Policymakers are ignoring housing. Why?
The housing crisis is the toughest nut to crack. There’s no good, easy answer. In some ways, the President is trying to get reelected so he can work on issues [such as this]. That’s unsatisfying and dangerous when it comes to economic engineering.
Your take on the payroll tax cut issue?
President Obama has decided to put all his chips on the table [with that]. The payroll tax cut is a flea biting an elephant. When it comes to housing and entitlement spending, it just doesn’t compare.
The administration may take up health care again. Should it stick to jobs and the economy?
It’s unusual for your signature achievement to also be your biggest Achilles heel going into the election. The administration should not count too many chickens on the economy. There are too many actors, including housing and Europe.
How do you see the Romney-Gingrich duel playing out?
One thing that won’t work for either of these candidates is to accuse the other of being a flip-flopper or a career politician. You can convincingly make the argument for both of those things for both of those people.
Most memorable moment in the GOP race so far?
For better or worse, the large number of debates. It’s been a very different way to go about the primary process; it’s healthy in the long run. It’s allowed some people like Rick Santorum to stay in the race longer and to offer competing visions and ideas.