Good news, good news, good news

Today's Red Star is bristling with good news for conservatives, and vindication of Bush's economic policies.

The local (Minneapolis/St. Paul), housing market is going great guns.

"No popping sounds -- yet. Six months into the 2005 real estate market, sales are running neck-and-neck with last year's record numbers. Sale price increases are rising at a moderate pace that will help keep a real estate bubble at bay."

The state ends the fiscal year with a nice cushion!

"The Department of Finance reported Monday that higher-than-expected income tax and corporate tax collections accounted for most of the gains. During fiscal year 2005, Minnesota brought in more than $14.2 billion in taxes, above the $13.9 billion officials were anticipating."

"Sharp Rise in Tax Revenue to Pare U.S. Deficit", from the New York Times. This article appeared in the Red Star print edition, but we don't see it in the online edition.

"WASHINGTON, July 12 - For the first time since President Bush took office, an unexpected leap in tax revenue is about to shrink the federal budget deficit this year, by nearly $100 billion.

On Wednesday, White House officials plan to announce that the deficit for the 2005 fiscal year, which ends in September, will be far smaller than the $427 billion they estimated in February."

Score some big points for conservative fiscal management. Now if we can get the president and congress to reign in the spending, we'll be in the black in no time.