Don't look at me, I didn't use the term "evil." Sleazy, maybe.

And I apologize for not making special note of the tax cut proposals in the speech--the investment writeoffs, the hiring tax break, and the depreciation bonus*. As I said, I have not seen the details of this proposal. However, cynic that I am, I'm curious to know exactly how long these Democratic tax breaks will be in effect. The clear implication is that most of them vanish after one year.

Whoopie. A one-time stimulus business tax break is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, like the Republican tax rebate, but like the rebate it won't do much permanent good unless accompanied by long-term tax relief. The stupid "come back to life" estate tax reduction is a prime example.

Of course, a cynic might note that this would give the Democrats a big tax cut going into the election, but allow the high taxes to come back and club us after November. Best of all possible liberal worlds!

And Daschle's claim that the loss of the surplus is due to the tax cut is not only a flatout lie, it is irresponsible. The recession, which started at least as early as the spring of 2000, is far more responsible for reduced revenue. And may we take special note of the nearly-cosmic chutzpah of Daschle complaining that the tax cuts do not have immediate effect because they are pushed off largely into the next decade? Like this was a Republican idea??

Please note that all of this crap on the surplus is based on projections--wild-assed-guesses--over the next 10 years. As the projections--based on extensions of current trends, which are all over the map--swing back and forth, so does policy.

And of course, we could consider the impossible (to Democrats) notion of actual spending reductions. The immense amount of pork issued in the wake of September 11--for which the Republicans are far from blameless--probably has a lot to do with the budget situation, and the proposed pork (again, still waiting for details) won't make it better.

*Although they tend to be lost in the wave of spending following it in the speech--kind of like pissing into a tsunami. I would really like to see the verification of Daschle's claim that 75 percent of his proposal is tax cuts.