The Denver Dems Aren’t Making the Sale

National Review: A Close Race And Unanswered Questions Put The Pressure On Obama

(National Review Online)  This column was written by Larry Kudlow.

---

There is no Biden bounce according to the latest Gallup tracking poll, as John McCain actually is taking a 46-44 lead over Barack Obama. Scott Rasmussen reports a 46-46 tie after the Democratic National Convention’s first night, which reverses a 3 percentage point Obama lead.

Meanwhile, another Gallup poll says 50 percent expect their taxes to be raised under Obama, despite the complaints of his economic advisors that they’re only raising taxes on the top few percent.

Make no mistake about it: There are many doubts and unanswered questions about the Illinois senator regarding his experience, his foreign policy, his economics, and his prior political and spiritual relationships. And despite some good moments last night, I don’t think Michelle Obama made the sale. At the end, only her husband can do it. Hillary can’t do it. If the badly split Democrats can be united at this late date, only Obama can do the job. No one else.

Reagan united a split GOP in 1980. George W. Bush united the McCain, Forbes, and cultural-conservative factions in 2000. Goldwater couldn’t do it in ’64. Neither could Humphrey in ’68. Of course, Jerry Ford couldn’t do it in ’76. And Carter failed dismally in 1980. But Bill Clinton succeeded in 1992.

Now it’s Obama’s task in 2008. That’s his job. No one else can do it for him.

And as the stock market looks on warily, falling slightly today after plunging yesterday, the lead story in this morning’s Wall Street Journal is a serious indictment of Obama’s economic program. “Senator Obama is proposing to use the government to remake economic policies in a way that hasn’t been seen in Washington in decades.” And if it’s a three-house Dem sweep, it will be Katy bar the door. Big-government spending programs, tax increases, trade restraints, a government health-care plan, cap-and-trade on climate change - all without any real deficit restraints, which are accorded a low priority.

Incidentally, while the public clamors for drill, drill, drill, Obama wants high-cost, cap-and-trade carbon regulation enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency. Now, McCain also wants cap-and-trade, but not if India and China don’t go along. Apparently Obama will not be constrained by the rest of the world.

Sure, the economy is languishing. But do we really want a big-government, high-tax solution? Do we really want higher investment taxes that would leave government bigger and private enterprise smaller? Do Americans really blame “rich” people? Or do they actually believe success is a good thing and should not be punished? Do rank-and-file working folks really want to do away with the secret ballot for unionization in the form of the so-called card check? And if there were a three-house Dem sweep, wouldn’t Obama’s middle-class tax credit be overturned in favor of even more government spending, just as Bill Clinton’s plans were subverted back in 1993? The National Taxpayers Union says Obama’s new spending would total $344 billion. That’s a big number. One has to wonder if that’s the opening bid or the final one.

The Obama economists sincerely believe that theirs is a growth program. His advisors are friends of mine - all of them terribly smart: Jason Furman, Austan Goolsbee, Robert Reich, Jarrod Bernstein. So this is surely not personal on my part. But I question their economic model. Raising marginal tax rates will minimize - not maximize - economic growth and jobs. Ditto for enlarging the size, scope, and sweep of government.

Business cycles come and go. Each has its own set of excesses and subsequent corrections. It is the nature of free-market capitalism. But heavy-handed government solutions are being rejected worldwide, and it seems foolhardy for the USA to move away from economic freedom when virtually the rest of the world is moving toward it.

One of the greatest tax reformers of all time was John F. Kennedy. He slashed marginal tax rates across the board for businesses and people of all income levels. The economy boomed in the 1960s. Reagan copied the JFK model in the 1980s. Are we turning back this supply-side model? I fear the Obama men are doing just that. I think that fear is worrying the stock market right now.

John McCain’s economic program is certainly not flawless. And his ad bashing business, oil, and others nearly reaches the class-warfare level of Obama-Biden. It’s a Big Mac mistake. Nor does McCain have a solid tax-cutting program for the middle class. More on all that later.

But as the Democrats discuss the economy tonight, I’m willing to bet they are not gonna make the sale. Obama’s task Thursday night will be a monumental challenge.

