In direct contravention of my wife's explicit instructions, herewith I inaugurate my first blog. Long may it prosper.

For some reason, I think I have something to say to you. You think you have something to say to me? Email me at: gideonsblogger -at- yahoo -dot- com

 
CATO just came out with their grades of the governors for fiscal performance. They give out gold stars for cutting taxes and spending and for bringing budgets into long-term balance, and demerits for the opposite - raising taxes, hiking spending, creating structural imbalances. Check out who won the top ten grades:

Arnold Schwarzenegger (GOP - California)
Bill Owens (GOP - Colorado)
Jeb Bush (GOP - Florida)
Mark Sanford (GOP - South Carolina)
Tim Pawlenty (GOP - Minnesota)
Bill Richardson (DEM - New Mexico)
John Baldacci (DEM - Maine)
George Pataki (GOP - New York)
Mike Rounds (GOP - South Dakota)
Phil Bredesen (DEM - Tennessee)

Some of those grades are inflated because everyone is graded on their entire term in office, not just their most-recent term. Owens, Bush and Pataki have all seen their scores decline since they were first elected.

I count at least 3 top contenders for the GOP nomination or VP slot in 2008 (Owens, Sanford, Pawlenty) and 2 more who would be but for extraordinary circumstances beyond their control (Bush's family name and Schwarzenegger's country of birth). I also count 2 top contenders for the Democratic nomination (Richardson and Bredesen).

Much-discussed possible nominees (or VP nominees) who didn't grade so well?

Romney (#15, GOP - Massachusetts)
Ehrlich (#18, GOP - Maryland)
Vilsack (#22, DEM - Iowa)
Warner (#27, DEM - Virginia)

Note that only 35 governors are rated; the others are too new to merit a rating. So #18 Ehrlich is smack in the middle, and #27 Warner is towards the back of the pack.

I suspect at least two of these guys (Romney and Warner) will be trying hard to improve their scores in the next 2 years, when CATO does their next ranking.
posted by Noah at 8:40 AM