23 May 2012
by Syrin
in Uncategorized
Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institute and author of The Housing Boom and Bust.
By THOMAS SOWELL
The fact that so many successful politicians are such shameless liars is not only a reflection on them, it is also a reflection on us. When the people want the impossible, only liars can satisfy them, and only in the short run. The current outbreaks of riots in Europe show what happens when the truth catches up with both the politicians and the people in the long run. Among the biggest lies of the welfare states on both sides of the Atlantic is the notion that the government can supply the people with things they want but cannot afford. Since the government gets its resources from the people, if the people as a whole cannot afford something, neither can the government.
There is, of course, the perennial fallacy that the government can simply raise taxes on “the rich” and use that additional revenue to pay for things that most people cannot afford. What is amazing is the implicit assumption that “the rich” are all such complete fools that they will do nothing to prevent their money from being taxed away. History shows otherwise.
After the Constitution of the United States was amended to permit a federal income tax, in 1916, the number of people reporting taxable incomes of $300,000 a year or more fell from well over a thousand to fewer than three hundred by 1921.
Were the rich all getting poorer? Not at all. They were investing huge sums of money in tax-exempt securities. The amount of money invested in tax-exempt securities was larger than the federal budget, and nearly half as large as the national debt.
This was not unique to the United States or to that era. After the British government raised their income tax on the top income earners in 2010, they discovered that they collected less tax revenue than before. Other countries have had similar experiences. Apparently the rich are not all fools, after all.
In today’s globalized world economy, the rich can simply invest their money in countries where tax rates are lower.
So, if you cannot rely on “the rich” to pick up the slack, what can you rely on? Lies.
Nothing is easier for a politician than promising government benefits that cannot be delivered. Pensions such as Social Security are perfect for this role. The promises that are made are for money to be paid many years from now — and somebody else will be in power then, left with the job of figuring out what to say and do when the money runs out and the riots start.
There are all sorts of ways of postponing the day of reckoning. The government can refuse to pay what it costs to get things done. Cutting what doctors are paid for treating Medicare patients is one obvious example.
That of course leads some doctors to refuse to take on new Medicare patients. But this process takes time to really make its full impact felt — and elections are held in the short run. This is another growing problem that can be left for someone else to try to cope with in future years.
Increasing amounts of paperwork for doctors in welfare states with government-run medical care, and reduced payments to those doctors, in order to stave off the day of bankruptcy, mean that the medical profession is likely to attract fewer of the brightest young people who have other occupations available to them — paying more money and having fewer hassles. But this too is a long-run problem — and elections are still held in the short run.
Eventually, all these long-run problems can catch up with the wonderful-sounding lies that are the lifeblood of welfare state politics. But there can be a lot of elections between now and eventually — and those who are good at political lies can win a lot of those elections.
As the day of reckoning approaches, there are a number of ways of seeming to overcome the crisis. If the government is running out of money, it can print more money. That does not make the country any richer, but it quietly transfers part of the value of existing money from people’s savings and income to the government, whose newly printed money is worth just as much as the money that people worked for and saved.
Printing more money means inflation — and inflation is a quiet lie, by which a government can keep its promises on paper, but with money worth much less than when the promises were made.
Is it so surprising voters with unrealistic hopes elect politicians who lie about being able to fulfill those hopes.
http://www.anchoragedailyplanet.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2650:sowell-52212&catid=34:editorials
18 May 2012
by Syrin
in Uncategorized
The adviser who led the team that vetted Sarah Palin for John McCain’s presidential bid in 2008 said Wednesday that even though the GOP ticket lost that election, he stands by the axiom “high risk, high reward.”
In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, A.B. Culvahouse, an attorney who has helped vet Republican vice presidential candidates in four election cycles, wrote that while the process of appraising Palin was brief, it was thorough.
“I advised Sen. McCain that because her duties had never encompassed foreign policy or defense issues Gov. Palin would not be ready to be vice president on Jan. 20, 2009—but that I believed she had the presence and wherewithal to grow into the position,” he wrote. “I summed up her selection as ‘high risk, high reward.’ I stand by that advice.”
The necessary scrutiny of potential running mates and investigation of their backgrounds can be awkward for all parties involved. Culvahouse describes the imperative of asking a battery of questions so personal, he “would not dream of posing [them] in any other context.”
“Short-listed potential VP nominees are required to hand over tax returns, medical histories, financial statements, court records, and anything else labeled ‘private and confidential,’ while also answering the most probing questions about themselves, their spouses, their children and their extended family,” Culvahouse wrote. “We asked about infidelity, sexual harassment, discrimination, plagiarism, alcohol or drug addiction, delinquent taxes, credit history, and use of government positions or resources for personal benefit. Nothing was off-limits.”
