My Side of the Screen

Dubai bye bye?

2006-02-25T08:23:00.000-08:00

The worst part? It's the same old story. Politicians making a brouhaha, looking like they're doing something. no matter the facts. Remember Terri Shaivo?

Yea, yea Congress should have been in the loop. But hey, the President wasn't in the loop either! Geez!

Still, state and local authorities, they should always be in the loop. That was really stupid. Business 101. When you need support from the locals, bring them in from the beginning.

Speaking of facts, 700 of our warships have been to Dubai. We have a military base there, remember? Dubai has been very, very good to us. No wonder we're losing in Iraq.

Prez's speech

2006-02-01T07:09:00.000-08:00

I can sum it up in two words, old and defiant.

Two other comments:

We are not addicted to oil, we are addicted to energy and like all
addictions, it keeps on increasing.

The President said, "If we make sure our children succeed in life, they will
insure that America succeeds". Totally agree, but if he truly believes it, why is he cutting $14B from college assistance programs. Once again, he is not putting the
money where his mouth is. Once again, he is secretive about where he is
really putting the money, tax welfare for corporations, especially oil.

Nancy B

mideast democracy

2006-01-29T07:08:00.000-08:00

How about Hamas winning over 70% in Palestine? Hee Hee. Well, Mr. President, guess you have to be careful what you wish for. Democracy in the Arab world? Hee hee. Another of his great plans gone awry. Hee hee. Oh, my stomach hurts from laughing so hard.

Presidential Evesdropping

2005-12-31T08:00:00.000-08:00

Let's see..5600 NSA wiretaps submitted to the FISA court for approval. The court modified 179 and said no to 6. The President, furious, stomped his feet and refused to play. He'll do it his way. He's Commander in Chief. Sigh. I wish we had a grown-up for President.

The Prez's Plan

2005-12-20T06:44:00.000-08:00

Fight terrorists in Iraq. Challenge them, "bring it on". The terrorists respond, "Wahoo, we'll be there." Train the Iraqi army, leave and let them clean up the mess.

This Torture Thing

2005-12-13T08:22:00.000-08:00

What's most distressing about this President's reign is he keeps on turning the world against us. And every time they give us another chance, he blows it. Just last week, 150 nations meeting in Canada, came to an agreement on global warming. The only two hold outs? The U.S. and communist China. This promotes democracy?

He wants new bunker busting nuclear bombs. Iran and North Korea ask how come you can and we can't?

Now we have this torture thing. Sen. John McCain got 90 votes in the Senate for an amendment banning it. He wants the world to know we're an honorable people. The President said sure, but not without an exception for the CIA. Yes, that CIA, the world's favorite agency, NOT. Secretary Rumsfeld recently told the press that a soldier wouldn't have to stop another from abusing prisoners but he could report it. General Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, was appalled. "Sir, he said, "they have an obligation to stop it." Iraqis now feel free to torture their own prisoners. No. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, they just don't get it. Even children balk at, "do as I say not as I do".

I don't know what's worse, this administration's belief that the world is so stupid or that they're so smart. They must be confused by their supporters.

Thank goodness we don't have kings.

GM, A Den of Idiots

2005-11-27T11:36:00.001-08:00

What's good for GM is good for the country, remember that old cliche? Stuff like long-term thinking, efficient resource use, good products and service, it's all passe now.

Remember when new models were introduced every year? We kids prided ourselves in being able to tell a '56 Ford from a '57, an Olds from a Caddy. Then some ivy league idiot thought that cost too much. From then on, Buicks and Oldsmobiles looked just like Chevys. So what's the point of spending more? He took all the fun out of it. Sales of Buicks & Oldmobiles? Down.

GM's Body by Fisher used to mean something. It didn't fall apart like those Chryslers. My last Body by Fisher started to fall apart at 15,000 miles. My next car? A Toyota.

Then came the oil embargo and the Japanese takeover. Better cars with better mileage sent GM reeling. They fought back for awhile. But the ivy leaguers were still fixated on those quarterly reports. Congress, more responsible back then, passed the CAFE standards. The industry didn't like that. Not realizing Congress was doing them a favor, leveling the playing field, the UAW idiots and Michingan politician idiots, most notably Congressman Dingle, sabotaged every effort to increase CAFE. Forget diminishing domestic oil production. Forget global warming. Forget rumblings from the middle east. Enter the SUV, a gas guzzling bohemouth with big profit margins.

President Clinton tried to educate them. He told them the future was in more energy efficient products. The US could be an export power house again. But fear and quarterly profits ruled. Oh, said the UAW, we'll lose jobs! Oh, said the politicians, we won't get reelectd. Oh, said the ivy leaguers, R&D costs money. But oh, asked the rest of us, where did all our manufacturing jobs go?

Nine auto plants, 30,000 jobs down the tubes. Not good for GM, not good for America.

The Water's Edge

2005-11-20T11:20:00.000-08:00

Remember the time Clinton was meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister on the peace process and Dole sabotaged his efforts? All the Senator could talk about was Jerusalem. I couldn't believe it! I respected Sen. Dole. Then when Clinton attacked al Qaeda, the GOP called it "wagging the dog". The unraveling of the long held view, "politics end at the water's edge", was beginning.

So the Republicans had no one to blame but themselves when all hell broke loose over the Iraqi war during President Bush's Asian tour. 78 Senators, mostly Republicans, passed a resolution pressing the Administration on Iraq. Representative Murtha gave a speech calling for withdrawal from Iraq in six months. No more "water's edge".

The House tried to help. They got 403 votes against withdrawal. But, the damage was done. I am no fan of President Bush or the war, but this stinks.

What's with Woodward?

2005-11-20T10:53:00.000-08:00

Well, well, Woodward knew about Valerie Plame a month before Libby did. A "senior administration official" told him "off the record." He didn't write about it. He didn't tell his editor either. He apologized. Where's our apology? Now I finally understand his TV tirades against the prosecutor.

He didn't want to testify before the grand jury. But, he couldn't escape. Last week a "senior administration official" told Fitzgerald and Bob got his subpoena. Poor baby.

Hey, who was that masked "official"? You know Fitzgerald won't say. And Woodward won't until his source OK's it. This could take another 35 years!

Aw, Bob, we hardly know ya.

So much happening, whew!

2005-11-16T11:27:00.000-08:00

So, what's with Senator Lott? First he goes around saying Karl Rove should resign. Then, he talks about this Republican luncheon. The VP was there. He told them about secret prisons holding big time terrorists. One of the Senators, Lott said, must have leaked it to the Washington Post. Wow! I guess he won't be Leader again, no matter how poorly Sen. Frist is doing. Still, to me the bigger question is why the Veep only told Republicans. Makes me wonder what else Democrats haven't been told.

Liked what happened in Dover PA. Entire school board thrown out for pushing "Intelligent Design" on science classes. Pat Robertson was so funny. God will punish Dover. When that disaster strikes, he said, pray to Darwin. Well, lookout Kentucky, you're next. How intelligent was the design anyway? Maybe the best you can say is "Intentional Design". Sometimes I wish God took more than just six days.

Dems won governor races North and South. My favorite was the West. All of Arnold's initiatives went down. Funny, don't hear much talk lately about that constitution change.

Lobbyists held a big fund raiser for Tom DeLay. Have they no shame? Remember when DeLay told them to fire all their Democrats? Lap Dogs.

Whenever Republicans accuse anyone, you can be sure it's for something they're doing. My personal favorite is DeLay whining about the "politics of personal destruction". On Veteran's Day, the President charged Democrats with "rewriting history". How many times have the reasons for the Iraq war changed? They never said they were certain about Sadaam's nuclear program. Oh no? What about Rice and Cheney with their "mushroom cloud"? The President said the Congress and the Administration got the exact same intelligence before the war. C'mon. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Yes I do! HA HA HA HA HA.

Don't worry, Scooter, the Gang's All Here, NOT!

2005-11-06T11:45:00.000-08:00

When Scooter was indicted, I expected the usual gang to spread all over TV. It barely happened. Some did try the usual tactic of attacking other people, in this case, Joe Wilson and the victim, Valerie Plame. But the moderators weren't having that so it soon petered out.

I also expected the President to be really angry about Libby's obstruction of justice etc. He did instruct his staff to "cooperate fully" with Fitzpatrick. But he just said Scooter was a good public servant. Right after that, everyone at the White House was told stay away from Libby, don't even talk to him on the phone. And then came the not so subtle pressure to make a deal with the prosecuter, to take the fall.

But Scooter wasn't having any of that. He turned to, of all things, trial lawyers. He vowed to fight to protect his "good name". Did you see the article in this week's New Yorker magazine? Good name all gone.

Now, the White House staff has to take Harriet Miers' one week ethics refresher course. Even Karl Rove. Curiouser and curiouser.

Background Noise

2005-10-23T13:30:00.000-07:00

Poor President Bush. Raindrops falling on his head, sloshing in his brain, making all that "background noise".

There's this investigation, Rove, and Libby. Could it be the thread that unravels the cloak of the Iraqi war campaign?

His top go-getter, Tom DeLay, booked on Thursday to be arraigned on Friday. But, the slick DeLay kicked the can a bit filing for a judge change and a change of venue. Just look at that smile on his mug shot! I saw his interview on Rita Cosby Friday. At first, I thought, hey, he's doing a good job. But then he started whining, so I changed the channel.

The Miers thing isn't getting any better, and then, a new storm. Thursday, a revolt from the fiscal conservatives. Representatives from the Club for Growth, the Heritage Foundation and the American Conservative Union, railed against spending and government expansion. Threatening, menacing, almost foaming at the mouth, fix it NOW or else!

For me, the background noise came from the NBA. Commission David Stein has banned his players from all hip hop clothing and jewelry. Whatsamatta? Too African American? Reminds me of a few years ago when players were banned from wearing long underwear under their short shorts. LOL

Miers: Trust ? No! Verify

2005-10-14T16:24:00.000-07:00

Conservatives split over the Hariett Miers nomination.

Bill Kristol, Kate O'Bierne, Pat Buccanan, Rush Limbaugh, David Frum, Peggy Noonan, Trent Lott, Laura Ingram, Charles Krauthammer, Ann Coulter, the usually reasonable George Will and Concerned Women For America, for God's sake, vociferous in their objections. Withdraw her, withdraw her, not on our list.

Dr. Richard Lamb, Pat Robinson, Tony Perkins, Jerry Fallwell and, first out of the box, Dr. James Dobson. the proverbial trusting lambs. She's one of us, the Court is born again.

DeLay, Rita, DC rallies, Harriet...oh my

2005-10-07T11:10:00.000-07:00

So much has happened in the last two weeks, it's been hard to catch up.

There was the anti Iraq war rally in DC. More than 100,000 showed up. The next day, it was the "you don't speak for me" rally supported by the DOD. About 400 showed up. Another Pentagon success. LOL

I was really worried about Houston. That old cliche, "no good deed goes unpunished" ringing in my ears as I watched Rita aim at that most generous city. But, nature cooled the gulf, sent a dry front to weaken Rita. turned her eastwood and Houston was spared. The President rushed to the Gulf Coast. Chris Matthews said it best comparing Bush's frequent post Rita visits to his "stations of the cross".

Finally, and I save the best for last, the DeLay opera. Two indictments!!! Going down for a measley $155K. Talk about poetic justice. DeLay was indignant, whining about "blatant political partisanship" and "the politics of personal destruction". Oh, boo hoo. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Now, Republicans are turning against each other with a viciousness they previously used only for Democrats. The fracticidal knives are out against poor Harriet Miers. No conservative compassion there. FEMA's Brownie slammed. And, if Karl Rove gets indicted? Is this going to be fun to watch or what?

Oh, there was the President's speech on Thursday and the NY subway bomb scare on Friday.

Katrina operas begin

2005-09-17T17:03:00.000-07:00

So far, I see three:

Wherefrom the money
FEMA screw ups (more of a black comedy)
and the big Kahuna, the investigations. I wonder if they'll start
during March Sweep Week.

Presidential Talks

2005-09-17T16:46:00.000-07:00

I tried to listen to our President's speech Thursday night, but my mind kept wandering. It was like a laundry list, what happened, what's happening now, we know, we know. Then he laid out his plan, another laundry list. I thought his speech at the memorial service was better. He's always better when he says less. The UN speech? Same old same old.

Response Equals Racism?

2005-09-15T18:46:00.000-07:00

Hmm, let's see...2004, Florida hurricane. Few days later, our Presidents's on the ground, passimg out water from the back of a truck. 2005, Louisiana hurricane. Few days later, our President's on a flyover, promising water. Race, class, incompetence, who knows?

5 days, now 2 weeks, the good, the bad & the stupid

2005-09-12T16:45:00.000-07:00

Who Did Good: Most of all the TV news: their pictures, the horror of it all, no food, no water, filthy flooded streets. While the Feds cried about communications, TV news broadcast world wide, pleading for help. Next, the New Orlean Police Dept; the Coast Guard; General Honore; Texas (I nominate the Mayor of Houston as the next FEMA Chief); small communities and big cities; Walmart; the water, food and diaper looters who shared; doctors and nurses and their spouses who flooded the internet to get help; the mayor of Slidell and other local and state officials, who, without even the promise of FEMA help, acted anyway; bus drivers; churches,large and small; big business; small business; 100 Nations; the Navajo; the NYFD and all the other "first responders"; the National Guards and other military (although I didn't share their concern for Sack's 5th & Brooks Bros.); the Army Corp of Engineers; the Red Cross, Salvation Army and other NGO's; the internet organizers; the SPCA & Best Friends; schools and universities who opened their doors to displaced students; families who took in strangers; relatives and friends; volunteers; individuals who just saw an opportunity to help; and even some airlines.

