Charles Krauthammer: 'On Wisconsin: Smaller Government Is Still Alive & Well'

Source:Real Clear Politics- Fox News political contributor and Washington Post columnist, Charles Krauthammer.

"It's clear that this was about the most energized electorate; there were no undecideds," FOX News contributor and syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer said on Wednesday. "If you look at the polls, everyone decided. Just about 86% decided a month ago. If you were undecided, you weren't paying attention. And it was extremely polarized; the issues were black and white."

"I'm not sure that you'd expect this, but you would expect that intensity and the divisions," Krauthammer said on the panel portion of FOX News' "Special Report" broadcast this evening. "But I think the lesson for the presidential campaign is for Romney, that he is extremely risk-averse by nature. There is nothing wrong with that but I think this is showing him that you don't have to be to win this election. You can try to win by going minimal, by running against Obama's stewardship on the bad economy and your credential as a businessman."

"But there's another option," Krauthammer explained. "And that is to do as well to add on to that the ideological element of it. This election showed, in Wisconsin, that kind spirit of 2010, the kind of if you like Constitutional conservative philosophy; smaller government is still alive and well and can be used in this election."

"And I think there are elements of the Ryan plan that Romney might want to highlight, either tax reform or entitlement reform, but something that is risky and bold and strong. I'm not sure he would do it but it would help him and Wisconsin is saying this is going to work. The electorate has grown up and they can take it," Mr. Krauthammer said." 

From Real Clear Politics

I think I agree with most of what Charles Krauthammer is saying here. But I take issue with Governor Scott Walker and the rest of the Wisconsin Republican Leadership as being Constitutional Conservatives. 

I'm sure there are a few Constitutional Conservatives in Wisconsin (or is it Wiscansin) but we're really talking about the Phyllis Schlafly, Christian-Right, populist, economic libertarian, but socially fundamentalist, wing of the Republican Party. 

Yes, the Populist-Christian-Right wants big government out of big business's and wealthy individuals wallets (as long as those wealthy individuals and businesses aren't Democrats) but they want big government in our homes. And to a certain extent in working people's wallets by taking workers right on whether they should join a labor union or not, away from them and having big government to that for them. 

The Wisconsin Republican Leadership, led by Governor Scott Walker, does not represent the Barry Goldwater Constitutional Conservative wing of the Republican Party. More like the Phyllis Schlafly, Pat Buchanan, Christian-Populist wing of the Republican Party. It's not big government that they oppose. They just don't want big government intruding on businesses and wealthy individuals that vote Republican. 

Hoover Institution: Uncommon Knowledge With Peter Robinson- Charles Moore: 'The Legacy of Margaret Thatcher'

Source:Uncommon Knowledge- with Peter Robinson.

"One of Britain's most distinguished journalists, Charles Moore is a former editor of the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph newspapers and of the Spectator magazine. Moore is also the authorized biographer of the Right Honorable Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven, better known as Margaret Thatcher...

From the Hoover Institution

The situation that Margaret Thatcher inherited from Socialist Labor Party in Britain in 1979, is not much different from the situation that Ronald Reagan inherited from the Democratic Party in America economically in 1981. There were some differences politically, but both economies were in bad shape. High unemployment, low economic and job growth, both Thatcher and Reagan inheriting economic messes in 1979 and 81 respectively.

There were political differences, back in the 1970s. The UK Labor Party, was more of a Marxist Socialist Party, that believed in state ownership of the economy. At least to certain extents and there were British industries, that were owned by the U.K. Government. The U.S. Democratic Party, is made up of Liberal and Progressives and have Democratic Socialists. Progressive Democrats in the Party that believe in democratic socialism. Which is different from Marxism, but both parties have their big government supporters as it relates to economics and they were both in charge back then. But both countries were down and weren’t doing very well and were both looking for a change politically and both got it, with Thatcher and Reagan.

