Volume 2 Issue 56

April 21, 2003

Why won't supply-side economics just die?

Mopping up from the war, strange trends abound, and Happy Birthday to Greg!

Have to run to our meeting in a few minutes, but just a thought for your day. In the late 20th century, there were two extreme political philosophies in America. Liberalism (as defined by LBJ/George McGovern style liberalism) was of the school of thought that government had all the answers and that major spending was good. Supply Side Economics (as defined by Ronald Reagan in campaign mode, and George W. Bush in policy mode) was of the school of thought that lower taxes would spur on the economy, creating more jobs, better prosperity, and even more money for the government (for more tax cuts!). Both were tried at one point. Both failed badly. So...Why is "liberalism" dead today...but supply side still lives in the world of George W. Bush?

Oh, and thanks to the Swampmaster for the unexpected greeting at the top of the webpage...and for all his hard work on the site!

Onto the insanity...

Damascus delayed: Syria has begun to cooperate more with the US -
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030421-22514155.htm

After the war: Should the military do more than just fight wars? Does an empire need an Army that does more than just fight wars? Do we now have an empire?
http://slate.msn.com/id/2081718/

Hunting for WMD: Did Iraq destroy most of their chemical weapons in the weeks before the war? Why did they do so? This is also the first story I've seen from the Iraqi campaign that has been censored by the military -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/21/international/worldspecial /21CHEM.html

Hunting for Saddam: US Iraqi leader designate and convicted felon Ahmad Chalabi says his group has been tracking Hussein around Iraq -
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Iraq-Britain.html

How the war was won: While American troops did find themselves trapped in firefights a la Black Hawk Down in Iraq, there was one big difference. This time, the Americans had armor, and a lot more firepower -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58383-2003Apr19.html

Turning on the lights: Power is beginning to be restored to Baghdad. 90% of the capital should have power by Wednesday -
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Iraq-Power.html

Back in the wasteland that has become America: The state's have fallen on hard times, and to produce budgets, many are being forced to wipe out entire state programs, including education, and letting out prisoners -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/21/national/21ECON.html

But President Bush still wants to cut taxes!
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/21/politics/21MEMO.html

Up yours, John Ashcroft: A growing number of communities are telling the Federal Government where to shove the Patriot Act -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64173-2003Apr20.html

Look Who's Running for President: Dick Gephardt is going to go where no Democratic candidate this year has gone before...with a detailed plan for near-universal health care -
http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-na-outlook21apr21,1,7658727.column?coll=la%2Dnews%2Dcolumns

Look Who's Running for President 2: John Edwards' plan to win back the South for the Democrats? More respect. Yeah, um John, don't bank the 7.6 million on that one -
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/news/0403/20edwards.html

Look Who's Running for President 3: So far the crowds have found Bob Graham somewhat uninspiring -
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/04/21/Worldandnation/New_Graham_ audiences_.shtml

Look Who's Voting for President: What will the new front-loaded primary schedule mean for the Democratic Ballclub?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64211-2003Apr20.html

Bad John Edwards Photo of the day (don't forget the John Edwards movie contest...who should play John in the movie of his fundraising scandal?):

R-E-S-P-E-C-T, sock it to me!

Kegger on the South Lawn! President Bush will hold the 35-year reunion for his Yale classmates at the White House -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/21/national/21LETT.html

Outbreak: The SARS virus continues to spread, though panic is spreading quicker in some spots. In Toronto, officials have warned commuters to be on the lookout for symptoms, after a victim traveled on mass transit -
http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/04/21/sars.toronto/index.html

There have been more deaths and cases in Hong Kong -
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,1-654240,00.html

The outbreak and cover up are the new leadership in Beijing's first real test -
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-653945,00.html

And the Mayor of Beijing and another high ranking Communist Party official have been sacked for covering up the virus. Is this a major shift in how China is ruled...where people are accountable for their actions instead of being expected to cover them up?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58383-2003Apr19.html

The Peterson Case: Yes, the Laci Peterson case is an interesting story. But what about another young mother who vanished in Modesto, but no one seems to care?
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/04/21/MN136540.DTL

Or another San Francisco wife, pregnant, who's body was found in San Francisco bay as well?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/04/21/MN275651.DTL

Speaking of bad police forces...: Homicides are up in the District of Columbia by 24% so far this year -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58533-2003Apr19.html

Going back up: The Russians are preparing to launch the next crew of the International Space Station on a Soyuz rocket -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2963791.stm

Latest Sign of the Apocalypse: A Tropical Storm in April? And what the hell is a sub-tropical storm anyway?
http://wwwa.accuweather.com/adcbin/public/headlines.asp?iws= 0

Swamp Commencement Speakers of the Day:

University of North Carolina at Greensboro, May 16, 2003
Nido R. Qubein, businessman and philanthropist from High Point, N.C.
Did you know that if you give a college 10 million dollars they'll let you give the commencement address?

Vanguard University of Southern California, May 10, 2003
Michael Carona, sheriff of Orange County, CA
It's good to see so many of you again...outside of my jail.

The latest strange trends: The hottest beer? Pabst's Blue Ribbon -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50969-2003Apr18.html

And school administrators are getting all annoyed about kids wearing pajamas to school. Well, if they're going to sleep in class anyway...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58555-2003Apr19.html

As if your moviegoing experience couldn't get any worse...now we have Reality movies too -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/21/movies/21CANC.html?8hpib

Publication Note: The Swamp will not publish tomorrow, April 22, due to a daylong meeting I must attend for work. Hope to be back on Wednesday, Thursday at the latest. Check out the website at http://www.fromtheswamp.com, where I'll post any brief rantings or articles I come across! Thanks to the swampmaster, we also have some new features up there, check them out! As always, please send along your suggestions and criticisms!

Have a great day!