Who Didn't: Homeland Security's Chertoff; FEMA from Brown on down; peep Bush and veep Chaney; the governor of LA and mayor of New Orleans; the Gretna Sheriff's Dept; Barbara Bush with her 'now they can eat cake' type remark; Quebec for offering nothing to it's Acadian sister; and all who bemoaned the breakdown in social behavior. 30,000 people crammed in hot, filthy shelters with no water, food, diapers, toilet paper, medicine for five stinking days, patiently exhibited amazing social behavior. The breakdown in those five days was in the press conferences where federal officials could talk only in the future tense.

China Mines

2005-08-08T16:47:00.000-07:00

MORE DEAD CHINESE MINERS!!! Chinese mines, known for being the world's worst, have killed again. Shame on the Chinese. And the world says nothing. Sigh.

Novak

2005-07-27T17:21:00.000-07:00

This soap opera keeps getting better and better. Today we learn that the CIA asked Novak TWICE not to publish Valerie's name. Now. I remember Novak said on "Capitol Gang", the CIA told him, "We wish you wouldn't publish this" and Novak took it to mean, go head if you must or something like that.

Gee, I hope Novak's not in real trouble. I kinda really like the guy, the old cudmudgen.

Carl Rove

2005-07-11T16:40:00.000-07:00

Oh boy, another soap opera! Just as Tom DeLay was fading. Well, there was that mayor in Washington state. Juicy, but small stuff. But now, now, there's Carl Rove and that e-mail. Could he be Novak's "Deep Throat" or is there another leaker...Will Carl be fired...What's happening with the Special Prosecuter... Can Judith get out of jail?

Weren't those reporters mean today? Did Scott lie to the press corp in 2003? He said Rove was clean. Is this a cover up? No comment.

Has a crime been committed? Nobody knows, yet.

Stay tuned...

By the way, did you hear Sen. Clinton compared the President to Alfred E Newman? Tsk, tsk, Hillary. Still. they do look alike.:)

This past week, CNN, FOX, MSNBC, PBS

2005-05-15T09:11:00.000-07:00

President Bush's press conference was the major news last week and I can see why he doesn't do them often...

First, gas prices. He had to say something about that, you know, the polls. It's all China's and India's fault. They're using too much. Nothing about SUV's or the Republican's refusal to raise mileage standards during the Clinton administration. On SUV's, I feel, your right to drive them ends at my wallet. How about a two-tiered price system, one for SUV's gas and and a lower one for the rest of us.

Next Social Security, Private (Personal) Accounts. The President said those who want ultimate safety can invest in Treasury Bonds, "backed by the full faith and credit" of the US government. Now, how safe can these bonds be? The entire SS surplus was invested there. And it's gone! Government spent it all and won't pay it back! That's "full faith and credit"? Still, our President is flexible, willing to compromise to get a good bill. Will he sign one that doesn't include personal accounts? His answer...about 400 words that boiled down to "no way".

The President honestly says we are fighting the terrorists in Iraq so we won't have to fight them here. Why Iraq? They had nothing to do with 9/11. Did Iraqis volunteer to give their lives for us? We never even asked their permission. Is the President saying their lives are less valuable than ours? No wonder they hate us in the Middle East. What he didn't say is that over 100 Iraqis were killed last week, that the killing continues. But, hey, no one is dying here in the US.

This past week, CNN, FOX, MSNBC, PBS

2005-04-25T17:00:00.000-07:00

Mother Nature nixes Bush's Smokey Mountain plan for Earth Day with thunder storms & hail. Can't blame her tho'. Didn't the President know the Smokies is our most polluted park?

The German Cardinal I didn't want most for Pope, got the job. I hear Mozart is his favorite composer. Oh well, where there's Mozart, there's hope.

Bolton, Bolton, Bolton...wonder why the President chose him? He can't be trusted. Oh, I know why, he's Cheney's friend.

Senator Frist wants to run for President. So, he uses an edited video to diagnose Terri Shiavo and sends another to "Justice Sunday", a 'rally the troops' event sponsored by Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council. The Senator should stay away from video tapes. He doesn't seem ready for prime time.

And then there's Tom DeLay. Dumb de yum yum. lol

25 years to life, minimum sentence for anyone molesting a child under 12. Life for a second offense. Period.

The killing goes on in Iraq. We're still sending Iraqi soldiers on leave in unarmed buses? Still no protection for police stations? How can this be happening?

This past week, CNN, FOX, MSNBC, PBS

2005-04-16T06:52:00.000-07:00

Which Cardinal will be Pope? I hope it's not the German one, I don't think it will be the Belgium one. My favorite is the one from Honduras.

More identity theft, this time from Lexus Nexus. My solution? No publishing of Social Security numbers ever. The companies that offer personal info for sale can sell all else, but never SS #'s, even tho' they have them on file. This way, the companies buying this info must supply the SS # themselves which they can only get from the rightful owners. Congress must ban the publishing of these #'s.

Isn't it interesting that our VP earned almost double what our President earned. On these news reports, when they list the dollar amount of donations, I would like to also see a list of the organizations receiving those donations. Then we will know where our VP's and President's hearts really are.

Stock market down over 300 points this week due to declining corporate profits. So much for the Bush economy which is a total failure.

This past week, CNN, FOX, MSNBC, PBS

2005-04-11T17:37:00.000-07:00

It was all the Pope this week. I am of the opinion that much of this earth was formed by comets crashing into it when it was being formed. The Pope was such a comet. While I disagreed with some of his teachings, he was a big rock and the ripples from his existence will last for some time.

This past week, CNN, FOX, MSNBC, PBS

2005-04-03T08:23:00.000-07:00

This was a stunning week of death, one graceful, one ugly and exploitive. I'm glad it's over. Everything has been already said. I can only add thank goodness both the Pope and Mrs. Shiavo are at peace.

Meet the Press, NBC

2005-03-27T05:05:00.000-08:00

Father Robert Drinan, Dr. Richard Land, Sen. Joe Lieberman, Newsweek's John Meacham, Author Reza Aslan and Rev. Jim Wallis, religion and the Shaivo case is the topic this morning.

Most of the judges in the Shaivo case are Republicans, Tim says, from the state courts to the Supremes. Land, of the Southern Baptist convention, brushes right past that. He's always struck me as a blowhard. Lieberman, trying to have it both ways, offers a lot of gobblygook which makes no sense. Father Drinan seems reasonable. Aslan, an Iranian, says America is more religious than even Iran. I know we have the highest church attendance in the west. Rev. Wallis accuses the right of politicizing the Shaivo case, being inconsistent and ideological. What's new about that? Meacham bemoans the lack of humility in the right. Their truth is the only truth. He says the same thing about President Bush. Dr. Land, no surprise, defends the President's statement that God wanted him to be President because he is humble, because he let's God lead the way. Then everybody goes on about that, Kennedy and Lincoln both mentioned God...are we really doing God's work when we have poor children...no health insurance....permissive gun laws... Lieberman says our founding fathers believed God is the author of our freedom. Yes, but they were very careful not to say whose God.

Tocqueville also noted that religion is important in America. Meacham says he was right because we have freedom of religion. Lieberman calls that the "glory" of America. Aslan says Christianity makes it harder for Muslims here. In the mid east, he says, they're having their own battle between fundamentalists and modernization. I hope he's right. Wallis says religion pushed all the reforms we have experienced, the fight against slavery, women's rights etc. Ashley Smith & her "rescue" of Brian Nichols is an example, Drinan says, of God's spirit. Land says Smith showed Nichols that she cared for him. Self fulfillment comes from serving others. Where was God, Tim asks, when Nichols shot those three people at the courthouse? Nobody knows. Wallis notes Jesus was not a leader of a religion, but a leader of a movement that gave value to everyone. Lieberman wishes Democrats would be more vocal about their faith. He certainly has been. I still have a hard time believing how the Shaivo case got so blown out of proportion. Every so often in America, this happens. Interesting...

Capital Gang CNN

2005-03-13T18:03:00.000-08:00

Gangs all here. First: Bush's tirade, uh foreign policy speech, the Arab world must do this..and must do that. Syria must do this...OOOooo, look out guys. Who knows what will happen in Arab land. Democracy will come like it came everywhere else. I just hope we're not slowing it down pushing our noses in it.

Bankruptcy reform: This bill stinks. The exemptions for the rich, even jailed CEO's, and not even a $1 increase in the minimum wage. 74% of the vote in the Senate! That's bi-partisan, guys, and it stinks.

Condi pushed for John Bolton to be Ambassador to the UN. Just once, I'd like to see the Republicans turn a bad one down.

See ya, Dan Rather. I was surprised at Cronkite's remark also. It's a long time to hold a grudge. Kate, at least, tried to be balanced in her remarks, Novak was just plain silly.

Los Angeles' mayors race...don't care. With only 26% of the electorate showing up, I don't think they care either.

Face the Nation, CBS

2005-03-13T06:59:00.000-08:00

Condi is hitting all the Sunday talk shows. Know what she's gonna say...do as we say, not as we do. They just don't get it, or don't want to. They're too busy "creating facts on the ground".

Gee people, the lady doesn't want to run for President. It's OK.

Sen. Lugar is very optimistic about the mid east but, he does think the US should stay away from Lebanon. Biden agrees. I agree too! Doyle McManus asks if we're really just setting up the Iran issue to fail so we can go to the Security Council. Lugar hems and haws. All agree nothing will be settled before their elections.

Meet the Press, NBC

2005-03-13T05:20:00.000-08:00

Secretary Rice is the guest. Here come the platitudes. What's happening with the new Iraqi government? Isn't it nice the Iraqi people feel they can pressure their government. Yea, real nice. What if Hezbollah wins the election in June? Isn't it nice the Lebanese people can have free elections. Sure, as long as we stay out of it.

Some in Washington say John Bolton, Rice's pick for our new UN Ambassador, is a real pain in the butt. Oh, yea, that's the kind of person we should send to the UN, a conservative's dream.

Iran?...more platitudes, no information.

What about Afghanistan and opiates? Again, same old, same old.

But wait, she just said something! Abortion is not a government issue. Of course, she still supports Bush opposition to funding third world family planning agencies that allow abortion. Of course....

She doesn't want to run for President. OK?

Next, steroids and baseball. Don't care.

Now, Social Security....Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee, from a blue state, against the Bush plan...Democrat Senator Ben Nelson, from a red state, will consider it. See, the voters do matter! No, Mr. Chaney, the election did not give Bush a mandate for private accounts. The only Bush election mandates were to protect us from terrorism and gays. Nelson is correct, the issue will be divided into two areas, solvency and personal accounts. The end result will be an increase in the cap and, maybe, increasing IRA's. That way, both sides can claim they won and everybody will be happy that the whole ordeal is over.

This past week, CNN, FOX, MSNBC, PBS

2005-03-08T18:33:00.000-08:00

The Supremes did well, no more capitol punishment for minors. It was horrible. And to be the only nation doing that...not good.

Boy, the President is bending like a pretzel. This week he kinda backed off private accounts, sorta.

CNN really turned me off with that interview of the man who saw his mother killed by the BTK guy when he was 5. It just didn't feel right.

Senator Stevens announced we should regulate cable same as on air channels because "most Americans don't understand the difference". It's time for the Senator to retire.

USA Next is being sued by the couple shown in their anti AARP commercial. It seems they failed to get the men's permission. Hee hee.

Another mine related explosion in China. Can you believe it! This time a mine manager stored explosives in his house, a house by a school! And, we're losing to this economy?

We're now over 1,500 American soldiers dead in Iraq. 11,200 wounded. I say send George W to the front line, and Chaney and Rumsfeld too.

Yike, that was some intro to the Pope's health news on the "FOX Report". It was longer than the story. I can just hear how Edward R Morrow would do it..."Rome: spokesmen from the Vatican...."

Capital Gang CNN

2005-03-07T17:07:00.000-08:00

Social Security must be the topic of the weekend. Sen. Chuck Hagel is the guest. Where's Kate?

First, Sen. First said it might take till next year to get SS passed. Then the Bushkins attacked. He backed off. You know, lately the Senator looks very tired.

The people don't like Bush's SS plan. Novak blames it on the democrats and "lily livered Republicans". Sen. Hagel has a plan of his own which at best can only be described as an opening shot. Still, finally someone stepped up to the plate. Hunt is right, all that will happen is a tax increase, probably raising the cap. Looks like Sen. Hagel has again charged Bush with not having a good plan to promote SS change. Just like in Iraq, huh?

I don't know where Bush gets the idea that just because he says so, the world has to hop to. Back off, let France, Lebanon and Syria work this out.

The President has put up William Meyers for federal judge again. Sen. Charles Schumer and Margaret are correct. It's an "in your face" act. W wants a fight.

Sen. Byrd should be more careful how he says what he says. Sometimes it smears his meaning. To Senate Republicans: stop whining. The Constitution does not require 100% of nominated judges be confirmed. 95%, despite what Novak now says, is good enough.

Hooray for the Supremes! It was embarrassing to be the only nation in the world executing minors. It just looks bad.

This whole DeLay thing is delicious. What a soap opera!!

Face the Nation, CBS

2005-03-06T06:50:00.000-08:00

Social Security again. Sen. Barbara Boxer and Sen. Chuck Hagel are the guests. Karen Tumulty is co host. Sen. Hagel presents his plan; increase the retirement age to 68 in 2023,increase the penalty for early retirement and a voluntary private account for those under 45. Good luck. Not gonna happen.

Sen. Boxer says the President's real agenda is to destroy Social Security. His plan is the same old plan put out by conservative think tanks 20 years ago. Boxer parries Hagel with her plan, raise the cap and lower the rate. I think the people will be happy with that.

