KP Week-End (2/20/2010): Tidbits From the Political World
This is the week that saw CPAC dominate the political headlines. I commented on it in KP's sister site, Outsider Views. It proved to be enlighterning in light of the stark choices awaiting the United States as it enters the mid-term elections.
The week that just passed also saw some major retirements from Congress. I wrote about Evan Bayh which was one of the more prominent ones to throw in the towel. It underscored what Time Magazine headlined as "Why Washington is so frozen". I continue to be concerned about the lack of courage by political leaders to transcend their political differences and overcome this Grand Canyon that continues to exist on major legislation. Glenn Beck's closing keynote at CPAC underscored the competing visions.
I view the elections in Indiana and Texas as a indication of what to expect. I am reading that Dan Coats, a former Senator, wants to jump back in to take Indiana back again for the Republicans. Coats is another of "the way it was" crowd that went on to apparently make a lot of money being a lobbyist. There are also rumours of Democrats settling on Ellsworth to run for Evan Bayh's seat. Indiana is conservative and it will be a steep climb. What is more interesting to observe is Texas. Rick Perry will apparently overcome Kay Bailey Hutinhcson to win the Republican Primary. Rick Perry is the same guy who has advocated secession from the Union, refused Stimulus money and yet took credit for it. I am seeing some indications that the Democrats may give Mr. Perry a run for his money to gain re-election again. Texas is also changing because of Demographics. I see the races in both states as a toss-up. It is open season and both parties have to earn the right to win. That's the bottom line here.
As America's election season gets under way, there is the continued calamity within the States themselves. The National Governor Association is having its' annual meeting in Washington and is already begging Washington For help. There continues to be a budget gap beyond belief. California's 20 billion Gap is just one example of it. In the meantime, "main street" continues to suffer. Even the Ivy League is not immune. I reviewed a report in the Chronicle of Higher Education about Darmouth. Darmouth College reported that it would be laying off 76 people. There will be no faculty layoffs. More importantly, the endowment has dropped from 3.7 Billion to about 2.8 Billion Dollars. This is just one example of the continued problems that will be faced as we ride out the remnants of the Great Recession.
The week that just passed also saw some major retirements from Congress. I wrote about Evan Bayh which was one of the more prominent ones to throw in the towel. It underscored what Time Magazine headlined as "Why Washington is so frozen". I continue to be concerned about the lack of courage by political leaders to transcend their political differences and overcome this Grand Canyon that continues to exist on major legislation. Glenn Beck's closing keynote at CPAC underscored the competing visions.
I view the elections in Indiana and Texas as a indication of what to expect. I am reading that Dan Coats, a former Senator, wants to jump back in to take Indiana back again for the Republicans. Coats is another of "the way it was" crowd that went on to apparently make a lot of money being a lobbyist. There are also rumours of Democrats settling on Ellsworth to run for Evan Bayh's seat. Indiana is conservative and it will be a steep climb. What is more interesting to observe is Texas. Rick Perry will apparently overcome Kay Bailey Hutinhcson to win the Republican Primary. Rick Perry is the same guy who has advocated secession from the Union, refused Stimulus money and yet took credit for it. I am seeing some indications that the Democrats may give Mr. Perry a run for his money to gain re-election again. Texas is also changing because of Demographics. I see the races in both states as a toss-up. It is open season and both parties have to earn the right to win. That's the bottom line here.
As America's election season gets under way, there is the continued calamity within the States themselves. The National Governor Association is having its' annual meeting in Washington and is already begging Washington For help. There continues to be a budget gap beyond belief. California's 20 billion Gap is just one example of it. In the meantime, "main street" continues to suffer. Even the Ivy League is not immune. I reviewed a report in the Chronicle of Higher Education about Darmouth. Darmouth College reported that it would be laying off 76 people. There will be no faculty layoffs. More importantly, the endowment has dropped from 3.7 Billion to about 2.8 Billion Dollars. This is just one example of the continued problems that will be faced as we ride out the remnants of the Great Recession.
Mike Pouraryan
