02 | October | 2012

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Image Credit: Rob Boudon (Flickr) (CC BY 2.0)

The Hispanic vote in 2012: Important, but not a gamechanger

Henrik Temp | October 2, 2012, 3:48 pm

There is a disturbing tendency within the media to take only the big, attention-grabbing numbers—such as a 22% rise in eligible Hispanic voters—and ignore the mitigating factors that conspire to dramatically reduce the actual influence of Latinos on the election. read more >

Carpe Diem

Economic indicators: cars, temporary help, and restaurants

Mark J. Perry | October 2, 2012, 3:44 pm

1. Wards Auto’s early report for September cars sales is 14.87 million units, which is the best month for U.S. vehicle sales since March 2008, before the summer 2008 gas price crisis, before the September 2008 financial crisis, and the … read more >

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Pethokoukis

3 charts that show Biden is right, the middle class ‘has been buried the last 4 years’

James Pethokoukis | October 2, 2012, 3:07 pm

Vice President Joe Biden is spot on when he says the middle class “has been buried the last four years.” 1. According to an analysis of Census Bureau data by Sentier Research, August 2012 median annual household income of $50,678 — 5.7% lower … read more >

Pethokoukis

America and a ring of fire … of debt

James Pethokoukis | October 2, 2012, 2:14 pm

President Obama says the ballooning national debt isn’t a short-term problem. I dunno, 2020 doesn’t seem so far away to me. Bond manager Bill Gross contends Washington needs to cut the debt “rather quickly over the next five to … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy

Obama preparing a new push to close Guantanamo?

Marc Thiessen | October 2, 2012, 1:47 pm

Back when the Obama administration was pushing to close the terrorist detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, one option widely discussed was moving the terrorists to the Thomson Correctional Center in Illinois. Congressman Frank Wolf put a hold on the administration’s … read more >

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Foreign and Defense Policy

Premature exoneration, Part 2: More questions from former CIA Director Mike Hayden

Marc Thiessen | October 2, 2012, 1:45 pm

Yesterday, I raised a number of questions about the statement from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that its initial assessment of the attack on our diplomatic facilities in Libya was that “the attack began spontaneously following protests earlier … read more >

Carpe Diem

2012, the year of the housing recovery: CoreLogic’s home price index increased 4.6% in August, largest gain in 6 years

Mark J. Perry | October 2, 2012, 1:39 pm

CoreLogic released its monthly Home Price Index (HPI) report today for August, here are some highlights: 1. Home prices nationwide, including distressed sales, increased 4.6% in August above a year ago (see red line in chart above), bringing the CoreLogic … read more >

Pethokoukis

3 reasons why Romney’s tax plan makes mathematical sense

James Pethokoukis | October 2, 2012, 12:54 pm

Recall the now infamous Tax Policy Center study that guesstimated Mitt Romney’s tax plan would a) cut taxes for high-income earners by $86 billion in 2015 and thus b) require an $86 billion tax increase on the middle class so as … read more >

Carpe Diem

Markets in everything: a new website where small businesses can review customers

Mark J. Perry | October 2, 2012, 12:36 pm

At a new website called BadCustomers.com, their slogan is “Because the customer is NOT always right,” and here’s a description of the company’s business model: BadConsumers.com is here to protect small businesses from dishonest and/or abusive consumers. Most small businesses … read more >

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Economics, Health Care

How Romney can make health care an asset in Wednesday’s debate

Thomas P. Miller | October 2, 2012, 12:00 pm

There are several tactical enhancements that could move Romney beyond uncomfortably sidestepping his role as Massachusetts governor in facilitating an individual mandate, an exchange-like “Connector,” and Medicaid expansion. read more >