Meet the Press, NBC

2005-03-06T05:59:00.000-08:00

Social Security is the topic of the day for all the Sunday morning shows. Sen. Mitch McConnell and Sen. Dick Durbin are the guests.

Durbin says the Democrat's thing, McConnel, the Republican's. In the end, I think, there will be back room dealings. They'll raise the cap and increase IRA's and that will be that. Problem solved. Then the left will say the President failed to get privatization and the right will say the President forced the issue and solved SS solvency.

On Democracy in the mid east, did the Iraqi invasion promote that? Reagen didn't invade Bulgaria, but the wall fell. Still, don't think it will happen in the mid-east as quickly as it did in Europe and South America.

Oh boy, Kate O'Bierne is on the panel. I was worried about her, haven't seen her for two weeks on the Capital Gang. Along with Kate is Paul Krugman, Mike Allen and Joe Klein. Except for Kate, of course, everyone agrees that private accounts in place of SS will not happen. All also agree it is time for the Democrats to join the discussion in a productive way. I think privately, they've already started.

On Iraq, Krugman says the successful election has changed the argument and put Democrats on the defensive. Krugman thinks Rumsfeld will be gone by the end of the year. I don't. Kate thinks democrats will be hurt if they sound like they want us to fail. Klein points to the ongoing violence in Iraq and the increase in tension between the Shi'its. Will Syria be the next Lebanon? Assad is a weak leader who is being led by his father's cronies. It will not be like the Ukraine which knowledgeable leaders in the area say had the most influence on "people power" in the mid east. Well, that was an interesting discussion.

Back to the Hillary for President issue. Blah, blah, blah.

CNN,MSNBC,Fox, PBS, this past week

2005-02-28T18:27:00.000-08:00

Bush rails against Syria's 15,000 troops in Lebanon. We have 135,000 in Iraq and who knows how many in the rest of the world! Bush has a lot of nerve, I'll give him that.

It was kind of sad to see the President's speech in Belgium. It didn't work in Europe like it did in the campaign. He would pause at the appropriate time, wait for applause, and the applause seldom came. It was sad seeing him there with that grin, waiting, waiting ...He did better with the NATO speech.

What does the President and Monica Lewinsky have in common? Secrete tapes. But, don't worry, the Bushkins will get Wead.

Whose gonna be Prime Minister in Iraq? Allawi, the President's pick? No. Chalabi? Thankfully, no. Ibraham Al-Jafaari, Ayatollah Sistani's pick! Hee hee.

Some PBS stations are unwilling to air the documentary, "A Company of Soldiers" without editing out the swear words. This is a documentary of our soldiers getting shot at in Iraq! And I'm still trying to get over "Saving Private Ryan"! What a sorry state FCC Chairman Powell wrought.

The Bush European trip didn't do it. Nobody gave an inch, they just were nicer about it. And the Putin meeting in Slovakia, geez. He's as arrogant and stubborn as the President. It was almost funny! And where did those two Pravda leftovers come from? They were hilarious!

The Queen will not be attending the wedding, thank you. Did you ever notice how much Camilla looks like the Queen? Still, the press shouldn't call her "dowdy". That's mean.

Syria announced they will pull their troops out of Lebanon. Then, they made nice by turning about 30 Iraqi Baathists, including Sadaam's half brother, the 3 of diamonds, I think. Boy, the President must have scared them!

Terri Shiavo is back in the news. Give her a complete brain scan and if there's nothing there, let her go for goodness sake. This isn't about her husband or her parents, it's about Terri, let her go.

Never mind that kid who graduated Magnum Com laud from a Wahibi high school. What's a Saudi funded Wahibi school doing in Virginia anyway?

Did you ever see anything more selfish than a terrorist? Forget Palestinian hopes, these guys are going to get their virgins.

I have to laugh at all those who worry about Iraq basing their laws on Islam. Funny, these are the same people who are always braying about America being a "Judo/Christian" nation.

Wow, Gov. Schwarnegger says he took steroids in Austria when he was a young body builder. It's OK, he says. It was legal then and he was under doctor's supervision.
Has he heard what's going on with the East German women swimmers? It's not good.

Capital Gang CNN

2005-02-28T17:21:00.000-08:00

No Kate today. Rep. John Sununu Jr's the guest. Boy, look at that picture of the Bush & Putin. They sit exactly alike! Sununu says the President did well with Putkin. No one else is impressed. Nothing really happened. Novak, as usual when it comes to the mid east, is exactly right.

Who will be Iraq's Prime Minister? Al-Jafaari. Novak's right again. Everyone's talking about what will happen next. I wonder what will happen in three-five years.

On Social Security, Mark gives the Democrat line. Sununu the GOP's and adds government borrowing from private accounts will not be allowed. I thought, hey, that's interesting. Then he made some gratuitous remark about the Democrats. Yea, what about the "Lock Box". Bush got into that.

The Wead tapes. Pretty stinky. But not as bad as Linda Tripp who betrayed and manipulated a young girl who came to her for help. At least Wead backed off(probably due to the Bushkin attacks). Tripp still doesn't know why she stinks.

Governor Mitt Romney is an ass, forget about being President.

Face the Nation, CBS

2005-02-27T06:54:00.000-08:00

Sen. John Sununu Jr. and Sen. Jon Corzine are the guests. Sununi says the Social Security bill will ultimately be decided in the Senate. He's probably right. He's the first Republican I heard say that we already have private accounts, IRA's. I'm been saying for months! Corzine is the first Democrat I've heard make some actual proposals. Sununu seems resigned that the caps will come off.

Brzezinski is the next guest. I didn't know he was a good friend of the Pope. He does not think the Pope will resign. I agree the Pope did a lot to bring religions together. He's stood up for the poor (except for birth control of course), opposed Communism and traveled the world. Still, in terms of dogma, he's too conservative. He is gaining Africa and loosing the west.

Brzenzinski thoughts on the President: Bush's trip to Europe changed the tone, but it lacked substance. President uses the word "must" too much. He's too "didactic", too smug, sees the world in "black and white". The US must get off the "sidelines" if the Europeans are to succeed in Iraq. The Russian deal in Iran is fine for now. Iraqis will ask us to leave soon and. if they do, we should. Uh, huh, uh huh...

Meet the Press, NBC

2005-02-27T05:52:00.000-08:00

Sen. Joe Biden and Sen. Rick Santorum are the guests. William Safire, Maureen Dowd and Tom Friedman do the "round table.

Good news! The GOP House told Bush no private accounts from Social Security deductions, only as an addition. That's what Clinton offered! Santorum doesn't like it, Biden does. Santorum blathers the party line. Biden does the same. Santorum wants to raise the retirement age to 70. That's because he's no where near there and has an easy job. Imagine a 70 year old miner or trucker. Get real Santorum. Raising the cap seems inevitable. Even Santorum accepts it. Republicans know the huge deficit makes any change impossible.

Governors are worried and livid about Medicare. It's drowning and Bush is calling for cuts. Biden calls it: Bush offers no improvement, just cost shifting.
On Amtrack, forget about getting rid of the subsidies. Why should we? Airports and highways are subsidized. Both sides agree. They must be from Amtrack states.

Santorum would like Bush to do what Reagen did, talk to the Russian people, not Putin. And say what?

On Iraq, Biden is a little optimistic about a new government, not optimistic about Iraqi troop training. Santorum is positive about their constitution. Aaargh, will this Iraq thing ever end?

Judicial nominations...Biden doesn't want to block conservative judges as long as they're fair. But, for the Supreme Court, no, no. And no Scalia as Chief Justice. Santorum would oppose changing the constitution to allow foreigners to be President. Good for him! Biden, as I, doesn't want any changes in the constitution period. Biden might run for President in 2008, I'd go for that.

The "roundtable": How to handle Putin. Bush gave him too much slack without any results and it may be too late to reel him in. Has the Iraqi election influenced the mid-east? Safari thinks maybe like in Egypt, Mubarak is allowing other candidates. Friedman thinks maybe too. Dowd is skeptical, talks about voluntary wars, ends don't justify means... Friedman is optimistic about Lebanon and the Israeli-Palestine conflict. I hadn't realized how much Dowd disliked the President. Calls him "arrogant".

Condaleezza's wardrobe? Who cares?

2008: Safire says Hillary Clinton is a moderate. All agree she's getting good political advice. Safire thinks McCain will run with Rice as VP; no Giuliani type can win the GOP nomination; Frist will not even make it through the next four years. Wow! Friedman thinks Democrats must do more to influence Bush in Iraq, like Biden does.

The panel goes on to the Oscars. Don't care. Dowd doesn't seem to care either.

CNN,MSNBC,Fox,PBS this past week

2005-02-20T10:30:00.000-08:00

The administration announced it will ask for a $82B supplemental for Iraq, Afghanistan and Tsunami aid. Geez, for something that was only supposed to cost $20B... How does the President get away with it? Are all his supporters morons?

Why is Bush sticking his nose in the Beirut murder? Because he wants to push Syria out of Lebanon to please Israel. I mean, imagine, we have 135,000 soldiers in Iraq. In fact we have soldiers everywhere! How can we make a big stink over 15,000 Syrians? Do as I say, not as I do, huh, Mr. President? And we wonder why the world is mad at us.

Two more mine explosions in China this week. Two! How many this year? Can't know for sure. China doesn't often say, but I think this makes four. Even Russia has a better record. But, does China care? No, it isn't even embarrassed. Maybe the Olympic Committee should say something. Nobody else is complaining.

The conservatives are livid about President Bush's trial balloon on raising the Social Security cap. Too bad, wah, wah, wah. The man was only trying to show he's serious. I'm beginning to think the President really means it! I hope he doesn't get private accounts, but I agree we can do something to make it better.

Bush nominates Negroponte to be the new Intelligence Czar. NSC Chief Hayden will be his deputy. Talk about rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. That leaves at least 3 open positions: UN Ambassador, Ambassador to Iraq, and NSC Chief. Negroponte will probably be confirmed. Nobody really knows if he will be good at it because nobody really knows what he's supposed to do. So, we all cross our fingers and hope that it, whatever it is, works.

Kudos to Congress, they got something right! They stopped funding for bunker busting nuclear bombs. They saw what Bush the Silly didn't see, you can't stop the spread of nuclear weapons if we go on inventing new ones.

More hopeful news from Israel this week. Sharon announced he will stop demolishing houses of suicide bomber's relatives. Imagine if we did that here. We'd all go nuts! Talk about creating resentment.

AKA Jeff Gavin is whining about the bloggers and the press going into his past. Oh boo hoo. He didn't seem to mind it when he did the same thing to Daschle. Typical of those Republicans, when they do it, it's politics, when it happens to them, it's as Novak says, "nasty". Puleez!!

Judith Miller of the New York Times and Matthew Cooper of TIME magazine may go to jail because they won't reveal a source. This blows my mind. Robert Novak broke the story exposing the CIA operative. Why isn't he going to jail? Has he already spilled the beans to the Grand Jury? Someone should demand Novak talk.

"Congress has done its duty..." according to the President. They passed the bill limiting class action suits to federal courts only. My question is, duty to whom?

What's going on with all these train crashes? Three this year alone! Sounds more like China or India. Maybe we can put some kind of sensor on these crossings that can alert conductors when something is on the track. This is getting scary.

The President is going to Europe to "mend fences". Good luck. Don't think much will change. Maybe some leaders will soften, but the European people? They really dislike him.

Capital Gang CNN

2005-02-20T09:50:00.000-08:00

The gang's all here. Ex-prime minister Herarri's murder in Lebanon is first. Don't know why George W had to get in the middle of this. It's between Lebanon and Syria and we should stay out of it. Kate thinks we can get Europeans to lean on Syria. They won't. Novak, again, when it comes to the mid east, is completely right. Syria should get out of Lebanon, but this is just another example where we're following Israel into an abyss. Kate, as usual, repeats the party line. Kate & Novak almost get to blows. Ooo what fun! Point, Novak.

Is Negroponte the right choice for Intelligence Czar? Well, he was the fourth choice. The other three patriotic Republicans stood up and ran. Of course, Kate applauds the choice. Margaret thinks the choice is OK as long as Bush really supports him. The rest was the usual blah, blah, blah.

Did Alan Greenspan really endorse private accounts for Social Security. Depends on your point of view. No conservative supported the president's trail balloon raising the cap on SS. But I do agree the President was just trying to show he was open to all ideas. Hunt thinks that it will take time but something will pass. Again, I agree with Novak, the right will agree to raising the cap if the deduction rate is reduced. I'll go for that.

Harvard President Larry Summers is in trouble with the ladies. He made a stupid statement about men and women and math and science. All the female enemies of Summers attacked. Try a little humor ladies, put away the axe.

President Bush is going to Europe to "mend fences". Guest T.R. Reid of the Washington Post seems to have a good handle on it. I liked the part where he shot Novak down. Europe is doing just fine, Bob, and they do love big government. The biggest strain will be the differences about NATO, US likes it, Europe wants to minimize it. Not much else will happen.

Face the Nation, CBS

2005-02-20T06:53:00.000-08:00

From Baghdad, Sen. Hillary Clinton & Sen. Lindsey Graham are the guests. Kimberly Dozier reports from Iraq. Today, the official first day of their religious holiday was quiet following three days of terrible violence.

Graham is becoming a surprise as a Senator. He is very thoughtful and honest and is winning me over despite being part of the witch hunt against Pres. Clinton. Sen. Clinton is sounding more like a moderate every day. Still, I don't think she is planning to run for President in 2008. Congratulated the Iraqi forces for their good work during the election. Graham thinks we will be in Iraq for years. Eek! Clinton says American casualties are too high and she will not support permanent bases in Iraq. Good! Both are against setting a deadline for withdrawal Potrais thinks Iraqi troops will be up to par by the end of the year. Hope so. Graham and Clinton want better medical benefits for our Guard and Reserve families. Right now, they have none. Geez! Graham wants more international involvement in Iraq. Yea, yea, don't we all.