[ubrew12]

Larry Kudlow is such a compromised neocon its hard to know where to begin. A total republican supporter of everything Bush ever did, all but in the pocket of the worlds largest corporations (note I didn''t say America''s largest corporations), and a loud, persistent defender of tax cuts of any kind, no matter how much of our gov''t services they then pile onto the shoulders of our children.

I would be deeply, deeply suspicious if Kudlow had ANY ''common-cause'' in the Obama campaign, the Democratic agenda, or anything on the left.

He''s a committed neocon, never saw a gov''t debt he didn''t want to double, never saw a MidEast country he didn''t want to invade.

Getting anything close to a unbiased reportage from this person is like wishing for the tooth-fairy. He''s one of those whose sold America out to the Chinese and Arabs.

[ubrew12]

Larry Kudlow is such a compromised neocon its hard to know where to begin. A total republican supporter of everything Bush ever did, all but in the pocket of the worlds largest corporations (note I didn''t say America''s largest corporations), and a loud, persistent defender of tax cuts of any kind, no matter how much of our gov''t services they then pile onto the shoulders of our children.

I would be deeply, deeply suspicious if Kudlow had ANY ''common-cause'' in the Obama campaign, the Democratic agenda, or anything on the left.

He''s a committed neocon, never saw a gov''t debt he didn''t want to double, never saw a MidEast country he didn''t want to invade.

Getting anything close to a unbiased reportage from this person is like wishing for the tooth-fairy. He''s one of those whose sold America out to the Chinese and Arabs.

[ubrew12]

Kudlow: "[Kennedy] slashed marginal tax rates across the board for businesses and people of all income levels. The economy boomed in the 1960s. Reagan copied the JFK model in the 1980s. Are we turning back this supply-side model?"

Yes we are. Kennedy was right to cut taxes on the rich, because their taxes were overbearing at a time of national prosperity: they had gone too far into ''punishment'' of the rich, and needed to be scaled back.

Reagans action was a knife into the backs of the poor, by contrast. He slashed taxes on the well-to-do, leaving the nations coffers bankrupt. They''ve been bankrupt ever since. Honestly, Kudlow, staring at a $10 trillion debt, what kind of blinders must you have on to suggest we NOT turn away from supply-side economics? At this point, supply-side economics is just a shell-game in which you temporarily stimulate YOUR economy by rolling your taxes onto the backs of your children. Its, basically, unethical.

This doesn''t mean there''s no place for the Republican party to go. Americans would vote for a party of small government, IF THERE WAS ONE. The Republicans of the last 30 years have cut taxes but refused to cut spending to make up the losses, and the result is the deeply unethical prospect of them charging their lifestyles to their children and grandchildren. I could never vote along with such a group of people who could do that. They aren''t even American, in my book.

[jmurrieta1]

"I would be deeply, deeply suspicious if Kudlow had ANY ''''common-cause'''' in the Obama campaign, the Democratic agenda, or anything on the left.

He''''s a committed neocon, never saw a gov''''t debt he didn''''t want to double, never saw a MidEast country he didn''''t want to invade.

Getting anything close to a unbiased reportage from this person is like wishing for the tooth-fairy. He''''s one of those whose sold America out to the Chinese and Arabs. "--Posted by ubrew12


As if NRO ever would publish an unbiased article in the first place.

It''s just a mouthpiece for the Neocon Bushites, and stuff just pours out of it like sheeyit out of an a$$hole.

[aakalan]

I just can''t do it. I cannot compose a rational response to StoopLow. He is such a biased fool, and his magazine is such a poster for "blood, death and more money for the rich" that I am stunned that CBS would even publish this neocon garbage.

Hey, CBS, it''s good to support contrasting views. It''s bad to support death, destruction and greed. Get smart. Get rid of NRO.

[juliekay44]

"Gallup poll says 50 percent expect their taxes to be raised under Obama",

Because the media do not cover facts, instead they repeat McCain''s lies. There has been almost no sign of professional journalistic ethics.

Whoever is elected President will be expected to work magic on a disastrous economy.

