Posted on 05/26/2008 11:54:19 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
WHILE AMERICANS focus on the interminable Clinton-Obama celebrity death match, Sen. John McCain is using clear-headed, compellingly crafted speeches to propose surprisingly bold, free-market ideas. With one huge exception, the Arizona Republican advocates more limited, open government as his Democratic rivals promise tax hikes and an even-busier state. Voters should welcome this stark contrast.
On spending, John McCain would rule with a tight fist.
"There will be no more subsidies for special pleaders -- no more corporate welfare -- no more throwing around billions of dollars of the people's money on pet projects, while the people themselves are struggling to afford their homes, groceries, and gas," McCain said April 15 in Pittsburgh. "I will veto every bill with earmarks, until the Congress stops sending bills with earmarks," McCain continued. "I will seek a constitutionally valid line-item veto to end the practice once and for all." More impressive, McCain said, "We will institute a one-year pause in discretionary spending increases with the necessary exemption of military spending and veterans' benefits."
Such prudence would be a welcome relief from the Bush/GOP Congress years that did for fiscal responsibility what the Playboy Mansion has done for sexual restraint.
McCain's budget discipline would make it easier to cut taxes. He wants to make President Bush's tax cuts permanent. He would slice corporate taxes from 35 to 25 percent. He also would scrap the Alternative Minimum Tax, double the dependents' exemption from $3,500 to $7,000, "and sign into law a reform agenda to permit the first-year expensing of new equipment and technology."
Most significantly, he would let Americans choose to file taxes under today's rules or volunteer for a simpler, flatter rate, perhaps at 25 or 15 percent.
Regarding health care, McCain warned in Tampa, Fla., on April 29 that his opponents "urge universal coverage, with all the tax increases, new mandates, and government regulation that come along with that idea. But in the end, this will accomplish one thing only. We will replace the inefficiency, irrationality, and uncontrolled costs of the current system with the inefficiency, irrationality, and uncontrolled costs of a government monopoly."
Instead, McCain believes that "the key to real reform is to restore control over our health-care system to the patients themselves." He would expand Health Savings Accounts, and more dramatically, offer a tax credit of $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families to help Americans purchase their own coverage, even across state lines. McCain added, "It would be yours and your family's health-care plan, and yours to keep."
McCain also calls for reining in the misguided, multi-trillion-dollar Medicare drug plan.
"People like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet don't need their prescriptions underwritten by taxpayers," McCain observed. "This reform alone will save billions of dollars that could be returned to taxpayers or put to better use."
There is a cautionary note among these encouraging signs: John McCain has beer-bonged the Kool-Aid on global warming.
"We need to deal with the central facts of rising temperatures, rising waters, and all the endless troubles that global warming will bring," McCain said May 12 at a Portland, Ore., wind-power research facility.
He desires "a cap-and-trade system to change the dynamic of our energy economy." His specific goal is to reduce CO2 60 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Former Virginia state climatologist Dr. Patrick Michaels estimated in the May 16 Washington Times that this would lower per-capita emissions "to 19th Century levels."
Before relegating America's mid-21st Century economy to the norms of the Grover Cleveland era, McCain should heed the expanding caucus of experts who believe so-called "global warming" is exaggerated, if it even exists.
On May 19, the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine released a petition signed by 31,072 Americans scientists, including 9,021 Ph.D.s. They reject the idea that CO2 is boiling Earth. So much for climate science being "settled."
One hopes McCain will listen on this issue. Just as he recently has warmed to tax cuts, perhaps he will cool on "global warming."
Nonetheless, McCain will remain a mixed bag. Sometimes he will annoy the Right. Other times, he boldly will go where no GOP standard bearer has gone since Ronald Reagan. As a wise man said, "John McCain is not perfect. Just perfect enough."
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Deroy Murdock is a columnist with Scripps Howard News Service and a media fellow with the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace at Stanford University. E-mail him at Deroy.Murdock@gmail.com.
“On spending, John McCain would rule with a tight fist.”
Who is going to pay for the social costs of McAmnestys’ (La Raza) base?
Cut the spending and return to the income tax calculation method as set down in 1913. Cap the income tax at 10 percent of any individual's income.
Bait / Switch
Vote me in for this (Please please please please please), so I can screw you into the ground with foreign nationals.
John, when hell freezes over, my vote will still be clutched in my hands so tight you’ll have to take a chain saw to get it out.
You’ll never get my vote. Ever!
BWAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA!
