Tea Time Revisited

Sofia over at AlwaysCatholic recently brought this phenomenon to my attention, a group of conservative women known as "The Twisters" ...

I have to say that I was so impressed with their Purpose: “We’re here to walk the Conservative talk” and similarly, their Mission Statement: “To vet, back, and promote conservative candidates who have signed the Contract from America.” Additionally, they hit the homerun with me with their explanation of just what and who “The Twisters” are: “A tightly knit group of superpower wielding, patriotic, conservative bad-asses of the female kind.” Hoo-rah!

Personally, I have heard enough clarion calls and seen enough yellow flags waving. I want ideas. And eventually, America, so will you. (Thanks to these people, I can't keep a display of one of my favorite historical American flags on my desk, for fear of appearing too political. Now that just ain't right.) Fortunately, some people have come to the rescue, in the form of two articles in the November issue of Reason magazine. The first is "The Small Business Myth" by Veronique de Rugy:

These politicians rightly assume that lowering the cost of employment helps firms keep their current employees or hire new ones. They’re wrong, however, to think that tax credits are the best way to reduce costs. A tax credit is useful only if you have a tax liability to use it against. If your business is slow, it is likely that your tax liability will be significantly reduced or even nonexistent. No customers means no need for additional employees, tax credit or not.

Not content to rest with the level of mom-and-pop operations, we are reminded elsewhere in the same issue of how ...

... loud critics of big government—especially but not only Republican politicians—are often reduced to an awkward stammer when put on the spot by the all-important question, “So what would you cut?” Well, stammer no more.

What follows are brief essays by fourteen analysts, with fourteen specific ways to cut federal spending.

And, of course, devoted fans of mwbh (and you both know who you are) will remember my reference to the genius of the Cato Institute, also last November.

The takeover of the House of Representatives by the Grand Old Party (GOP), as the presumptive Speaker-designate of the House John Boehner has pointed out, is “not a time for celebration,” but is joined by a reminder, that they'd better have something to show for their victory in short order.

Now, I know what you must be thinking: “Aye, Noble Keeper of the Black Hat, these guys are all a bunch of theorists from the ivory towers of K Street. We want heroes already in the trenches, gettin’ ‘er done!”

Oh, ye minions of little faith, have I ever let you down before?

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You have heard the songs and legends of Governors Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, and Chris Christie of New Jersey. You know these tales to be true. But there is a new warrior on the horizon, lauded at great length in the hallowed pages of The New York Times:

Congressional Republicans have spent much of the last decade voting for tax cuts and spending increases, all the while giving speeches decrying the deficit. [Indiana Governor Mitch] Daniels, who took office in 2005, has reduced the number of state workers by 18 percent and held spending growth below inflation. He has raised the sales tax to help make up for a property tax cut. Largely as a result, Indiana finds itself in better fiscal shape than many other states.

Which is why Mr. Daniels is often mentioned as a potential presidential candidate ...

This is followed by a reference to him only being 5-foot-7. Obviously there is more work to be done.

And I don't refer to a bad comb-over.