February 26, 2016 6:45 AM
Morning Reads — February 26
You might be asking yourself, “why is Will writing the Morning Reads on a Friday??” It’s because I’m a good person and don’t you forget it.
My regular format will return on Monday. You’re getting end-of-the-week Will. We’ll see how this turns out.
- Half of gay and bisexual black men will be diagnosed with HIV. It’s a very real problem we should focus on.
- Great listen for the drive to work: Inside The World of Caffeine.
- The new Manuel’s Tavern investor wants us to know they won’t screw it up.
- Marco Rubio turned into a cannibal on stage last night. The man consumed Trump piece by piece. Here are 11 takeaways.
- Secretary of State Kemp released early voting numbers.
- Attention Charlie: Arby’s is offering a vegetarian menu for one day only. It removes the guilt while you cry yourself into numbness. Throw up that lettuce and let the void consume you. Enjoy Arby’s.
- Georgia House pushes casino gambling through committee.
Enjoy your weekend!
About Author
Will Kremer
Will is an active member of the Georgia Republican grassroots. He previously served as Chairman of the Georgia Association of College Republicans, 2nd Vice Chairman of the 7th District Republican Party, and Treasurer of the Forsyth County Republican Party. Promise Land = Forsyth County.
31 Comments
Add a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
GOP Debate:
1) The healthcare exchange demonstrated no one has a real plan. Politically, Trump told people what they want to hear people they will not die on the street, but no nuts and bolts.
2) Of the 5 candidates left, Cruz could never win a general, Kasich is by far would be the best candidate for a win.
3) The debate will not change the election, same old attack, Trump is not conservative enough and he is rough negotiator who is not PC. How is this attack new? Would this not of already been factored into the numbers? When Bush dropped his number one nemesis, Trump numbers went way up, even in Florida, home state for Bush, killing the concept that when candidates drop it will hurt Trump.
4) The new attacks that Trump is bad businessman who cannot negotiate, and is a circus clown is hard to make for guy worth billions. Especially coming from politicians Rubio/Trump who have done nothing in the private sector.
5) Foreign policy Trump has been the most anti Hillary of candidates left in GOP race. Obviously, Rand Paul would of taken first place as the anti Neocon candidate, but he is out. Cruz and Rubio are really much closer to Hillary than Trump.
6) The cage fight did not help the party
7) No one really dealt with the biggest issue entitlements, I give Rubio credit for trying to it into the out debate, the biggest issue if you are interested in us not heading toward a fiscal cliff. The only idea I Have heard that would have any material effect, was from Trump in the last debate about allowing the negotiation with drug companies in Medicare with drug prices.
8) Kasich by far came across the most rational, and presidential to bad he does not have the support
9) Rubio is not playing to be VP
10) Carson and Kasich come across rational on the immigration issue, Rubio looks like he does not buy what he is saying, Cruz just is flat out crazy on this issue harsher than Trump plan not realistic.
11) The establishment will attack, attack…..and go crazy when Trump cleans up Tuesday.
12) Trump is bringing in new voters to the GOP, if this goes into a broker convention it would be not be good for the GOP.
Final conclusion, this debate probably helps Rubio the most, but he is way behind Trump even in his own state. At the end little to late…..just my 2 cents
Sorry about typos….
Good points John, especially on entitlements. Trump has no credibility when he says he will cut out “waste, fraud and abuse” to “save” Social Security. There are no bold voices (among the 5 on stage) on entitlements, like perhaps allowing younger workers to get out of the leaky system and set up their own private accounts. It is fashionable to attack EPA or pork barrel spending in attempts to balance the budget but neither makes up a substantial part of the federal budget.
Cruz is too “Bible Belt” for much of the country.. It is pretty clear he has very little support among non-evangelicals, and not even that much among evangelicals if South Carolina is any indication. Accordingly, hard to see how he could get the nomination, much less win in November.
A,
I do think a private fade out into an annuity type account is part of the puzzle. I also have proposed for years ending payroll taxes and replacing them with a VAT or NST. It would increase employment, and have more people than just workers paying for it. And because tourist from other countries would help pay and it would lower the net tax rate needed. That would create more stimulus money for consumers to spend and employers to hire ie jobs, jobs….
Happy Friday morning to you, Will.
Rubio a cannibal? I guess you mean that admiringly. He seemed kind of bratty to me. Not that he was wrong in his basic facts, and his choice of topics–Trump U, illegal workers, tax returns–was solid, but he went on and on. If he or anyone else had tried to take down Trump months ago maybe he wouldn’t have seemed so frantic.
Lets talk about your #7. Your biggest issue is a non issue. You also misidentify the term “fiscal cliff”…I’ll let Wikipedia deal with the definition
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_fiscal_cliff
I love the term “entitlement reform” what you should say is cuts…because thats what “reforms” are (if they are not, feel free to prove me wrong). Also, replacing payroll taxes with a VAT would be a huge tax increase on those who spend the highest portion of their income (the poor).
