By Carl M. Cannon
Good morning, it’s the first business day of 2024. Happy New Year!
We are now 13 days away from the Iowa caucuses, a topic you will read much about on our pages. This morning however, let me note that on New Year’s Day, the renowned and eponymous state universities in four other states — Michigan, Washington, Texas, and Alabama — took our minds off U.S. politics, while doing everything in their power to redeem the hot mess that is college football.
Until last night, clueless NCAA officials, craven college presidents, greedy television executives, and other assorted misguided and myopic actors — including many coaches, parents, and players — were doing everything in their power to reduce college football to the National Football League’s minor league farm system.
Just in the nick of time, yesterday’s two college “playoff” games, one in the Rose Bowl, the other in the Sugar Bowl, reminded football fans why they love the sport in the first place. (On the other hand, the NFL’s maddeningly incompetent officiating continues to incentivize sports fans to take up golf, or maybe hiking, both of which are better for one’s health than sitting on the couch drinking beer. Bird-watching would certainly be less stressful than watching refs consistently get it wrong while denuding NFL games of last-minute drama.)
But I’m meandering. So before going too far afield, please let me direct you to RCP’s front page, which contains the latest poll averages, political news and video, and aggregated opinion pieces ranging across the ideological spectrum. We also offer the usual complement of original material from our stable of columnists and contributors:
Netanyahu’s “Saudi Bind” Muddles Planning. Peter Berkowitz describes the complicated international considerations as Israel and the world prepare for “The Day After.”
Like It or Not, 2024 Is the Year of Trump. Frank Miele lays out the factors that make the race the former president’s to lose.
To Reduce Budget Deficits, Gut the IRS’ Budget. At RealClearMarkets, John Tamny writes that if our goal really is to balance revenues and expenditures, there is a counter-intuitive path.
Student Loans Aren’t the Cause of Rising Tuition. Also at RCMarkets, John argues that the reasons for inflation in college costs are more complicated than the oft-cited availability of easy credit.
The Horizontal/Vertical Divide. At RealClearScience, Ross Pomeroy explains a key evolutionary difference between fish and aquatic mammals.
When Killing the Enemy Wasn’t Enough. At RealClearDefense, John Waters shares a poignant conversation exploring the depths of emotions experienced by combat veterans regarding their adversaries.
Nuclear Power’s Commanded Heights. At RealClearEnergy, Terry Campo asserts that the U.S. government is overlooking the efficiency and low cost of this alternative to “green energy.”
Carl M. Cannon
Washington Bureau chief, RealClearPolitics
@CarlCannon (Twitter)
ccannon@realclearpolitics.com