1. It looks like the 9-9-9 plan is getting some real scrutiny. Cain is going to have trouble sustaining the argument that “Sure the math makes it look like my plan is a tax increase for the working poor and much of the middle class, but my advisors assure me that you should not believe your lying eyes.” But David Weigel makes the point that the arguments against 9-9-9 aren’t going to make themselves. that means that Cain’s opponents are going to have to make the argument that the 9-9-9 plan will be bad for primary voters and a general election disaster. Between the argument that the federal government should not be given a new tax to play with (the sales tax), and the middle-class tax increase thing, that should be enough. On the other hand, we are talking about a crew that can’t make the case against Romneycare . . .
2. I want to like Rick Santorum. He is one of the few candidates who has made a serious argument about health care and Medicare reform. He could even catch fire in the next couple of months. I’m skeptical that he could beat Obama because:
a) He comes across really hot for television. Whenever he is in debate he comes across as really frustrated.
b) He tries but he isn’t even plain spoken when having to talk on his feet. He visibly struggles with his words (in some ways more that George W. Bush.)
