Nutter's Washington

USPS: No Contract Here and No Sense of Humor

I am a huge user and supporter of the United States Postal System. I actually write letters although I receive few. I pay bills by mail and love to get catalogues. The USPS is, of course, on a death spiral. Shackled by labor rules, excessive union contracts, pre-funding of future benefits, it is running huge deficits.

The Post Office will shrink. It is a certainty. The use of electronic mail is overwhelming it. Automatic sending and receiving of this and that means reduced revenues and eventually service. It is a bit sad for this institution that has been around since the founding of the Republic.  However, I have a complaint with the Post Office. I consider it egregious.

Iowa Over: Move Along, Nothing to See but Plenty To Do

The Iowa caucuses are mercifully over. The one-day in the sun every four years for the Hawkeye State is over. Mitt Romney pulled out a victory by a whopping eight votes, edging out former Senator Rick Santorum.

The results for both candidates are somewhat remarkable and unexpected a few weeks ago. Mr. Santorum's performance was a surprise, as the former Pennsylvania Senator came to the top just weeks after he had been little more than a footnote, an after thought in the race. He obviously gained traction as the last non-Romney person still standing and to the fervent social conservatives of which the Iowa Republican parity has a surplus.

 Mr. Romney, by some measures, would not be expected to do well in a socially conservative state like Iowa. He won but not by the margin that a front-runner should attain. The political heads can over analyze this to death. However, the 8-vote margin was high drama but now it is next on to New Hampshire and beyond. It is a bizarre way to choose the political leader of the country.

I cannot get too excited about this process or the candidates for that matter. Rick Santorum wears nifty sweater vests and I am partial to the garment. The other guys are interesting and have a point of view. However, in my opinion, only Mitt Romney is qualified to head the executive branch of government out of this group. The others lack the requisite experience, judgment and perspective to assume the Presidency. However, as I have said, the election will not be about the Republican candidate for the most part but about the incumbent and whether the country wants to continue on the more or less same path and policies. How is that working out for you?

At this stage, it is just fine for Republicans to say a candidate is not perfect, not conservative enough, too conservative or has character flaws. The real question is once the candidate gets the nomination---will they unite in their quest to out oust Mr. Obama? What is more important to them?  Would they rather have a seemingly pragmatic Romney proposing budgets, regulations, suggesting tax reform and making judicial nominations or Mr. Obama? 

 The political election sideshow will continue for some months with the finality coming for the Republicans sometime in April. Many of the candidates will not be around in the days and weeks ahead. Congresswomen Bachman is out before her plane landed.  Of course, the election provides the entertainment but there are a few other things out there of concern.

 Congress is mostly out for the month. The State of the Union will be at the end of the month. (Cannot wait for that one!) There will be a new budget submitted but will not be passed by the Senate. There are a few international problems like a nuclear Iran. Oh, did I mention the federal deficit? Unemployment? The economy? Bush tax cuts expiring? Those pesky expiring payroll tax reductions again?

 Plenty of fodder, not much on substance but we can hope. Bring on tax reform. Now, there is a great topic!