RightWave

Mark over at Do The Right Thing has a link to a great article by Weekly Standard editor Fred Barnes on the Left’s plan to take over “red” states.  Of course, Colorado has long been their model, and they’ve been executing well (and expensively).  Colorado is dangerously teetering on becoming a mostly Democrat state (by count of elected officials) and turning back the tide on what was once the most “progressive” state in the union in terms of implementing good, free-market public policy reform.

From school choice to the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights to higher education vouchers to creating a tax code that ensured prosperity for its citizens, Colorado was once the beacon of conservatives (remember the National Review cover story about Bill Owens?)  And now, it’s not looking so good…

Fortunately, we have some smart folks on our side as well.  Eric O’Keefe has a superb piece published by the State Policy Network that’s worth a read about what we can do to fight back.  Our free enterprise side got a head start on the think tank front.  There’s no question we’re winning the battle of ideas.  But, we’re consistently getting beaten on the ground game.

Frankly, that’s why Americans for Prosperity is so important.  But, we need to keep up the fight and work to match the Left on every capability possible if we want to win - politically and, ultimately, with our public policy goals.  There is much work to do, friends.

UPDATE: Eric is (as usual) several steps ahead in talking about Fred Barnes’ article.  Read his take.

Y’all know I love the comic strip Mallard Fillmore.  Make sure to check out today’s issue for a good chuckle!

This shocking headline and opening courtesy of the venerable Associated Press:

McCain, Obama offer different visions on taxes
Make more than $250,000 a year? Watch out. Barack Obama wants to raise your income taxes. Social Security taxes, too.

Run a corporation? Lucky you. John McCain wants to cut your business taxes.

Those positions illustrate pieces of two vastly different approaches to the economy, an issue at the forefront of voters’ minds given that the country is teetering on the brink of - if not already in - a recession as gas prices soar and layoffs rise amid a credit crisis and a housing slump.

Obama, the Democrat, seemingly has a traditional liberal outlook of taxing the rich more while having the government help people of more modest means through tax breaks. McCain, the Republican, advocates a classic conservative vision of cutting taxes - many geared toward businesses - to promote competition within a free-market system.

I mean, wow.  Really.  Republicans and Democrats disagree on taxes?   I’m shocked.  Although, I guess, to be fair, this was in question in this election cycle. 

However, this is illustrative of one important point.  Senator McCain should keep this as the story.  He should stop talking about global warming or whatever other “straight talk” he’d like to provide us for the day.  He should keep talking about tax cuts and spending restraint.  He should talk about the expansive growth of government and how to stop it.  At least, I suppose, if he’d like conservatives to get at all excited about him this year.  Guess we’ll see…

When John McCain came on the screen on Saturday Night Live this weekend, I got nervous (be honest, didn’t you?). 

But, I was pleasantly surprised that he was (finally) off his global warming soapbox, at least for a little bit.  SNL would have been a natural place for him to peddle his bill of goods and play to the liberal-skewed staff and audience.  But, alas, Senator McCain talked about…EARMARKS!  Hurrah!  Hurrah!

Now, I realize this doesn’t mean that he won’t push forward on his cap and trade scheme (did someone say “$1.3 billion tax increase?”  Oh.)  But, at least he’s back to his core competency - stopping the runaway growth of government.  I’m happy to have him talk about that all the time and stop talking about all his other nonsense.

 Anyway, in case you missed it, here’s clip:

UPDATE - Kathryn Jean Lopez over at the Corner has a different clip posted from the SNL appearance.  And, her post reminds me of something my mother said to me the other day.  “Would Ronald Reagan have done something like this?” …meaning is this really becoming of a Presidential candidate?  Probably not, but who knows?  President Reagan was an actor after all, and pretty darn funny.  But, he had class.  Does anyone anymore? 

Quote of the day, from a so-called “Blue Dog Democrat” regarding the Dems proposal to add an income tax “surcharge” to couples who earn a million dollars or more a year (or individuals who earn $500,000 or more):

“What we’re talking about is a one-half percent income tax surcharge on incomes above $1 million,” said Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., a leader of the Blue Dog group. “So someone who earns $2 million a year would pay $5,000. … They’re not going to miss it.”

They’re not going to miss it?  Are you kidding me? 

Hmm.  Apparently, it’s a bad time to be a high-achiever in America - and it’s just going to get worse. 

Why, indeed, would we want to incentivise people to work harder and earn more?  And, shall we discuss why this is called an “income tax surcharge?”  Surcharge?  Like when you buy a ticket from Ticketmaster?  So I guess we should think about this like a Ticketmaster charge for your ticket to the millionaires club.  Because, of course, if you’re a millionaire, you’re not already paying enough. 

If, perchance, you happen to be a millionaire who doesn’t feel like you’re paying your fair share, I’d direct you to support Congressman John Campbell’s “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is” legislation.

This kind of thing is just silly more than anything else, to be sure - a ridiculous attempt to “enforce” their “pay-go” rules.  Aw, shucks, we have to raise taxes…

Unfortunately, at the end of the day, it’s just not funny.

