Business Week: "Less well known, the federal government's long-term liabilities and net commitments, such as those relating to Social Security and Medicare, have risen from just over $20 trillion in fiscal 2000 to more than $43 trillion in fiscal 2004, in large part because of the passage of the Medicare prescription drug bill in December, 2003. This translates into a burden of more than $150,000 per American and $350,000 per full-time worker, up from $72,000 and $165,000 in 2000, respectively. Those amounts are growing fast because of continuing deficits, our aging society's longer lifespans, slower workforce growth, and compounding interest costs." Thanks to the Daily Kos for the link.
Howard Fineman: "For Democrats, the outside-the-Beltway strategic lessons from this week's elections are clear: run as a moderate or run on competence (or both), and surf to victory on voters' disdain for President Bush and his party's corrosive ad tactics. But there's another Democratic strategy under development, this one inside the Beltway, and it bears watching: a divide-and-conquer approach that is making life miserable for Bush and the GOP." Thanks to Political Wire for the link.Hotline Blog: "It might not mean much, but it's worth noting, with a couple caveats, that of all putative '08 presidentials, only VA Gov. Mark Warner (D) helped bring a big winner home on Tuesday." Thanks to the Daily Kos for the link.
2020 Hindsight: "What do you wanna bet that there's a new surge of home-schooling in Kansas to teach children science?"
Blogs for Bush: "Ignoring anything resembling reality, the media and the Democratic Party are jumping on the opportunity to make much more of their gubernatorial victories in Virginia and New Jersey... However, when all is said and done, nothing changed last night. No governorships changed hands. Democrats may act as if this is a springboard for more victories in 2006, but precedent says this is not the case. In fact, when Democrats won the governorships in Virginia and New Jersey in 2001, and then-DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe saw a 'huge shift in political momentum' only to see the Republican Party increase their majority in Congress the following year. Another Democrat talking point that the media is playing up is that these two elections signified a referendum on President Bush... Wishful thinking by the Democrats... Democrats won the governorships in those two states back in 2001 when Bush's approval rating was at 89%..."
Bull Moose: "The Moose celebrates the donkey sweep. The unraveling of the Bush era proceeded apace yesterday with Democratic victories in the Governor races in Virginia and New Jersey. If you add the defeat of the Terminator's initiatives in California, the Democratic victory was bi-costal. Most of all, the Democratic triumphs are a testimony that the energy in the Democratic Party lies in the Governors' mansions."
The Moderate Voice: "Although some Republican-backed measures triumphed in some areas, the overall gist of this election seemed to be an angry message from voters. Key losses included two prime gubernatorial races."
Stygius: "Phosphorous over Falluja?"
Category: 2008 Presidential Election
5:48:46 PM 
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