In this week’s edition of Coffee and Markets, featuring The New Ledger’s Francis Cianfrocca, we’re talking about the BP spill, the right approach to tax policy, and why Obamacare won’t work. We’re brought to you as always by Andrew Breitbart’s BigGovernment.com and LibertyPundits.com.

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Related Links:

TNL: Dances With Bears
BigGovernment: Obamacare Isn’t Medicine for Deficit
Avik Roy: Orszag’s Weak Response
Barack Obama: Frat Boy in Chief?

Avik Roy, a savvy health care analyst in New York City who writes an excellent blog on health policy, took the time to talk with me for The Heartland Institute’s Health Care News podcast about what we learned last week when it comes to the White House’s fraudulent case for Obamacare. It’s well worth a listen.

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In case you missed it — because for some reason, the Washington media types didn’t find time to cover this story — Congressional Budget Office Director Doug Elmendorf offered an astounding rejection of the notion that the new health care regime, which President Obama frequently cited as a profound and necessary deficit-lowering measure, does anything to improve America’s deficit picture.

This is less news to you, of course. But it’s newsworthy because of who’s saying it. As Keith Hennessey put it, “Never before have I seen a CBO Director so bluntly refute the policy claims of a President and his Budget Director.”

Despite the best efforts of OMB chief Peter Orszag and others, the spin that Obamacare was a budgetary cure has already been revealed as a complete falsehood, even before the implementation costs of the vast majority of its policies are fully known. As Roy writes:

At this point, there are only two camps of honest people: those who believe Obamacare will blow up the budget, and that this is a problem; and those who believe that Obamacare will blow up the budget, and that this is not a problem (because wealth redistribution is more important, and because the wealthy can be taxed more if needed).

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An eclectic show this week as Rob, Peter and Mark are joined by columnist and author Shelby Steele who discusses Obama and how race and gender are defining his presidency and his quest to redefine America and the world. At the other end of the spectrum, we’re joined by Ricochet contributor and truck driver David Carter who illuminates us with his unique perspective on the world. All that and a little more inside Hollywood POV from Rob Long. Apologies in advance for the audio quality. We’ll try to do better next time. Questions? Comments? Fan us on our Facebook page or write us at podcast@ricochet.com.

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This week, we’re joined by NY Post sports writer Ursula Hennessy who discusses The Final Four and The Masters, Mike Murphy on politics and being the odd man out on “Meet The Press”, and a we bestow a priceless surprise gift on our favorite Democratic candidate Mickey Kaus. Also, Rob Long discusses the not-so-glamorous life of a TV writer in the midst of pilot season. Don’t miss it!

“A Tri-Partisan Three-Way”

A March Madness super-size edition of the podcast and why not? It’s the return of Mark Steyn and we greet him with three amazing guests: Ricochet contributors Heather Higgins on heath care and the huge price she expects Democrats to pay for passing it, Victor Davis Hanson talks about the middle class and the real risk of California going down the tubes. Finally, we’re joined by our first Democrat, Mickey Kaus, newly announced candidate for the Senate and all around entertaining guy. Listen as Peter, Rob, and Mark helpfully give him some unsolicited campaign advice. Also, Mark Steyn reveals the true story of a particularly uncomfortable encounter involving himself, Barbara Boxer, and Strom Thurmond. Yikes. Questions? Comments? Fan us on our Facebook page or write us at podcast@ricochet.com.