[juliekay44]

"Gallup poll says 50 percent expect their taxes to be raised under Obama",

Because the media do not cover facts, instead they repeat McCain''s lies. There has been almost no sign of professional journalistic ethics.

Whoever is elected President will be expected to work magic on a disastrous economy.

[Gary Kempf]

Larry Kudlow, a walking, talking, poster child of a IDIOT!!!!

[jmurrieta1]

The NRO can no more tell the trush about the failure of the Bush-Cheney regime than Pravda could have criticized Joe Stalin in 1945.

NRO is purely an *** rag.

[kevingrze]

McCain is a rich elite 72 year old confused man who lies repeatedly and likes wars. He is a sidekick to Bush and along with Lieberman is excited about starting a war in Iran. Americans have to look at the last 8 years and realized McCain will be 4 more worst years. My kids futures are important; a thoughtful, intelligent, energetic working class family like the Obamas is soooo refreshing and good for this country. Kudlow is a rich guy who wants more of the same, he is an elite. Not worth the time to read.

[smiley676]

Wow kevingrze, do you have any facts to back up your statements?

I''m tired of Obama supporters making these blanket statements about McCain being elite and a liar. Who has ever thought of McCain as elite? Seriously. Obama made over $4 million last year. Doesn''t that make him elite?

And what are the lies exactly? I''m sure I can match every lie with one from Obama.

[ofbyfor1]

When someone convinces you that the rich have to have even more money in order for you to simply have a job, honey, you''ve been played.

[armysgt5]

kevingrze,

You use the term "rich elite". I was wondering how much money someone has to have to be considered the "rich elite". Can you let me know?

Make sure you take a look at who you support. Obama and Biden are not exactly poor. In fact I believe that most of the country would trade their bank accounts for those of Biden or Obama.

[wellhell3]

It is really hilarious how all of a sudden very intelligent people who criticize Obscammer, all of a sudden become totaly idiots in the eyes of Obscammer''s gullible supporters. Critical and clear thinking has just totally escaped you folks!

How many times in your adult life has an American presidential candidate promised you these wonderful tax breaks? And every time they get in office, your taxes are in fact RAISED! And how many times has the tax base ever changed? NONE! And how many times has the wealth been re-distributed in some pinko commie plan? NONE!

You people have been bought and sold by pinko commie propaganda screeching hate your country, it''s bad, it''s wrong, you''re being screwed, your country is EVIL! And in your rather muddled mind you expect the world to respect your country, when you don''t! You''ve become a bunch of weenies with no balls, no pride, and no individual successes because you''re too lazy to make your own economy and make it work for you!

[stn_sage]

PARDON THE H3LL OUT OF ME! BUT---

The post convention bounce, if there is one, is AFTER the convention! NOT AFTER ONE NIGHT OR TWO NIGHTS!

But, I guess we shouldn''t be surprised that the reporters at the National Review don''t KNOW THAT---as we often see, in the form of their articles, that they simply do NOT know what they''re talking ABOUT!

At least wait until after the convention until you publish your PARTISAN attack B.S. story, boys!

[trillion1]

When was the last time a rich person wasn''t elected to the WH? How many millionaires are there in congress? A persons money is really a moot point at this level of politics.
The polls I don''t get. mccain basically is offering four more years, at least, like the last eight we''ve already suffered through and I don''t know anyone who wants that.

[corepublican]

I find it quite amusing that Democrats and other liberals are incapable of being criticized. You all jump on this commentary as being from "the rich" and the "the elite," yet you don''t offer any substance to refute their claims. It''s like trying to argue with an overly emotional child who can''t handle being told that they''re wrong. So here goes, one last time: OBAMA IS A RADICAL WHO WILL DESTROY OUR COUNTRY AND ITS ECONOMY. I''M SORRY THAT YOU SUPPORT HIM, BUT HE''S WRONG AND SO ARE YOU. HIGHER TAXES MEAN A LOWER STANDARD OF LIVING. FOR EVERYBODY.

[corepublican]

CBS_Oliver, maybe instead of mocking the $600 shirt, you should figure out how to advance in life so that you too may one day be able to afford such luxury. Don''t criticize the man for what he wears, criticize his thoughts and ideas. You have highlighted the point I was making about childish arguments. Grow up.

