Bruce Bartlett rounds up economic research showing that the tax cuts passed by President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003 failed to meet even the administration’s promised results.

“This initiative originated with the economist R. Glenn Hubbard, who had been chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers when the proposal was sent to Congress… Mr. Hubbard had also spearheaded enactment of big tax cuts in 2001 and 2002 that he said would jump-start the American economy… There is no evidence that the tax cut had any such effect… Hence the need for yet another big tax cut.”

“The idea of the 2003 legislation was to raise dividend payouts, thereby bolstering personal income, and raise the prices of common stock, which would improve household balance sheets… Subsequent research, however, found that the increase in dividends was a short-term phenomenon and mainly at companies where stock options were a major form of executive compensation.”

“It is hard to find even a reputable conservative economist willing to say anything good these days about President Bush’s tax and economic policies.”

via The Bush Tax Cuts Didn't Work – Taegan Goddard's Wonk Wire.

I found this online, and had to share it.

Peggy Noonan Take Down.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett (R-PA) was asked about Latinos working in his administration during a moderated discussion in Philadelphia last week:

Moderator: Do you have staff members that are Latino?

Corbett: No, we do not have any staff members in there. If you can find us one, please let me know.

Moderator: I am sure that there are Latinos that…

Corbett: Do any of you you want to come to Harrisburg? See?!

via Exchange of the Day.

Before the final body count has even come in which currently stands at 51, with officials telling the medical examiner’s office to expect at least 40 more a pathetic excuse for a human being, GOP Senator Tom Coburn, will apparently require offsets to spending before he votes in favor of disaster relief for the areas of Oklahoma devastated by tornadoes on Monday.

via Forward Progressives — Pathetic Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn Says Cuts Must Be Made Before He’ll Support Tornado Relief.

WASHINGTON — Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said Sunday that he does not know whether President Barack Obama intentionally misled the public about the nature of the September 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya, backtracking from previous comments that the administration had engaged in a “cover-up.”

“What we now know from congressional testimony is that the number two man in Benghazi, the deputy chief of mission, informed his superiors including the secretary of state that this was a terrorist attack,” Ryan said during an appearance on “Fox News Sunday.”

“Those of us who have had the briefings, seen the videos, know there was no protest involved. To suggest afterwards that this was the result of a spontaneous protest, we now know is not the case. So the burden of proof here is on the administration’s side. It is — why did they continue to push this kind of a story when they knew nearly immediately afterwards that that was not the case?”

“Do you believe that the White House purposely misled the American people on Benghazi to try to beat you and Mitt Romney and win the election?” host Chris Wallace asked.

“I don’t know the answer to that question,” Ryan responded. “Rather make a conclusion before an investigation has been completed, we just need to investigate this for the sake of good government.”

via Paul Ryan On Benghazi: 'I Don't Know' If There Was A Cover-up.

Designed by a friend.

When asked for evidence of Obama’s role in the IRS scandal, Mitch McConnell crashed and burned by babbling on about a culture of intimidation with no supporting proof.

via Mitch McConnell Crashes and Burns When Pressed for Evidence of Obama Scandal.