I have decided to support Joe Kernan (D) in Indiana’s gubernatorial race, primarily based upon (1) his reputation as a moderate and (2) Mitch Daniel’s (the Republican candidate) role in drafting a federal budget that included a near-unprecedented mix of spending increases and tax cuts.
If this, coupled to my prior declaration that I cannot in good faith support George Bush,* puts me along the blogosphere left, so be it. I’m a patient man, and one who believes that the future of the Republican party belongs to folks like Arnold Schwarzenegger (or even throwbacks like Richard Lugar). Let me know when the world stops spinning and Republicans once again stand for limited government,** balanced budgets, free trade, and seeing military adventures through. I’ll gladly enter the fold.
In other news, it turns out I lived about three blocks from Kim du Toit in 2002. Who woulda known? (I sure as hell didn’t.)
von
*Given that the Libertarians have nominated a loon, this leaves me with the option of staying home, writing in “Tacitus” (who, unfortunately, is too young to be President), or voting for Kerry. In the continuing spirit of frankness, I’m currently leaning towards Kerry — though without shame since he’ll never carry Indiana anyway.
**Oh, and Timmy: In answer to your question of a bit ago (“what would you cut”), I’d also eliminate the vast, new prescription-drugs entitlement that President Bush supported. More free markets and fewer entitlements, please.
In other news, it turns out I lived about three blocks from Kim du Toit in 2002. Who woulda known? (I sure as hell didn’t.)
I’da thought you’d have been able to hear the swearing, shouting, and gunfire from three blocks away.
Why do you pick Arnold as your future? He only managed to “balance” the budget by issuing a huge amount of debt.
Schwarzenegger?! Is that irony? You think the future of the GOP is celebrities who know nothing of policy and borrow their way out of current problems?
Barry,
Who/What caused the current problems ?
Von,
In addition to judgin’ Joe Kernan’s based on his reputation, ain’s us common folks s’posed to ask, What has the fellow done ?
Good God… you mean I’m older than Tacitus? *world view shakes a bit*
I’m older than you allll.
von,
What makes you think that Democrats believe more in limited government and free trade than Republicans?
NAthan S-
Recent history.
So, asdf, you are saying that Republicans, as a whole, are less friendly towards free trade and limited government than Democrats, as a whole.
Perhaps you should reconsider the Arrrrnollld support. Anybody who would suggest that stray or unwanted animals be quickly put to death is in office in the wrong state. I won’t mention borrowing money to balance the state budget.
Here’s Arrrrnollld eating some pet feces after a major blunder. In CA Safeways, the longest aisle is always reserved, both sides, for cat and dog food.
The Backdown
Good call on Mitch Daniels, though. He learned his lying from the BushCo pro’s, and will never overcome it.
“Let me know when the world stops spinning and Republicans once again stand for limited government,** balanced budgets, free trade, and seeing military adventures through.”
Maybe in a generation, or two. This BushCo poison takes a long time to work out of the system. Your children and grandchildren will be paying for the current tax reallocation (certainly not cuts) and the war when you are ready for the rest home.
I have to ask, too: Arnold? In what way is he the future of the Republican party and, perhaps more importantly, in what way is that a good thing?
[Upon re-reading, I’m not sure that you’re implying Schwarzenegger is a good thing. So I guess there’s a third question: what are your views on him as a governor, anyway?]
Well, von, I hear you. I’d have been happy to vote for Millicent Fenwick when I was a child. And I’d be happy to vote for Lugar or possibly Shwartzenegger today. But I will not vote for a party that believes it is morally sound to run a long-term budget deficit to “starve the beast” or simply to pay off its partisans.
Thomas Jefferson would have gagged on the post-Goldwater Republican party. So would have Alexandar Hamilton. And as Warren Rudman does today.
Delong’s quote from Clinton’s book says it all: n later years I was often asked what great new idea my economic team and I brought to economic policy making…. I always gave a one-word answer: “arithmetic”.
Re: the future of the Republican party, I’m with you, von, although I think you may be premature in writing off Bush and siding with Kerry. It’s quite a while ’til November.
von and Bird Dog:
Let me know when the world stops spinning and Republicans once again stand for limited government,** balanced budgets, free trade, and seeing military adventures through. I’ll gladly enter the fold.
I suspect that this will not happen until they’re the opposition party rather than the governing party.
Wishful thinking, Mr. Schuler, Mr. Dog, and Mr. mac. The Republican platform reflects what they percieve that voters want, just like the Democrat platform.
I should know. I have seen the Reform Party meld into the Canadian Alliance (slightly less conservative), into the Conservative Party (slightly better than the Liberals).
I would suggest that you have more an issue with your fellow voters than your Republican representatives.
Free markets and Kerry, LoL.
Just one more point, Mitch had nothing to do with tax policy.
Timmy, he was the Director of the Office of Management of the Budget, for Ghu’s sake! Are you asking us to believe that tax and budget policy are totally unrelated?
Are you asking us to believe that tax and budget policy are totally unrelated?
A Bush-loyalist is required to believe that, Mark: otherwise they would have to face the fact that tax cuts and budget cuts go hand in hand.
I think you may be premature in writing off Bush and siding with Kerry. It’s quite a while ’til November.
Von’s rejected Bush because of his faithlessness. I don’t see how he can compsensate for that between now and November (not a totally uninterested party in this, I’ll admit, but…).
Why do you pick Arnold as your future? He only managed to “balance” the budget by issuing a huge amount of debt.
The alternatives were . . . . ?
In addition to judgin’ Joe Kernan’s based on his reputation, ain’s us common folks s’posed to ask, What has the fellow done?
Not much, given that he just became governor a couple months ago. But his track record (as Mayor of South Bend, home of Notre Dame) is fairly moderate.
Hey, it’s a roll of the dice.
What makes you think that Democrats believe more in limited government and free trade than Republicans?
I don’t. But I can vote for what I perceive as genuine incompetence and, yes, faithlessness.
Are you asking us to believe that tax and budget policy are totally unrelated?
Yup!