James Baker: Coming Around

Opinion Journal ^ | 04/20/03 | JAMES A. BAKER III

[Pokey78]

I used to back a balanced budget. Now I'm a "reformed drunk."

Our newspapers and television screens are filled with stories of combat and victory, images of empty torture chambers and cheering crowds, and concerns about what happens next, after all the statues and bullies have fallen into the Iraqi dust. This is understandable and proper. Issues of war and peace always come first. But very soon it will be time to emphasize our economy here at home.

[woofie]

excellent!!!

[Ruth A.]

Here's hoping for more reformed drunks.

[Jesse]

"In a perfect world, fiscal discipline would include spending restraint. Thanks in large part to the efforts of Sen. Phil Gramm and others, we had some form of spending restraint from the mid-'80s to the mid-'90s. In today's real world, unfortunately, Congress's appetite for living beyond its means is unchecked by legal or institutional barriers."

How far we have fallen. In the world promised us by the GOP if we only voted to give it control, fiscal discipline would necessarily mean spending restraint. Spending is unrestrained under the GOP.

We were better off when the GOP was a minority. When it comes to spending as a majority party, the GOP pissess down our necks and tells us it's only raining.

Supply side economics has two sides...one side is lower taxes, the other is controlled spending. This GOPBOT and too many others think that cutting taxes alone is the only answer. Well, we are 250 billion dollars in the hole this year so far and counting...

[Lancey Howard]

Great post!
I like seeing that James Baker is still involved in the discourse. There are not too many people who have the insight that Baker has when it comes to budget matters.

I actually met and talked to Baker once, back in the mid '80s, when he came to a fund raiser here in the Philly area. I have a photo of me and a couple of co-workers with Baker and Dave Christian. (The fund raiser was for Dave Christian who was running against Peter Kostmayer for Congress.) That photo is a personal treasure.

[pragmatic_asian]

Jesse, I could not agree with you more. Where is the restraint in spending, smaller government and deregulation that should also come wih lower taxes? The tax refunds are our money but the massive federal debt is also ours.

[nopardons]

AMEN !

[nopardons]

Budget defficets haven't ruined this country. Budget surpluses are much more harmful !

[Right_in_Virginia]

Bump for later read.

[Dialup Llama]

>Budget defficets haven't ruined this country. Budget surpluses are much more harmful !

Correct!!! Balanced budgets are a cudgel used to justify high taxes. It doesn't matter if you tax and spend the money or borrow and spend the money: they both divert money from the private sector. The key is to lower the govt brake on the economy by reducing spending.

[nopardons]

Not exactly. The key is to starve the government , by letting the populace have more of their own money, and keep it out of the hands of the pork barrellers, no matter which party they belong to.

[aruanan]

Mellon/Kennedy/Reagan/GWB Tax Cut Bush

[Dolphy]

I wish Baker were the current treasury secretary.

[DB]

Taking away the money they have to spend is the ONLY way to get them to spend less.

You have to choke them off at the start.

[Fracas]

You think Christian might run again? He's made a lot of fans on FOX, that's for sure. OTOH, he's a successful businessman, so he might not want to give up his career.

Agree with you others here about Baker. I would like to see him on t.v. more. Even some mushy 'moderates' I know listen to him.

[Tailgunner Joe]

Deficits are not nearly as harmful to the economy as are high taxes.

[Lancey Howard]

You think Christian might run again?

That would be terrific. He really is a sharp guy, and I think he might stand a better chance these days.

Although it would be great to see him dispense with the liberal Greenwood (it's his district now) I don't believe Dave would be inclined to challenge an incumbent Republican. On the other hand, he could run for Specter's seat, and that could certainly be a viable possibility. I don't know how much longer Arlen is going to hang in there. (And, by the way, I have this feeling that Greenwood is eyeballing that seat. Shudder.)

[optik_b]

I wish Baker was still in public service. He was a superb Secretary of State, much better than Colin Powell and one who the President trusted at the highest levels. The one weakness of the Bush foreign policy has been the diplomatic blunders.

[Fracas]

I've heard the same about Greenwood and agree with your assessment. Specter's making nice-nice with the conservatives, but I keep hoping they're too smart to fall for his Damascus conversion. OTOH, some of my PA friends swear Chris Matthews really is going to run, and even Specter would be preferable to Matthews!

Christian might need a little prodding from some of his fans. He has a nice website and might enjoy getting some encouragement. Maybe I'll mosey over there and do that very thing....

[rvoitier]

I'll drink to that.

Mr. Baker is the original Hammer, I've heard.
Who did W. turn to as spokesman in the 2000 election aftermath? This is a guy who'll tell you when and where to shove it and give you directions.

Mr. Baker also helped form the Coalition for the first Gulf War and convinced Israel to hold off retaliation after being fired upon with Scuds from Hussien.

Thanks for posting. I have great respect for this man.