So in Britain, what Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher did and what the new Labor Party under Tony Blair continued in the late 1990s, but added their own touch to it, was bring more economic freedom to Britain. Privatized more British industries, cut taxes and cut spending and freed a lot of Brits to live their own lives. One thing I respect about the British Conservative Party, that unlike the Republican Party, is that they are a real Conservative Party. Not a Neoconservative Party. They truly believe in conserving individual freedom, not subtracting from it, or trying to tell people how to live their lives. The British Conservatives, didn’t bring in conservative economics, with authoritarian policies on Social Issues. They wanted to expand British freedom and give more Brits the ability to chart their own course in life, and not being dependent on the state for their lively hood.

That Thatcher Revolution, worked so well in Britain, that when Tony Blair was running and eventually elected Prime Minster in 1997 with the Labor Party, he did not run on Marxism. He didn’t try to convince Brits that capitalism doesn’t work and they need to go back to nationalizing British industries and return to the 1970s. What he did was to run on a different type of capitalism, that would expect Brits who were physically and mentally capable of working full-time, would be expected to be self-sufficient in life. And that even if you were unemployed and uneducated, that you would still be expected to work and be self-sufficient. And that the state will help you get the skills you need to be self-sufficient if you need it. Thats the legacy of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. 

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House Republicans: House Republican Chairman Jeb Hensarling- 'The Kudlow Report'

Source:House Republicans- Chairman Jeb Hensarling (Republican, Texas) on The Kudlow Report on CNBC.

"House Republican Conference Chairman Jeb Hensarling appeared on CNBC's The Kudlow Report to discuss our Plan for America's Job Creators." 

From the House Republicans

I saw an interview on the CNBC Kudlow Report, which is let's be honest, its not a report, its more like the Larry Kudlow Point of View, or POV with Larry Kudlow, would be a more accurate description of this show. I learn about as much or less from watching Rachel Maddow or Sean Hannity. Which isn't saying anything. 

These shows are mostly commentary but I actually did hear some interesting on the Kudlow, Show (let's call it) where the guy guest-hosting this show was interviewing Jeb Henserling (Chairman of the House Republican Conference) who is basically the chief spokesperson for the House GOP Leadership. And Chairman Hensarling in this "interview" (more like a couple guys taking turns slapping each other on the back) that Congress at this point, has passed a lot less legislation than the previous Congress's at the same point in the Congress. Because the House and Senate haven't gotten together to agree on a lot of legislation, 

House Republicans and Senate Democrats are just very divided on almost everything. The Senate has had a hard time passing anything out of the Senate, because of how evenly divided the Senate is between Democrats and Republicans.

Chairman Hensarling said that its not about how much legislation that Congress passes but the quality of legislation that Congress passes. Which is an obvious statement but very true. Congress's tend to be judged by how much legislation they pass, instead of the quality of legislation it passes. Which is the wrong test. And here's why: me personally, I don't want to see Congress pass a lot of legislation. Especially anything that makes the Federal Government bigger or our taxes higher or takes away some of our freedom. 

I want Congress and the Federal Government as a whole to do the things that we need it to do, do the basic work that Congress needs to do. To keep Uncle Sam in business, which means at least passing appropriation bills, to avoid government shutdowns and defaults. And when there are problems in the country like with a weak economy, passing things that can help improve the economy, which is where Congress has overwhelmingly failed.

Congress can't fix the economy, nor can the rest of the Federal Government but it can pass legislation to encourage economic and job growth, which is what the country needs. Like with a long-term highway bill and further infrastructure investment, which would also be a boost for our construction and manufacturing industries who need the work. And we need the parts to do that work and for this to happen the House and Senate have to work together. Not trying to pass things that the other side won't approve.

Liberty Pen: John Stossel-Ann Coulter- War On Drugs Debate

Source:Liberty Pen- right-wing loudmouth Ann Coulter debating John Stossel on the so-called War On Drugs.

"After 40 years of futility, John Stossel wants to end the Drug War.  Ann Coulter does not.  A discussion of individual liberty ensues. Liberty Pen." 

