"Democrats and labor leaders chortling over their supposed popularity in the Wisconsin rift between GOP Gov. Scott Walker and public unions might want to consider a Florida recall vote last week.

"Miami-Dade voters turned out in huge numbers to oust Mayor Carlos Alvarez in a vote that saw a staggering 88 percent of ballots cast against him.

"The issues: soaring property taxes and increased public-sector union benefits.

"Alvarez is a Republican -- but didn't govern like one: He raised property taxes for two-thirds of county homeowners by a whopping 13 percent. He rewarded his political base -- public-employee unions, who pushed for tax hikes rather than spending cuts -- by raising their members' pay and unfreezing some benefits."

"There's too much money chasing too few goods. That's why global prices for key consumer and industrial goods, from oil to wheat, are now at or nearing record highs.

"But at some point the charade must stop. When it does, it won't be pretty. The reason interest rates are so low today — the 10-year Treasury remains below 3.5% — is the Fed's debt-buying binge. When it stops, as it likely will in June, interest rates will surge.

"There's no easy way out. It starts with spending cuts and ends with the Fed turning off its money presses. If it doesn't, and inflation takes hold, welcome back the '70s."

"Fifty-four House Republicans bucked their leadership Tuesday, voting against a farce -- the farce of passing 'continuing resolutions' to fund the government in stages in the hopes of forcing the Democrats into significant cuts in so-called discretionary spending.

"The measure passed anyway, with support from 85 Democrats -- averting the meaningless fiction of a 'government shutdown' for another three weeks.

"But at least the attempt was made -- no thanks to Speaker John Boehner, who has been at least temporarily abandoned by his conservative and libertarian Tea Party allies and must now rely on Democrats to keep the shell game going, while avoiding the much more serious issues at hand.

"As in: We're broke."

"Thanks to the irrepressible Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, who is emerging as the most energetic and principled conservative leader of the 112th Congress, the Congressional Research Service published a report on Feb. 10 detailing how the Obama administration is planning to spend $105.5 billion that was put on an appropriations autopilot in the health care legislation the Democrat-majority Congress enacted last year. 

"Unless the Republican-controlled House in this Congress can force President Obama to sign new legislation forbidding dispersal of this $105.5 billion, the administration will spend it to lay the basic foundations for a socialistic health care system in the United States."

"If George Bush reacted this way in an international catastrophe -- wholly irrelevant radio addresses, golf outings for the 61st time ... the left-wing media would require medically-induced sedation to keep them in check."

"In the Illinois legislature, state senator Barack Obama voted 'present' 129 times. Today, he seems to be voting present on two major issues — Libya and the budget...

"Voting 'present' may be a responsible move for a legislator genuinely undecided about which way to go. But an executive voting 'present' is choosing a course with consequences, whether he likes it or not. 

"'The buck stops here,' said the sign on the desk of the 33rd president, Harry Truman, who was quick to make decisions -- sometimes too quick. The 44th president’s tendency seems to be something like the opposite.

"It is amazing that the American people would continue to elect Democratic politicians to national office, considering Democrats' cynical disregard for the federal budget crisis. They aren't even slightly serious about becoming part of the solution. 

"Consider the Senate Democrats' most recent proposal for budget cuts to avert a government shutdown. Senate Republicans, following the House plan, proposed $61 billion in cuts for the current year, while Senate Democrats proposed a paltry $6.5 billion. (The Congressional Budget Office says it's actually only $4.7 billion.) Though Obama seems to be hiding in the bushes on this one, he is said to support the Democratic plan. 

"Did you hear that: $6.5/$4.7 billion? This is nothing. It's an outrage. This from the clowns who say the Republican cuts, which themselves wouldn't be enough, are 'Draconian.' No, it's their attitude that is Draconian -- to the republic."

"Taking on the status quo is no easy task. Each day, there are protesters in and around our state Capitol. They have every right to be heard. But their voices cannot drown out the voices of the countless taxpayers who want us to balance our budgets and, more importantly, to make government work for each of them." 

"Looks like we're finally going to get those hipsters at National Public Radio. Elmo should probably start thinking twice before going outside, as well. 

"Yes, I realize de-funding NPR and PBS won't even make a minor dent in Washington's colossal budgetary predicament. Yes, it's just a hobbyhorse of the far right. None of which negates any of the convincing reasons to do it."

"How will we know when Washington gets serious about curbing spending? When it starts talking about health care, retirement and defense programs, because that's both where the money is and where political risk lies. These programs dwarf any savings that could be wrenched from domestic discretionary spending, where the GOP cuts are concentrated."