Minor Thoughts

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George Will offers a strong defense of campaign funding and points out that spending doesn’t buy elections. The Post, dismayed about super PACs, reports “a rarefied group of millionaires and billionaires acting as kingmakers in the GOP contest, often helping to decide, with a simple transfer of money, which candidate might survive another day.” Kingmakers? [...]

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The Democratic Senate has not adopted a budget in three years. This is not only flagrantly irresponsible, it is a violation of federal law. Outgoing Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, who is retiring at the end of the year, apparently felt pangs of conscience, because he decided it was finally time for his committee to [...]

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Arnold Kling offers some perceptive words Congressional budgeting and campaign rhetoric. Because the budget is so far from being sustainable, budget rhetoric needs to be re-interpreted. When their side refuses to cut spending because it would be “cruel,” they are ensuring that future spending cuts will be even crueler. When our side refuses to raise [...]

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Under Arizona law, as in most states, anytime two or more people work together to support or oppose a ballot issue, they become a “political committee.” Even before they speak, they must register with the state, and then they must track every penny they spend, and if spending more than a small amount, fill out complicated reports detailing every move.

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For months, unions have told us that after their state-senate recall efforts in Wisconsin, lawmakers would learn not to scale back their collective-bargaining “rights.” The recalls would warn any state thinking about passing a law like Governor Walker’s to think again. Yet after Tuesday night’s recall elections, only one lesson is perfectly clear: …

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Many people opposed the Wisconsin “union busting” bill because it was (so they believed) aimed solely at depriving the state Democrats of funding.

Question: using the same reasoning, do you oppose President Obama’s planned executive order? Or is it only wrong when Republicans do it?

(Note: I still disagree with that characterization of Governor Walker’s budget repair …

If you hanker for a more civilized era in politics, this snappy video will give you what you’re looking for.

Four billion dollars? Yes, it is a lot, but consider the stakes. Here’s another interesting number: $414 billion — the interest the Treasury paid on our national debt this year. Worried about foreign money? Try that on for size.

Holy cow. The Wisconsin Democrat is calling it quits:

In a major blow to Democrats, House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey has told close associates that he will not seek re-election and an announcement of his plans is expected as early as Wednesday.

The Wisconsin Democrat faces tough poll numbers at …

Apparently, the political system is “broken” because the political system no longer wants Charlie Crist. Good to know.