The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[Alex]

It depends on how they get pissed off. And Guiliani has a record of getting pissed off in bad ways and for bad reasons (especially when his dictatorial authority over New York was challenged). Don't know if that would be tempered by the office of the president or not.

I'm certainly interested in examining him more, I just have some reservations based on what I picked up as only a faintly casual observer of New York politics. Yes, he was impressive after 9/11, but then for quite a while so was a Bush. Before that, he was more of a mixed bag. If 9/11 hadn't happened I don't think there would have been any serious talk of him for president. That isn't a disqualifier, just something that I think may be telling.

As for Hillary, the only reason I probably will vote against her is that we disagree on many major issues. But I'll have to see who she is up against. I have nothing against her personally.

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

How about Guiliani/Rice against Clinton/Obama in '08? (I wonder if all the people who condemned the Bush "dynasty" as a reason not to vote for him will have a similar problem with a Clinton "dynasty."

My problem with Guiliani against Hillary is I fear he might pull out at the last miniute and let Hillary win by default.

It would be interesting to see if Hillary could one up Gore by losing in two home States though...something really only possible if Giuliani were to be the candidate for the Reps.

[Nephythys]

Originally Posted by Motorboat Cruiser

It will be interesting to see how many other republicans see it that way, being that the guy is pro gun control, pro gay marriage, pro choice, and has admitted to infidelity.

No argument there.


He won't get the Nom anyway-I doubt it anyway.

[Not Afraid]

Didn't he recently have cancer? That would scare away some votes.

[Strangler Lewis]

Could be. Paul Tsongas, who swore his cancer was a thing of the past, would not have lived out his first term. Kerry, McCain and Giuliani have all been treated for cancer. John Edwards's wife is sick, which also could be a distraction.

[Nephythys]

By the way, al-Qaida claims to have 12,000 fighters ready for death in Iraq. Once we leave and it takes over, it won't be the end — not by a mile. As al-Qaida said Monday, next it wants to topple Lebanon's democratically elected regime.

So much for the Democrats' notion that only Afghanistan represents "the real war on terror."

So in case you're thinking maybe this new era of appeasement and walking away from our enemies will work, it pretty much looks like the answer is no.

Our enemies, real and potential, seem to think the U.S. is weaker today than it was before the election.

It will be up to us as a nation — and to our newly shifted Congress — to prove them wrong.

link

Got to be a feather in the cap of dems to be endorsed by terrorists.

[Nephythys]

Link

That was fast. A mere two days after Democrats capture Congress claiming they wouldn't raise taxes, former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin tells them they should do so anyway.

True to form.

By the way, the federal deficit for fiscal 2006 was only 1.9% of GDP, which is lower than all but eight years since 1975. Add in the budget surpluses at the state level, and the overall U.S. fiscal "deficit" is economically trivial. It is all but irrelevant to Mr. Rubin's complaint that the U.S. borrows too much from "foreigners." Those foreigners invest here because of safety and soundness and the expected after-tax return. The quickest way to drive away those investors is to reduce that return by raising taxes.

But but but!! I thought we were BROKE!

Excellent article.

[sleepyjeff]

The real reason Rubin wants to raise taxes;

...Mr. Rubin's real game here is politics. The Citigroup Inc. executive is part of Hillary Rodham Clinton's braintrust, and he and she would like nothing better than to coax Mr. Bush into raising taxes in the next two years. That would take the tax issue off the table in 2008, while splintering Republicans the way President George H.W. Bush's tax-hike deal with George Mitchell did going into 1992.

[wendybeth]

Aren't you guys glad the Dems are taking over the Congress? Now you'll have lots more to complain about- I mean, they haven't even taken over yet and you are already on a roll!

Someone has to finance this war, btw. Generously sending other people's kids over to serve as cannon fodder isn't going to cut it- you may actually have to underwrite it financially as well. Be interesting to see how many warhawks start backpedaling once this adventure starts hitting their wallets.

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

Aren't you guys glad the Dems are taking over the Congress? Now you'll have lots more to complain about- I mean, they haven't even taken over yet and you are already on a roll!

This is our one silver lining....so much easier to complain then to defend