Tax Reform Vision

It seems that our tax code is disliked by both the republicans and the democrats, and that “almost everybody disagrees with the basic outline.” With this knowledge, David Brooks suggests Obama use tax reforms as a way of “reintroducing” the parties to each other, and as a way to bring about consensus on other polarized issues such as the environment and healthcare. Brooks goes on to say that tax reform could “change the tone in Washington,” and act as a platform from which attention could be shifted for “the same-old big government-versus-small government debate toward more concrete challenges: shifting resources from unproductive consumption to more productive investment.” One of the unfortunate qualities of party politics is that the stark polarization creates a somewhat unproductive environment (in my opinion), and it is one of the reasons that the senate functions at such a glacial pace. For lack of a better phrase, I think that Americans need to “bite the bullet” and for parties need to shed some of the extreme political allegiance that has now come to plague Washington. Maybe transformations would be made that some Americans aren’t happy with, but I think Brooks follows the logic that any kind of change is more likely to lower our federal deficit, lower carbon emissions, and make healthcare more widespread, then simply remaining at political ceasefires would.

Liberal v. conservative internet

Interesting piece for those of you writing papers about internet and politics.

Data about election

Michael Barone provides rich, district by district detail about the election.

Video on lobbying

A positive portrayal of functions of lobbing.

Are there any limts to federal power?

Panel discussion from recent meeting of Federalist Society relevant to our discussion on Tuesday.

Don't Mess with Texas

Texas to gain 3-4 seats in the next Congress. NJ, NY, MA, PA will each lose at least one seat. Ohio may lose two. Article suggests that big GOP gains in state elections will affect reapportionment.

Repeal Amendment

A proposed constitutional amendment relevant to our debate about tentherism on Tuesday.

Is America Exceptional?

Citizens of APP are cordially invited to the AHI to discuss American exceptionalism from 7-8PM on Monday December 6. See campus announcement for readings. Rides available at 6:50PM at KJ Circle. Publius is a diverse group of students and faculty who meet once a month to discuss issues of American federalism. On the docket for next semester are : tentherism, the 17th amendment, and the proposed "Repeal Amendment." We are looking for students to become part of the leadership cadre of Publius. Let me know if you might be interested.

Holiday Party

Citizens of APP are cordially invited to holiday party at Alexander Hamilton Institute from 4-6PM on Sunday, December 5, featuring performance by Special K. Rides leave from KJ Circle at 3:50PM.

House censures Rangel

The House of Representatives censured Charles Rangel today. This is the first case censured by House since Gerry Studds and Daniel Crane were censured in 1983 (CNN). Speaker Nancy Pelosi read the censure resolution. This is the most serious punishment conducted by House of Representatives except for expulsion. Rangel was charged guilty on 11 counts, including failing to pay all his tax bills, filling misleading financial statements, and improperly seeking money from corporate interests for a college center bearing his name (NPR). Rangel is not involved in corruption, while his misconducted ethically.

Even though Peter King, New York GOP Rep., backed Rangel, I do not think King's reasons hold. King pointed out that no one questioned Rangel's integrity or he has never seen Rangel treat anyone with disrespect. I think King's defending reasons are irrelevant to Rangel's charges and Rangel's misconduction deserved a censure. Considering that Rangel was re-elected last month by winning 80% of the vote, I think he deceived voters by his positive image, he crossed the moral bottom line of being a leader. His brilliant records, such as he won a purple heart after being wounded in combat in Korea and he is tied for fourth in House seniority, could pay for his deliberate neglect of rules. I see an inconsistency in his characters, between his honors and his unscrupulousness.

"Chickencrap" or Smart Politics?

A plan on extending Bush era tax cut was voted this afternoon. The House Democrats proposed that the tax cut be extended for the next two years for families making $250,000 annually or less. The Republicans opposed this plan, and they suggested that the wealthy would use this money to create jobs, while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi claimed that the wealthy would spend this money on stock market and further investments instead of in creating jobs (CNN). The House minority leader John Boehner referred to this plan proposed by House Democrats as "chickencrap" ( the National Interest). Boehner asserted that the House Democrats are playing political games to set up the Election 2012 (CBSNews).