From “Yeas and Nays:”

 McCain planning climate change tour

Guys, we’ve got to stop this.  Any suggestions how?

He’s supposed to be the REPUBLICAN candidate, right?  What ever happened to limited government, less reguation, lower taxes, etc.  Why can’t he be as good on all these other issues as he is on spending and pork-barrel earmarks? 

Grr.

I don’t mean to be flippant, but it seems as though we’ve dodged a bullet on the global warming front today.  Not forward progress, but at least it seems we haven’t lost ground.

To be honest, I was nervous about the President’s speech today on the White House initiative on Climate Change.  The scuttlebutt was that the President might endorse disastrous cap and trade legislation or other economy-killing measure to “solve” global warming, but it seems we’ve avoided that…at least for now.

But, I’m not so sure it was a good thing either.

What this address seems to have accomplished is to give fodder to the Left to bring the issue even more to the forefront and criticize the Right on inaction.  It also legitimizes the alarmist claims of the other side about the “onslaught” of global warming as well as the fact that government should, in fact, act.  For example:

These objectives are backed by a combination of new market-based regulations, new government incentives, and new funding for technology research.  We’ve provided billions of dollars for next generation nuclear energy technologies. Along with the private sector, we’ve invested billions more to research, develop and commercially deploy renewable fuels, hydrogen fuel cells, advanced batteries, and other technologies to enable a new generation of vehicles and more reliable renewable power systems.

While I’m not sure what “market-based regulations” are (isn’t that an oxymoron?), it seems that he did, for the most part, address the fact that over-regulation and higher taxes have the potential to grind this economy to a screeching halt.

Without question, this is a vitally important debate - and will continue to be throughout the Presidential campaign - and free-market advocates need to be aggressive in educating taxpayers on the real costs of the Left’s proposed “fixes” to global warming.  Let’s hope the President’s speech did more good than harm, but I’m not convinced.

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By the way - not to over-promote - but, sign up today for Americans for Prosperity’s Hot Air Tour launch on Monday, April 21.  Now, it’s even more important than ever that we turn out massive numbers of grassroots troops to this event and all of these events around the country to show to elected officials, the media, and, frankly, the other side that taxpayers care about this issue and oppose any new big-government schemes to “solve” the global warming “crisis.”    Check out the newly-launched (and quite snazzy) website here.

UPDATE - Just saw the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s press release on the speech.  I think they got it about right. 

Bush prepares global warming initiative

The administration also is trying to head off what it sees as a regulatory disaster. Environmentalists say greenhouse gases can be regulated under existing rules under the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act or the National Environmental Policy Act, and have filed lawsuits to try to force action. The Bush administration and others want to avoid a web of rules and regulations for businesses.

“The embedded regulatory trajectory that we’re on is a train wreck,” Mrs. Perino said. “For those who want reasonable and responsible action, it is worthwhile to have a constructive conversation as we work to keep the developing nations in this process in a way that will work to solve the problem without harming the economy.”

Oh, good.  So let’s create a new regulatory and economic disaster.  Good plan.  We’ve got President Bush reversing course and (presumably) calling for new regulations and proposing schemes to “solve” global warming - not to mention Senators McCain, Obama and Clinton (and numerous others)!  What happened to supporters of FREE ENTERPRISE!?!

At least there are some reasonable voices in this debate:

One person familiar with the meeting said several members, including Republican Reps. John Shimkus of Illinois and F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. of Wisconsin, told the White House it was making a mistake if it called for congressional action.

Supposedly, we’ll find out more about the President’s plan tomorrow, so stay tuned. 

In the meantime, sign up today to take a stand against the “ballooning” costs of global warming alarmism.  We need to get the biggest crowd possible to come out for this Americans for Prosperity event on Monday, April 21 to kick off the AFP Hot Air Tour across the country.  Plus, it’s a free lunch and a good time with hundreds of other AFP activists.  See my previous post on this or visit the AFP website for more information.  Sign Up Today!!

Come help Americans for Prosperity launch our nationwide hot air balloon tour, which will expose the unaffordable costs of global warming alarmism for average Americans. 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE. CLICK HERE FOR A FLYER.
 
The Hot Air Tour will kick off in Washington, DC, on April 21, just one day before Earth Day. We need your help to make sure this rally sends a powerful message to Capitol Hill — the climate change shakedown must stop!

What: Rally against unaffordable climate change schemes

Where: Upper Senate Park/Union Station Plaza

When: 11:30 AM; Monday, April 21

Popcorn. T-shirts. Lunch. Ice Cream. It’s all on us! Don’t miss out on this important event!

If the extremists have their way, American families and businesses will be on the hook to pay for feel-good regulations that do almost nothing. You’ll be forced to choose between heating your home or a family vacation. Between a full tank of gas or saving for your children’s education.

David Freddoso over at The Corner has it right on with this chart.

 Can we all take a deep breath and act/speak/think rationally now?