[tejasdemo]

Lol...like anybody really gives a_____what any Republican thinks anymore.

Bye Bye A Holes

[taxguydave]

What''s tragically funny is this--if Obama is elected president, he''ll probably manage to get a tax bill passed that increases tax rates on the top one or two brackets by a small margin.

If McCain is elected, he won''t sign any tax legislation passed by a Democratic Congress. As a result, the 2001 tax cuts will expire, and the rates will roll back to what they were in 1996. A huge tax increase across the board!

A vote for Obama=a small tax increase on the top 5%.

A vote for McCain=a large tax increase for everybody!

[Razzl]

Since economics is Kudlow''s thing, let''s look at that--the economy is falling apart today not because of Democratic proposals which haven''t been enacted but because the Republican corporate elite and Republican executive branch officials aren''t willing or able to tinker with the things which are broken, like all the standard arrangements for commoditization that made the credit market liquid. If the people who claim to be the sensei of economics stand by paralyzed by their unwillingness to interfere with pure market forces, and if the public isn''t willing to go down the tubes without a fight, then guess who the public will turn to to fix their problems? The wageearner with a house and family doesn''t have the luxury of letting pure free-market forces grind him into starvation, he''s got to fight. The anal-retentive free-market purists never seem to get where the "political" in "political economy" comes from...

[noloyalisti]

National Republican Order (NRO), Hillary said it best, No Way, No How, No McSame.

I just wonder if it gets embarrassing for the NRO to keep defending war and death and the fascists in the Grand Oil Party. Support stem cell research so we can grow the people at the NRO and GOP brains.

[zwooten727]

"I find it quite amusing that Democrats and other liberals are incapable of being criticized. You all jump on this commentary as being from "the rich" and the "the elite," yet you don''''t offer any substance to refute their claims. It''''s like trying to argue with an overly emotional child who can''''t handle being told that they''''re wrong. So here goes, one last time: OBAMA IS A RADICAL WHO WILL DESTROY OUR COUNTRY AND ITS ECONOMY. I''''M SORRY THAT YOU SUPPORT HIM, BUT HE''''S WRONG AND SO ARE YOU. HIGHER TAXES MEAN A LOWER STANDARD OF LIVING. FOR EVERYBODY. "
CORepublican

Actually co can take criticism, can rationally discourse with someone. can talk about pros and cons of rational ideas. but do get kinda annoyed at neocons that YELL AT ME ALL THE TIME thinking that is any way to convince anyone of anything other than you are a blithering idiot.

[noloyalisti]

The NRO lost all their credibility when they backed an invasion for oil. Then they cheerlead for the fascist corporations that run America. And for Bush = McCain = terror, war, death and incompetence.

[navvet2]

As a proud member of the United States Navy for 22 years, I have to say that this Obama candidacy is completely ridiculous. Would anyone in their right mind consider putting a newly commissioned young Ensign in charge of a ballistic missle submarine and send him on patrol in hostile waters? That''s exactly what the Obama campaign is asking the American voters to do and the answer should be a resounding "NO". He needs about another eight years of experience and a lot more credits to his resume before he can handle that kind of pressure and responsibility. -America First-

[paris1969]

as terrible as so many on these blogs think the Bush Administration has been, we have never been attacked since 9-11 ... and it is too bad so many people are too foolish to be grateful for this.

[vastr-wcon]

.
The main event of the Dem Convention, Hillary''s speech, is now over. The remaining bureaucratic/administrative minutia are best ignored by all Americans that believe in democracy.

Just as the clear winner of the popular vote in 2000 was Al Gore, the clear winner of the popular vote in the Dem primaries was Hillary. Just as Gore was denied his rightful victory by manipulations and un-democratic procedure, so too was Hillary gored.

Time has not healed the result of the 2000 debacle. In fact, the thief of that election is now regarded as the WORST ever by the overwhelming majority of Americans and people of the entire world. The same will occur with the Dem primaries of 2007/2008. History will eventually label "sweetie" hussein, and his equally unethical side-kick Plagiarist-Joe, as the WORST - regardless of what happens subsequently in 2008 and beyond.