On the macro side, explain to everyone how a country that creates its own currency (out of thin air), and any money it owes is denominated in that currency, and it alone has the power to create that currency and demands that taxes only be paid in that currency has an entitlement “problem”. Better yet, tell us how it harms any future generations. You sound like a victim of the Pete Peterson propaganda machine (and its understandable since he has sunk 1 Billion into that machine thus far).
Bottom line…there is no way to keep a ledger like a traditional business if you can create money at will…its not the same thing…not even close.
Scott,
1) ………replacing payroll taxes with a VAT would be a huge tax increase on those who spend the highest portion of their income (the poor)……….
Today you are paying 12.4 % of your wages on Social Security and 2.9 percent for Medicare. The tax rate would be way lower since it would charge everyone ie tourist from other countries and businesses/people on consumption. You realize the increase would be on people that make the most money ie consumption? Currently today you only pay the tax on the first 130kish nothing over it? Obviously would be less for anyone in the middle class or lower.
2) ………..Peterson propaganda machine…..
This will lead to another economic massive down turn. China is lending us the money to keep the game going, as I warned years ago this is a house of cards. They are running out of money as well. I predicted the last down turn, and this time we are heading in the same direction. You combine this with personal debt growing way above GDP, not a good sign.
……….change is desperately needed. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that outlays will grow from $3.7 trillion in 2015 to $6.4 trillion in 2026. Moreover, spending growth is projected to outpace economic growth, as outlays are expected to grow from 20.7 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2015 to 23.1 percent of GDP in 2026.
Federal health care programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Obamacare, plus Social Security, and interest on the debt are responsible for 83 percent of the projected increase in spending over the next decade.
Growing spending is driving deficits ever higher. Deficits are projected to reach the trillion-dollar level by 2022 and continue growing from there. In total, the federal government is projected to rack up an additional $9.4 trillion in deficit spending over the next decade.
CBO projects that the debt will be $26.3 trillion by the end of the decade. The debt limit presents a decisive, action-forcing moment for Congress to turn words into actions and to pursue structural entitlement reforms that will put the budget on a lasting path to balance.
CBO projects that the debt will be $26.3 trillion by the end of the decade.
This means Congress must act, and soon—through charting a path to balance with the annual congressional budget. Then Congress must pursue its budget plan with implementing legislation………..
http://dailysignal.com/2016/02/02/the-us-debt-just-exceeded-19-trillion-heres-how-we-got-here/
Didn’t even watch it. I have debate fatigue. Thanks for the summary, John. Watching Fox this am to get their take. It seems Rubio had some good zingers…
Vincente Fox just got owned by Trump! “The wall just got 10 feet taller!” Hysterical….
Have you seen those ads Cruz has on TV here? It sounds like he really wants to kill some people!
Here, meaning Georgia? I have not. What are they like?
He starts out saying “If I am elected Commander in Chief”, then goes on to say he will KILL the terrorists, and if Islamic radicals plot against us they will be “signing their death warrant”. It’s very dramatic and harsh. He actually comes off looking like a lunatic to me. It sounds like something they would find after-the-fact on a Facebook post from some mass murderer. Except the production values are much better.
More red meat, B. I need an angioplasty!
Hah! Yeah I saw that twice last night. “We will kill the terrorists” he said with glee. I wonder if he remembers who was president when we killed Osama bin Laden?
My debate headline, ‘Pit Yorkies gang up to attack the big dog, bark bigger than bite’
Trump definitely took some hits last night, but he didn’t just rollover and let the 2 senators who have never created private sector jobs get to him. Kind of wild watching the Cuban/Canadian Tag Team lash out at the one guy on the stage who has created jobs, negotiated healthcare deals, paid gazillions in taxes and built a hugely successful company. But that is how politics works these days, insiders trying to protect their sacred turf from guys who have actual accomplishments beyond adding meaningless amendments to legislation. Can’t wait for Tuesday.
Bart,
I agree, when Trump called them both out for never hiring anybody ever in the private sector that was a big hit. I give Carson and Kasich credit because they did well in the private sector.
I have talked to a lot of Trump and Careon supporters, BTW, not hard to find where we live! The interesting point, I hear all the time is they do not care if they know the details. The supporters believe the current crowd had thier chance, and look how screwed up it is…..They are both smart enough to hire the right people that will fix the problems. They do not support Cruz because they do not trust him, and Rubio they think is not ready for prime time. What are you hearing?
Most folks I talk to are settling on Trump, many as their second choice after the first bailed from the race.
For those supporting No Show Rubio, I can’t see how he wins in November with his strict positions against women, lack of experience and inability to operate off script. I guess I’m old fashioned when it comes to showing up for work, something Marco has failed to do for at least the past year. He had a chance to gain experience as a senator but decided he would forgo that opportunity to run for president. Kind of like a high school baseball player trying to skip the minor leagues before going to the MLB, never works. I think people recognize his faults as evidenced by his lack of a win so far and trailing Trump by double digits in his home state of FL.
