Today is one of those days that only political nerds like me circle on their calendars – the State of the Union address. In fact we have our own acronym for it: SOTU. Traditionally, early in the speech, the president will utter the phrase “The State of the Union is strong” (or some very slight derivation thereof) and the chamber will erupt in applause. Suppose that statement was untrue? Let’s explore. Continue reading The State Of The Union Is Frightening
Tag Archives: CBO
An October Surprise? (And Some Current Stuff Too)
It’s Thursday. I had a wild idea the other day and there are a bunch of things that don’t constitute a full article (in one case yet) but that I wanted to cover. How to resolve my dilemma? Why not combine them? Let’s explore. Continue reading An October Surprise? (And Some Current Stuff Too)
My President Is Morally Bankrupt
I try to make the Sunday story about the biggest political news of the week just ended. In order to accommodate my personal schedule I felt it was necessary to write a bit more ahead of schedule than normal; (in this case Thursday morning.) What I decided to do was write about the root of most of the big stories of the first six months of the Trump administration including last week. Let’s explore. Continue reading My President Is Morally Bankrupt
American Flatline
My degree is in management and business types are known to be bottom line people. That is, in the final analysis the thing that matters most is the net profit or loss (the bottom line of the P&L statement). In health care there is a “bottom line” of sorts; it is the line(s) on the vital signs monitor that measures activity. When it goes flat you are dead. I contend that Trumpcare, in all its versions, will produce a flatline for many Americans. Let’s explore. Continue reading American Flatline
The Politically Dead On A Bus
Sometimes being an old guy has its advantages. I was the beneficiary of multiple laps around the track of life last week. Thursday, 217 House Republicans voted for Trumpcare 3.0, (or is it 2.1?), and in the process many ended their political futures. Immediately after the result of the vote was announced many House Democrats began taunting them with a rendition of Steam’s 1978 song, Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye). It took me back to memories of the 1978 Chicago White Sox and made a terrible moment somewhat more palatable. There is a lot here; let’s explore. Continue reading The Politically Dead On A Bus