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1. Reflections on the Deficit Deal
2. Congressional Democrats Aim to Kill Energy’s Golden Goose
3. Harry Reid Admits He’s a Terrorist Hijacker of FAA Funding
4. Jonah Goldberg is tired of the vicious hypocrisy of these people…
1. Reflections on the Deficit Deal
I don’t make claims to prescience and have no idea what the final product of the current debt ceiling negotiations will produce. I’m guessing it will not be as good as the boosters claim and not as bad as the partisans on both sides suggest. Make no mistake about it, the debate and deal were of historic import. This is the first time that an increase in the debt ceiling has ever been seriously debated.
It would be a mistake, I think, to be discouraged over this deal or to take uncritically the view of my friend and colleague Francis Cianfrocca that Obama was a big winner. The left doesn’t see it that way. We didn’t win all that we wanted, though I must confess that I’m still more than a little unclear on what was expected to be achieved while operating in the shadow of a bill that had to be passed, but we moved the ball forward and I think we are well positioned for the next round.
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2. Congressional Democrats Aim to Kill Energy’s Golden Goose
If “it’s all about the jobs”, why are Democrats trying to kill one of the only successful job creation engines in our economy?
From Texas and Louisiana to North Dakota and Pennsylvania, energy development is creating good jobs, well-paying jobs, by the tens and even hundreds of thousands. Billions of dollars are flowing into the economies of the host states. The common thread of the booms in these states is shale drilling. Over the last few years, technological advancements have enabled commercial oil and gas production from shale rock long that according to conventional wisdom was unproductive.
Successful? At this point, some 25% of domestic natural gas production is from shale formations. And that proportion is expected to grow in the coming years.
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3. Harry Reid Admits He’s a Terrorist Hijacker of FAA Funding
Throughout the debt ceiling fight, Harry Reid purported to be the only true compromiser, while painting the Tea Party as extreme hostage takers. However, unlike most hostage takers, tea partiers made no demands of government for their own personal gain. They simply wanted to preclude their children and grandchildren from incurring permanent indebtedness. Harry Reid, on the other hand, has shown us the true meaning of hostage taking. And he is now admitting it.
While the public was focused on the potential government shutdown over the debt ceiling debate, Harry Reid quietly forced a partial shutdown of the FAA. For months, Reid has blocked a long-term extension of the FAA reauthorization, while forcing Congress to pass reckless short-term measures that lacked much-needed reform.
The last extension expired July 23, but Harry Reid has refused to consider the House-passed extension through September. The House bill cut a subsidy program to three rural airports, where the cost of subsidized flights was hopelessly uneconomical. One of those airports, White Pine County Airport in Ely, Nevada, enjoys a subsidy to the tune of $3,720 per passenger! [Read more about it here] Yet, Reid refused to relinquish his selfish pork, causing a partial shutdown of the FAA and the furloughing of 4,000 employees. Additionally, the shutdown has cost the government millions in lost revenue from taxes on airline tickets. So much for a balanced approach on revenue.
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4. Jonah Goldberg is tired of the vicious hypocrisy of these people…
‘These people’ being the media, and their contemptible willingness to accept a double standard when it comes to violent rhetoric. After screaming for so long about every possible hint of a suggestion of a possibility of violent speech from the Right, it’s amazing what will be forgiven when it comes from the Left.
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