Ok here we go:
Trumpet. Loser. Childish name calling, unable to explain expensive tax plan, health care or balanced budget plan
Rubio. Winner. Explained his immigration plan, only candidate to mention entitlements. Successfully punched and counterpunched Trumpet. Best line was when he told Trumpet w/o his inheritance he would be selling watches in Manhattan.
Cruz. Good performance. Explained SCOTUS appointment process. Challenged Trumpet on democrat campaign contributions and Trumpet’s tax returns.
Kasich. Fair. Nothing new. Once again told us father was a postman. Talked about his phantom, unseen balanced budget proposal. Wants “regime change”in N. Korea.
Dana Bash was excellent. Wolfie asked a few good questions but lost control at times. Telemundo stooge was terrible.
gcp,
………Cruz. Good performance. Explained SCOTUS appointment process. Challenged Trumpet on democrat campaign contributions and Trumpet’s tax returns…….
You are a smart guy, what Cruz wants is to privatize Medicare and allow insurances to not treat pre-existing conditions. As you know the vast majority of Medicare people have pre-existing conditions, and this plan would basically be a death sentence if they got sick on a macro. BTW it seemed Rubio was supporting the idea as well, at least for the rest of us not on Medicare. The majority of Tea Party members do not support this! This will be show stopper for any candidate running for president. Obamacare needs a massive work over, but the reason Obama keeps winning is the above idea is worse. As you know, I have put out many tough love belt tighten ideas for years on this issue ie from negotiated drug prices, ending tax payers paying for the elective Medicare product on TV every night, tele-medicine, living wills…….Can we not have a real debate on this issue?
Rubio and Cruz want a Paul Ryan type Medicare plan, additionally Cruz has talked about raising eligibility age. Not sure if they want to make the plan mandatory for seniors or voluntary. Because of the large number of seniors insurers would have to cover pre-existing or risk going out of business. Most all seniors I know have pre-existing conditions.
I like the idea because insurance companies would know seniors have a fixed amount of money to spend which would encourage insurance company efficiency. With our current Medicare system we don’t see much efficiency. For instance current Medicare policy will pay for some cosmetic procedures.
Your recommendations on Medicare are good but negotiating drug prices is questionable. Medicare population is much larger and more diverse than VA. The most recent study I found shows maybe a 16 billion per year savings with Medicare negotiated prices.
http://blogs.wsj.com/pharmalot/2015/07/23/u-s-could-save-up-to-16b-if-medicare-part-d-negotiated-prices-paper/
Gcp,
On the drugs you have to also open up the ability to import drugs easier. You are right that negotiations only helps a portion of the problem.
As far as insurance companies risking going out business for not covering pre- existing conditions that had been happening for years prior to the change…..I do this for living on the lending side, severity accounts drive bad debt. They way you make money is managing the most toxic write offs. In the insurance business that means any major care issues. You can show low face pricing per month if you do not cover major issues. Hence the diference in lending you do not get the product verse insurance you die.
Presumably drug importation would be included in any drug price negotiations. One problem with drug negotiations (per drug companies) is government would lose the rebates they currently receive under part D.
As for harming seniors by changing Medicare or SS, I like Rubio’s response.
“My mother is 87 years old. Why would I want to hurt her?”
……..As for harming seniors by changing Medicare or SS, I like Rubio’s response.
“My mother is 87 years old. Why would I want to hurt her?”……
We have lots of unintended consequences from ill thought out policy from Washington ie Medicare Part D, No Child Left Behind, War on Drugs…….That is why I want to see details. Ironically years ago as you know I warned about No Child Left Behind, Medicare Part D……when I saw the details. Was I wrong about NCLB driving up cost, teach to the test and killing us with killing the skilled worker track? Was I wrong about Medicare Part D growing to a point it would alone BK our country?
Agree on NCLB and I would add “Race to the Top.” And yes Part D was a bad program although Republican supporters would call it a success because it came in under budget.
The highlight of the debate can be found right here:
http://www.LinesAroundStates.com
Or in a word: Bigly
Bigly–In a tumid, swelling, blustering manner; haughtily; violently.
He brawleth bigly.
From More’s Utopia.
Seems to fit.
Bloomberg has a story up about prison reform in the US with a special focus on Deal’s leadership in Georgia.
http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-02-26/republicans-upend-tough-on-crime-politics-in-primary-states
The fact that Kasich is trailing these three is a clear indication as to why the GOP is in deep trouble.
I am a lifelong conservative Republican and I am beginning to despise the party. I am tired of the dumbed down nonsense.
Senators are bad candidates and these are bad Senators. The GOP has tied to these guys as anti trump saviors, yet we need anti-candidates for them as well, it seems.
If you think two junior Senators are going to pick apart Hillary on experience or anything else, good luck.
Mathematically when the party marginalizes Kasich and Trump wins all delegates from Florida and Ohio, it’s over.
Thanks, morons, for setting the stage for this by front loading the primaries.
Christie supports Trumpet. Evidently Christie wants to be AG or could it be VP?
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/chris-christie-endorses-donald-trump-219861
My guess is that he offered to help Christie pay off his campaign debt
VP! There’s your ticket.