Americans do not like cheaters. The stench of his action in hijacking the nomination is permanently attached to hussein. Plagiarist-Joe should steal a word other than "clean" to describe him.

/

[roger3815]

I AM JUST SHOCKED! SHOCKED I SAY!
That the NRO-GOP *** would write such an "article" denouncing the Democratic convention.

[noloyalisti]

Remember paris1969 who allowed the attack to happen. The Butch administration. In other words the damage was done (the benefits for the neo con men).

Do we really want more unemployment, more debt, more foreclosures, more wars and more of our money going to Exxon and Chevron. Vote Obama and Dems. Vote the fascist GOP out.

[ken1dall]

Say "goodnight" Barack.

[hungryman9]

As a proud member of the United States Navy for 22 years, I have to say that this Obama candidacy is completely ridiculous. Would anyone in their right mind consider putting a newly commissioned young Ensign in charge of a ballistic missle submarine and send him on patrol in hostile waters? That''''s exactly what the Obama campaign is asking the American voters to do and the answer should be a resounding "NO". He needs about another eight years of experience and a lot more credits to his resume before he can handle that kind of pressure and responsibility. -America First-
Posted by NaVVet2
*************************
You are so RIGHT. I spent 27 years in service, Korea and Viet Nam and I get sick of reading all these liberals that think they know everything. Some of the dumbest people I know are Harvard grads and liberals.
They all should serve some time in service and in some of the other countries and I think their attitude would be different.

[cfin5]

Barack''s a loser. You dems can thank your media for giving you "Chicago''s Best",......still can''t believe he even made it this far. I thought party loyalty was bad in the republican party. They doesn''t even register on the meter compared to the "do-nothingbuttaxocrats". McCain''s gonna take this election.....Hold on there rep''s....my standards don''t change for either party, so don''t start your cockle doodle doin'' just yet. Both sides standards remind me of an electrical "rheostat" in variability.....I''m voting for Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party as principles rule over party kowtowing.

[noloyalisti]

Is there really almost half this country who is so ignorant they would vote for 4 more years of McBush? Well I guess these morons did vote for Bushoccio. I can''t believe people are that stupid, the fascist corporations who own the media must be lying, as usual.

[hungryman9]

Is there really almost half this country who is so ignorant they would vote for 4 more years of McBush? Well I guess these morons did vote for Bushoccio. I can''''t believe people are that stupid, the fascist corporations who own the media must be lying, as usual.
Posted by noloyalisti
*********************************************
I''m sure glad most people in this country are not as intelligent as you. If they were this country would be up the creek. Your type is the kind that will destroy this country.

[kennedy7955]

I''''m sure glad most people in this country are not as intelligent as you. If they were this country would be up the creek. Your type is the kind that will destroy this country. Posted by hungrymama "

What are you talking about? Look what Bush and the Republicans have done to this country! What do the Republicans have to do for you to not support them? Punch you in the face? Bring the country to total collapse? Send the last job to China? Borrow the last dollar from the Chinese?

What is wrong with this country that 50% of the people would actually consider voting for McCain? Insane.

[vastr-wcon]

.
It''s going to be fun tonight! Here''s the game: see how many people you can identify whose words are stolen by Plagiarist-Joe and used in his speech - without attribution. If you get:

0-10 right = you are an ignoramus who would vote for anybody, including a liar and plagiarist
11-100 right = you are not a totally brain-dead democrat, and there might be hope for you
101-1000 right = you actually seem to have some discernment and ethics and probably did not cheat on your law school exam
1001+ = you are a winner! you are clearly too smart for the hope-change, change-hope, hopeable-change, changeable-hope BS and will vote for somebody other than sweetie hussein.

Good luck!