Culvahouse added that even though possible nominees act publicly coy about their prospects early in the process, he predicts few would turn down the opportunity to be vetted by the Romney campaign.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304070304577395783718349916.html?mod=rss_Politics_And_Policy
15 May 2012
by Syrin
in Uncategorized
When a planned reality show about Bristol Palin and her Dancing With the Stars friend Kyle Massey and his actor brother, Chris, fell apart, Lifetime offered the daughter of Sarah Palin her own series instead. “I was game for it,” says the 21-year-old single mom. “I wanted to show how down-to-earth my family and I are.”
The result: Bristol Palin: Life’s a Tripp, a 14-episode show premiering June 19 that follows Bristol and her 3½-year-old son, Tripp, from their hometown in Wasilla, Alaska, to Los Angeles, where Palin takes a job with a nonprofit.
“My parents were skeptical at first,” she admits. “But they know I’m responsible. I won’t be getting drunk on TV. This isn’t Jersey Shore. It’s a family show.” The most fun for her? “Watching my son grow up over the series – some of the stuff he says is hilarious!”
Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/ae/tv/tvguide/article/News-First-Look-Bristol-Palin-s-New-Reality-3559125.php#ixzz1uyRGPjVR
12 May 2012
by Syrin
in Uncategorized
Oregon competitive? Really?
By CHARLES MAHTESIAN
It seems like hardly a day goes by in which there isn’t a presidential poll to chew on. Some are good, some are bad, but more than anything else, they are inexact instruments that are open to interpretation.
Consider SurveyUSA’s recent Oregon poll, which found Barack Obama leading Mitt Romney by a slim four points.
Since Oregon is widely considered a likely or solidly Democratic state in November — and the president carried it by 17 percentage points in 2008 — the finding created a bit of chatter. The state hasn’t gone Republican at the presidential level since 1984 so a 4-point edge seems incongruous.
Here’s how Jeff Mapes of the Oregonian read the poll:
Oregon Republicans would certainly be cheered to hear that Mitt Romney is running just four points behind President Barack Obama in the state. And that’s exactly what a new poll from SurveyUSA found.
It puts Obama at 47 percent and Romney, the likely Republican nominee, at 43 percent. That’s not a bad result for Republicans, given that most pundits put the state solidly in Obama’s camp.
The only problem is that the SurveyUSA poll doesn’t sample enough Democrats. The poll of 1,468 registered voters including this party breakdown:
Democrats: 38 percent
Republicans: 35 percent
Other: 27 percent
But in the fall, it’s almost certain that Democrats will cast a higher percentage of the votes in Oregon…
If the SurveyUSA sample looked more like the 2010 election, Obama would widen his lead over Romney by several points. And Democrats will likely cast an even higher percentage of the vote this fall than they did in 2010.
Maybe Oregon will become a swing state, but this poll doesn’t show it.
Here’s how Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey viewed it:
The sample in this poll uses registered voters, a survey type that normally tilts a little more toward Democrats. The split might tilt more toward Republicans, though, with a D/R/I of 38/35/27. The D/R/I in 2008 was 36/27/37, and given that independents break more for Obama in this poll (44/33), the difference could be having a substantial impact on the results.
The other internals are intriguing. Anyone from Oregon will be unsurprised to discover that Obama’s strength comes from the Portland area, which he leads by 12 over Romney, but only at a bare majority of 50/38. In the rest of the state, Romney leads by 13 points, 53/40. Obama also leads among 18-34YOs, but not by as much as one would imagine, 49/38, short of a majority. Obama only scores majorities among self-described liberals and very liberals, while carrying Oregon moderates only by a plurality of 47/37.
Obama may have a solid lead, but it’s an unimpressive one in what should be a no-worry, loyal Democratic state. By failing to get to 50%, Obama gives an impression of vulnerability in Oregon, a state that last went Republican when Ronald Reagan ran for re-election. Romney might have Obama playing defense outside of the normally-accepted set of swing states in November.
Since it’s an automated poll, many political professionals will dismiss it. But it’s still an interesting snapshot of a state where there hasn’t been a ton of public polling. The good thing about the SurveyUSA poll is that it includes the cross tabs in a readable format, so you can judge for yourself which interpretation makes more sense to you.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/charlie-mahtesian/2012/05/oregon-competitive-really-123261.html
09 May 2012
by Syrin
in Uncategorized
By DON WALTON
Republican Senate candidate Deb Fischer snared the endorsement of Sarah Palin on Wednesday, and GOP rival Don Stenberg made the case during a final statewide campaign tour that he’s the conservative who can’t be changed by Washington.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Jon Bruning, the acknowledged frontrunner in the Republican primary tussle, turned his attention to presumptive Democratic nominee Bob Kerrey with a new TV ad campaign arguing that “restoring common sense to government starts with defeating Bob Kerrey and Barack Obama.”
Palin and her husband, Todd, told Fischer they support her bid for Nebraska’s Senate seat and will contribute to her campaign.
