(1 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
Loading ...Florida’s Results: It’s Not the Economy?
Yesterday’s election results demonstrated the deep divide in the Republican party. Security, the Economy and Religion are still the three keys the party loyal, and I still don’t think the Republican’s have a front runner or even a possible ticket that can unite all three.
Talk Radio - which speaks directly to the Republican base is staunchly apposed to McCain for being too liberal on immigration, campaign finance, and other issues. Meanwhile, Romney has somehow emerged as the “conservative” candidate, at least when it comes to the economy. The only foreign policy experience he has are joint ventures with the Chinese government.
Rudy dropping out of the race will help McCain, but not as people are talking. Rudy was a candidate with significant executive and perceived foreign policy experience. Outside of his direct supporters in the NY area, many who value executive and economic experience will certainly end up in the Romney camp.
And lets not forget Mike Huckabee, like it or not, he represents a significant portion of the Republican party. Unless the Republicans plan on going to an election without Evangelical support, they are going to have to choose their VP very wisely.
If you ask me what McCain’s Florida victory does for Mike Bloomberg - I think it leaves a massive gap in the races for someone who has economic experience. Ironically, on the Democratic side of the aisle they are having the same problem. So here we are in a time of economic downturn, and neither of the major candidates know how to balance the books. Great, if only there was another option?
January 30th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
I always thought this race was going to come down to the economy and who best could address the key issue of Domestic Ecomonic Stability and sustainability. all other issues pale in comparison and will be seen as stemming from this Key Economy issue. Bloomberg can distinguish himself with his intuitive sense on how the economy, business, and finance REALLY work. Plus he has great quals in the aarea of actually managing something and doing it in a transparent and fully accountable manner and in a bipartisan manner. No small feat!
Bloomberg will have to somehow have to bae able to make the case that he can cover the National and International Security issues that will necessarily impinge on this race at some point. He will have to announce people in his cabinet and VEEP that could cover him there and maybe by appointing a Grand Foerign Policy Strategy Bipartisan Task Force could do that. Maybe something Sam Nunn or Chuck Hagel/Bob Kerrey/George Mitchell as Veeps or obther cabinet officers could head up!! The economy issues will impinge in this area as well as we are tied at the hip with the rest of the world and live in an Interdependent world now!
January 30th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
This article doesn’t have to do with Bloomberg directly, but says a lot about why he SHOULD run:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/30/us/politics/30south.html?pagewanted=1&ref=politics
January 30th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Maybe Bloomie could hook up with the Concord Coalition’s Fiscal Wake-Up Tour:
http://www.concordcoalition.com/events/fiscal-wake-up/index.html
The Concord Coalition is organizing a series of public forums around the country designed to focus attention on our nation’s daunting long-term fiscal challenges. It is called The Fiscal Wake Up Tour. Upcoming Fiscal Wake-Up Tour Dates & Locations:
Monday, February 4: Phoenix, AZ
Wednesday, February 27: Madison, WI
Wednesday, March 5: Berkeley, CA
Thursday, March 6: Fresno, CA
Tuesday, March 25: Pittsburgh, PA
Monday, April 28: St. Louis, MO
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16404375
Traveling Economists Sound Alarm on Fiscal Crisis
While politicians in Washington, D.C., get their dukes up over spending bills, some policy analysts are taking the long view on the federal budget, and hoping you will, too.
According to the Government Accountability Office, the national debt — plus the obligations the federal government has promised to pay out in the future — equals $50 trillion.
To drive home how large that amount of money is, policy analysts packed up their PowerPoint presentations and hit the road, visiting lecture halls across the country to explain the breakdown of the federal budget. It’s the Fiscal Wake-Up Tour, featuring policy experts from across the political spectrum.
The opening act is Robert Bixby of the financially conservative Concord Coalition. Also on board: Stuart Butler of the conservative Heritage Foundation; Douglas Elmendorf, from the left-leaning Brookings Institution; and David Walker, the Comptroller general of the United States.
The alarm the tour has spread across dozens of states in the past two years is this: If the Federal Government continues its current course in the coming years the country will go deep into the red.
What’s the biggest problem? Among these experts, it’s Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security — the promised future benefits for retirees and the poor and sick.
Controller David Walker says the government is spending every penny it takes in right now in Social Security taxes, and not saving the surplus to pay for actual benefits later. The rapid rise in health care costs is an even bigger problem, shooting up by more than 6 percent a year.
January 30th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Maybe Bloomie could hook up with the Concord Coalition’s Fiscal Wake-Up Tour:
http://www.concordcoalition.com/events/fiscal-wake-up/index.html
Concord is organizing a series of public forums around the country designed to focus attention on our nation’s daunting long-term fiscal challenges. It is called The Fiscal Wake Up Tour. The upcoming tour dates and locations are:
Monday, February 4: Phoenix, AZ
Wednesday, February 27: Madison, WI
Wednesday, March 5: Berkeley, CA
Thursday, March 6: Fresno, CA
Tuesday, March 25: Pittsburgh, PA
Monday, April 28: St. Louis, MO
Check out this NPR report on the tour:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16404375
Traveling Economists Sound Alarm on Fiscal Crisis-
“While politicians in Washington, D.C., get their dukes up over spending bills, some policy analysts are taking the long view on the federal budget, and hoping you will, too.
According to the Government Accountability Office, the national debt — plus the obligations the federal government has promised to pay out in the future — equals $50 trillion.
To drive home how large that amount of money is, policy analysts packed up their PowerPoint presentations and hit the road, visiting lecture halls across the country to explain the breakdown of the federal budget. It’s the Fiscal Wake-Up Tour, featuring policy experts from across the political spectrum.
The opening act is Robert Bixby of the financially conservative Concord Coalition. Also on board: Stuart Butler of the conservative Heritage Foundation; Douglas Elmendorf, from the left-leaning Brookings Institution; and David Walker, the Comptroller general of the United States.
The alarm the tour has spread across dozens of states in the past two years is this: If the federal Government continues its current course in the coming years the country will go deep into the red.
Bloomie would be perfect for this Forum and challenge the other candidates on this truly nation-buster issue!
What’s the biggest problem? Among these experts, it’s Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security — the promised future benefits for retirees and the poor and sick.
Controller David Walker says the government is spending every penny it takes in right now in Social Security taxes, and not saving the surplus to pay for actual benefits later. The rapid rise in health care costs is an even bigger problem, shooting up by more than 6 percent a year. “
Bloomie would be perfect for this Tour and challenge the other candidates on this truly nation-buster issue!