S(h)ave that Mustache Mayor!

Update: the mustache loses by a hair (1254 shave to 966 save)

If you ever meet Murray Mayor Dan Snarr you won't won't forget him. Well his face at least - uh to be more specific - his mustache. It's a classic waxed at the ends circa 1890's beauty. In a charitable effort to support the Children's Miracle Network the mayor is putting the fate of his famous mustache on the (hair) cutting block. Folks can cast their jelly bean ballots in either 'Shave' or 'Save' jars at the local Costco.

Apparently people aren't big fans of the Mayor's facial hair as the 'shaves' have an early lead (but then I've always been cautious of early exit polls).
After sporting the 'stache for three years he says his wife is sick of "puckering up for a kiss and getting poked in the eye." Can you blame her really?

And, just to prove that there is literally a lobby group for anything and everything in America Snarr is getting pressure to save the pointy facial hair from the St. Louis-based American Mustache Institute who's purpose is to defend a man's right to sport a mustache. Remind me never to eat anything 'crumbly' with these guys.

With sympathies to the Mayor's wife I'm dropping my jelly bean in the SAVE! jar.

You can read the full AP article here.

They're Own Worst Enemy

Despite the media's feigned concern regarding the future of the Republican Party I'm not so sure it's the Republican's who will be in trouble in 2010. I think the opportunity for the GOP will be derived from one thing - Hubris. No no, not on the part of our beloved Grand Old Party but hubris on the side of the Democrats.

Consider the latest YouTube attack video put out by the Democratic National Committee (DNC). It's for lack of a better word - lame (pathetic maybe?). It's a play on the Survivor reality show and ticks off about a dozen high profile Republicans under the guise of "who will survive to be the voice of the GOP"? Not only is the look low budget and shotty but the premise is just petty.

Is this really the best the DNC's got? I mean much past Obama and really what does the Democratic party have to stand on? The D's did not win in 2008 because of their 'principles' or 'ideals.' If the DNC strategists are really honest with themselves they'd come to the conclusion that they won primarily because of George Bush, and a young, talented, charismatic, rockstar of a guy at the head of the ticket - not on the issues.

Consider the following (Stats from CNN)

Obama wins the Electoral College in a landside: 365 to 173

...but the popular vote isn't as convincing:

Obama: 69,492,376 (53%)

McCain: 59,946,378 (46%)

Electoral College math aside, a swing of less than 5 million votes and the GOP has the hearts and mind of the people. That's not an insurmountable gap by any means.

My Takeaway:

In 2010 Bush will no longer be a factor and Obama will not be on the ticket. The Republican's will find a voice. It could be any one of those featured in the video, or a combination, or someone yet to emerge. The DNC is currently acting glib, cocky, and arrogant. Firing negative and petty shots at the GOP will get old in a hurry. Just like the hubris that was the thinking behind the Titanic, left unchecked this sort of attitude is going to catch up with the Left sooner rather than later...If the Democrats don't focus on their own message the Republicans will make significant mid-term gains.

Keynesian Theory Explained

This post is a bit 'wonkish' so proceed at your own risk.
Recently, at this year's Utah County convention Senator Bob Bennet made the observation that President Ronald Reagan was so bold and innovative in his approach to economics (Reagan had a degree in Econ) because he had studied pre-Keynes. Keynesian theory of spend your way out of recessions had not yet flooded American campuses during Reagan's college years. Keynes book, The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money was first published in 1936.

It was an interesting observation.

The Utah Foundation recently published a policy brief on Keynesian theory in regards to the Keynesian response or explanation to what caused the current crisis and how Keynesian's suggest we get ourselves out of this mess. I like the Foundation's material and apparently they plan a series of similar briefs each focusing on a different economic theory to explain the current situation and how each theory would solve the crisis.

Here are the highlights on Keynes:

Causes of Current Recession

Paul Krugman, an advocate of Keynesian policy, indentifies the 2007 fall in China’s stock market, and the subsequent 416-point slide in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, as the events which started the decline in investment ultimately leading to the current recession. Investors were shaken by the 2007 drop and began to panic over the number of risky mortgage-loan defaults that emerged with the collapse of the housing boom.


Keynesian solutions to current recession

As the recession continues to worsen, Krugman believes government spending is the only tool left available to stimulate the economy. Both consumer and investment confidence are down, the global effects of the economic downturn have lowered net exports, and monetary policy is not an option because interest rates are essentially already at 0%. This leaves government spending, which largely came in the form of the 2009 stimulus package.


I think its clear where President Obama's thinking comes from. It's early in the recovery(?) but it does appear things are improving. I think the jury is definitely still out as to whether this approach will work or not. But one thing is for sure - the price tag is beyond enormous. This is unchartered territory folks...

They don't call it 'World' Cup for nuth'n...

Soccer moms - don't let your babies grow up to be...soccer players.

Former GOP Congressman, Quarterback, and Presidential Candidate Jack Kemp died over the weekend after a months long battle with cancer.

The former football star was once quoted on the House Floor as saying:

"I think it is important for all those young out there — who someday hope to play real football, where you throw it and kick it and run with it and put it in your hands — [that] a distinction should be made that football is democratic capitalism, whereas soccer is a European socialist sport."

Thank you for your hard work and service Jack. Godspeed.