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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JohnM who wrote (66241)	1/15/2003 5:37:41 PM
From: Win Smith	Respond to of 281500

Bush's Budget Adviser Says Deficit Is Worsening nytimes.com [ on the "fiscal conservatism" front today . . .] President Bush's budget chief said Wednesday that the White House envisions federal deficits in the $200 billion to $300 billion range over the next two years, a dramatic worsening of the government's fiscal picture since last summer. Budget director Mitchell Daniels also refused to say when federal surpluses would return, commenting only, ``Stand by.'' . . . ``We ought not hyperventilate about this issue,'' he said. In July, the White House projected deficits of $109 billion this year and $48 billion in 2004. It also predicted that surpluses would return as early as 2005. Daniels blamed the worsened fiscal picture on a continued collapse of federal revenue collections, reflecting the weak economy and financial markets. [ On the other topic, I'm in some sympathy with libertarians, but I've always found the alleged libertarian tendencies of the Republican party to be greatly exaggerated. With the current neocon ascendancy, any vestigial libertarian orientation outside of economic matters seems pretty invisible. Then there's the idea of Andrew Sullivan leading a political movement. Gay NYT hating warbloggers just wouldn't seem like a particular broad base for anything. Sort of like the old SNL Gay Communist Gun Club, or something like that. ]

To: JohnM who wrote (66241)	1/15/2003 6:24:01 PM
From: paul_philp	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

John, Hey, I mostly agree. I am a 'plug my nose' supporter of Bush. Whatever his personal views, he must satisfy the socially conservative slice of his party and that is always worrisome to me. As for fiscal conservatism, there was a very nice Milton Freidman oped in the WSJ today. Freidman enthusiastically endorsed Bush's tax policies. You may disagree with him but he is the ultimate stamp of approval for the fiscal conservatives. Freidman is major influence for the 'eagles'. Personally, I am shocked at Bush's new tax initiative. It is the first and only sign of a principled domestic policy to date. I was so cynical about Bush that it took more than a week for me to accept that it was as good as it seemed. The wishy-washy stand on affirmative action today is more the norm. I would not be at all surprised to see a new party emerge to satisfy the eagles. Demographics will cause a political crisis sometime this decade. The traditional base of both parties will make it difficult for them to confront the crisis. Oh, me and my paradigm shift. Paul