NYT: David Brooks's rosy view of "Bush's Second Term"

OP-ED COLUMNIST
Bush's Second Term
By DAVID BROOKS

Published: September 4, 2004

....When he ran in 2000, it sometimes seemed that he was running for governor in chief. But now he is thinking like a president, and his domestic notions are growing to match his foreign policy ones.

Obviously, the administration will have to make some tough decisions. First, it will figure out which of the many proposals it wants to do first. The obvious thing is to do tax simplification first because fixing up the tax code lets you eliminate distortions in health competition, saving patterns and a bunch of other areas.

Second, the White House will probably have to choose between reforming entitlements and making the tax cuts permanent because there isn't enough money to do both. This is an easy call. Sacrifice the tax cuts. If entitlement programs aren't reformed, we'll be looking at a lifetime of tax increases. Modernizing the welfare state is a much bigger deal than some three- or four-point cut in the top marginal tax rate.

It should be said that I do have a voice in my head that says this is all a mirage - that all the reform ideas will be tossed aside for the sake of favors for the K Street crowd. But one can sense a tide in the affairs of government.

Republicans who embrace this limited but energetic government philosophy are in the ascendant (look at the convention speakers). Many Republicans and Democrats are coalescing around these ideas (in truth, several of Bush's ideas are lifted from centrist Democrats). Besides, Bush may flesh out and promote this big agenda, if only to spite his media critics.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/04/opinion/04brooks.html?hp

LOL!

What a smarmy bastard!

Yes, do look at the convention speakers. Bait and switch moderates that do not represent the true face of the party, and a sick, bitter old man who spews hate.

Of course * lifted ideas from elsewhere. He has none of his own.

Maybe I need to e-mail this idiot.

as far up Bush's ass as possible and keep it there. He is a vile and disgusting piece of crap. I watch his "analysis" on television and cannot believe he isn't called on his biased viewpoints.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.