/

[kennedy7955]

Barack''''s a loser. You dems can thank your media for giving you "Chicago''''s Best",......still can''''t believe he even made it this far. I thought party loyalty was bad in the republican party. They doesn''''t even register on the meter compared to the "do-nothingbuttaxocrats". McCain''''s gonna take this election.....Hold on there rep''''s....my standards don''''t change for either party, so don''''t start your cockle doodle doin'''' just yet. Both sides standards remind me of an electrical "rheostat" in variability.....I''''m voting for Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party as principles rule over party kowtowing. Posted by cfin5"

I am going to handwrite my name in on the ballot and then I will have the same chance of winning the presidency as Chuck Baldwin. In fact, when I win I will make him my VP.

[kennedy7955]

As a proud member of the United States Navy for 22 years, ... Obama candidacy is completely ridiculous. Would anyone in their right mind consider putting a newly commissioned young Ensign in charge ... That''''''''s exactly what the Obama campaign is asking the American voters to do and the answer should be a resounding "NO". He needs about another eight years of experience and a lot more credits to his resume before he can handle that kind of pressure and responsibility. -America First- Posted by NaVVet2"

Thank you for your service. With all due respect, what did all the experience that Bush had do for this country over the last 8 years? Are you happy with this idiot in charge? How many people in the service did he get killed for nothing? Bush went from a surplus to a $9 trill debt financed by China. How great does that make you feel as an American?

McCain has been in power for over 30 years. He was there at Bush''s side through it all. Doesn''t McCain deserve the blame (or if you prefer credit) for what has happened?

If you are a fiscal conservative, a believer in smaller government and not larger - then those 2 reasons alone should have you quitting the Republican party. The dems are more fiscally conservative and smaller government than George Bush has ever been. This is not an opinion but fact.

Obama is not perfect and not my first choice. But compared to McCain he is the only option.

[noloyalisti]

But no one has given me one good reason to vote for McSame. Please, just one.

All the righties can do is character assassinate because they are out of material. Their Grand Oil Party has allowed fascism to take hold and all they sell is war and death and higher taxes for my kids. In short look around and see what has happened the last 8 years. And 50% of the country want more of the McSame. No one is that stupid.

[kennedy7955]

I wish we had a third option to Obama and McCain. That 3rd option would be nobody. That 3rd option would be on the ballot. Vote for Obama, McCain or nobody at all. If nobody wins, the Presidency would be vacant for the next 4 years. It would be a signal to our politicians that we are disgusted to the point that we would rather have no President than the choices they have given us.

I look back at the Bush Presidency and can''t help but feel that we would have been better of with no President at all. McCain gives me the same feeling and to a lesser degree, so does Obama.

[Syndicate]

I watched the video collage on Hillary Clinton last night. I was asking myself how a women who claims to be for women and children and who says we must protect the weak. Can turn her back on the weakest and most abused people in our society. The unborn. Frankly I hope there is a special place in hell for people who harm children and advocate the right to do so.

kennedy7955: I beg to differ. Obama will spend in such a way it will make Bush look good? McCain is catching a lot of flack for his votes against nobel projects that were financially irresponsible. Remember, Obama gave the Tax breaks to big oil. McCain voted against them. These guys will shift all over the place but when the dust settles and one wins he will revert to his true colors. McCain is a fiscal conservative at heart and will fight to balance the budget. He won''t be able to, but he will try. I wish I could tell you what Obama was going to do other than spend, But he is to wish washy to pin down. I think it will soon be official that he has covered every possible position from not drilling to drilling from no flag pin to every Democrat has a flag pin. I almost expect him to flip flop from a Democrat to a Republican some time soon.

[xyno-2009]

Bush went from a surplus to a $9 trill debt financed by China. How great does that make you feel as an American?

Posted by kennedy7955 at 05:52 PM : Aug 27, 2008

============

get your facts straight, there was no surplus. From the US Treasurey website:

Fiscal Year - 2000
Year Ending - 09/29/2000
National Debt - $5.67418 trillion
Deficit - $17.91 billion

[kennedy7955]

kennedy7955: I beg to differ. Obama will spend in such a way it will make Bush look good? McCain is catching a lot of flack for his votes against nobel projects that were financially irresponsible. Remember, Obama gave the Tax breaks to big oil. McCain voted against them. These guys will shift all over the place but when the dust settles and one wins he will revert to his true colors. McCain is a fiscal conservative at heart and will fight to balance the budget. He won''''t be able to, but he will try. I wish I could tell you what Obama was going to do other than spend, But he is to wish washy to pin down. ... I almost expect him to flip flop from a Democrat to a Republican some time soon. Posted by cbscrash07"

Let us agree that using past history as an indicator and not assumptions is the best way to forecast how either of the candidates would perform.