Source:Liberty Pen

I hate to say this, because I see Ann Coulter as a sometimes crazy, but other times as a nasty, intolerant, person, who can barely stand the presence of being in the same room, as anyone who disagrees with her on anything (sort of like a fascist) but she actually makes a good point (for a change) about the War On Drugs. 

Don't get me wrong, I think she's not dead wrong, but definitely wrong about the War On Drugs. But arguing that we wouldn't need the War On Drugs, if we didn't have a welfare state (or as I call safety net) and forced to subsidized others bad decisions in life. My counterpoint is that we don't need the War On Drugs at all, because it's a complete failure and waste of hard-woking, taxpayer dollars, that the Ann Coulter's of the world say they care about. 

Anytime you punish someone for something that they do to themselves (which is what a big part of the War On Drugs is) you meaning the government becomes responsible for the welfare of that individual. Which costs a lot of money. It takes $50,000 dollars a year to house and take care of the average Federal prison inmate. So we end up being stuck with a safety net (as I prefer to call it) that we can't afford, on top of this so-called War On Drugs that we can't afford either. And that's just the taxpayer costs. 

Most people who are in prison for simple illegal drug usage or possession, gets out of prison while they're still fairly young, but but now they can't get themselves a decent job, because they have this felony convection on their records. Even though they were only convicted of illegal drug possession or usage and represent no actual threat to any innocent person and they're still addicted to illegal narcotics, because the only thing they got in prison was they're lost of freedom. And they become wards of the welfare state (or safety net) that taxpayers have to pay for. 

I mean, you can't be a fiscal conservative and be a fan of the War On Drugs, since the War On Drugs is a waste of tax dollars.

U.S. Senator Tom Coburn: 'On Reforming the Crop Insurance Subsidy, Amendment to the Farm Bill'

Source:U.S. Senator Tom Coburn- Republican, Oklahoma) one of the true fiscal conservatives left in the U.S. Congress, in either party or chamber.

"(Tuesday, June 12 2012) - Dr. Coburn talking about his amendment with Senator Durbin (D-IL) to 3240, a bill to reauthorize agriculture programs through 2017. The Coburn and Durbin amendment would reduce the level of federal premium support for crop insurance participants with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) over $750,000 by 15 percentage points for all buy-up policies beyond catastrophic coverage. CBO has estimated this amendment would save more than $1.2 billion dollars over 10 years."

From Senator Tom Coburn

What Senator Tom Coburn is arguing here is that American taxpayers shouldn't be forced to subsidize farmers who are already doing well and simply don't need that taxpayer funded government welfare, in order to not just survive, but to live well. Sounds like basic commonsense to anyone who lives outside of the Washington area, which is most of the country. 

But if you serve in Congress and you represent a lot of agriculture workers, commonsense doesn't always, actually in many cases, doesn't work for you politically. And if one of your top priorities, or your top priority, perhaps your only priority, is getting reelected or moving on to a higher office and if it's welfare and pork that you need to get reelected or to move on to your next political office, you are probably going to take it, even if its's a complete waste of tax dollars. 

Human Events: David Harsanyi- David Limbaugh: 'Liberalism is Like a Metastatic Cancer'

Source:Human Events- interviewing right-wing author David Limbaugh.

"Part one of Senior Reporter David Harsanyi's with NYT bestselling author David Limbaugh about his latest book "The Great Destroyer: Barack Obama's War On The Republic."

From Human Events 

Just to respond what David Limbaugh said about liberalism: 

"Liberalism, political doctrine that takes protecting and enhancing the freedom of the individual to be the central problem of politics. Liberals typically believe that government is necessary to protect individuals from being harmed by others, but they also recognize that government itself can pose a threat to liberty. As the American Revolutionary pamphleteer Thomas Paine expressed it in Common Sense (1776), government is at best “a necessary evil.” Laws, judges, and police are needed to secure the individual’s life and liberty, but their coercive power may also be turned against the individual. The problem, then, is to devise a system that gives government the power necessary to protect individual liberty but also prevents those who govern from abusing that power." 

