09 | July | 2012

Sunday, May 26, 2013

A weak recovery with a weak foundation built on credit card debt

James Pethokoukis | July 9, 2012, 4:26 pm

A big leap in credit card debt in May. It surged by $8.0 billion, the biggest one month gain since November 2007. Here is one explanation from IHS Global: It is possible, however, that households are relying more and more on … read more >

Politics and Public Opinion, The Presidency

Team Romney outraises Team Obama by 50% in June

Henrik Temp | July 9, 2012, 4:15 pm

President Obama and the DNC raised $71 million for his reelection campaign in June, his highest monthly total to date. However, he still fell well short of Mitt Romney and the RNC, who raised $106 million in the same period. read more >

Pethokoukis

Is Obama’s new promise to lower middle-class tax rates credible?

James Pethokoukis | July 9, 2012, 3:53 pm

President Obama, earlier today: So my message to Congress is this: Pass a bill extending the tax cuts for the middle class. … As soon as that gets done, we can continue to have a debate about whether it’s a good … read more >

Carpe Diem

Same Federal Government That Bans Compensation for Organs, Shuts Down Man Donating Free Sperm

Mark J. Perry | July 9, 2012, 3:42 pm

The federal government outlawed the sale of human organs in 1984, and until a recent legal challenge that even included a ban against receiving compensation for bone marrow. For organs like kidneys, an altruistic donation, sometimes from a complete stranger, … read more >

Pethokoukis

Not only did Obama ignore Simpson-Bowles, but now he’s doing the opposite of what they recommended

James Pethokoukis | July 9, 2012, 3:31 pm

Once upon a time, President Obama created a debt reduction panel. And here is what the report of his National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform — a.k.a Simpson-Bowles — recommended on tax reform: The current tax code is riddled … read more >

By c.berlet/publiceye.org http://www.publiceye.org/gallery (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Politics and Public Opinion, The Presidency

The individual mandate: It’s a floor wax and a dessert topping!

Marc Thiessen | July 9, 2012, 3:09 pm

Mitt Romney is under fire for claiming that the individual mandate he enacted in Massachusetts as part of Romneycare is a “penalty,” while the individual mandate the president enacted as part of Obamacare is a “tax.” It calls to mind … read more >

Politics and Public Opinion

Christie: ‘Leadership is the only thing that will make the difference’

Henrik Temp | July 9, 2012, 2:17 pm

This morning, Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ) gave a speech at the Brookings Institution on the subject of restoring fiscal integrity and accountability. The governor discussed his experiences over the last two years negotiating (and battling) with the Democratic-controlled state legislature in New Jersey, and how those experiences have provided lessons for other states and the federal government. read more >

Pethokoukis

Obama tax hike plan puts politics over job creation

James Pethokoukis | July 9, 2012, 12:18 pm

President Obama wants to let the upper-end Bush tax cuts expire and extend the middle-class ones for a year. A few thoughts: 1. This isn’t just a tax on millionaires and billionaires. It’s one on families and small business owners … read more >

http://www.fotopedia.com/items/flickr-1392728191

Economics, Energy and the Environment

North America’s energy wealth

Kenneth P. Green | July 9, 2012, 11:53 am

For decades now, the energy-narrative of North America, particularly the United States has been one of energy scarcity. We’ve been told, repeatedly, that the U.S. has surpassed “peak oil,” and 6 years ago, people were so worried about natural gas … read more >

Politics and Public Opinion, Polls

Americans are not very familiar with Bain Capital

Karlyn Bowman | July 9, 2012, 11:18 am

Despite Democrats’ focus on the issue, Americans are not very familiar with Bain Capital, the private investment firm Mitt Romney headed until early 1999. Democrats continue to discuss Romney’s work with Bain Capital, but Americans aren’t listening, let alone agreeing … read more >