So let us compare Clinton with Bush. Who spent more? Who increased the size of the government more? Who was overall more fiscally conservative? Which of these 2 parties was more fiscally responsible?

The Republican party of smaller government, lower taxes and smaller government is a fallacy, a complete an utter lie. It was under Bush, under Reagan and certainly will be if McCain become President. It is time for you to leave the Republicans as I did 4 years ago and see the truth.

[kennedy7955]

Bush went from a surplus to a $9 trill debt financed by China. How great does that make you feel as an American?

Posted by kennedy7955 at 05:52 PM : Aug 27, 2008

============

get your facts straight, there was no surplus. From the US Treasurey website:

Fiscal Year - 2000
Year Ending - 09/29/2000
National Debt - $5.67418 trillion
Deficit - $17.91 billion

Posted by Xyno

Dear Xyno, you are right and wrong. The actual debt of the country is likely as you have stated. The account current, the amount the government was spending vs. what it was taking in, was a surplus of over $1 trill in the last year of the Clinton presidency.

That doesn''t mean the "national credit card" was paid off - but for the first time in 45 years our country had a budget surplus.

Nice try.

[kennedy7955]

I watched the video collage on Hillary Clinton last night. I was asking myself how a women who claims to be for women and children and who says we must protect the weak. Can turn her back on the weakest and most abused people in our society. The unborn. Frankly I hope there is a special place in hell for people who harm children and advocate the right to do so."

I hate abortion and I do not need religion to feel this way. But the fact is that abortion has been around since the beginning of time. To go back to a time where women had abortions in back alleys and in 3rd world countries is senseless. You can make abortion illegal but it will not go away.

Prohibition did not stop alcohol consumption. Laws right now do little to nothing to stop illegal (and legal) drugs from being used and abused. Laws against speeding don''t stop speeding, and laws against gambling don''t stop illegal gambling. The clamor for the overthrow of Roe vs. Wade would not solve this problem either.

The only answer is education and support for these pregnant women. All you religious nuts should be sending piles of money for education, prevention and support of mothers and children faced with poverty. But all I ever hear from the religious is to change the law.

[Syndicate]

I''m agnostic. I have problems with roe v wade on many levels. For example a women can pay a doctor to dismember her unborn child in utero. Yet if that same women gives birth to that child then any potential father must submit to DNA testing? A women has the right to privacy to kill a child yet a man doesn''t have the right to privacy to avoid being billed for that child? If we can''t legislate morality then lets drop the rape murder laws. Isn''t that want abortion is murder. the deliberate ending of a human life for ones own selfish desires?

[Syndicate]

kennedy7955: I agree the only way to end abortions is by making them obsolete through education and better birth control.

[incog-nito]

Speaking of abortion, the real issue is WHEN to allow it. Both sides take extreme positions: The pro-life side wants it outlawed the moment of conception (and even before. Some are against contraceptives). The pro-choice sides wants total freedom up until the moment of birth.

The truth lies somewhere in the middle. The problem is neither side wants to give an inch, for political reasons. First is the "slippery slope" argument: To compromise means to leave yourself open for more compromise. Second, to compromise means to admit that some of your cherished dogma will have to be abandoned, and that your opponent is at least partly right. Third, to compromise means having one fewer enemy to bash and vilify, thus one fewer way to galvanize your base.

So the conflict goes on and on, because nobody really wants a solution.

[element51]

This piece of ***** article isn''t worth reading. Maybe Mr. Kudlow should have waited until the convention was over before he trashed it. What a putz.

[andor3]

not making the sale? must not be watching the convention! or wait... actually wrote the article BEFORE most of the convention happened. hmmm... preconceived notions? wishful thinking? fantasies of relevance?