From Britannica 

So if you are someone who doesn't believe in protecting and enhancing the freedom is a bad thing, then you are illiberal, not liberal. If Barack Obama is what David Limbaugh believes he is, then President Obama is illiberal, not liberal. Someone who is illiberal, is someone who doesn't believe in advancing liberal values, like the freedom of the individual and our individual rights. Not the freedom of man or for men, but the freedom of individuals, which includes men and women. 

Some would argue what David Limbaugh is really talking about here (even though Limbaugh never says so) is what's called modern liberalism and what Barack Obama is what's called a Modern Liberal. Modern Liberal and modern liberalism, is what closeted Socialists call socialist and socialism, because they're terrified of people knowing what their real politics is, which is socialist. (Democratic or otherwise) 

Hearing David Limbaugh talk about liberalism, is like getting an opinion from an auto mechanic about what's the best diet for you. I would think any intelligent person would want a second opinion (like from a doctor or dietician) about what's the best diet for you, before you automatically take the word of an auto mechanic about what's the best diet for you. 

News One: Boyce Watkins- U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr.: 'Leads The Charge on Increasing the Minimum Wage to $10/Hour'

Source:Wikipedia- News One reporter Boyce Watkins.

"Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. is leading the fight to increase the minimum wage.  The congressman would like to see every American get a wage of at least $10 per hour, which is an increase from the current rate of $7.25 per hour.  President Barack Obama promised that the minimum wage would be over $9 per hour by this year, but he has not been able to make it happen.

Jackson is citing President Obama’s campaign promise and is promoting his wage increase as the Catching Up Act of 2012.    Jackson notes, however, that even an increase to $10 per hour would not match the real wage that was paid in 1968 (adjusted for inflation).

“I’m calling on President Barack Obama to honor his campaign commitment of 2008 to stand behind legislation that raises the minimum wage for the American people a little more than he requested in 2008 because the numbers and the economy reflect that $10 is not an unreasonable starting point,” Jackson said at a June 6 news conference.

Ralph Nader, a former presidential candidate, has backed Congressman Jackson on the issue as well.

“The minimum wage increase used to be the signatory dynamic of the traditional Democratic Party since they got it in 1938. That’s how decayed they are,” Nader said. “You’re fighting their desire to win the election up against their inherent caution and cowardliness to do anything other than raise more money and put more insipid ads on TV.”

I spoke with Congressman Jackson this morning, along with his father, Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.  The only thing wrong with Congressman Jackson’s proposal is that it shouldn’t be a proposal at all.  The truth is that the minimum wage should have surpassed $10 per hour years ago, and we should be embarrassed to live in a nation that thinks that $400 per week is too much for someone to receive after working a full-time job.

Capitalism and free enterprise are powerful economic boosters.  America became the richest nation in the world because of our ability to inspire investment and innovation.  But the risk of adopting unfettered capitalism is that when it is unregulated, capitalism is designed to enslave a perpetual underclass.  Capitalism doesn’t care about the elderly, the sick, the poor or the handicapped.  It is only our collective conscience that creates a society that is beneficial to everyone, and that conscience is communicated through our legislators.

To the extent that our politicians have been kidnapped by corporate money, there is little hope that Congressman Jackson’s legislation will ever be passed.  At the same time, it can be successful if people take the power back from those who’ve become corrupted.  After we get the minimum wage up to $10, perhaps then we can start working to get a wage that actually allows families to survive." 

From News One 

I actually agree with Representative Jackson here, (perhaps for the first time in my life) the minimum wage should be increased. 

So-called economic Conservatives/Libertarians always argue that it should be the free market that should decide of wages and benefits of all American workers. But the fact is they don't want that. They want management to be able to decide how much they should be able to play their workers. 

Employers are at best 1/4 of the entire private market in any free society. The rest of the market is made up of labor, consumers, and the government. If you let the entire private market get to decide and have to work together to decide what workers would get paid, you probably wouldn't see low wags in any developed, free society in the world, including in America.