Judy's Cicero announcement at cool Czech restaurant

Cross-posted on Illinoize:

Judy's announcement today in Cicero took place at Klas Restaurant on Cermak Road. Klas is the largest Czech restaurant in the nation and is one of the most ornate places I've seen in the western burbs.

As you can imagine, Al Capone frequented the place.

If you've never been, it's worth a visit. The website is here. And the mix of Mexican and Eastern European cultures is a nice American story as well.

(It's also an interesting contrast to Governor Blagojevich's announcement at A. Finkl Steel plant on the north side of Chicago where his father worked for years).

If supply-side economics is dumb, then are we progressives demand-side economists?

It strikes me that since the Reagan-Bush style economic strategy of lowering tax rates on the people with the highest incomes is called supply-side economics (make the rich even richer, so the thinking goes, and there will be a greater supply of money that can be used to invest in new businesses to stimulate employment), we progressives that recognize that strategy as bankrupt might be advocates of demand-side economics.

We don't really have a good name for our economic strategy.

The party of money has a great name in supply-side economics. That sounds so much better than enrich-the-rich economics.

I do think cutting taxes is a good idea if the people who get the tax cuts (and thus have more income) will spend that income in the United States. That will stimulate employment and economic activity, generating the multiplier effect of a dollar spent on tax cuts generating three or four dollars of economic activity.

Cutting taxes on wealthy people by lowering their marginal tax rate to 35% from 37% or cutting capital gains taxes does not have the same effect, since wealthy people don't spend their additional income. They invest it, and that means they buy equities or real estate or some other financial instrument anywhere around the globe. That does not generate economic activity in the United States. That's why enrich-the-rich policies are not as good at stimulating economic activity as demand-side economics.

I think demand-side economics is a better term than 'targeted tax cuts' that Clinton popularized. What's a competing term for the progressive economic agenda?

Steinberg's back ... it's nice to have that jerk back in print

His column is here, and he pulls out another great line:

Having your beloved crutch kicked away before being dragged backward by your heels through hell is not an experience designed to make one giddy at life's rich pageant.

and then he, somewhat senselessly, mocks the concept of organic food.

I think what I like about his columns is the combination of revulsion and admiration they generate -- I'm impressed by his skill and befuddled by the targets of his disdain.

Welcome back.

Zorn's Month In Review -- just in time

I'm happy to participate in Eric Zorn's Month In Review feature on his blog where three bloggers pontificate on the events of the month in advance of the same conversation on public radio with three journalists.

I do have a confession to make: I was supposed to participate in October, but I had to beg off in the crush of veto session (and Jeff Berkowitz gallantly filled in at the last minute).

I'm feeling a bit partisan this week, but we'll see if the other pundits agree with me. Without further ado (and in separate posts for your linking leisure).....

Most Significant Story of the Month: The pivot in public opinion against the President's war

The pivot of public opinion against the War in Iraq, symbolized by Representative Murtha’s (D-PA) call for a withdrawal. Now that a majority of Americans have apparently come to the conclusion that the Iraqi invasion, lustily-longed for by the New Imperialists (or neo-conservatives) in the Bush Administration since 1991 and finally launched under clouds of lies when the nation was freaked out by 9/11, has turned into a horrible situation, the political consensus on other issues may shift away from letting the President do essentially whatever he wants. (See Loser of the Month for more)

Winner of the Month (tie): Judy Baar Topinka and All Illinois Kids who will get health insurance

Judy Baar Topinka. The woman has not announced her campaign for Governor, but has already been coronated by much of the corporate media (sorry Eric) and big business in the state. She’s allegedly leveraged $10 million in pledges and she definitely enjoys spontaneous support from surly Democratic committeemen from around the state. With Jim Edgar bowing out, she is the last, best hope of rich people around the nation that can’t stand to see the biggest state in the Union with a Democratic Governor, Democratic Senate and Democratic House.

Middle-class families in Illinois who will have affordable health insurance for their children through the AllKids program starting this summer, regardless of their employment or income. I’ve written about the significance of this program here, and it’s a shame that the Governor’s political problems have overshadowed the innovative move to make government improve the quality of life of all people. In a decade from now, when (if) Congress finally extends the universal health care that old people enjoy through Medicare to all children, Governor Blagojevich and the success of Illinois’ AllKids will be a significant reason why.

Loser of the Month: George W. Bush

His popularity is at an all-time low, his political mastermind Karl Rove took his fourth trip to the grand jury with more to come (after *his* Chief of Staff was indicted for lying about the treasonous action of outing a CIA agent for partisan gain), his invasion of Iraq has lost the support of the median voter, the moderate Republicans are finally pushing back against the reactionary let-them-eat-cake leaders of their party in Congress and he’s essentially without an agenda.

President Bush is politically toxic. People don't trust him anymore. And it's hard to see how things get better for him.

Most over-reported story of the month: Harry Freaking Potter

The Harry Potter actors are now teenagers. They’ve grown up before our very eyes. Lah-dee-dah. That, and anything having to do with Gwyneth Paltrow is, by my definition, an over-reported story.

Under-reported story: the federal budget's assault on the middle class

The slow, steady assault on the middle class by the federal budget – overtaxing working people and undertaxing wealth people, underinvesting in education and overinvesting in overseas military quagmires. Huge deficits and still, the Republicans push for tax cuts for millionaires by abolishing the estate tax, keeping marginal income rates lower than they should be and extending tax breaks on wealth (while keeping the payroll tax on work as high as ever). Meanwhile, there’s no money for education or community development block grants. These budget cuts hurt regular people.

The federal budget slowly burns away at the middle class, month after month. We're like a frog in a pot of water on the stove that gets hotter and hotter, never jumping out until it's too late and we're boiled alive.

Story to Watch for December 2005 -- candidate filings

The period when candidates can file their nominating petitions in the primary elections for statewide and countywide races is from December 12^th through December 19^th. New countywide and statewide officeholders will emerge next month. Will Edwin Eisendrath file against Rod Blagojevich? Who will file for Cook County Sheriff? How many conservative Republicans will file against Judy Baar Topinka in the Republican race for governor? And for Illinois treasurer, what Chicagoans (perhaps Representative John Fritchey?) will file against Downstater Paul Mangieri? Any dark horse opponents to Pat Quinn, Dan Hynes, Jesse White or Lisa Madigan (and how many people would have predicted in 2003 that none of them would have any opposition in their next primary election?) Will reformers Mike Quigley and Forrest Claypool find a way to avoid splitting the reform vote against John Stroger or will they both file for President? In cold and windy corners around the state, signatures are being gathered and we’ll know who will run for what next month.

Thanks Eric!