Before the NFL playoff games this weekend, a friend drew a fascinating comparison between the personalities of two of the competing football coaches and two Republican presidential hopefuls.  Sarah Palin and New York Jets coach Rex Ryan are big personalities.  They are visible, fired up and energetic. By comparison Mitch Daniels and New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick are thoughtful yet intense.  You might pass them on the street without…

Sarah Palin is right to rip into those blaming political rhetoric for the Tucson shooting.  Early reporting set the tone of the debate, erroneously speculating that the gunman was a Tea Party supporter and implying that this was a far-right attack on Democrat Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.  Leading conservatives were unceremoniously indicted by liberal commentators like Paul Krugman for creating a “culture of hate”.   Liberals instinctively blame the American political “far-right”…

The New Year is beginning with some optimism following Barack Obama’s Christmas capitulation on tax rates.  On 17 December, the president signed legislation extending George W. Bush’s income tax cuts by a further two years, thus infusing some seasonal joy into the pocketbooks of hard-pressed Americans.  In truth, extending current rates for such a limited period is unlikely to generate much economic certainty or growth.  But an income tax increase would have…