The last thing I’m going to be sold on about McCain is his economic ability, given that he’s personally admitted he knows nothing about the economy.
McQueeg is uneducable when it comes to the hoax of global-warming and amnesty for illegals.
1.) Whom, specifically, do you suppose will be paying for the health care McCain's beloved additional 30-to-40 million additional illegals are (inevitably) going to need?
2.) From where, specifically, do you suppose that money will logically be coming? Will the marvelous magical Money Fairy be providing, in this instance... or: will McCain ultimately need to tap some other source, instead?
All this article proves is that Murdock finally got his lips unlocked from the rear end of Rudy Giuliani, and that they’re now firmly fixed to John McCain’s.
It doesn’t matter what Sen. McCain does, in the area of economics. As you can see above, there’s not a lot of satisfaction. Sen. McCain - and President Bush - oppose the appeasement of America’s enemies. A significant and growing chunk of “conservative” (or, libertarian) opinion favors the appeasement of America’s enemies, including al Qaeda, just as Sen. Obama favors it. Just read the posters from this weekend warmly praising the Barr candidacy...and pronouncing it “conservative” (sic). I admit that on tax and immigration policy, Barr is a more conservative candidate than McCain. But even with the economy in the tank, this probably will be a national security election, with McCain being the only one of the top four candidates (Obama, McCain, Nader, Barr) who favors staying the course in Iraq and fighting al Qaeda.
Couldn’t agree more.
After all, how could anyone vote for someone who has no credibility and especially one the people did not select as their candidate.
Team Juan's Online Mug Whore Squadron never answer the question you've just asked. Now you know why.
What is the cost analysis for his Kyoto-style-for-America-only Glowbull Warming plans? Not just taxes but the economic impact of hamstringing the energy and manufacturing industries.
I do think it serves him well that he has worked across the aisle on issues, but I have been disappointed in some of those issues. However, it might be the very thing that brings some of those disillusioned with the present democratic selections over our way. Besides, there are many democrats who are pro-life, and maybe we can bring some of them into the Republican tent this election cycle.
"Nuh-uhh! Don't go there!"
Actions will always speak louder than words, and John McCain is someone who probably will often back stab both conservatives and conservatism, if not all of the time, after he does become the next POTUS. All anybody has to do is see what McCain has done already during his entire duration as a U.S. Senator. He just wants as many conservatives as possible to truly vote for him on November 4, and this is all that it is.
McCain can propose all the conservative economic agendas he wants but how will he get them through what looks to be a super majority Democrat/Socialist House and Senate? Reagan formed a coalition of Republicans and conservative Democrats to push through his economic policy. There is no coalition to be found any more...
[John McCain would rule with a tight fist.]
The times of kings, or queens, has returned?
The left and half the right wants fools to reign over them and destroy their monies and their rights and God given freedoms.
If Bob Barr is on the ticket, then he is a good vote.
Wonder what McCain's popularity rating is among FReepers.
Just wow, McLame is going to “git her done”, and all of this is promised with a RAT controlled Congress.
Right Juan. McCain, all smoke and mirrors. A guy who likes to just ignore questions about subjects he knows run contrary to what he is going to ram down your throat.
“There is a cautionary note among these encouraging signs: John McCain has beer-bonged the Kool-Aid on global warming. “
How can he cut taxes when his global warming scam will costs taxpayers billions of dollars and millions of jobs.
I like this article but to get my vote he needs to move more to the right.
I will NOT vote for any form of socialism.
Our enemy at home is socialism, defeat it first in the party.
Line item veto is a very bad idea.
If a socialist is in office they can cut defense using it.
Only works if it is limited to earmarks.
No, a question. Do you really think he'll get any of that past a Democratic House and Senate?
So now you have to do your taxes twice to see wich way costs less. Great.
BUMP! SOoooo True!
For past idol-worshipping fiction, see here.
“McCain can propose all the conservative economic agendas he wants but how will he get them through what looks to be a super majority Democrat/Socialist House and Senate?”
My question exactly. New Rasmussen polling shows Mitch McConnell in trouble in Kentucky. Congress-wise, it’s shaping up to be a Pubbie bloodbath. Picture the wrath of a veto-proof Dem supermajority if the Obamassiah loses. Their overarching goal in life will be to make McCain look ineffectual by passing bills he has vetoed, and to take away his signature issues (the war, fiscal conservatism) through legislation. The only reason they haven’t done the same to President Bush is that they don’t have the numbers. Yet. All the signs indicate that that will change in Jan. 2009.
