Pawlenty's Economic "Plan"

Daniel Larison:

Whether Gov. Pawlenty’s prescriptions—dramatically lower individual and corporate taxes, zero taxes on capital gains and dividends, sunset provisions for federal regulations and a growth-rate target of 5%—are provable as solutions is politically beside the point at this moment. As substantive brand differentiation, the Pawlenty speech was a success. ~Daniel Henninger

Henninger forgot the part where all of this supposedly slashes the deficit at the same time through the massive infusion of extra revenues. Yes, that’s “substantive brand differentiation,” all right. Pawlenty has branded himself as the candidate of wishful thinking and fantasy. Pawlenty’s “plan” is based on the idea that there are no trade-offs in making policy, and therefore there are no difficult choices to be made.

Someday, Republican voters may realize that tax cuts cause deficits, don't grow the economy or create jobs, and benefit the wealthy at the expense of everyone else.  I think someday is still a while off.  But if anyone takes Pawlenty's "plan" as serious, they are very misguided.  Because I think the economy will be struggling greatly in 2012, and Barack Obama will be vulnerable, I would really like to see the Republicans field a good candidate as an alternative.  So far, I don't think they will.  If a person seems competent, they are considered a RINO or Republicrat.  They have to go for the full crazy, or the base will hate them.  We really need a better conservative electorate.