Photo above: The Hertford Bridge in Oxford, England. Used by Permission. © Tom Ley 01302 782837

Friday, February 19, 2010

The Tea Party and Its Enemies

By

Charles W. Dunn
Dean
School of Government
Regent University

[Author or Editor of 17 books on American politics, including The Enduring Reagan, The Seven Laws of Presidential Leadership, and The Future of Conservatism. Former Chair, United States J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.]

“The Tea Party” is running against history and time, and neither favors “The Tea Party.”

If history is the best predictor of the future, and it usually is, “The Tea Party” will have a short shelf-life. Beginning well before the Civil War, such movements have come and gone, including the Locofocos, Barnburners, Free Soil, Anti-Masonic, Know-Nothing, Populist, Progressive, and a host of others. In 1948 it was Strom Thurmond’s Dixiecrats; in 1968, George Wallace’s American Independent Party; and in 1992, Ross Perot’s Reform Party. History says that like all of those movements “The Tea Party” will have “one day in the sun.”

Senator Bayh's Stun-Gun Attack

By

Charles W. Dunn
Dean
School of Government
Regent Unviersity

[Author or Editor of 17 books on American politics, including The Enduring Reagan, The Seven Laws of Presidential Leadership, and The Future of Conservatism. Former Chair, United States J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.]

Did Senator Bayh read the handwriting on the wall? Have moderate Democrats become a vanishing breed? Or did Senator Bayh set the stage for a challenge to President Obama in 2012? Answers to these questions will determine the future of the Democratic Party.      

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Some Advice to Republicans at the Blair House Meeting on Health Care by Douglas O. Walker

President Obama has convened a half-day bipartisan health care session, tentatively set for 25 February at the Blair House, to be televised live to the nation. The meeting provides the President with an opportunity to regain momentum on his health care proposals and for the Republicans to interact with and question the President on this issue. It is unclear, however, how any compromise, unlikely as it might be, would affect the existing bills in Congress or the help define the process toward eventual Congressional approval. Given the disarray in Democratic ranks over the question of health care reform and the very different priorities of the Republicans, the most likely outcome of the meeting is that it will effectively end any further debate on comprehensive health care reform for the foreseeable future.

Monday, February 15, 2010

The Economic Report of the President, 2010, is Now Out by Dr. Douglas O. Walker

The ERP is issued every year by the President's Council of Economic Advisors in February. It reviews the current state and performance of the economy and outlines the goals of the Administration and the policies being pursued to attain these goals.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Republicanism: A Classic Idea that Never Goes Out of Style By Dr. Mary Manjikian

We’ve all seen the expression. Once a week, on TLC’s “What Not to Wear,” fashion guru Stacey London stands before the closet of some hapless man or woman who watches in horror as she throws away all of their clothing. “These are horrible,” she shrieks as she holds up an item – perhaps some gaucho pants, embroidered bell bottom jeans, or a much-loved pair of huarache sandals. In my favorite episodes, the fashion victim clutches an item to her chest, all the while protesting vainly that “I love this. It has great memories attached to it and it’s sure to come back in style some day.” “Not in this lifetime,” snarls Stacy. Then she turns to the camera and promises that if we follow her tips, we too can look “smokin’ hot” and “like a rock star.” For perhaps a minute you’re even tempted to go into your own closet and begin throwing things away too.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Quick Links on the Economy by Dr. Douglas O. Walker

Important meetings on the state of the world economy and the global financial system took place this weekend. Here are some links on these discussions and recent analyzes of the world economy by international agencies:
  1. A meeting of G7 finance ministers and central bank governors took place in Iqaluit, Ontario, on 5 and 6 February 2010, to review the state of the world economy, global financial reform, the Millennium Development Goals, and the tragedy of Haiti. The Chairman's summary of the meeting can be found here.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Dear Professor: A Question on “quantitative easing” and taxes by Dr. Doulas O. Walker

Here is an e-mail I received this morning from a retired lawyer living in Canada:
“When I first saw the term "quantitative easing" by governments/central banks I had forgotten that whenever one sees a euphemism (whether it relates to abortion or euthanasia or the end of the world, or whatever) it behooves one to sit up and take notice.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Quick Links on the Economy by Dr. Douglas O. Walker

Here are five links to materials and news articles relevant to the President's just released Federal budget proposal:
  1. The OMB budget page with the budget Overview for FY 2011, its details and the Summary Tables with the numbers. The Economic Assumptions on which the budget is based show an expected real increase in GDP for 2010 of 2.7 per cent and a corresponding deficit of 10.6 percent of the GDP.

Sometimes Rapid Economic Growth Is Less Than It Appears To Be by Dr. Douglas O. Walker

The Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce announced Friday morning that economic growth in the U.S. jumped considerably at the end of 2009. According to its Advance Estimate, measured aggregate output grew at an adjusted annual rate of 5.7 per cent in the fourth quarter, considerably faster than the 2.2 per cent pace registered in the third quarter. This is the fastest pace of economic growth in six years. Technically, it may well mean that the recession is over and a recovery, albeit a slow and precarious one, may be at hand.