Lindsay agrees with raising the cap on Social Security. Clinton, like all Democrats, is waiting to see the President's proposal. Lindsay would also be willing to lower the rate if the cap increase is approved. Me too.

Meet the Press, NBC

2005-02-20T05:39:00.000-08:00

Sen. Hillary Clinton & Sen. John McCain are the guests. They are still in Iraq. According to McCain, nobody knows how many insurgents there are. He is not hopeful. Sen. Clinton says it is worse in Baghdad since she was last there in 2003. So does everyone else. McCain agrees with the CIA that Iraq has become a training ground for terrorists. What did he expect? George W invited them there. Iraqi leaders do not want a deadline for our leaving Iraq. It should be gradual as Iraqis are trained. Not too gradual, I hope. Clinton wants more involvement from Europe. Don't we all. I'm not to hopeful that the President's trip there next week will spur Europe on. Ibrahim Jafaari looks like the next Prime Minister. He does not think Iran will have undue influence. Clinton is willing to give Jafari the benefit of the doubt. She also doesn't think the Shi'ite Iraqis will cede any sovereignty to Iran. We'll see.

McCain is really down on Putin on Iran and the nuclear issue, on his roll backs of democracy and his meddling in the Ukraine. He also thinks Russia should be excluded from G8 at least temporarily. Won't happen, John. Clinton blames our involvement in Iraq which has become all consuming to the US keeping us from dealing adequately with other world problems. Clinton doesn't have much faith that Putin will take back spent fuel rods from Iran. Neither do I. For the life of me, I can't understand why Putin would want to help Iran go nuclear. Remember, the old USSR? It was very stingy with nuclear technology.

On Social Security, McCain says he could support an increase in the cap as part of an overall compromise. Clinton won't give an opinion on the Bush plan until she knows what it is. I don't think the President really has one yet. This seems to be turning into a game of chicken.

Both agree that either would make a good President. That's nice.

Robin Wright, Andrea Mitchell, Katty Kay and Dana Priest are the panel of journalists. Wright thinks this will be the toughest year yet in Iraq. Mitchell thinks Sen. Clinton has become very moderate and cautious about Iraq. Kaye does not agree with Allawi that Iran will dissolve into retribution and revenge. Priest agrees with Kaye.

On Bush's trip to Europe, Kaye says Europe has very different ideas on the middle east. No, you think so? But, George W, with his vast experience and all, knows better. Still, there does seem to be a desire to warm relations with the US. Mitchell thinks Rice's trip to Europe went well. But, she really didn't change any minds there. The Europeans are working with the US in Afghanistan and against terrorism. Priest thinks we can build on that. Wright and Kaye think the meeting between Bush and Putin will yield nothing. Bush's relations with Saudi Arabia, etc. weakens his hand when it comes to democracy in Russia.

Negroponte will face turf battles with Rumsfeld according to the NY Times. Priest agrees. So does Kaye. All are worried about the vagueness of the bill, like who should foreign intelligence work with, Negroponte or Goss, and what about the budgets? Mitchell wonders how the new Czar will get the info he needs from the CIA. Dep. Hayden will be helpful especially with the Pentagon. All agree that Negroponte can't succeed without support from both Bush and Congress. Negroponte, Priest says, has already began to push for more human intelligence asking to increase it by 50%. The only thing I think is certain is that nobody knows for sure what will happen.

Capital Gang CNN

2005-02-13T16:07:00.000-08:00

No Margaret today. Guest: Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad. Topic: President's budget. Conrad basically calls the budget a fraud, too much left out. Novak, as usual, says the Dems just want to raise taxes. Shields says, yea, it's all about taxes, too much for the rich and all the program cuts at the expense of the poor. So, what else is new? Conrad says the tax cuts will stay no matter what. No Republican will vote against them. Kate says it's not the budget, the GOP is just spending too much. Ah, Kate, spending-budget, aren't they the same thing? Point, Conrad.

The maiden voyage of Dr. Rice...Hunt thinks she did good, but North Korea "rained on her parade". Novak isn't worried about NK, says it won't dare hit us. Kate thinks Rice will be better than Powell. (Did I say Kate thinks?)Conrad is more worried about NK selling nuclear technology. He, like I, can't understand why the US won't meet bilaterally with NK. Give a little, George. The six party talks have done nothing for 4 years. Point, Conrad.

Republican begin a smear campaign against Sen. Harry Reid. Novak doesn't say it's "nasty" like he always says about the Democrats. He says it's just politics. Novak, tsk. tsk. Conrad says all Democrats are angry, first Daschle, now Reid. Tut tut, says Kate. Conrad says it's divisive and makes it harder to work on SS and other real issues. Again, point, Conrad.

Karl Rove gets promoted to as Deputy Chief of Staff. Ho Hum. Don't care.

New York Judge rules ban on gay marriage unconstitutional. NY mayor Blumberg agrees. The fight goes on...

CNN,MSMBC,Fox, this past week

2005-02-13T12:53:00.000-08:00

Files captured by US troops in Iraq show Sadaam planned the insurgency all along. Well, he told us he would. I remember. He also told us he had no WMD's. Seems like he was the only one telling the truth.

I understand Fox News does not like the UN. Still, they are the only ones who have been reporting on the oil for food scandal until the Paul Volker preliminary report. Not that it told us much. Mostly, it was defensive...it's OK he doesn't have subpoena power, can't, everyone has diplomatic immunity...still cooperation has been good (yeah, yeah)...anyway, most of the monies that Sadaam stole came from oil sales not food. Yes, the program was tainted from the beginning. All the rules and regulations were overwritten and influenced by politics. Yes, everyone, including the US, knew that Iraq was smuggling oil to Turkey and Jordan. But Jordan was helping in Israel and Turkey was letting us use their bases to enforce the "no fly" zones. And, yes, the Director of the program, Benon Sevan, may have siphoned off as much as $1.5M. What? Sevan said his grandmother left him that money! Kofi Anan's son? Don't know yet. Yep, not much there. Volker promises more this summer.

The story of missing Americans in Nuevo Loredo made me sad. I was there in the 70's and it was one sweet community. Now, drug kingpins have taken over and the Mexican police, as usual, do nothing. I hate to see this town being turned in Juarez or Tijuana.

Howard Dean is now Chair of the DNC. As you know, I wanted Frost, but he and all the other candidates dropped out while Dean racked up support from state chairs and labor. Well, he worked hard so he deserves his win. I'll cross my fingers and hope for the best.

I just heard that George W is the first Republican president since 1928 to be elected with his party in control of both Houses. It made me shudder. Remember 1929?

Social Security is a big issue this week. George W was all over the country scaring people and promoting his plan for private, er personal, accounts. The reason it's a problem, George, is your huge deficits make it impossible to pay back all the money you took from the "lock box".

Christine Whitman's book had a disturbing, for me, revelation. I always wondered why Chuck Hagel was a Republican. I could have understood limited government, tax cuts etc., but the environment, siding with polluters...geez, Chuck, you're breaking my heart.

Promising news from the mid east. Hamas will be good, for a while. Palestinian guards are working with Israelis on patrol. Sharom promises no more targeted killings and the release of hundreds of prisoners. Maybe it will work this time. Everyone, Israeli, Palestinian, in fact the entire planet, is tired of the violence.

What is the daily average now of Iraqi killings? 25? 50? It seems to go on and on. Another busload of Iraqi soldiers ambushed. Again, none were armed. Why? How often does this have to happen? More policemen killed as they line up for paychecks. Anyone hear of direct deposit? Have we learned nothing? The insurgents may do the killing, but we are ultimately responsible. We invaded and damn the consequences. In the end, I fear, more Iraqis will be killed than were in 30 years of Sadaam.

Condaleezza Rice made her maiden voyage overseas. (I guess she's still a maiden.)All in all, it was OK until it came to Iran. All that blustering. Until last week, most Iranians loved us, but no more. Thanks a lot. Good job!

Why won't the US meet bilaterally with North Korea? What would it hurt? If the aim is to get rid of their nukes, let them save a little face. I had to laugh tho' when NK announced last week that, oh yes, they had nuclear bombs, stamping their feet because Iran was getting all the attention. Are there any grown ups here?

Well, the vote is in, Sistani's party got about 47%, the Kurds about 30%, Allawi's party about 25%. This is good. With no majority, the Shi'ites will have to build coalitions. And, the others can also build coalitions. I am optimistic about these people.

Face the Nation, CBS

2005-02-13T06:56:00.000-08:00

Sen. Rick Santorum and Sen. Dick Durbin are the guests. Karen Tumulty is the guest interviewer. Shieffer announces the results the election for those who haven't already heard, I guess.

Santorum totally supports the President's plan on Social Security. He's a Republican. Durbin says it will make the problem worse. He's a Democrat. Tumlty asks Santorum how he expects to pay for the President's plan. He says, in the end, it will save $11T. Maybe, but that's not what she asked.

The prescription drug plan is now expected to cost twice what the President said it would. Durbin says we should change the plan to force drug companies to lower prices like the VA and insurance companies do. Santorum dances around it, says people are over reacting. Everyone agrees nothing will change for now but...maybe next year?

On to Dean being elected as Chair of the DNC, Durbin thinks it will be OK. I hope so.

Meet the Press, NBC

2005-02-13T05:52:00.000-08:00

Rep. Rangel and Sen. Grassley are the guests.

But first, the Iraqi vote announcements. Now that the votes are announced they all meet to do the next step. Allawi, the current prime visit only came in third so he will not keep that post. The violence is increasing and all are worried about the pilgrims coming to Kabala next week for Shi'ite religious ceremonies. Training of Iraqi soldiers and police is spotty. The new government is reaching out to the Sunnis to make sure they are included in the writing of the new constitution even though their turnout in the election was small. Sunnis will get seats in the new Assembly anyway. Some good news, some not so good.

Sen. Grassley is pleased with the elections. Rep. Rangel says it wasn't worth the loss of lives. Grassley says it is a victory against the terrorists. Rangel is more skeptical. No suprises there.

Grassley is against borrowing money for Social Security but no tax increases. The President, he says, defined the issue, but Grassley will define the solution, including "personal accounts". Oooo! Rangel says no Democrat will support privatization. We know, we know. Neither side wants to present the first plan. Tim says "personal accounts" will not solve the problem and complains the President has not budgeted or even said how much it will cost. Grassley says it will all come out in the next few months. Tim reminds Rangel that President Clinton called for SS reform. Rangel says the Republicans blocked the changes. Rangel says Grassley and Rep. Thomas promised they will create the bill. I guess that's when the bipartisan part comes.

Natan Sharansky, ex-leading Soviet dissident, now Israeli politician has a new book, "The Case for Democracy". Pat Buchanan has a not so new book, "Where the Right Went Wrong". George W loves Sharansky's book but not Buchanan's. Freedom is a "gift from God" according to the President. Sharansky seems to agree. Bucanan and I agree that, contrary to what the President said in his inaugural speech, freedom in the US and other countries has never been threatened by tyranny. Why does Bush say stuff like that? The debate goes on...we've heard it all before.

Capital Gang CNN

2005-02-06T17:06:00.000-08:00

The gangs all here. What about the State of the Union Speech> I thought, all in all, it sounded like it was written by a high school student. Mark says the President "punted" on Social Security. Novak, of course, defends the President on SS. He did very well, Bob said. No one could disagree with Margaret, it was better than the inaugural speech. Kate says the SS debate is going to be big and we shouldn't pay attention to what Republicans are saying about it now, no doubt crossing her fingers. 75% of the polled viewers liked it. She neglects to say that was about the ratio of Republicans to Democrats who watched. Mark gets all sentimental about SS and Americans being in it all together. Kate makes some old tired remarks about the Democratic response. Only Novak gets it, "it took Iraq off the front pages for a few days.

Gonzales for Attorney General...He got confirmed, but he didn't do too well with the Democrats. Novak essentiallys says it's all politics, like with Condaleezza Rice. I think the Democrats were being "color blind" when they voted against Gonzales. The man was so evasive at the hearings. Kate defends torture when its done by the good guys, and, besides, McCain voted for Gonzales. So, there. Novak is just rambling.

Are the pundits right? Is Dean going to be the next Chair of the DNC? Geez!! Margaret gives us a history lesson on Dean, I guess she hopes it will be all right. Kate spins a tired spin. Mark says at least he's not a K street lobbyist like the Republicans always do. Hey, come to think of it, th Al Hat's right, they do. Hunt minimizes what the DNC Chair does and Novak rambles again. Sounds like all Mark, Al & Margaret are saying is. it'll be all right. Gosh, sounds even worse than I thought.

Now the gang are at the Super Bowl. Don't care, my Raiders, again, not in it,Kate gets it exactly right. We watch the game, have fun and in a few weeks, we don't even remember who played.

The Pope,...he's sick, he's old. Who knows what's going to happen. Bob Novak acts like he knows what he's ranting about. The guest, Michael Novak of the Anerican Enterprise Inst. gently corrects him. He seems to know Rome well.

Face the Nation, CBS

2005-02-06T10:30:00.000-08:00

Oh, it's Rumsfeld again. What a surprise!

But, first, the Pope. He seems to be doing better. That's nice.

