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Why no responsible Democrat should want Newt Gingrich to get the GOP nomination

Robert Reich, professor of public policy | January 27, 2012

Republicans are worried sick about Newt Gingrich’s ascendance, while Democrats are tickled pink. Yet no responsible Democrat should be pleased at the prospect that Gingrich could get the GOP nomination. The future of America is too important to accept even a small risk of a Gingrich presidency. The Republican worry is understandable. “The possibility of … Continue reading »

Mitt, son of “Citizens United”

Robert Reich, professor of public policy | January 6, 2012

First, a confession. If Mitt Romney becomes president I’m partly to blame. Ten years ago I ran for the Democratic nomination for governor of Massachusetts — which would have given me the opportunity to whip Mitt Romney’s ass in the general election, I blew it. In the final week of the primary I was neck … Continue reading »

The GOP ticket in 2012: Romney-Rubio

Robert Reich, professor of public policy | January 3, 2012

Since my New Year’s prediction that Obama would select Hillary Clinton for his running mate in 2012 (and Joe Biden would become Secretary of State), I’ve been swamped by requests for my GOP prediction. Here goes. You can forget the caucuses and early primaries. Mitt Romney will be the nominee. Republicans may be stupid but … Continue reading »

Are Mitt and Newt channeling their inner progressives?

Robert Reich, professor of public policy | December 13, 2011

Two important reforms are stopping the revolving door between Washington and the nation’s financial giants, and preventing financiers from flipping companies(making short-term profits by borrowing big sums to buy them, then squeezing payrolls and firing employees, and reselling the stripped-down companies at a profit — unless the debt-laden firms fall into bankruptcy first). Remarkably, the frontrunners for … Continue reading »

The Corporate Pledge of Allegiance

Robert Reich, professor of public policy | November 9, 2011

Despite what the Supreme Court and Mitt Romney say, corporations aren’t people. (I’ll believe they are when Georgia and Texas start executing them.) The Court thinks corporations have First Amendment rights to spend as much as they want on politics, and Romney (and most of his fellow Regressives) think they need lower taxes and fewer … Continue reading »

Wall Street is still out of control; break up the banks

Robert Reich, professor of public policy | October 27, 2011

Next week President Obama travels to Wall Street where he’ll demand – in light of the Street’s continuing antics since the bailout, as well as its role in watering-down the Volcker rule – that the Glass-Steagall Act be resurrected and big banks be broken up. I’m kidding. But it would be a smart move — … Continue reading »

How to create more jobs by lowering wages: Texas and America

Robert Reich, professor of public policy | September 14, 2011

Perry and Romney can duke it out over who created the most jobs, but governors have as much influence over job growth in their states as roosters do over sunrises. States don’t have their own monetary policies so they can’t lower interest rates to spur job growth. They can’t spur demand through fiscal policies because … Continue reading »