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"Tax revenues would skyrocket if the tax cuts expire, due to "bracket creep." Average incomes are higher today than in the 1990s, but income-tax brackets aren't adjusted for the growth of earnings. As a result, Americans will shift into higher tax brackets and pay a greater share of their incomes in taxes.

Going back to the tax rates of the 1990s doesn't mean that households will pay 1990s taxes. Because the tax brackets haven't risen along with incomes, average taxes would be significantly higher, and grow each year.

... So even if the tax cuts are made permanent, future Americans will pay a greater share of their incomes to the government than in the past. But for some in Washington, that's not enough."

... "The truth of the matter is just as I said, that he doesn't have a record of accomplishments in the private sector or in the governmental sector ... hasn't pushed a major piece of legislation.

"He seems like a charming guy who's very well-spoken. But in terms of actually having led, actually having accomplished something, actually having a kind of leadership that America needs at a critical time with our economy ... he's untested. ... Frankly, Sen. McCain is someone who is tested and very proven ..."

Obama later fired back, saying this was the same kind of argument Romney had used against McCain.

Meanwhile, writing in the Buffalo News, Curt Smith makes the Huck for Veep case, arguing McCain needs Huckabee's voters:

Specifically, Huckabee would clinch what McCain aides wrongly “believe that he has already won,” the Wall Street Journal says of bornagains. Despite his recent “guns and religion” gaffe, Barack Obama could loosen such evangelical states as Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and even Mississippi. Recently, Houston TV megachurch pastor Joel Osteen lauded Hillary Clinton for “all you’ve done for America.” Kennedy’s fire wall was LBJ. Huckabee would be McCain’s. Overnight he would make the Republicans’ largest block a GOP pro, not con.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has promised he would not accept campaign donations from lobbyists, but apparently former lobbyists don’t fall into his self-imposed ban.

Antill E. Trotter, who lobbied Congress from 2000-2004, is holding an “exclusive” fundraiser for him, just blocks away from his Senate office at Union Station in Washington D.C. this evening.

According to Obama’s campaign website, the minimum donation to attend is $1,000 and donations are encouraged up to $10,000. Thos who raised at least $10,000 are given access to a “special pre-reception” with Obama. 

Senate lobbying records show Trotter was a registered federal lobbyist for Sher and Blackwell, LLP. Trotter specialized in telecommunications, transportation and environmental issues from 2000-2004. Some of Trotter's clients included AT&T, The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, NCS Healthcare and the World Shipping Council.

Read the rest HERE.

With Newsweek running a cover story on “The Post American World” and Democrats complaining that President Bush destroyed our influence abroad, it’s instructive to consider a recent string of election successes for foreign candidates who support our values and our policies.  

In Canada , Mexico , Germany , Denmark , Greece , Ukraine and France the parties identified as “pro-American” swept to important victories. Most recently, the conservative candidate in Italy , Silvio Burlesconi, won a smashing triumph to return to power and Rome elected its first right-wing mayor in 50 years. Then in local elections throughout Britain , the Conservatives thumped the ruling Labor Party, 44% to 24%, and turned out the anti-American mayor of London , “Red Ken” Livingstone. The global trend favors politicians who back free markets and welcome U.S. leadership—hardly a sign of a “Post American World.” 

In an open letter to her Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton asks Barack Obama to help her "arrive at a solution that honors the votes of the millions of people who went to the polls in Florida and Michigan." ...

Your commitment to the voters of these states must be clearly stated and your support for a fair and quick resolution must be clearly demonstrated.

How are you physically playing this clarinet along with the whales?

Was there any indication that the whales found what you were doing interesting?

Do you think it could bring peace to the world through prayer?