Bob Shieffer asks Sec. Rumsfeld when will the insurgency simmer down. The Secretary, again, says we can't know the unknowable, his answer for everything. How many are there? Don't know, the number changes. He isn't even sure we have to defeat them. The election will help, he crows. Rumsfeld agrees with guest columnist Thomas Friedman, that the Iraqis, themselves, will provide the intelligence.

Friedman asks if we need to change the government in Iran. Rumsfeld again crows about the election. Boy, for someone who can't know the unknowable, he is sure certain about that. Shieffer presses the Secretary. The President can only answer that question, he says. What about nuclear weapons in Iraq. Not the Pentagon's business. Not the Pentagon's business? This is one slippery Secretary.

Shieffer says his answer to the question about armor is basically, "we go to war with the army we have". Rumsfeld's back goes up. Should we have waited until we got the army we needed. We didn't truly know what would be needed, we didn't know an insurgency would arise. Come on! Everyone told them it would. There is a difference between "don't know" and "refuse to accept". Shieffer, rightly says, that means the US wasn't properly prepared. Oh no, we couldn't know. We planned for contingencies and then adapt. Again, the unknowable.

Friedman asks about Rumsfeld offering his resignation. Why did he think he do that? He needed to know that the President believed the Secretary is being effective. Aw, he was feeling insecure, poor baby.

When will the National Guard come home? How long will they be extended? They knew what they were getting into when they joined, the Secretary said. I don't think so. The problem is the army is not refigured for the 21st Century. We are making the army bigger and that will solve the problem.

Friedman: will you like to see long-term bases in Iraq? Don't know. Friedman: will we follow the Geneva conventions? If the terrorists don't, no. What if the Iraqis choose a theocracy? Don't think they will, Rummy says. Well, he's sure about something.

Shieffer asks if Rumsfeld is optimistic about Iraq. I'm a realist, he answers, but yes, he believes in the Iraqi people.

Meet the Press, NBC

2005-02-06T05:59:00.000-08:00

Defense Secretary Don Rumsfeld is making the rounds this Sunday morning. Ted Kennedy will be the counterweight on this show.

Sec. Rumsfeld is certain that the Shi ites, who are winning the election, will reach out to the Sunni's and they will not ally themselves with Iran. Will the new constitution minimize women's inheritance rights. Iraq, he says, will come up with an Iraqi solution, we weren't perfect when we started, blacks and women were not included. Give the Iraqis some slack, I guess. All in all, the Secretary is sanguine about the process.

Will we have a timetable for removal of American troops? Trust us, we'll know when the time is right. Yeah, like you knew about everything else. Tim argues that "benchmarks" will force the Iraqis to take training more seriously. We're still in Bosnia, Rumsfeld says. Yea, but at a very low level.

Tim asks if the administration ever thought that we would lose over 14,000 troops. Can't know the unknowable, he says. That's one of his favorite answers.

Last year, Tim asked, you said there were 210,000 Iraqi forces trained. Now it is said there are 120,000. Why the difference? Did you understand his answer? I certainly didn't. Tim presses, Biden says there are only 4,000 fully trained troops. Biden, he says, is not counting policemen and border guards. Numbers don't matter anyway. How many trained Iraqi troops are needed for us to leave? Depends on the insurgency, Rummy says. Again, you can't know the unknowable. It sounds reasonable but, it also sounds like the administration hasn't got a clue what is really going on or how to predict what will happen.

Recruitment and rentention of the National Guard is decreasing. Will we have to extend the time that they must remain in Iraq? Rumsfeld pooh poohs that. We don't need as many because we're enlarging the army. Only 40% of the total National Guard are in Iraq. I'm not sure, again, of his answer, about extending the time they will have to serve in Iraq.

Tim replays the video tape between the soldier and Rumsfeld about armor. Rumsfeld argues with the tape, says it was edited incorrectly. He insists on reading his entire statement. By 2/15, all vehicles will be appropriately armored, he says. All and all Rummy seems very defensive.

Why did Rumsfeld tender his resignation twice? After the prison scandal, he wanted to give the President the choice. What about pressure for him to resign? Politics he says.

Now, it's Senator Kennedy's turn. Kennedy says US soldiers only get 12 weeks of training. Iraqi soldiers should need no more if they are trained well.

No one has publicly agreed with Kennedy that we should immediately remove 12,000 troops and have a specific timetable for removing the rest. The Senator does not agree the insurgents will just wait for two years (if that's the time it takes). He says even if they do, they will not be able to reconstituted the resistance and the Iraqi soldiers will be ready by then anyway. Does the Senator still believe the war is a fraud, a political move to ensure Bush's reelection? He does say that Rumsfeld is lying when he says no one knew the insurgency would be this bad. He says, during the build up, the administration was told that would happen and chose to ignore it and they still are ignoring the facts. Why does Kennedy think that the war in Iraq has increased the chance that Al Queda will use nuclear weapons? By invading Iraq and not concentrating on Afghanistan, we are allowing more Al Queda cells to develop and some of them will try to use nuclear weapons. Bush did well after 9/11 and Kennedy supported the war in Afghanistan. Iraq is the mistake that has made everything worse. Isn't the chance that we will have a democratic Iraq worth it? We could have done it anyway, without the war. We controlled 2/3's of Iraq before the war. Iraqis would have done it on their own.

On Social Security, it is not on Kennedy's list of crises. It is a problem that comes from the President's tax cuts, 1/3 of the cuts for the ultra rich would solve the problem. Medicare is the bigger problem. He agrees with the president that better technology can solve that problem! He will support that. The Patriots will win today by two TD's. No surprise there.

Good bye Ossie Davis. Thank you for the life you led.

State of the Union

2005-02-02T19:42:00.000-08:00

My concurrent thoughts:

He opens with Afghanistan, Palestine & Iraq elections. Why not? He's entitled. Let him crow.

Yeah, yeah state of union is strong. What will be the state of our children's union? Good question.

Past accomplishments blah blah blah blah blah blah.

fiscal stuff, blah, blah, waste and abuse, cut programs. Which ones? Doesn't say

education blah blah

Republican fiscal stuff, less regulation, get those lawyers

I like community clinics and tax credits, but the rest of his health plan... oh there he goes about the lawyers.

Yea, yea hydrogen cars. Oh no, not the energy bill again.

New tax code, we'll see.

Immigration. Like guest worker program, but don't believe government will enforce the parts where no American wants the job and fining employers to cheat. Haven't done it so far. Still, it's unfair to use the fruits of their labor and have them live in fear at the same time.

Oh, oh, here it comes...Social Security...The obligatory reassurance to us old folks....a reiteration of his facts...we got to change it, I took all the money out of the "lock box", we can't pay it back, we'll have to raise taxes. Ooh! That "it's not a small matter" crack was below the belt...look out Democrats...all options are on the table, those who are agin me are practicing partisan politics, another hit, ooo, here it comes...personal accounts ...we already have that, they're called IRA's. What's he talking about, young Americans can have IRA's. Boy, he spent a lot of time on that issue.

Bones to the Christian Right...he's something...yea, yea gay marriage, supports amendment, abortion is bad, geez who's talking about selling embryo parts.? judges shouldn't legislate, blah blah blah,

For the liberals, outreach to at risks kids, Laura's gonna do it. Interesting. He's been pretty good on AIDS, just a little stingy. Nice words on good lawyers for capitol crimes and funding for DNA...

He's been good on homeland security over all, but again, a little stingy. Hee hee, that was good, "Al Queda still has leaders..." like Osama? he doesn't say.
Smooth...

Fund the war!!! Lots of applause.. we're working with the world against the terrorists, blah blah,blah, despair, recruiting grounds, hooray for freedom, end tyranny, blah blah blah. Afghanistan, the Ukraine, Palestine, Iraq, I did all that and wait until you see what I do next! .A little pressure on our Arab allies, watch out Syria, watch out Iran, whoa, what was that? Is he promising the Iranians that he'll help them against the Mullahs? Oh, oh...Look at him smile, he really liked that.

Iraq,...blah, blah, blah, lots of applause, I agree the Iraqis were brave and it was nice to see. Good job everybody. Liked it when Sofia showed her blue finger. I didn't know the ink lasted so long. (Is that safe?) Exit strategy, blah, blah, blah. I'll believe it when I see it. Sorry for all the dead and injured soldiers, like that Marine, Byron. I don't know, the parents didn't look so proud, just so very sad. Wow, she gave her son's dog tags to the Sofia! That was heavy.

Here is the closing, back to freedom.

Hey, where are the twins? Chelsea always came.

All in all a typical speech, with some flashes.

Democratic Rebuttal: (It's only fair, right Jenny?)

Yea, yea, Sen. Reid is an ordinary man with the same values as middle America. The President must reach out, Democrats believe in education, the deficit is terrible, trade has to be fair, A Marshall Plan for America, sounds like Bill Clinton, affordable health care. Another ground hog day crack. The Democrat's view of the Bush Social Security Plan. Totally agree.

Nancy Pelosi: Didn't expect her to talk about Iraq. She really gave it to George. She tore him apart on homeland security. All and all, it was truly a Democratic Response.

Capital Gang CNN

2005-01-30T11:40:00.000-08:00

On the deadliest day for Americans in Iraq, President Bush holds his first press conference of the second term. He's upbeat. Hunt asks what we all wonder, how can Bush be so optimistic? Kate replies with the party line. She thinks intelligence is better there. I think so too. You can't go around blowing up people without creating some resentment. Guest Marty Meehan, just back from Iraq, is optimistic about the elections, but not the insurgency. Novak thinks the President can't be credible without admitting things are bad there. Margaret agrees. Can't argue with that!

Rice says it's a great time for America. The world hates us, Iraq is a mess and we're under the threat of terrorism. Where's she been? 13 Senators voted against her, the most since the late 1800's. Margaret thinks the Senators were protesting the lack of accountability for mistakes in Iraq. Kate called Sen Boxer irresponsible. Yeah, yeah. Novak thinks Rice will just follow Bush's lead. No surprise there. He wonders why Sen. Bay voted against her, must be thinking of running for the Presidency. Hmmm. Meehan reminds Bob that Rice was put in charge of managing Iraqi policy. And, for this, she gets promoted? Well, at least she didn't get any medals! Still, Powell's gone, Margaret says, there will be no one to tell the President he has no clothes. A lotta good it did too, huh?

Kennedy can forget about it. 12,000 troops ain't gonna leave Iraq right after the election Sunday. Novak calls Kennedy's speech last week "nasty". That's Novak's
favorite word lately. Meehan thinks we can get out within 12 to 18 months. I bet lots of military families hope he's right. Kate, surprisingly, calls for an open debate on it, but no time table. No, no. Margaret says she hears administration discussions now are less on Iraqi democracy and more on how to get outta there.

Kate has an interview piece with the Iraqi ambassador to the US, Rend Al-Rahim. How should Americans, she asks, judge the election's success? Al-Rahim properly responds, the question should be how the Iraqis judge it. The Ambassador is optimistic about the dialogue being held between the factions and the new constitution. The new Iraqi government has the authority, she says, to ask the US leave or stay, but, more importantly, now, under what conditions. Whew!

Bush I, 14 years ago, said he did not want to spend "1 single dime" for Iraqi reconstruction. 14 years ago, Hunt agreed, Guest Tom Foley agreed. Gigoh. Buchanan and Shields didn't. Today, Novak still agrees, but he reminds us that then we thought Sadaam would be overthrown. Bush I made sure that didn't happen. Today, Margaret notes, the $200B difference between the 2 Bush:s, shows "how far the acorn fell from the tree".

Anderson Cooper, speaking from Iraq, says everyone fears the insurgents will try a spectacular attack on election day. What's up with Challabi on the Iraqi National Alliance ticket, Margaret asks? Kate's question was inane, are our troops inspired by the Iraqi election? Cooper answers, some are, some just want to go home. That was a good answer.

CNN,MSMBC,Fox, PBS, this past week

2005-01-30T10:54:00.000-08:00

72% of Iraqis voted today according to the Iraqi Electoral Commission. As predicted, the Sunni vote was low, but even there, it wasn't that bad. These must be the bravest people on earth, despite threats from Al Zarqawi, indeed, I suspect because of it, these, all of them heroes, defiantly turned out, men, women, the old, the disabled. Hooray for them! Sadly, in over 17 attacks by suicide bombers and rpg's, 36 people died. In Bagdad, insurgents commandeered an ambulance, and drove around town throwing grenades at people. Iraqis surrounded the ambulance, grabbed the people inside and turned them over to their troops. "In your face" Zarqawi! Screw you. But Zarqawi's not worried. He and his friends are better trained now and ready for greener pastures. George Bush called it a "..grand moment for those who believe in freedom". Easy for you to say, chicken hawk. This is not your win. Iraqis did this and the world is extremely proud of them. This is the best thing that's happened in Iraq since they made the Olympic soccer finals.

But George W isn't finished there. This week he announced he was asking for an additional $80B for Iraq and Afghanistan. That makes over $200B for a war that this administration assured us will cost only $20B! And, except for today's election, all we get is the removal of one petty tyrant. The infrastruction is still poor, security is terrible and the Iraqis are embarrassed and bitter. Over 100,000 Iraqis killed in this proxy war against terrorism. It was their land that beared the brunt of 9/11, thier electricity that fails them, their oil pipelines that are being destroyed. We can't protect them, but today, they showed they didn't need us. There was a better way. Clinton showed us how to do it in Yugoslavia. A strong coalition, bomb a couple of bridges. that was all it took.

George held a press conference this past week. I don't know why he's shied away from them so often, he seems to handle the press well. Nothing new here, just blah, blah, blah.

Condaleezza greated her new comrades at the State Department with a speech in which she had the temerity to say, ..."history is calling us" and praising diplomacy. If we have to depend on this administration to use diplomacy, we are in bad shape.

