I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!
Goldwater lost by 22 points.
I'm reminded of this by the economic plan put forth yesterday by Tim Pawlenty. So far it's been met by, ahem, mixed reviews.
Andrew Pavelyev, a moderate Republican (yes, there are still some left), writes in Frum Forum today (my emphasis):
Pawlenty offered very ambitious tax cuts (once again trying to outdo Reagan by lowering the top marginal tax rate to an even lower level than Reagan did). Only in the first four years of the existence of the personal income tax was the top marginal rate even lower than the one Pawlenty has proposed: 25%. He has also proposed a big cut in corporate taxes and elimination of the inheritance tax and taxes on capital gains and dividends.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Chait ponders the political consequences of such a radical plan:
Alarmingly, Pawlenty's plan is being greeted by conservatives not as some nee plus ultra supply-side vision but as an opening bid. The Wall Street Journal editorial page asks, at the end of a glowing editorial, "Now that Mr. Pawlenty has laid down his marker, what do his competitors have to offer?" Once you've eliminated all tax on capital income and slashed the rates, how much further can you go? Romney hasn't come out with his plan yet, but he can't let Pawlenty outflank him. I hesitate to even think of where the bidding will stand by the time Michelle Bachmann unveils her proposal. Perhaps a negative tax rate on capital gains and estate transfers over a million dollars, financed by a tax on the unproductive poor?
And it makes me wonder: if the Republican candidates are this far to the right in June of 2011, how extreme will the eventual nominee be by the fall of 2012?
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