class act"... Ed Meyer says: "I recently learned that water officials in Iron County have filed for water rights in Beaver County to meet the needs of the rapidly growing Cedar City area. My concern is that, should this and other water grabs by rapidly growing areas be approved, those areas from which the water was transferred will never be in a position to develop a strong local economy. Especially in the West, water is key to growth and economic development. Basically, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. A key question might be, 'Why is the growth of Cedar City today more important than that of Milford tomorrow?'".... At Out of Context, Heather May reports: "Not even politicians are immune from burglary. City Councilman Dave Buhler said his wife's purse was stolen Monday night from the Suburban at their home near 1400 South and 2000 East. Their eldest daughter came upon the intruder as she was walking the family dog. He was leaning into the family vehicle. As he left, he said 'Hi,' and ran away. The car likely was left unlocked. 'We're victims,' Buhler said, joking that the public normally has the perception of politicians being the crooks".... At The American Thinker, James Lewis says: "Suppose the GOP candidate in '08 were a conservative who communicates better than George W., has excellent executive experience, knows how to appeal to a wide range of voters, and runs on constructive conservative ideas? Of all the current candidates, only Governor Mitt Romney fits that bill. ... Historically, governors are more electable than members of Congress. ... Romney can make the case that he his more of a principled conservative than Rudi Giuliani and John McCain. He is more electable than Newt. He is more experienced than Condi Rice. Romney deserves a closer look" (see also here and here).
Thursday Musings
Here’s a Cowboy Poem
I grew up in farm country, but I’m no cowboy. Still, it was a lot of fun to attend the annual Cowboy Poetry Round-Up, a fundraising event held at the State Fairpark last week to benefit the Heber City Cowboy Poetry Gathering. I had no idea that folks like Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert, Lane Beattie, and Kem Gardner could dress up like cowboys and recite poetry celebrating cowboy heritage and tradition.
If you think you might like cowboy poetry, check out the web site of the Western Folklife Center in Elko, Nevada, or the Cowboy Poetry web site.
One of the evening’s gifts was a book of cowboy poetry. Most poems are quite long, but here’s a rather short cowboy poem:
How Many Cows?
By Nyle A. Henderson
(Source -- Cowboy Poetry: A Gathering, edited by Hal Cannon)
A fella from town stopped by the other day.
The talk that we had sorta went this-a-way.
He said, “I’ve got something that I’d like to ask you,
And if you know the answer, I’d like to know, too.
“I want to be a rancher and at prices today,
How many cows would I need to make my livin’ pay?
Would a thousand cows be better than just one or two?
Do you have any advice on what I should do?”
“Now that’s a tough question I’ll tell you for sure,
Not one that can be solved with any one cure.
Machinery’s sky high and so is the land,
And interest rates are more than anyone can stand.
“And there’s imports and embargoes and all the like,
Remember now, as a rancher that you can’t go on strike.
There’s politicians, vegetarians and ecologists, too,
And a hundred government agencies tellin’ you what to do.
“There’s the cost of fuel and fences and labor and seed,
And tools and tires and water and feed.
There’s always a horse needin’ shod and veterinary bills,
I’m tellin’ ya friend, ranchin’ ain’t all thrills!
“Startin’ early in spring you’ll be calvin’ all night,
There’s still feedin’ to be done and the water’s froze tight!
Insurance and utilities are always goin’ up,
And remember, that wife of yours is about ready to pup.
“The whole cost of operating hasn’t yet reached a peak,
While the price of beef is just pretty darn weak.
So here is the answer to this little test,
The man with the fewest is doin’ the best.
“Only he’s not makin’ more, like you might guess,
The fact is, my friend, he’s just losin’ less!” |