Then there was the announcement that the airport security tax will be raised from 5% to 8.5% for an additional $1.5B. I have an idea! Why not just ask for $78.5B for Iraq and use the difference for security.

Face the Nation, CBS

2005-01-30T06:55:00.000-08:00

Sec. Rice, Chairman Luger & Sen Biden are the guests. Dan Rather gives the Iraqi election report. He calls it a "major turning point" with a high voter turnout. The Iraqi people were very brave. More than 30 people were killed but no major attacks by the insurgency. Rather thinks Iraqis will think the vote is legitimate even though Sunnis did not vote. Demand for change will be high in terms of infrastructure.

Sec. Rice agrees the Iraqis were brave. Freedom is a universal value, President Bush is "heartened" by the election, but there is a long way to go. As far as bringing the troops homes, "the Iraqi people need to know we are there for them". We intend to finish the job. Dr. Rice, remember? We didn't go to Iraq for the Iraqi people. We went to protect Americans. The Iraqi military is "young", she says, but they did very well today. Bob asks if there are really 140,000 Iraqi troops and police. No real answer, just the Iraqis stood up to the insurgency today and that is very important, and it will be a "happy day" when we can bring our soldiers home. Yes, it will, The Iranians are a destabilizing force in the mid east especially when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and nuclear issues. No invasion of Iraq is necessary, but diplomacy can work. Rice is going to the mid east to support the "Road Map". Abbas is a positive force for the future. More blah, blah.

Sen. Biden reports from Paris. Europeans are very negative about Bush. No, is that true, Joe? Biden defends the President saying European antipathy is "over the top". The election in Iraq, Sen. Lugar says, will not have an immediate effect on the European position. As we reduce our presence in Iraq, opinions will change. Biden will tell Chiraq of France we need about 10,000 military trainers, it is time for them to step up to the plate. Biden disagrees with Kennedy that we should withdraw our forces soon. Lugar worries about the mixture of religion and politics and that we may not be comfortable with the new Iraqi government. Biden worries about the security of those elected and the incompentency of our reconstruction efforts. Lugar doesn't think the President will lose the confidence of the Congress, but their constiuents are becoming weary of this war. Biden thinks Bush must "level with the American people. The end.

Meet the Press, NBC

2005-01-30T04:51:00.000-08:00

Iraq election an overall success. Thank goodness.

Sen John Kerry was the guest. Mostly he said what I thought he'd say.
The most interesting thing I heard was that the President hasn't taken Egypt's Mubarak's offer to train Iraqis. Wonder why? He will vote for the additional $80B Bush's is asking for Iraq and he wants Rumsfeld to resign. He voted against Condaleezza Rice because she handled Iraq so badly. She should be held accountable.

Yes, the "voted before I voted against" hurt his campaign, and the Osama tape. No, he wasn't feeling sorry for himself on inaugural day. He should have responded to the Swift Boat ads sooner. It's hard to beat an incumbent president during a war. Poor baby...

Was Kerry in Cambodia, Tim asked. They were right on the border on Christmas Eve. They were ambushed there. Its part of the military record. Later, they were 5 miles into the Cambodia border. Will he sign form 180 releasing all his records during the Viet Nam war? Yes, he will, but all the records were released during the campaign. None of the Swifties have released their records.

Hadn't decided what he'll do in 2008. As for the money left over from the campaign most of it was from the primary so he couldn't spend it after that. He gave over $6M for congressional elections.

He thinks Howard Dean will be a good DNC leader. He is grateful for his support during the election. Still, he likes all the candidates for that job.

What about the effect of social values on the election? Kerry noted abortion has increased in the last 4 years. It was going down during Clinton. Democrats have to be less doctrinaire. Pro choice does not mean pro abortion. It means it's the woman's choice. Kerry supports parental notification. Family values includes medical insurance for kids. 11 million children in America doesn't have it. 1% of the tax cut for people with incomes over $500K could pay for it. He would not, however, vote for judges who are anti choice. He doesn't think Bush supports overturning Roe v Wade. He would not vote for Scalia for Chief Justice. He's sorry he voted for him the first time, he's been too ideologically rigid.

On Social Security, he would raise the cap but not the retirement age. He would not decrease benefits. The real crisis is health care, the real crisis is the Bush deficit. All and all, the Senator said nothing new.

CNN,MSMBC,Fox, this past week

2005-01-25T13:12:00.000-08:00

The week started with Seymour Hersh's startling article about US agents on the ground in Iran preparing for a possible invasion. The administration denied it so there must be something to it. Sure we have agents on the ground, we should, but that's all there is to it. The whole thing makes me think, especially with Cheney's interview on the Imus show, the leaker was just using Hersh to rattle sabers.

The "love fest" the Republicans prepared for the Condoleezza Rice hearings was not so loving with questioning by Biden, Boxer and even Republican Chairman, Richard Luger. She tried artfully, dodging the most unpleasant ones, but not too successfully. Why has she refused to come to the Congress when invited, yet willing to go on all the talk shows and conventions, Biden asked. Her answer, Separation of Powers. That's exactly what's wrong with Rice. Her answers leave me cold. Biden asked about administration claims there are over 120,000 Iraqi trained military when the generals tell him, at most, there are only 4,000? Oh, it must be more than that, she answers. Perhaps we can talk more in closed sessions and, "I'm being as straight forward as I can". Now, that I can believe! Boxer inflamed when, line by line, she showed Rice was not truthful in the build up to the war with mushroom clouds, Al Queda connections and those aluminum tubes. "You knew that wasn't true when you said it". Oh, feathers ruffled, how can Boxer impugn Rice's integrity, how dare she imply the Rice twists the truth? Well, Boxer answered, when you don't want to answer the questions, attack the questioner. That was fun, but it was to no avail, Rice will be confirmed. Not too impressed by Kerry's questions.

Oh, the President's inaugural. The pomp, the extravagance, the speech! The speech started with a non sequitur, our freedom is endangered by tyrannies. Bull! When we started, there were no democracies. We thrived. In the 20th century, we fought the Nazis and the Japanese and thrived. We fought a 50 year Cold War USSR and thrived. In fact, in the last 20-30 years, democracies flourished in Asia and South America. All of this talk of freedom, no more than a transparent defense of the Iraqi war. Not about China? No. Egypt? No. Certainly not Saudi Arabia. Now, it's an issue? Puleeze! All I can say, Mr. President, about "standing with those who fight for freedom" is, with what army? My favorite part of the inauguration was when the Bush daughters gave the University of Texas band the two fingered hand sign. Same sign hard rock bands use in Denmark to salute the devil. Still, can't help wondering...hmmm, beware of wolves in sheep's clothing.

Remember President Carter's campaign to bring human rights to the world? When I was in Zimbabwe, I saw a lot of pictures of Carter in shops. Africans loved Carter. Did it work? Hardly.

I'm no big fan of Bill Thomas, Chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Still, when it's important enough, he always tells it like it is. Calling the President's plan to privatize part of Social Security a "dead horse", he was simply saying the votes aren't there He was on all the talk shows advocating a look at the entire issue including the real problem, Medicare. If he can accomplish that, to my liking, I may support him for President in 2008!

A hopeful sign in the mid-east. Newly elected Palestinian President Abbas has arranged for joint security patrols with Israel. On the way back to the Oslo Accords? So far, so good. Even got terrorists to agree to a short cease fire. Do you think terrorists read election results? Wish it well.

Finally, Secretary Powell's son resigned as the FCC Chief. Now that's good news! The only way I can explain this son is maybe the father was gone too much when he was young.

Face the Nation, CBS

2005-01-23T06:55:00.000-08:00

After not hearing from US Ambassador Negroponte since he arrived in Iraq, he's all over the Sunday Morning shows today. Every effort is being made, he says, to secure the polling places in the Sunni areas. Turnout is not the only criteria by which to judge this election, what happens afterwards with subsequent elections and the forming of the constitution is very important. Blah, blah, blah.

Negroponte will not say how many Iraqi forces are adequately trained. 4,000, Biden's figure, he says, is a gross underestimation. Iraqi forces are in the forefront in Najev, Bagdad and even in Fallujah and they are doing it well. Negroponte's goal is to have Iraqis in full control during this year, maybe. Will the Iraqis ask us to leave after the election? Negroponte doesn't think so . They're not ready. There will be steady progress, he says, and as they progress, American soldiers will start to come home. We'll see.

Sen. John McCain is questioned by Karen Tumulty and Bob Shieffer. McCain agrees that we don't know how long it will take to train Iraqis and bring Americans home.
He agrees with Negroponte that in some areas, Iraqis are doing well, but not in the Sunni triangle. We must convince the Iraqis, he says, that the insurgents are trying to destroy their democracy and constitution. He also doesn't think the Iraqis will ask us to leave after the election.

Has Secretary Rumsfeld created his own CIA contrary to US law? McCain doesn't know. The Armed Services committee will look into it. But, he reminds us, the CIA doesn't have a good record. Does that mean it's OK?

Is Cheney right that Israel will attack Iran? McCain doesn't think Israel could. He thinks Cheney was just pressing the Europeans to get this nuclear issue resolved.

Mc Cain's says Bush's Freedom Speech was exemplified in the Ukraine and Georgia, helping to create institutions and elections. He also says our intervention in Bosnia and Kosovo can also be examples because people were being slaughtered. He says we should have intervened in Rwanda.

He doesn't think Bush's Social Security plan is a "dead horse". He agrees with Bill Thomas that all aspects should be considered. He does believe it is important we work on SS now, but immigration is more important. Wow, immigration is more important than SS!

Meet the Press, NBC

2005-01-23T04:41:00.000-08:00

Well, finally we hear from Ambassador Negroponte. I have been wondering where he was. Bremmer was on TV all the time. Negroponte, AWOL. But, not today. Today he's on every Sunday morning show, repeating the party line; 14 out of the 18 provinces are safe, security will be adequate, the election will be a success. Tim asks about the new CIA report that says the election will lead to more violence. Negroponte disagrees. Tim asks about Sen. Biden's claim there are only 4,000 adequately trained Iraqi soldiers. Negroponte disagrees. He points to Falluja. Iraqis did well there. Could they've been from those 4,000? Is coruption worse today than under Sadaam as charged by the Iraqi Security Advisor? It's politics. Here,I agree, The advisor is a candidate.

Bill Thomas, the surprisingly frank Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, called Bush's plan for private accounts a "dead horse" Social Security is not in crisis, but there are problems, he says. Private accounts won't it. Still it will be considered as part of the SS package. Thomas wants a comprehensive study of all the issues including Medicare and long term care. Will the COLA increase be changed? Thomas says it's something that should be looked at. Will the $90K cap be increased? Again, something to be looked at. Thomas wants to look at it all, including medicare. He wants to look at differences between races and sexes and bringing our SS tax system more in line with Europe. Good luck with those Bill. This man is brave! I can't wait to see the final bill!

"When you stand for liberty, we will stand with you", what does that mean? Robin Wright brings up Egypt. Mubarak is standing for his sixth term. Great words, she says. Steven Hayes brings up Iran. Why wasn't the President more supportive in his last term? We have to be practical, it has to be a flexible doctrine. No wonder the world is skeptical.

Cheney's hint that Israel might act in Iran confused Hayes. He says maybe Cheney was just pressuring Iran. Wright agrees, calling it "psychological warfare", good cop (Europe), bad cop (US). The "bottom line" says Wright is we are in no position to fight in Iran. So, Cheney made an empty threat. Ah, that Cheney.

Wright says Sunni's will not turn out to vote, but the total vote will be comparable to the last US election. This is a 6 page ballot and most Iraqis don't know what's in it. Hayes sees a big turnout despite the violence. I hope it's OK for them.

270,000 Iraqi forces are needed for us to leave. There may be more than 4,000 but certainly not the 120,000 the US claims there are. Wright and Hayes both believe withdraawal plans will be an issue with the Iraqi government this year. Interesting.

Face the Nation, CBS, 10:30 AM

2005-01-16T06:52:00.000-08:00

David Martin reports from Sammarah in Iraq, a smaller Falluja. There will only be 10 polling places with a 1000 Iraqi troops, backed by Americans, to guard them. Originally, the plan was for 39. Expectations is only for a 10% turnout there.

Guest Sen. Edward Kennedy responds to Bush's claim that the election validates his Iraqi plan. Ridiculous, says Kennedy. Johnson, he says, was reelected with a higher margin, but Viet Nam brought him down. Calling Iraq is a disaster, Kennedy calls for bringing in the Arab countries to support the training of Iraqi police and to support the elections. So far, Egypt has indicated interest, but Bush has not taken them up on that. Dan Balz joins the discussion. He asks if the elections will really promote democracy in Iraq. Kennedy concedes the series of elections, for the Assembly and the new constitution might help Iraq evolve into a democracy, but only if there is a change in administration policies.

Social Security is not a crisis, says Kennedy. There is also no crisis in medical malpractice suits. He is still waiting for passage of the "Bill of Rights". Democrats support private savings accounts outside of SS. We have one, IRA's. He complains about the administration's use of SS monies to promote the issue on TV. Balz asks if Medicare is really the biggest problem. Kennedy points to the Veteran's Administration's revamping of their medical program, better technology, lower administration costs. Copying them will make Medicare better in terms of solvency. Kennedy says the Prescription Drug Bill benefits drug companies and only makes things worse.

Shieffer asks Kennedy why Bush won the election. He answers Bush ran a better campaign, he is a war president....Kennedy says we must look forward to the next campaign in which he suggests economic security should be the main issue.

Kennedy does not like Nominee Gonzales for the Justice Dept. He feels Gonzales did support for torture more than he admitted at he hearings. He also feels the nominee is too supportive of Executive privilege and too willing to compromise the Bill of Rights. He will not vote for the nominee.