This country’s in for a very bad time the next four years, regardless of who wins.
Yeah, but ya gotta admit Murdoch is an obedient sucker.
When his handlers dumped deadweight Rooty and leashed-up McC, Murdock saluted, and marched in lockstep.
Yeah, but ya gotta admit Murdoch is an obedient sucker.
When his handlers dumped deadweight Rooty and leashed-up McC, Murdock saluted, and marched in lockstep.
Talk about ESP, when I saw Deroy's name I thought the exact same thing --- from Rooty's to McInsane's butt in one easy step.
The only thing is that somehow, for once, Deroy makes some sense...
On May 19, the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine released a petition signed by 31,072 Americans scientists, including 9,021 Ph.D.s. They reject the idea that CO2 is boiling Earth. So much for climate science being "settled." One hopes McCain will listen on this issue. Just as he recently has warmed to tax cuts, perhaps he will cool on "global warming."
Maybe his Editor inserted that part? ;-)
Here’s some great video footage on why McCain is the ideal canditate for office:
Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEtZlR3zp4c
Why would Barr be on the ticket with McCain? Barr was just selected the Liberatian Party Presidential candidate.
Better to know nothing, then to know what Obama thinks he knows about the economy.
Right,......
“Cap and Trade”. Death to American heavy Industry.
NO drilling in ANWR or Federal waters.
“A BOLD “new” agenda for America.” That is if you’re a Democrat/Socialist.
And don’t forget, unless any SCOTUS picks are ultra Liberal, forget any chance of them passing. (But don’t worry, ol’ Juan won’t disappoint them.)
AND about keeping us in Iraq, they will defund the war immediately and re-appropriate the war spending on Domestic Social, and environmental programs here at home. McNutless will be useless there also.
And then there is all that money needed to create the largest government bureau in our history, The bureau of Cap and Trade and Environmental Enforcement.
About drilling domestic oil? Not even a question.
That’s the problem, we have too many “Democrats” under the tent already. We don’t want or need them anymore.
Have you considered switching parties? This one might go too far right for your tastes in the near future.
Must be an agile sonofagun.........sucking up to McC and marchng in lockstep at the same time.
I sure hope Deroy doesn't trip.
This is truly why it’s most important for all voting U.S. conservatives to concentrate all of their efforts on winning as many of the Congressional races as humanly possible as well as winning as many of all of the other political races all the way down to the most local levels of government.
Is there any reason you didn’t mention McCain’s stance on global warming? after all, he wants to tax you and regulate you over something that does not exist. How is that good for the economy?
When the Troops come home, they’ll be welcomed with that very same Socialist knife in the back. So vote with Pride, amigo!
In regard to “global warming”:
The political reality of this was succinctly summed up by Wall Street Journal (WSJ) writer, Holman W. Jenkins, Jr., writing in the 14 May 08 WSJ:
“’Nobody who seriously wants to be President in 2008 is going to question the ‘consensus’ on global warming.’”
In the the political climate of this time it is necessary from most politicians to perfunctorily express “acceptance” of global warming - simply not to become a target and invite a huge broadside of attacks from those who are sincerely convinced of it and from opposition politicians.
Many have noted that the issue is “cooling off”, especially with cool weather patterns - and may go away pretty much by itself.
Well, that’s pretty much my take on it as well.
Thanks for the post. I have cast my last vote for one person because the another person is worse.
Provide me a man worth voting for, or continue on without my vote.
Right - clinton and obama will be so much better.....
no shortage of ignorance
I wonder if there's anyone else in DC with THAT record. If he stops them cold, a lot more bills will pass quicker as they won't be stuffed with pork that has nothing to do with the bill.... That could also get rid of some dimRats, in their home states, who have been buying their votes for decades with pork...
He says he'll kill the pork barrels - and 'during his entire duration as a U.S. Senator" = he has NEVER put in a pork barrel grab. Not once. So his words are not empty. How many other senators can you name with that record?
A vote for Barr is the same as a vote fo clinton or obama - did anyone not learn anything from the Ross Perot debachle that made bubba president - with only 47% of the vote?
Here’s a comment: I waste enough time doing my taxes already. I have no interest in doing them twice. If this is the best McCain can come up with, we’re in trouble.
Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, who would truly make a fine VP choice for McCain, but I would truly prefer it if Coburn was running for POTUS instead.
I also think John Thune would be an excellent pick
http://thune.senate.gov/public/
http://www.johnthune.com/index.php?content=comm04
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