She has proposed returning the state’s current surplus to taxpayers by suspending the state sales tax on gasoline.

“I’m glad that he finally responded to my repeated calls for tax relief for Hoosiers,” Long Thompson said. “But I think Hoosier families in many communities are economically stretched now, and the governor has the authority to suspend collecting the Indiana state sales tax on gasoline, and that would give immediate relief.”

Long Thompson said that when she was in Washington, she never voted for legislation that included a new tax or a tax increase. Daniels, she said, has sought multiple tax increases in his four years as governor.

You’re STILL on this gas tax holiday bullshit? No economist of any skill thinks this is a good idea. Most of that will end up going to the oil companies themselves at worst, or at best you’ll save maybe enough to pay for half a tank of gas. WOOHOOO!!! In the meantime, money that could be spend fixing roads and enhancing our transportation infrastructure is going to be pissed away – at a time where even the FEDERAL road budget is falling short. All so you, JLT, can say “I’m cutting taxes! Weeeeeee!!!”

The Pander Bear is so excited to see you, Jill!

You can’t out tax-cut Republicans. And how about this – how about talking about WHY we have this surplus. It’s not because of sound fiscal management. It’s because Mitch Daniels has FUCKED cities, towns and counties into taking up more of the burden. So all those local services people love (and love to bitch about paying for but don’t want them to go away) are being slashed left and right. Schools are being starved. All so Mitch Fucking Daniels can say we have a “surplus”. AND YOU”RE TRYING TO OUT FISCALLY MISMANAGE THIS JACKASS?

Way to go JLT, you’re actually making me want to NOT VOTE at all for the Governor’s race. I can’t vote for either of you dipshits. You can’t sell change when you’re trying to be more Mitch Daniels than Mitch Daniels.  And the moment I hear you pander to the idiots who hate DST I’m going to have a fucking stroke…

1. Repeal the gas tax for the summer, and pay for the repeal by cutting domestic discretionary spending

Stupid and bad. Every economist says this is at best just a stupid idea, at worst a very very bad idea that will end up helping the oil companies.

2. Redirect the oil being put into the national petroleum reserve onto the open market.

Stupid and unhelpful. Really, a couple cents a gallon? A short term fix? This does nothing.

3. Introduce a “more energy at lower cost with less environmental damage and greater national security bill” as a replacement for the Warner-Lieberman “tax and trade” bill

I also want to introduce a “more ponies at lower cost with more rainbows and greater national security bill.” What does this even mean?

4. Establish an earmark moratorium for one year and pledge to uphold the presidential veto of bills with earmarks through the end of 2009.

Ahhh the great McCain Earmark Gambit, that keeps slowly getting rolled back as he is challenged on exactly what earmarks he’d stop with a complete moratorium.

5. Overhaul the census and cut its budget radically.

Right. because the Census is a HUGE part of our budget. Man, if only we could radically cut the census we could get that new Ponies and Rainbows bill funded!!!

6. Implement a space-based, GPS-style air traffic control system.

Weeeee!!! Space!!! Sounds great, but want to hear an expert’s take on this.  Also, like #5, really how significant is this in the scope of the entire budget? Mor ethan likely a drop in the bucket.

7. Declare English the official language of government.

Ahhh Newt, you just gotta pander to the “They Took Our Jeeerrrrrrrrrbs” crowd, eh? Is this really an issue that will save the GOP when the economy, the war and health care are the top issues? Really?

Here comes the Pander Bear!!!

8. Protect the workers’ right to a secret ballot. The vast majority (around 81%) of Americans believe that American workers have a right to have a secret ballot election before they are forced to join a union.

Ahhhh but a significant minority of Americans are in a job with unions, so looking at a poll of all Americans about the right to unionize is like asking all Americans about a ballot initiative in Alaska. It doesn’t really matter.

I got you a Cherry Picker, Newt. I hope you like it

9. Remind Americans that judges matter.

We’ve heard this one for years. It’s really helping now, eh? Pandering to little wedge issues won’t save you now.

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Well, that was fun.