Kennedy likes the nominee for the head of the Education Department. He does not see Ms. Spelling as a syncophant.

Meet the Press, NBC

2005-01-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

Dan Bartlett of the Bush administration is all over the Sunday morning shows refuting the new CIA report on Terrorism. The report warns that Iraq is now a terrorist training ground and will continue to be after we leave. Tim asks should we have gone to Iraq, no WMD and instead of being welcome with roses,now, according to the report, there are over 200,000 insurgents. Bartlett says we have adjusted to conditions. Maybe, but not as much as the Bush administration has adjusted the reasons we went.

Next, Tim brings up the NY Times article complaining that the administration is using social security employees and trust fund monies to promote Bush's changes. Not so says Bartlett. Tim asks if simply privatizing accounts will solve the problem. Bartlett concedes it is only part of the solution, that they will work with the Congress to come up with other changes. Tim asks about the present cap. Bartlett dances around that.

Bartlett says Bush spoke about the Armstrong Williams $240K payoff to promote no child left behind. When? Bartlett said Bush will say more about that after the investigation is completed.

Is it true that Bush is backing off the No gay marriage ajmendment? No says Bartlett. He is just facing the reality that it won't pass in the Senate. Didn't it already fail in the House before the election?

This guy is smooth. He won't even answer directly what Bush will do in his second term saying "who knows what will happen".

Democratic Congressman, Rahn Emanuel, says getting rid of Sadaam Hussein was good. The problem is how we did it. the poor post invasion planning. Tim reminds him how he supported the President in 2003. Emanuel again says it's not the war, it is how it's being executed. Bush is going to ask for an additional $100B for the war. Emanuel wants more than "happy talk" now. He wants Bush to level with the public, what is our exit strategy, how will we get others in the middle east to help.

Social Security ...Democrats, he says, support voluntary savings account outside of SS. Tim brings up President Clinton's concerns about SS. Emamuel says Clinton created a surplus which protected SS funds. Bush has created a huge deficit, a $7T debt. SS is not a crisis, it's a "challenge" which can be worked out. Will the Democrats come up with their own plan? Emanuel says we will work with the Republicans and come up with a bi-partisan plan.

Tim asks Emanuel what advice would he give Bush for his second term. Don't believe that nothing can be done in the last 2 years of the second term. Don't say "crisis" when there is none and no more favoring special interests in the guise of helping the American people as he did in the prescription drug bill.

Doris Goodwin and John Meecham, both historians, discuss past inaugural speeches. Both agree that Lincoln and Roosevelt had the best second term inaugural speeches. Who can disagree? Tim plays snippets of the Kennedy and Nixon's speeches. Nixon actually copied Kennedy's speech saying ask not how government can help me, but how can I help the government. Everyone laughed at Harding's speech. Harrison's speech lasted nearly 2 hours. He got pneumonia and died. Meecham noted that brevity makes for the best speeches. Goodwin wonders if we should really hold these things outside since it is in January. Roosevelt did not want a lot of pomp in 1945 because we were at war. He did not want a parade. Bush should listen. In Clinton's second term, he spoke about hubris and running out of steam in the second term. Goodwin worries about Bush overreaching, not running out of steam. She worries that Bush will not face himself honestly. After all, he has said that his win showed the people support the Iraq war, when, in truth, it was is war on terror they supported.

Capital Gang CNN

2005-01-15T19:00:00.000-08:00

First, Michael Chertoff's nomination for Homeland Security. Margaret is right, what's needed is a top cop, not a political prosecutor. Kate, of course, liked Michael Chertoff. He will be confirmed, Novak's right about that. Still, Novak had some concerns, Chertoff's input on the Patriot Act and his position on Executive privilege, too lenient.

Private accounts not going to happen. Kate admits there is no looming crisis. Kate thinks Bush should stress the private accounts on their own merit. Carlson says the whole thing is a phony crisis. You an only cry wolf once and Bush did that in Iraq. Novak reminds us that Clinton also said that Social Security is in crisis. He, no surprise, likes personal accounts. Bob, we already have private accounts. There called IRA's. Al Hunt also thinks there is no looming crisis. Mark says the shortage predicted in 40 years is only 20% of the total Bush tax cuts. Didn't know that. Interesting...

Dean is in the lead for DNC chairman according to a poll of 50% of committee members. Frost is second. I support Frost, he's from Texas, we don't need a New Englander, practically speaking. Wow, Kate is right! Dean has reached his ceiling and won't win. Novak thinks Dean is unstable, says Frost is better even if he is dull. Margaret reminds us the Dean was Chairman of the Democratic Republican Conference when he was Governor of Vermont. Maybe, like in the Chertoff nomination, it will be a surprise, neither of them will win.

Newt Gingrich may run for president in 2008. Well, he is critical of the Iraq war. All agree it's a bad idea. Remember the man had to resign as leader and had troubles of the infidelity kind. Margaret looks forward to Newt running, thinks it will be fun to cover. He won't run, sorry Margaret.

Schwartzenegger is in his second year as Governor of California. All I can say is I'm glad I moved to North Carolina. He is going to cut $2M from education,over $1M from transportation and, without any new taxes, cut $68B from the budget to make it balanced. Skelton of the Los Angeles Times complains he is cutting the budget for the disabled, the poor, education. The only people who don't have to sacrifice are the rich whose income taxes rate is the same as the middle class. He notes that the legislators are afraid of the Governor who has a 70% approval rating in California. Skelton believes he will run for reelection. But he thinks when people realize that, so far, he hasn't changed much that Gray Davis did, he might not be so popular when reelection time comes. Schwartzenegger is also asking for redistricting for congressional seats that is more "fair". If anything will make the legislators get their backs up, that might. But Schwartzenegger is trying to sweeten it with extending term limits. Skelton thinks that might work, I don't.

CNN,MSMBC,Fox, on this week

2005-01-15T17:59:00.000-08:00

The President admits to two comment "malfunctions", "bring em on" and "Osama, dead or alive". I didn't mind the Osama one, I just wished it happened. The "bring em on" one knocked me off my feet. I couldn't believe he said that! I thought he must be nuts!

$40M for the inaugural balls. A little ostentatious don't you think?

Michael Chernoff is the nominee for Homeland Security Chief. Don't know him that well. He worked as prosecutor for the Whitewater et al Investigation. Didn't like him much then. Too bad, after all that effort, no charges were filed. I hear he's been a good federal judge in New Jersey and he is a clean living guy. Think that's the main reason he was chosen. No scandal. No administration experience either. Don't think he's the best choice, but time is getting short. He'll be confirmed.

I like Bush's ideas for guest workers. He's just facing reality. As long as it's the whole enchilada. Have to enforce fines for employers who hire illegals, especially when we'll have guest workers. More talks with President Fox. Don't like that booklet with helpful hints on illegally crossing the border. More border patrols. It can be worked out. It's inane to force a people to live in fear when we know we need them to do our really hard work.

Strange thing, our trade deficit is way up and the dollar is still falling. How'd that happen Mr. President?

There's a new CIA report on Iraq. Now there's something we can count on. Anyway, it says that we are breeding terrorists in Iraq. What a surprise! Says, for the next twenty years, Iraq will be a breeding ground for terrorists, much like Afghanistan. Don't think so. However it ends, when it ends, they'll leave. I only hope we don't hand them another country.

Don't know what will happen with Iraqi elections. I wish them the best. Think they should limit traffic. It's going to be hard.

I didn't know that the military death benefit was only $12,000. And that's only if they die in battle. I think they all have their own insurance policies... still only $12,000? Republican Senator Sessions wants to bring it up to $100,000. Maybe the civilians in the Pentagon would be more careful with our soldiers's lives if they had to pay the families more than only $12,000.

Today, Graner got 10 years for being the ringleader in the Abu Graves prison scandal. This guy was unbelievable. He was smiling and joking throughout the court martial He was still smiling all the way to prison. Cheerleader pyramid indeed.

Face the Nation, CBS

2005-01-09T07:14:00.000-08:00

Reports from the Tsunami areas relief programs begin the show. So far, so good. Reconstruction has already started. Still, it will take decades. Carole Bellami of UNICEF talks about the effects on the children. Kidnapping of children to be sold into slavery or sex trafficking is a big worry. The depravity of some humans never fails to shock me no matter how old I get. They have already rescued one child and arrested the trafficker, thank goodness. Indonesia has taken the step to prevent any children from leaving the area. Right now, there is a process of trying to determine who is really an orphan, can they be put with an extended family or adopted within the nation. She also reports the fight against disease is going well.

Iraq is a big mess. American soldiers accidental shooting Iraqi police, bombs dropped on the wrong location, can it get any worse? Zbignew Brzeszinski and Ambassador Dennis Ross talk about the election. Brzezinski is pessimistic, agrees with Snowcroft that the election will make things worse. However, suspending the election is not possible at this late date. Ross thinks the Sunni's will feel more alienated after the election. He says the Shi ites must reach out to the Sunnis. He wants a National reconciliation Conference. Brzezinski believes it will take $200B a year and 500,000 troops to succeed in Iraq. All agree that won't happen though. Ross says the Sunni's are split between the insurgents and those who want to try to work within the new system. They need encouragement to work against the insurgents. Brzezinksi suggests that we state a date certain for us to leave Iraq which will lower the insurgency there. Ross thinks the administration will never do that.

The Palestinians, according to Ross, will have a very successful election. He is very optimistic about the future of peace there if the newly elected leader acts quickly to get a settlement. Boy, I hope he's right. Palestinians and Isralis, so far, have a history of snatching failure out of success.

Meet the Press, NBC

2005-01-09T05:52:00.000-08:00

Senator Bill Frist, back from the Tsunami areas and a visit to Iraq is the first guest. He says the good news is that the NGO's and local governments are making sure people are getting clean water. $350K, Frist says, is a good first step. More may be needed. Some pundits and supporters predict Frist will run for President in 2008. Good luck, he will need to learn to be less wordy. The man takes a paragraph to say a simple sentence.

Frist does not agree that things are going very badly in Iraq. He believes "huge progress" is being made training Iraqi military and soldiers. Oh, really! Frist went to a town meeting of Sunni sheiks. He said all views were presented there. Tim presented Snowcrofts prediction that, after the elections, Iraq will slip into civil war unless NATO or the UN takes over and the US gets out. Frist disagreed strongly. He said the UN representative told him that the elections would be "credible". I will wait until General Luck gets back from his visit to Iraq to see what is credible or not. Back to Frist running for president. What we really don't need is another president who is blind to reality. Frist's assessment of what is really going on in Iraq belies his ability to see reality clearly.

About our military, Tim says we will run out of Reserves and National Guard. He cites the Lt. Gen Henly's report that a disaster is coming if the 24 month limit on active service is not increased. Frist recognizes that there can be a recruitment problem in the future. He calls for an increase in recruitment. How that will happen, he doesn't say. $12K to $100K increase in military death benefits is being proposed. Frist says the congress is looking at that. I can't believe families are only receiving $12K now. Frist does not see any decrease in terrorism there even after the election. So, where is the "huge progress"?

Al Hunt, Byron York, Andrea Mitchell,and Katty Kay are the panelists. Hunt agrees with Snowcroft assessment of the situation. He is worried that the elections will produce a Shi ite theocracy. York doesn't want the elections postponed. However, she thinks that a proportional system should have been created before the election. One more of the many mistakes this administration has made in Iraq. Katty Kay says that the Shi ite must be the majority or things will get worse. She says no hope for Snowcroft's suggestion that NATO or the UN will take over. All, including I, agree. Hunt says if things go badly and we don't leave by the end of the year, we will either have to institute a draft or pull out. Things will not get better after the election in Iraq, Hunt says, it will be worse. York says General Luck's investigation will be limited to the training of Iraqis. York also says that the reservists and guard will have to have their 24 month limit extended. Kay brings up the point that the Iraqi Minister of Defense says the insurgents number is more like 400,000! This is much higher than the administration says. No surprise there. Mitchell says the families of our service men are really suffering. She thinks each member should be given a $250K insurance policy for death. Hunt sees an increase in opposition from conservative republicans. York agrees with President Bush that we should wait until after the election to see if Iraq will be a success or not. My problem with that is I have no confidence that the President can determine whether or not things are better or, even if he can, which I doubt, he will admit it.

Hunt says the world sees that the US is leading the relief of the Tsunami victims. He too is worried about follow-through. Kay's brother was in Thailand with his family. Fortunately, when the water receded at first, they knew a tidal wave was about to come and all survived. Her brother, is among all the tourists, who say the Thai people were unbelievably generous in the face of all of this. She calls for an increase in US imports from that area. Mitchell complains that there are two warning systems in the west, nuclear and Tsunami. She says they don't talk to each other. She gives high marks for Powell and Jeb Bush. York, as do I, think the US is doing a great job there.

Armstrong Williams is getting lots of grief about his accepting $240K from the Dept. of Education to promote "No Child Left Behind". The man has been punished greatly. He has lost his syndicated program and the respect of his peers. What was he thinking? Hunt & Mitchell thinks there are more such payments to pundits. York says, if there is, it should be disclosed by the pundit, but it would destroy their credibility. More to follow, that's certain.

Will there be a reduction in benefits for Social Security? The Concord coalition says there must be. York says there is a huge battle among Conservatives. They do not want reductions but they do support personal accounts. No one thinks personal accounts alone will solve the problem. Mitchell agrees. She says benefit reductions is essential. Hunt says this will be the "mother of all battles" in the Congress. He doesn't think the President realizes what a battle this will be. Hunt thinks tax increases in Social Security is inevitable.

