| 
Thursday Musing
Why Do Candidates Ignore Federalism?
Thomas Jefferson said the “foundation of the Constitution” was federalism: “that ‘all powers not delegated to the United States, by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states or to the people.’”
Jefferson continued: “To take a single step beyond the boundaries thus specially drawn around the powers of Congress, is to take possession of a boundless field of power, no longer susceptible of any definition.”
What Jefferson feared has come to pass. The Congress has taken possession of a “boundless field of power” and the result is a federal government that has taken on a scope of work that is impossible to efficiently, prudently and economically execute. The federal role is “no longer susceptible to any definition.”
Given the federal government’s abysmal performance and failure to deal with and resolve the major issues facing the country, it’s surprising that few, if any, leaders in significant positions are talking about the enormous imbalance in the federal system as a root cause of federal dysfunction. It is also disappointing that none of the Republican presidential candidates are campaigning on restoring balance in the federal system. They all want to be like Ronald Reagan, but federalism was an enormous (and winning) issue for Reagan. With federal failure on many fronts, and a Congress mired in the lowest job performance rating in history, federalism would be a terrific campaign issue today. It would allow a candidate to run against Washington with a real plan to change things.
The reality is that the federal government has usurped power and authority to the point that it has created a job description for itself that is no longer doable. A proper sorting out of roles needs to occur with much authority and money flowing back to the states, so the federal government can successfully accomplish the things it was created to do. Any candidates listening out there?
Trade With China
Utah economist Jeff Thredgold’s Tea Leaf economic update this week focuses on China’s economic impact, particularly its exports to America. “American imports from mainland China will exceed $300 billion this year. The U.S. trade imbalance (U.S. imports minus U.S. exports) in 2007 with the Chinese will exceed the $232 billion record established last year, the largest annual deficit ever recorded with any nation.”
Today in Political History
July 19, 1941: British Prime Minister Winston Churchill launches his "V for Victory" campaign in Europe. (New York Times)
July 19, 1967: Congress outlaws crossing state lines to "incite to riot". H. Rap Brown arrested at the Washington airport under the new law on July 26.
July 19, 1993: President Bill Clinton announces his "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy regarding gays in the military. (Source: Perspicuity)
Wise Words
"I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all."
--Laura Ingalls Wilder (Salt Lake Tribune Cryptoquote)
Utah Political Trivia
In 2006, contributions to candidates for state offices from 10 industry categories accounted for 33% of all contributions. Industry name and amount:
Candidate Self-finance, $231,410; Party Committees, $125,790; Real Estate, $111,219; Insurance, $88,350; Commercial Banks, $51,700; Other/Single Issue Groups, $49,274; Pharmaceuticals & Health Products, $43,200; Candidate Committees, $38,575; Business Services, $33,130; and Health Professionals, $32,600. (Source: Follow the Money)
National Politics
Best Stories From …
-- The Politico: "The Republican establishment is rallying to the defense of President Bush and his controversial war strategy, with some GOP members of Congress cherry-picking intelligence about a resurgent Al Qaeda to buy at least two more months for Bush's Iraq strategy."
-- Los Angeles Times: "Lawmakers who have led the drive to bring troops home from Iraq have not devised a strategy to deal with the widespread killings that could follow a pullout, recent interviews with more than two dozen Democrats and Republicans show."
-- New York Times: Columnist David Brooks: "I spent the first four days of last week interviewing senators about Iraq. The mood ranged from despondency to despair. Then Friday I went to the Roosevelt Room in the White House to hear President Bush on the same subject. It was like entering a different universe."
-- Bloomberg: "Wall Street donors are demonstrating their disenchantment with President George W. Bush and his policies on Iraq and the economy by giving more to Democratic presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton than to Republican candidates."
Blog Watch
-- At Out of Context, Thomas Burr reports: "Sen. Orrin Hatch stayed up most of [Tuesday] night as the Senate held what some are calling a pajama party: an all-night debate on withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq. Hatch took a nap in his Senate office but returned to the floor at 5:30 this morning to speak. And, remember, he doesn't drink coffee so he didn't even get a caffeine jolt. I'm not sure how many C-SPAN 2 viewers were watching that early in the morning, but give Hatch credit for using what I'm going to term as a $10 word. 'Mr. President, absquatulation is not a policy,' Hatch said. Wouldn't you love to hear the president try to use that word?"
-- UAC Blog posts a July legislative interim recap.
-- Reach Upward says Mitt Romney's "real Mormon problem" lies in the area of campaign finances.
Lighter Side
Best of Late Night Humor
Jay Leno: Another scorching day. They say this heat is either due to global warming or because it’s July. They are not quite sure. ... Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff said that he had a gut feeling that there would be another terrorist attack this summer. Now is that reliable? How do we know it’s not just bad clams? It’s like, “False alarm. It was Long John Silver, we’re gonna be fine.” ... Former President Bill Clinton said he is backing his wife because she is the most qualified and not be cause of any spousal obligation. And believe me, if there’s one guy who’s not swayed by spousal obligation, it’s Bill Clinton. ... Bill Clinton is about to publish a new book called “Giving.” “Giving?” Shouldn’t “Getting” be the name of his new book? ... Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama have all agreed to appear at the first-ever gay debate. The whole debate will only deal with gay issues. Like gay marriage and things like that... Each candidate has an appeal for gay voters. I mean, Barack Obama knows what it’s like to face intolerance; John Edwards gets $400 haircuts; and Hillary is really in need of a makeover. ... John Edwards said today that he has always supported gay rights. Edwards said the only problem he’s ever had with gays is that they charge too much for a haircut. ... Senator Ted Kennedy reported for jury duty this week, but was dismissed because of a conflict of interest. Turns out all 15 trials that day involved other Kennedys. |
