On Sunday I wrote:

…how do you get support from the “deficit hawks”, the guys so principled that they can’t vote for anything that isn’t paid for? Oh, it’s a tax cut, so I guess those are exempt from principles…

On Monday Krugman quotes Senator Joh Kyl:

You do need to offset the cost of increased spending. And that’s what Republicans object to. But you should never have to offset cost of a deliberate decision to reduce tax rates on Americans.

These people wouldn’t know a principle if it bit them. They only care about the possibility of spending on someone other than their campaign contributors.

Morzine-Avoriaz – Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne

Distance: 204.5 kilometers.

The Tour is in the mountains and this sadistic stage was designed to convince the sprinters who have been holding on to some hope of a yellow jersey that it isn’t going to happen.

Andy Schleck ( Lux – SAX – 011 ) [Yellow] 43h 35′ 41″
Thor Hushovd ( Nor – CTT – 095 ) [Green] 124 points
Anthony Charteau ( Fra – BBO – 153 ) [Polka Dot] 85 points
Robert Gesink ( Ned – RAB – 195 ) 7 [White]
Team: Caisse d’Epargne GCE ( 161-169 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Sandy Casar ( Fra – FDJ – 062 )
Combative: Luis-Leon Sanchez ( Esp – GCE – 161 ) [Red numbers]

They’ve gone 1,773.9 kilometers [1,102.3 miles] at an average speed of 40.7 kph [25.3 mph].

OVERALL STANDINGS:

Andy Schleck ( Lux – SAX – 011 ) [Yellow]
2 Alberto Contador ( Esp – AST – 001 )
3 Samuel Sanchez ( Esp – EUS – 181 )
4 Denis Menchov ( Rus – RAB – 191 )
5 Jurgen Van Den Broeck ( Bel – SIL – 101 )
6 Levi Leipheimer ( USA – RSH – 025 )
7 Robert Gesink ( Ned – RAB – 195 ) [White]
8 Luis-Leon Sanchez ( Esp – GCE – 161 )
9 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver ( Esp – KAT – 077 )
10 Ivan Basso ( Ita – LIQ – 041 )
11 Roman Kreuziger ( Cze – LIQ – 044 )
12 Ryder Hesjedal ( Can – GRM – 054 )
13 Alexandre Vinokourov ( Kaz – AST – 009 )
14 Michael Rogers ( Aus – THR – 118 )
15 Carlos Sastre ( Esp – CTT – 091 )
16 Bradley Wiggins ( GBr – SKY – 031 )
17 Nicolas Roche ( Irl – ALM – 081 )
18 Cadel Evans ( Aus – BMC – 121 )
19 Thomas Lövkvist ( Swe – SKY – 037 )
20 Andréas Klöden ( Ger – RSH – 024 )

24 Sandy Casar ( Fra – FDJ – 062 ) [Stage winner]
31 Lance Armstrong ( USA – RSH – 021 )
40 Anthony Charteau ( Fra – BBO – 153 ) [Polka Dot]
53 Jérôme Pineau ( Fra – QST – 135 )
67 Geraint Thomas ( GBr – SKY – 039 )
138 Thor Hushovd ( Nor – CTT – 095 ) [Green]
140 Robbie McEwen ( Aus – KAT – 075 )
147 David Millar ( GBr – GRM – 057 )

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