November 22, 2008 9:57:16 CST
(Newser) – President Bush’s tax cuts have become the governmental equivalent of a corporate poison pill, Paul Krugman observes in the New York Times, aimed at hamstringing new stewardship. Both prospective replacements have tax plans very much haunted by the Bush cuts, with one-time critic John McCain promising not only to make them permanent, but add more—and without a plan to replace revenue.
McCain, Krugman writes, needs "to shore up relations with the Republican base, which suspects him of being a closet moderate. But he’s not the only one seemingly trapped by the Bush fiscal legacy." Barack Obama’s plan raises revenue by rolling back cuts for the rich—but his unwillingness to repeal middle-class cuts will make universal health care tough to pay for.
Source New York Times
Nov 13, 08 9:50 CST Voters didn’t so much choose liberalism or the Democratic Party as they did Barack Obama, writes Karl Rove in the Wall Street Journal. And that’s potentially good news for the GOP in the 2010 midterm elections, Rove says: “In politics, good years follow bad years. Republicans and Democrats have experienced both during the past 15 years.” If the GOP plays it right, it could be ripe for a comeback. More »
Nov 12, 08 1:58 PM CST The Bush White House thought it was pretty clever rushing to get all its so-called midnight regulations finalized by Nov. 1 so they couldn't be immediately overturned by the next president, as many of Bill Clinton's parting gifts were. But congressional Democrats say they've found an obscure Clinton-era law that will allow them to strike down the rules anyway. More »
Nov 11, 08 7:45 PM CST George W. Bush will soon no longer be president, and “it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on the multifaceted burden that will soon be lifted from our collective shoulders,” Paul Waldman writes in the American Prospect, taking more than a few minutes to catalog the low points of 43's legacy. With the spectacular achievement of Barack Obama, it’s easy to pass over the spectacular failure of Bush. “Goodbye,” Waldman writes, “to the culture of incompetence.” More »
Nov 5, 08 1:24 PM CST All Americans, no matter who they voted for, should be “overcome with pride” at Barack Obama’s historic victory, President Bush said today, calling it “a triumph of the American story.” Bush promised he’d give Obama his “complete cooperation” in preparing for the transition. He said he looked forward to the inauguration, which “will be a stirring sight.” More »
Nov 4, 08 5:05 PM CST The end of the Bush era could mean tough times for the arts, the Morgan Falconer writes in the Times of London. Not only will artists, filmmakers, and writers lose the muse who has inspired critical works, but the economic crisis will drain financial support. John McCain already implied he would trim federal backing, and Barack Obama would likely be forced to do the same. More »
Barack Obama • John McCain • George W. Bush • Bush administration • taxes • tax cuts • universal health care
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