Republican and Conservative political analysis and commentary

All of the post-Ames discussion about the role that the Fair Tax played in the final outcome of the Ames Straw Poll - Mitt Romney's win with a disappointing 31 percent of the vote, Mike Huckabee's surprisingly strong second-place finish with 18 percent - got me looking into the specifics of each candidate's position on the Fair Tax, which would replace the national income tax with a national sales tax.

Former Arkansas Gov Mike Huckabee is explicitly for the Fair Tax, and his campaign website touts his tax-cutting record:

As Governor of Arkansas, I cut taxes and fees almost 100 times, saving the taxpayers almost $380 million. I left a surplus of nearly $850 million, which I urged should go back to the people. 

Arkansas' gas tax did go up under Gov. Huckabee, but only after it was approved by roughly 80 percent of voters in a statewide referendum.

Former Massachussets Gov. Mitt Romney is for simplifying the tax code.

America's tax code is a labyrinth that imposes an enormous and unnecessary burden on our citizens and employers. Keeping taxes low and simplifying the code will grow the economy and enhance our competitiveness. 

But Romney is reportedly not in favor of the Fair Tax proposal.

Also against the Fair Tax proposal: former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback. 

For the record, I'm for the Fair Tax. I'm also for any other proposal that simplifies, flattens and lowers taxes, so long as it does not compromise national security,  including border security. But, then, I'd be glad to see Congress slash the budget in half and do away with virtually all of the "social programs" by which the American Left has enslaved generations of poor people, mostly minorities, into inter-generational dependence on government, locked them into failing schools, and deprived whole communities of their shot at the American dream.