Bio

I'm from Vermont.  Conservatives being in rather short supply up there, I needed somewhere to bounce my ideas off of, so I joined Ricochet.

My interests are history, politics, and economics, though I'm mostly self-taught in the last two, for what that's worth. I also know lots of random trivia.

I'm mostly a libertarian with conservative views on national and border security, but a bit of a squish politically if not ideologically.  Despite this, my political hero is Barry Goldwater.

I also like solitaire.

Please visit my election-analysis blog here.


This section of Dan's profile is hidden.


People Following Dan

This section of Dan's profile is hidden.


Conversations Dan is Following

This section of Dan's profile is hidden.


Conversations Dan has Started (42)

Display starting at 22 of 42 user conversations

Dan's Profile

Dan
Name:
Dan
Joined:
May 1, 2011

Recent Comments

Dan
Jon Gabriel: Patrick, a recall is possible, but as Dan said she'll be gone before long anyway. Part of the reason she pushed this through is because she knows she won't be held accountable at the ballot box. · 2 hours ago

So she's given up on the whole "ambiguity in the law means I can run for another term" thing?

Dan

Patrick Gibbs: Is a recall of Governor Brewer possible under Arizona law?

There are going to be recall votes in Oklahoma aimed at people who are attacking 2nd Amendment rights there. It sure seems to be a better case against Gov. Brewer for a recall. She has abused her veto power and now she has conspired with Leftists/Statists to abuse the legislative process.

She has deservedly lost any respect that conservatives had for her previous to this fiasco. · 10 minutes ago

Edited 10 minutes ago

I don't know if it's possible, but she'll be term-limited in a year and a half anyway.

Dan

She's much less conservative on fiscal issues than on illegal immigration.  In the two Cato Fiscal Policy Grades she's gotten, she's gotten D's.  In 2010 she did worse than Arnold Schwarzenegger and Charlie Crist.

Dan

Some of their elections stuff is pretty good so I occasionally check in on that.

Dan

Have a Democrat run against him.

Dan

3rd angle projection: As a non-NJ resident, I don't really care who the governor is.

I'd say appoint a Republican until 2014 and Christie can run and win/lose to Booker for governor in Nov.

End of the day, I'd rather have Booker as governor than as a US Senator. He can damage NJ all he wants. We need to get the country right and Booker will not help with that. · 6 minutes ago

Booker's not running for Governor.  About 5 months ago he took a look at Christie's approval rating and dived for the exits.

Dan
DrewInWisconsin: Try this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-d_HIQR__A · 4 minutes ago

Troy Senik, Ed.: Fixed it. · 1 minute ago

Dan: Video's not available. · 12 minutes ago

Thanks.

McDermott royally deserves everything he gets.

Dan

Video's not available.

Dan
EThompson: Cory Booker is a very powerful political force with whom to be reckoned.(Many moderate Republicans like him as well.)  His influence was quite apparent while Christie did his obsequious dance with Obama after Sandy. · 12 minutes ago

Remember that Booker and Christie would be running in different races.  The main concern with Booker was that he could gin up Dem turnout in a way that gov nominee Buono couldn't.  Those moderate Republicans and Independents that like Booker would have voted solidly for Christie, whose lead in the polls is consistently over 30 points, which I agree with Scarlet Pimpernel is big enough that concurrent elections shouldn't have been much of a threat.

Dan

raycon and lindacon: Peter;  A month or so back you mentioned a UK interview with Amity Schlaes, but we have been unable to locate the program anywhere.  Did you ever post it?  Where?

Since the WSJ connection, we are feeling left out. · 7 minutes ago

I don't recall whether he said they had taped it or released it.  If he just said taped I can understand him; there's usually a pretty significant delay between taping and release.  The one that just came out with Andy Ferguson and Joseph Epstein was first mentioned on the podcast they did with Gutfeld.

Dan

EThompson:

Christie is most definitely covering his backside. Wish other GOP candidates would learn to do so as well. · 0 minutes ago

True.  Still, I wish they wouldn't do it with taxpayer money.

Edited on June 4, 2013 at 9:59pm
Dan
BrentB67: Step up to the mic and thank the fine folks of Arizona for the opportunity to serve them in the US Senate and announce that he is resigning and recommends that Jan Brewer nominate herself to fill his seat. · 14 hours ago

Brewer's good on illegal immigration but otherwise, we can do better.  She's in favor of the medicaid expansion and has gotten D's on fiscal policy from the Cato Institute for the last 4 years.  In 2010, she even did worse than Charlie Crist and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Dan

Run a polling firm.

Dan

Biden would probably go for some young female Senator like Kirsten Gillibrand or Amy Klobuchar.

Dan

Fred Cole: One of the reasons you have a two party system is because those two parties control the levers of power and create systemic barriers to third party participation.

It's not just that the LP is "crazy."  It's not just first-past-the-post.  It's not just single member districts.  

The two parties lock other parties out. · May 26, 2013 at 4:14pm

Though third parties don't always get ballot access, being denied this, even for political reasons, is minor.  The failure of third parties has much more to do with the fact that they a) generally have no ability to effectively fundraise, b) are harmed by strategic voting, or c) have little actual support.

Here's a list of the third party candidates in the last 20 years who have gotten more than 5% of the vote.  The list of those that haven't is far bigger.

I agree with Larry.  This:

Fred Cole: 

The two parties lock other parties out. · May 26, 2013 at 4:14pm

is wildly incorrect.

Edited on May 28, 2013 at 1:36am
Dan

The comic strip Pearls Before Swine has a lot of those.

Welcome Visitor!
Join  or  Sign In

Become a Member to enjoy the full benefits of Ricochet:

Ricochet: The Right People, The Right Tone, The Right Place.  Join today!

Already a Member? Sign In