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Pete Spiliakos is a columnist for First Things.

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Very Quick Thoughts

From First Thoughts

1.  On Jon Huntsman:  If Ramesh Ponnuru is right and that Huntsman’s tax plan adds up to a tax increase on middle-class families with children then I think his candidacy is fatally flawed.  I just don’t see how you sell middle-class tax increase + high earner tax cut . . . . Continue Reading »

Repetitive Thoughts

From First Thoughts

1.  Unlike Peter, I don’t think that Gingrich’s flip-flops and sell outs have been fully priced in by Republican primary voters.  Don’t get me wrong.  Many voters are very sympathetic to Gingrich and like what he has said (and especially his style) in debates.  . . . . Continue Reading »

Open Field

From First Thoughts

I’m wondering if the Republican field is actually a lot more open than most people think.  I don’t think Gingrich’s numbers last and he has very large numbers.  Gingrich is, at the moment, pulling from both those Republicans who value authenticity and those who value . . . . Continue Reading »

Gingrich And His Weaknesses

From First Thoughts

Gingrich is polling at 50% in Florida.  He is more than doubling Romney’s support in the Rasmussen poll. Peter asks below if there is enough time to stop Gingrich.  If we were talking on Christmas Day, I’d say no.  But it is December 1st and I’ll be very, very . . . . Continue Reading »

Re: Can Newt Be Stopped

From First Thoughts

I think the answer is very, very, likely yes and before the Iowa Caucuses (not that he’ll drop out, just that he will have substantially lower support than now.)  There was this time during the Cain boom when he had just spent the section of a debate dealing with criticism of 9-9-9 by . . . . Continue Reading »

Thoughts On Romneynomics

From First Thoughts

Carl asked that I give Romney’s economic plan the same treatment I gave Gingrich.  Okay.  Here is a quick summary of what I think: 1.  Romney’s 59 point plan isn’t that bad or good. It doesn’t include huge new programs or include tax cuts that will blow a hole . . . . Continue Reading »

Fantasy Politics In An Age Of Austerity

From First Thoughts

I was reading Ross Douthat this week and this observation struck me with some force, He wrote, “Policy innovation always creates losers as well as winners and earns adversaries as well as supporters. But policy innovation in an age of austerity tends to be politically perilous, because the . . . . Continue Reading »