“We admire your conservative principles and know that you will not go to Washington to amass great wealth or power,” the Palins wrote in a note to Fischer. “You will go to Washington to serve the people of Nebraska, protect our Constitution and work for common sense solutions to help restore America.”
Fischer, a state senator from Valentine, earlier had written the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee requesting her support as “a fellow female Republican” and strong conservative.
Welcoming the endorsement of the Palins, Fischer said: “I greatly admire their willingness to stand on conservative principle and their resolve in standing up to the political establishment.”
http://m.journalstar.com/mobile/elections/palin-endorses-fischer-stenberg-says-he-s-the-conservative/article_c158e850-9397-5788-8b52-20e0f6097c27.html
06 May 2012
by Syrin
in Uncategorized
Sarah Palin’s qualifications were the overriding reason Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) selected Palin as his 2008 presidential running mate, he said Sunday.
Speaking about presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney selecting of a vice presidential running mate, McCain said on ABC’s “This Week” that the “primary, absolute, most important aspect is if something happened to him, would that person be well qualified to take that place?”
“I happen to believe that was the … primary factor on my decision in 2008,” McCain said, “and I know it will be Mitt’s.”
Having a “person [Romney] knows he could trust,” is also a critical consideration,” McCain told host Jake Tapper.
In the aftermath of McCain’s failed presidential campaign, Palin’s detractors – and some supporters – criticized her as ill-prepared to serve as president had she been pressed into duty. The recent movie “Game Change” dramatized just that.
Republicans are lucky this election cycle, McCain added, because they have a “very deep bench” when it comes to potential vice presidential nominees.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-live/2012/05/mccain-says-palin-vp-choice-based-on-her-qualifications-122579.html
03 May 2012
by Syrin
in Uncategorized
Driving to Girdwood Alaska for a fun packed weekend! It’s the end of the ski and snowboard season at Alyeska Ski Resort. And their turnin over the mountain to the motorheads! That is when all the snowmachining fanatics get together and tear the mountain up in an event called Alyeska Motor Madness!
Some of the XGames Gold, Silver and Bronze medalists are going to put on a ‘free style’ show. Which consists of back flips, whips and huge release moves. Oh, did I mentions all this on a snowmobile!
Have a great weekend!
02 May 2012
by Syrin
in Uncategorized
Paul has only 80 delegates to Romney’s 847
Remember Ron Paul?He has yet to win a primary. All his other fellow long-shots have dropped out (or will by the end of the day). The Republican National Committee is calling former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney the “presumptive nominee.”
Yet at state conventions around the country, Paul supporters are increasing the candidate’s support by taking over state party committees and educating fellow Paul fans in arcane rules.
While at many conventions Romney backers are split between numerous would-be delegates, Paul supporters are showing up in droves and voting with discipline for a delegate slate.
With a plurality of delegates from five states, Paul supporters could nominate him from the convention floor — the goal of at least some Paul supporters.
View Photo Gallery: The Republican primary process is far from over for Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) and his supporters.
A brokered convention is still unlikely. But a strong showing among delegates could help Paul score a speaking spot and some control over the party platform.
Here’s the latest on Paul’s strength in state committees and conventions:
At Massachusetts’ state convention less than half of Romney’s 27 chosen delegates won tickets to Tampa. Paul supporters were chosen instead. While all of the state’s delegates are committed to vote for Romney, the delegates get to decide on the party chairman, platform, and VP nominee.
Paul backers in Alaska were elected as party chairman and co-chairman but failed to change the rules to give Paul the state’s 24 delegates. (He will get six.)
Paul supporters are a majority in the Iowa GOP’s State Central Committee, and he’s set to claim a majority of the state’s delegates despite finishing third in the caucuses.
They dominated the caucuses in Louisiana, carrying four out of six congressional districts with a tie in a fifth. That means 74 percent of the state’s convention delegates will be Paul backers.
In Minnesota, Paul won 20 of 24 delegates allocated at congressional district conventions, and he’s expected to take more at the statewide convention.
Paul supporters teamed up with backers of former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum in Colorado to get 13 delegates.
The candidate has also picked up small delegate gains in states where Romney won big — for example, five delegates in Pennsylvania and four in Rhode Island.
Attempts to replicate these successes are taking place in other states across the country — for example, the upcoming state convention in Nevada.
“Taken together, these victories and those yet to happen forecast a prominent role for Ron Paul at the RNC,” Paul campaign manager John Tate said after the Colorado and Minnesota gains. “They also signal that the convention will feature a spirited discussion over whether conservatism will triumph over the status quo.”
Paul has only 80 delegates to Romney’s 847, according to an AP count. When all the various state conventions are over we’ll see how much support he’s gathered — and whether Romney should have paid more attention.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/ron-pauls-stealth-state-convention-takeover/2012/05/02/gIQAjJVPwT_blog.html
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