OBSERVATION - AT 7:14 P.M. ET:  I've returned from a meeting of the Hudson York briefing council (which is why you haven't heard from me).  Tucker Carlson spoke, and made a fascinating observation.  He noted that people never turn down anything that's free, and never give it up.  His fear is that all the "benefits" in President Obama's stimulus plan will become permanent, no matter how much damage they may eventually do, simply because people won't give up something that they think isn't costing them anything. 

Carlson is right.  The history of Europe in the last 60 years shows that benefits and government "gifts," once given, are never given back.  The term "creeping socialism" applies here.  We can indeed become Sweden.

April 1, 2009