A confusing blue team strategy

We are now deep in the season of red vs. blue team politics and election strategy. I had hoped to join the tax extension policy fray but last Thursday Senate Majority Leader Reid announced that he would not bring a bill to the Senate floor until after the election, killing…

Roles of the President’s White House economic advisors (updated)

(This is a minor update of a post I wrote six weeks ago when Dr. Christina Romer’s departure was announced. I have updated this version to reflect the recent announcement of Dr. Larry Summers’ departure at the end of…

What is a vote-a-rama?

I spent 7+ years as a staffer for Senate Budget Committee Chairman Pete Domenici (R-NM) and for Senate Majority (& Minority) Leader Trent Lott (R-MS). One of my few lasting contributions is the term vote-a-rama. I therefore feel obliged to provide a formal definition.

Introducing Budget Bubble Graphs

Here is a typical public debate about the budget deficit:

Republican: Republicans are for smaller deficits. You Democrats just want to increase spending. Republicans want smaller deficits by cutting spending.

Health care projections for the new year

Now that the House and Senate have passed remarkably similar health care bills, what is the probability that the President signs health care reform this year? 75%? 95%? 99%?

Oil spill crisis as opportunity

Here is Rahm Emanuel’s famous quote, from November 19, 2008. You don’t need to watch more than the first minute.

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My questions for four bank CEOs tomorrow

Thanks to everyone who posted or emailed me questions for the bank CEOs. Let’s continue this transparency experiment.

Here is a working draft of questions I would like to ask the bank CEOs tomorrow. These are still evolving and I…

Comparing Obama economics to Clinton economics

Treasury Secretary Geithner speaks this afternoon at the liberal Center for American Progress. His staff have released two quotes to the press:

Secretary Geithner: Ultimately, fiscal policy is about getting the conditions…