Flat tax proposed for California

We all know California is in deep economic trouble. Its GDP surpasses even some nations, but lately the state is on a downward spiral of economic decline. It's in so much trouble that the Governator Arnold Schwarzeneggar (R), considered by some to be a RINO, is proposing a flat tax.

It's a good idea: simple to report, easy to audit, and guarantees a steady tax revenue for the state.

But opponents say it's unfair as it taxes the wealthy at the same rate as the poor. These opponents probably don't publicize the fact that most poor households don't pay taxes.

No matter. If it's fairness they seek, then Gov. Schwarzeneggar ought to study the FairTax! How great would it be for a state like California to radically adopt a new tax code similar to the FairTax?

Gail Collins takes cheap shots at Chambliss and his win

Oh, it's really not surprising at all, coming from the op-ed of NYT. I can understand why columnist Gail Collins is taking these cheap shots since Democrat Jim Martin lost to Saxby Chambliss in Georgia. If the outcome had been the reverse, I'm sure Collins would've penned something less of an eyesore.

Cheap shot #1, attacking Chambliss' work ethics:

Anyhow, the Georgia runoff was more important than you might imagine. Certainly more significant than anything Chambliss has done since he skipped a closed-door Senate session on Iraq intelligence data to go golfing with Tiger Woods...

Cheap shot #2, making fun of other Republicans and those who went to Georgia to support Chambliss:

...Mitt! Mike! McCain! Together again, just like in the primaries, with a stuffed manatee playing the part of Fred Thompson. “If we give them a blank check, they will sign that check and be taking money out of our pockets,” warned Rudy Giuliani, whose total failure as a presidential candidate clearly has not affected his ability to turn a phrase.

Cheap shot #3, somehow linking Sen. Chambliss' golfing skills with her BDS:

Now Chambliss has been a senator for six years, and his greatest achievement was getting ranked the 33rd best golfer in Washington by Golf Digest. It is highly unlikely that he could stop the president from doing anything beyond making a putt.

Cheap shot #4, dragging Sen. Joe Lieberman into the picture:

Besides, if the Democrats did get the 60 seats, one of them would belong to Joe Lieberman. You may recall that although Lieberman spent the last year campaigning for John McCain (and, as it turns out, donating money to Republican candidates for the senate), the Democrats were so desperate to keep him in their caucus that they caved in to his demands to keep his committee chairmanship. If Lieberman had turned out to be Mr. 60, he would not only have wanted the committee, he would have insisted on being carried to all its meetings on a litter, borne by the fellow senators who failed to appreciate him, with Lindsey Graham running ahead, clashing cymbals.

Cheap shot #5, trying to justify her cheap shots with RINO Olympia Snowe (Maine):

Olympia Snowe, the senior senator, is widely regarded as one of Congress’s quality acts. In fact, some people might have wondered why John McCain, if he was so desperate for a woman on his ticket, ignored a well-traveled, independent-minded experienced legislator who does her homework in favor of an out-to-lunch moose-murderer who cannot seem to put together a coherent sentence.

All right, so #5 can also be #6, which is ridiculing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a well-liked politician and rising star among conservatives, but a woman that, for odd reasons, doesn't quite appeal to the feminists and liberal op-ed columnists.

Colin Powell, GOP's Lieberman

The Democrats have Sen. Joe Lieberman to hate. The Republicans have Colin Powell, now undoubtedly labeled a RINO (Republican In Name Only).

Over the weekend on Meet the Press, President Bush's first Secretary of State endorsed Obama for president. What's really painful is that he's also a long time friend of Sen. John McCain. His endorsement doesn't really come as a surprise. It's a well known fact that during his tenure as Secretary of State, he didn't get along well with the president and his neoconservative buddies. He resigned in November 2004, near the end of Bush's first term.

As Dick Polman of Philly.com puts it, Powell still has "symbolic power" and the endorsement will cause trouble for the McCain campaign. Powell is well liked by many veterans and his opinion may sway the "soft supporters" of McCain to vote the other way as Newsweek's Andrew Romano points out.