The American Spectator

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Taxing Times

1.10.03 @ 12:01AM

ANOTHER VIRGINIA GENTLEMAN
Re: The Washington Prowler's Virginia Territory:

Three things. One, thanks for the great plug. Two, my mama likes it when I get called by my real name: most of the stuff I've seen always calls me by my nickname "MUDCAT." And three, the Democratic staffer (who for some reason or the other was afraid to be mentioned) forgot one piece of backwoods wisdom when he or she was talking about Georgia and South Carolina. That is, "You can't hit 'em if you don't shoot at 'em." Like yourself, I watched the Georgia and South Carolina races, and neither one of us saw any rural strategies because there weren't any. One thing I learned last year in my travels with Johnny's PAC is that there's not fifty cents' difference in a "rural thinking voter" in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Georgia, or Virginia. My belief is they're not Republicans --they've just been voting for Republicans. We shall see.

Once again, thanks for the kind words, but I would be less than honest if I didn't tell you that it was the efforts of an unselfish rural team that did the job in Virginia, not me. If I can ever help you guys, let me know. Y'all do a good job.
-- Dave "MUDCAT" Saunders

REDUCED TO THIS
Re: R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.'s Dynamic Prophecy:

While the Reagan tax cut may have spurned some economic growth through the 1980s, the cost was not worth the ballooning of the federal deficit. In FY 1980 the deficit was nearly $1 trillion. In FY 1990 it was more than $3 trillion. That's because in order to prime the economy, the Reagan Administration let the deficit grow at a rapid pace -- 60% growth over his eight years in office. Add the term of the first President Bush into that equation and the number jumps to 75%. During the Clinton Administration, the deficit increased by a mere 22%. From 1950-1980 the federal deficit grew more or less with inflation.

What does this mean? Anyone who looks at the numbers will see that tax reductions don't lead to revenue increases unless borrowing is considered revenue. This kind of thinking is what got Enron in trouble.
-- Ben Burney
New York, NY

President Bush gave a remarkable speech to the Economic Club of Chicago on Tuesday. As RET points out, tax cuts will surely bolster the economy -- you can look it up. What was remarkable to me is the tribute the Prez paid to Mugsy (Rich) Daley and Bugsy (Bill) Daley. Does he actually think he can be buddies with these guys? Until November, Bugsy's best friend was Tom Daschle. It was Bugsy who tried to steal the election in Florida from Bush. Mugsy presides over the most corrupt city in the country. The Daleys will take federal money -- but Bush will find no loyalty.
-- Jack Hughes
Chicago, IL

Democrats think of tax cuts the way Saddam Hussein thinks he is going to defend Iraq. Hussein is acting as if being surrounded in Baghdad is a valid military strategy. But any general will tell you that this is quite the opposite of the way a rational person would think, just as egghead leftist economists are telling us irrationally that tax cuts are going to hurt the economy. Have you noticed how nervous and subdued Hussein looks these days? Kind of like the Democrats looking to 2004.
-- Steve Nikitas
Pittsfield, MA

DASCHLE IN HIDING
Re: The Washington Prowler's Behind Tom's Turnaround:

I believe that Daschle's decision not to try for President in 2004 is related to his refusal to make public his tax returns. I can't imagine what he is hiding but, believe he came to the realization that he could no longer rely on the leftist media to cover for him and treat the whole issue as "old news." Clinton was confident that whatever he told the "press corps" riding on the bus was all that the voters would hear. The current alternatives to this captive leftist media of yesterday must have convinced Daschle the he wouldn't be able to conceal the truth and he folded.
-- unsigned

Daschle removing himself from the presidential lottery came down to one item.

Very simply this, he cannot allow the news media to reveal that his second wife, for whom he ditched the first wife and kids, is a full-fledged, full-time lobbyist making millions of dollars annually, and that they are rich, rich, rich beyond belief. Releasing his tax returns and opening up Linda Hall to scrutiny would not be a wise move for him/her.

He would be revealed for what he is, the media would have no choice.
-- Donna Joyce

Gosh! While reading about Mr. Bush's new economic proposals in The Prowler column this morning, I was intrigued by the comment that "Republicans John McCain, Lincoln Chafee, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins have already announced at least initial opposition to the Bush plan," and, given that particular coterie of Republicans, I was left wondering if, when it comes up for passage, Senator Arlen Specter will be again inspired to vote "Not Proven."
-- Sam Keck

UGLY STEREOTYPING
Re: Paul Beston's Manhattan Stealth:

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Taxes, John McCain, Nancy Pelosi, Business, Religion, Hollywood, Constitution, Military, Iraq, NATO, Energy