The Rivett Report 04.16.07
Posted by Joe Rivett on 04.16.2007
This week you'll read about other Republican candidates besides Mitt McRudy...
Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen to the Rivett Report. I would like to give a big shout out to Jason EZ Easley for filling in for me. I spent a wonderful week in Basye Virginia and I'm back ready to roll.
Fred Thompson Believes In Tax Cuts
Fred Thompson, soon to be presidential candidate, wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal about how tax cuts work the best in helping the economy. It appears he is taking the next step in the Republican Primary presidential process by saying he is pro tax cuts. Here is a snippet of what he wrote:
In fact, Treasury statistics show that tax revenues have soared and the budget deficit has been shrinking faster than even the optimists projected. Since the first tax cuts were passed, when I was in the Senate, the budget deficit has been cut in half.
Remarkably, this has happened despite the financial trauma of 9/11 and the cost of the War on Terror. The deficit, compared to the entire economy, is well below the average for the last 35 years and, at this rate, the budget will be in surplus by 2010.
Perhaps the most fascinating thing about this success story is where the increased revenues are coming from. Critics claimed that across-the-board tax cuts were some sort of gift to the rich but, on the contrary, the wealthy are paying a greater percentage of the national bill than ever before.
The richest 1% of Americans now pays 35% of all income taxes. The top 10% pay more taxes than the bottom 60%.
The reason for this outcome is that, because of lower rates, money is being invested in our economy instead of being sheltered from the taxman. Greater investment has created overall economic strength. Job growth is robust, overcoming trouble in the housing sector; and the personal incomes of Americans at every income level are higher than they've ever been.
My Analysis
Fred Thompson isn't writing this if he's not running for president. I think Thompson is the Obama of the Republicans. I say this because I don't believe either Thompson or Obama ever envisioned running for president in 08 but when you see polls that make you an automatic frontrunner, it is difficult to resist. Also memo to Republicans, you won the debate that tax cuts are good, what you need to do now is to come up with a way to make them done more efficiently or more fair like what Tommy Thompson is proposing with flat taxation or even progressive flat taxation.
Anyway, some polls I am reading put Fred Thompson in second place behind Rudy.
Nine Republicans at one place in Iowa rip each other a new one
Nine Republican presidential contenders gave speeches to about a 1000 Republican activists and we are now seeing the candidates differentiate themselves and speak ill of each other. Here are some of the comments made by the guys at the bottom of the haystack attacking the liberalness of Rudy, Romney, and McCain:
Jim Gilmore: "Rudy McRomney is not a conservative, and he knows he's not a conservative"
Mike Huckabee: "Every single person who comes to this podium will tell you he's a true conservative. You'll have to sort out whether that's true, but let me tell you the good news: At least it proves in our party it still matters to be a conservative and no one but a conservative has any hope of getting elected to the presidency from the Republican party in 2008… Let me tell you what I'm not late in showing up for: I'm not late in declaring that I believe life begins at conception and we ought to protect human life… I'm not late coming into the idea that the Second Amendment is not about protecting our capacity to go hunting deer, turkey duck and antelope."
Tom Tancredo: ""They have spent a lifetime on the other side, while their policies and actions have encouraged more illegals to cross our borders. ... These candidates now want us to believe they have seen the light. But I think they lack the will or the courage to solve this crisis."
Tommy Thompson:"We got beat in the last election. We went to Washington to change Washington, and I think Washington changed us. We tried to spend money as foolishly and as fast and as ridiculously as the Democrats… If the voters are going to vote for a spender, they'll always vote for the professional spenders, the Democrats."
My analysis
These candidates are doing the right thing on subtly attacking their opponents. However, is it me or are Republicans obsessed with flip-flopping? Who cares is someone recently supported conservative causes? The fact is that they support them now. I used to believe that abortion was wrong no matter what and now I'm pro choice; it is called changing your mind and sometimes it is okay. Lastly, politicians are supposed to pander a little bit, if they didn't then they wouldn't have political advisors and polls.
A Republican viewpoint of the event from the inside
I was stunned by the crowd's subdued tone. As I left, the thought came to me this meeting might have been much like Russian Communist Party's just before the Soviet Union imploded.
The GOP will need a lot more than Glasnost to regain power and remain a significant influence in 21st century American politics.
For what it's worth every young person I've spoken with on the campaign trail to date lights up and agrees with my comment their generation is getting "screwed" by out of control education and home prices impairing their chances to start families.
Except for campaign aides, there were very few college age kids there.
I think in the next couple weeks I am going to point out why the GOP is losing support among young people.
Headlines
It's the Oil Stupid - Victor Davis Hansen, Real Clear Politics
One of the reasons Bush is so unpopular is that he waited too long to do anything about oil and only seems to talk about the problem. Victor Davis Hansen, a staunch conservative writes: "If the United States could curb its voracious purchases of foreign oil by using conservation, additional petroleum production, nuclear power, alternate fuels, coal gasification and new technologies, the world price might return to below $40 a barrel."
A McCain Surge - Fred Barnes, The Weekly Standard
Fred's thesis is that McCain by steadfastly supporting the surge is now gaining among Republicans and will be his only shot in winning the nomination. I agree, he isn't the most social or fiscal conservative but he is the most pro war candidate and many Republicans are still pro war.
A good column to read
Josh White and Dan Martin go head-to-head on whether or not we should care about global warming. Both present good arguments and you should check them both out.
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