Tag: Congressional Budget Office

Soon, for the only time since World War II, nearly three-quarters of a century ago, the nation’s debt — what we and our children and their children owe to bankers and other countries — will be greater than the entire economy of the United States. But wait. Republicans — ever the fiscal watchdogs — have an idea. The GOP wants to make the temporary 2017 tax cuts permanent. What genius! That would be comparable to leaving the landing lights on for Amelia Earhart. It wouldn’t be inaccurate to say that Republicans are collectively afflicted with an inability to pay attention. Once, upon seeing three former U.S. presidents — Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon — at a White House event, Dole described the scene: “There they are — see no evil, hear no evil and evil.” Texas Republican Ted Cruz is almost universally regarded as the most unpopular U.S. senator by and among his Senate colleagues. A man who is a total stranger to self-doubt, Cruz was still a little shaken when he learned about this distinction, and he asked Dole, almost plaintively, “Why do people take such an instant dislike to me?” Dole explained to Cruz, “Because, Ted, it saves them time.” • The Democrats, in case anyone is interested, have developed in secret a focus group-tested campaign strategy and slogan for this year’s midterm elections, which will be unveiled here for the very first time: “Vote for us. National Columns Opinion: Democrats give Trump upper hand Washington — Democrats just can’t help themselves.