New Jersey representative Bill Prescrell supports this plan because he believes this plan saves the middle class Americans. According to Prescrell, the beneficiary of this plan, households earning $250,000 per year or less, occupies 98% of individuals and business. Such a large percentage of beneficiaries helps achieve Americans economy by reviving middle class.

That a large number of middle-class Americans being beneficiaries could be a lurk of the Democrats in order to win Election 2012. President Obama started paying more attention to the middle class, one of the major reasons he lost this year's mid-term election by one chamber. President Obama saved capitalism - by resuscitating the bank system, initiating an auto bailout, and etc. - but lost the midterms, the big political price he paid to his so-called "socialist" plans (rsn).

In addition to Democrats' special care for the middle class, one thing noteworthy about Prescrell's perspectives is that the point of a bipartisan compromise should be "to facilitate, not end, discussion among all Congress members by focusing on where we all agree and acknowledging what our nation cannot afford" (NorthJersey.com).

McCain Questions Pentagon on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

The Pentagon has recently issued a statement saying that a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" would have a minimal impact on the military's effectiveness. However, Senator John McCain, a public supporter of DADT is urging the Pentagon to rethink their status.

Gridlock

Senate Republicans are continuing to attempt to "block" all legislation that comes through until bush tax-cuts and funding bill are voted upon. Such measures that may be potentially filibustered are the repeal of the don't ask don't tell policy and a nuclear arms treaty with Russia. Democrats are upset with the obstruction and continue to stand ground against the GOP threats. Republicans, particularly Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell argue that Democrats should stand down because voters on November 2nd sent a clear message for a change.

Tentherism

Just some background information on the "Tentherism" movement for anyone who might be thinking about the lottery debate next Tuesday

Reid moves forward on DREAM Act

Although this will most likely end up being a purely symbolic vote taken by Reid to thank the Hispanic voters who he can thank for saving his political career, I sincerely hope that this bill is able to pass. Republicans say that this opens the door to amnesty and well, so what if it does? These are people that have been in this country since they were little kids and who have brought themselves up by their bootstraps to get where they are now. These people who would be granted citizenship are productive members of society who are college bound and are going to move on to bigger and better things. It is asserted that these are lay abouts who are mooching off of the system and will give nothing back but what Republicans fail to see is that these people are the face of future American too! These people are achieving the American dream and we should reward them for that, with the citizenship they have so long coveted.

The Tequila Party

TARP expected to cost U.S. only $25 billion, CBO says

White House Meeting Ends in Kind Words but No Deals

This article discusses the meeting that Obama had with the Republican Congressional leaders earlier today. The meeting was said to have "pledges of cooperation" but thus far, there have been no agreements on the two major issues that currently divide Democrats and Republicans: national security, and more importantly, fiscal policy. At the moment, the most relevant issue up for discussion is whether or not to continue Bush-era tax cuts that will soon expire. The large debate on these tax cuts is not for how long they should be extended, but rather who should receive the tax relief. The Republicans believe that everybody should get the cuts, while the Democrats think that they should only go to citizens with income under $250,000. In order to settle this debate in a timely manner, two Republicans and two Democrats (one from each party in each hous eof Congress) will discuss the matter with Secretary of Treasury Timothy Geithner. Furthermore, Obama personally apologized to the new Speaker of the House, Boehner, and the minority leader in the Senate, McConnell, for not reaching out to them at all to find some common ground in the past two years. Obama is promising them that this time around, he will do much to promote bipartisanship in Congress. However, both Boehner and McConnel feel that the outcome of recent midterm elections were not only a cry for bipartisanship, but also a "rejection of Obama's agenda." Despite their beliefs, Obama's announcement yesterday of a two-year pay freeze for civilian federal workers was meant to show the Republicans in Congress that he is indeed serious about eliminating as much deificit spending as possible from now on.

A skeptical view of power of technology

WikiLeaks founder could be charged under Espionage Act

I thought this article was similar to the example Justice Souter gave in his speech.