Hunt thinks 2008 will be an exciting election because there will be no incumbents. Hunt really looks forward to writing if Newt Gingrich runs.

Face the Nation, CBS

2005-01-02T10:30:00.001-08:00

Sec'y Powell is also the guest here. The subject, the tsunami. First Shieffer and reporters reviewed the situation. Sumatra, of course, is the hardest hit. It sure makes the civil war there seem inane. Thailand is using elephants and it's own people to get things moving. Sri Lanka is suffering from a double whammy when rains caused flooding at the camps set up to feed and house the people. Doyle McManus joins Bob Shieffer in the questioning. Discussion about how fast or slow Bush reacted are irrelevant. Why does the press waste our time with that. What was Bush supposed to say? The situation was not immediately obvious. I'm no fan of Bush, but this is silly. Bush is handling this well. If I were he, I would ask Powell to lead the effort after he leaves the State Department. Only this will insure that things will go well in this tragedy.

All in all, I am proud of our response, both governmental and our people, the UN's response, the response of the countries effected. If fact, for the first time in a long time, I am proud of the whole world. One caveat, only two Arab nations are listed as contributing. Strange, since most of the people effected are Muslim. I hope that changes.
Topic changes to Iraq. Powell had nothing new to say. How can he? Nobody really knows what's going on.

Meet the Press, NBC

2005-01-02T05:14:00.000-08:00

Sec'y of State Powell is the guest. Naturally, he will speak of the Tsunami. I must say, for once, George W got it right. Sending his brother, Jeb, with Powell to look at the area tells the people we really care. That area of the world puts a lot of credit on family. Sending a brother sends the right message, especially a brother who knows natural tragedies.
The entire world responded. For once, we can be proud of our species both worldwide and local. The Thai, Indonesian and Indian people were generous first responders. They knew, no matter how fast the world responds, they could not get there fast enough. My favorite story was the brewery in Thailand, that switched to bottling water. These people proved they are resourceful and open hearted. The United States can be proud of its response, sending ships laden with equipment, water purification equipment and helicopters. Many of these people are Muslims. Did nature give us a chance to repair our relations with them? Yes.
On another subject, Powell makes excuses for the failures in Iraq. We didn't expect the insurgency, blah blah blah. Well, the question is why didn't we expect it? Have we learned nothing from the last century? Bush invited the terrorists to Iraq. Was he surprised they came? How can Powell keep saying we had no way to know there weren't any WMDs. Well, if only we waited for the inspectors to finish, we would have. We didn't wait because we were afraid they would find nothing and that would leave us with no excuse to invade.
Powell is optimistic about Abbas in Palestine. I agree with his assessment that Abbas must make nice with their terrorists if he expects to win the election. Pandering is not an exclusive tactic to the US.
Powell is a class act. In a sense, he is so pure, he can't realize how Bush used him first to get elected in 2000 and then to create the impression to the world that Powell had an influence on foreign policy. Perhaps as time passes, Powell will see how he was used and abused by this OZ like administration.

Oh good, Kate is going to be on the political roundtable. She is so amusing, always repeating the party line. David Broder is the best thinker here. For once Kate had a real thought. It is not about us, it is about the people who suffered the tsunami. William Safire is OK, Evan Thomas is a good, broad thinker.
Oh, boring. The thing I like least about the year's end is all the media feel the need to review the year. I can understand it, but what's the point? Now they're talking about the next two years of the Bush presidency. Another pointless exercise. The pundits are generally wrong. It is not their fault, there are too many variables. For one thing, there may be another tsunami like event or Chaney could get ill or .... Kate is wrong, David is right. To get Bush's Social Security going, he will have to avoid supreme court nomination fights. Safire is probably right. Bush will nominate Scalia as chief justice. He will probably be successful. He is already there. Evan Thomas is wrong, the democrats won't fight it. They will be more interested in the new nomination. Kate is wrong, no one would accept Justice Thomas. Broder is correct, tax reform is far into the future if at all. Safire is also correct, Social Security is Bush's #1 project. Wow, Kate is also correct. Republicans who are up for reelection are very nervous about it. I disagree with Safire about immigration reform. This is an issue the nation is concerned about and working with the Congress, he may come up with a good plan. Immigration reform is the one issue that, generally, I agree with Bush on. Kate is amazing. She still believes Iraq is part of the war on terrorism. Kate, take those partisan blinders off!

Meet the Press, NBC

2004-12-26T09:51:00.000-08:00

Dr. Phil!! Talking about parenting. I guess that's news, let's see. Since I am not a parent anymore, I am not too interested. I raised my one OK and she's a good parent tho' I do agree that it's harder now, mostly because we allow too much advertising to our children.

The second half of the show is with ex-Senators Daschel and Nichols. Let's see what's up with them. Both, predictably extol the virtues of our democracy, saying for all it's flaw's, it works. But we, here on the outside, think Congress is destroying democracy by putting their parties and their ideology first. With respect to Nichols, I always thought he was one of the dimmer bulbs there, but in the past two years, he seems to have grown. Maybe, that's why he's leaving.

It is sad that Republican Senators who called Daschel to say they're sorry he lost, but adding don't tell anyone they called. This is despicable! To be afraid to let their constinuencies know they liked an opponent, is a clear symptom of what is wrong with the Congress today. Oh, I've heard them all say there is too much partisanship, but many times, it is the most partisan who say that in public. They're idea of bipartisanship is to agree to do it their way.

Nichols doesn't think the Congress is corrupted by money. Is he suffering from amnesia? Didn't he just vote for that corporate welfare tax bill? $183B, I believe, deficit be damned.

Both Daschle & Nichols think Bush will try for consensus in his second term. What are they smoking? Not this Bush.

Face the Nation, CBS

2004-12-26T06:50:00.000-08:00

Thune, Isaacson & Salazar, newly elected Senators are the guests. Thune, the republican that defeated Daschel, supports the war in Iraq, says we knew going in it was going to be hard. Well, that's not what we were told. We were told it would be a "cake walk", they would 'welcome us with roses". Didn't Thune hear that?

Salazar, a Democrat, hopes for a bipartisan Senate. Hee hee, hope springs eternal. Calls for more internationalization of the war in Iraq. Isaacson, a Republican, says Bush has tried that, but the other nations aren't stepping up to the plate.

On Social Security, Thune hopes for bipartanship. Again I say, hee hee. He thinks there will be a center right agreement on this. Not on your life! Bob Shieffer interjects that he hasn't see Bush reach out to the left. He asks Salazar about how Bush's plan will succeed due to the $10B price and the current deficit. He wants to see the President's proposal to pay that $10B . Isaacson thinks it can be worked out. He admits that part of the SS problem is that the government borrowed too much of its funding. So much for the lock box. Many experts believe that if the government paid what it owed SS, there would be no crisis. We paid that money into the fund. Let's put that money back. Thune acts like the government doesn't owe that money.

Salazar won, he says, because the people of Colorado knew he would represent all of them. He is very skeptical about those who talk of bipartisanship. Thune supports Bush's promise of "strict constructionist" judicial appointments. He blathered about insuring a vote and a rule change on no filibusters on judges. My problem with Thune is he always promotes the party line and doesn't seem to have an independent thought. Isaacson, no surprise, agrees. I don't think the public voted Republican because the Democrats were perceived to be "obstructionist". I don't believe the public even knew about that. Salazar calls for previous consultation with the Senate, both parties, prior to nomination. Fat chance.

Salazar, speaking of immigration reform, thinks it much be examined carefully and, if so, can be done. Thune, again, blathers the party line, BORING! Isaacson, like Thune, opposes driver's licenses for illegal immigrants. No surprise there.

'

CNN,MSMBC,Fox

2004-12-24T09:56:00.000-08:00

As Rumsfeld told the troops today, Merry Christmas. Too bad, he didn't add, now go on home.

CNN,MSMBC,Fox, 10:30AM

2004-12-22T10:27:00.000-08:00

I'm watching the injured being taken off the plane in Ramstein, Germany. I am furious. This is the most incompetent military command since Viet Nam. So many dead, both Iraqi and military, so many lost limbs. The Defense Department keeps saying this is not the kind of war that we are used to, no regular army fighting no regular army....so, why aren't they dealing with it in those terms? Why are they presenting such tempting targets as soft cover mess halls and unarmored trucks. Some of the first casualties of this war were supply truck personnels. That was almost 2 years ago! Still, they keep acting like there is a real front line. Rumsfeld says we had to act with the military we had. Why? Bush I waited for months putting the most perfect military together before invading in 1991. That is why the war was so successful. That is also why the Iraqi troops surrendered in mass. They had been watching the build up. We could have been doing the same thing while the UN inspectors were looking for WMD's. Imagine what would have happened if we acted as Bush I did in 1991.

So the question is why didn't we follow the 1991 example. I truly am beginning to believe that the biggest reason is because the Bush II administration knew there were no WMD's and had to attack before that became clear to the world. The biggest lesson of this war is NEVER HAVE A DEFENSE SECRETARY THAT HAS NEVER BEEN TO WAR!!!! NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!
I wish just getting rid of Rumsfeld would do the trick, but it won't. The problem is Bush/Cheney, two draft dodgers who pretend they care for the troops and it's too late to get rid of them.

Republicans must be shitting in their pants. When, finally, the American people realize what has really happened, they will be more angry than they ever got at Clinton's picadillos. We'll begin to see this in the 2006 congressional elections. Take heart, the Republican reign may soon be over.

I see another horrible crime has been committed in the heartland of America by a church-going Christian. As we feel grateful for the survival of Victoria Jo, I ask those self-satisfied Christians to search their souls to see how closely they are listening to the members of their congregation who are in such distress that they could commit such a terrible act. No one was listening to those two women in Christian Texas who murdered their children. No one, in thier smug surety that all sins are committed by those godless people on the coasts, were even aware of the pain these women were in.

Face the Nation, CBS

2004-12-19T06:57:00.000-08:00

Rumsfeld is the issue, specifically equipment. Senators Chandler, Reed & Hagel are the guests. Hagel blames the civilian leaders for the deaths of 1300 American soldiers and marines. He reiterates that it is their inability to recognize that their plan was poor and they don't take responsibility. Hagel says he has no confidence in Rumsfeld. Reed calls for Rumsfeld to resign or be fired, that he is in denial and has a corrosive management style. Chandler disagrees. He agrees that the post-war plan was poor and that they are now equipping the soldiers well, it just takes time.

58 new Iraqi dead, 98 injured today in Iraq due to car bombs. Hagel points out that there will be 12,000 new troops by the Iraqi election but he says we are the major force of instability there and have never recovered from our earlier mistakes. Reed thinks the army is over stretched and that the army must be larger than it is now so we don't have to rely on the reserves and guard. No draft, tho'', he says. Chandler says no draft but we do need a larger army. Chandler calls for more benefits for guard and reserve recruits, but would prefer a larger army. Hagel says the present civilian leadership is decimating the military both in people and equipment.

The conversation goes to intelligence. Reed does not want the military to increase their intelligence, that it should be kept in the CIA because the rules are better there.

Rumsfeld agrees to personally sign the "death letters" as have other Sec. of Defense. Hagel says the secretary has been insensitive up to now. Hagel says it is reflective of Rumsfeld's style. Hagel says the problem is the lack of diplomacy which he attributes to Bush and Rumsfeld. Reed says it shows the secretary's lack of caring for the individual soldier. I believe nothing will change. The time for change was November 2. It's too late now. We will just have to bear it thanks to the idiocy of 51% of the voters.

Meet the Press, NBC

2004-12-19T06:02:00.000-08:00

Senator Warner admits the training of Iraqi forces is failing. Senator Levin suggests other Arab countries help to involve the Sunnis. Why haven't we been able to do that already? Another good Levin suggestion is to get the old Sunni military leaders involved. Why haven't we done that yet either? Senator Biden complains that the Iraqi police have not been adequately trained or armed and it took Bush this long to see it. I think the crux of the problem is Bush doesn't value Iraqi lives. Germans & French have offered to train police and we haven't even arranged it yet.
Senator Luger says the real war in Iraq is against the insurgents. Hello! Bush doesn't realize that the insurgents are about to win. Tim cites a Dallas newspaper article showing that reserve enlistments are falling short as are National Guards and may need a draft. Sen. Warner says no draft period. He agrees there is a shortfall in enlistments because they are being asked to stay in Iraq too long. He thinks enlistment will get better if we increase the benefits. Dream on. Sen. Levin says they will not get better enlistments as long as we insist on going it alone in Iraqi without Arab help. Levin says the only way we can maintain the troop level there is to increase the regular force enlistments.

As far as getting the proper equipment to our troops, he blames that on the Dept. of Defense not properly equipping them in the first place and still not acknowledging the initial mistakes. We are not even giving them jammers to protect them from bombs. This is outrageous. Sen. Luger still believes Rumsfeld will get the message. Yea yea yea, who believes that? Sen. Warner still has confidence in Rumsfeld. Sen. Levin says the problem is Bush and has always been Bush. Biden says Rumsfeld will never acknowledge his mistakes, is too arrogant and it is causing American deaths.

Tim is worried that the Shi ite leaders will win and align with Iran. 1200 dead American soldiers to lose Iraq to Iran. Sen. Luger thinks we can prevent that although he thinks Americans will not like the new Iraqi constitution. He doesn't think Iraq will join with Iran but will inspire Iranians to overthrow their government. Dream on, Luger. Biden thinks the Shi ites will not create a theocracy because the Kurds won't let them and they know it. But, he does think they will lean towards Iran. Sen. Levin thinks the elections will be a positive force.

The subject changes to that terrible oil for food scandal and Kofi Anan. Sen. Warner says wait until the final report comes in. All agree. Next the subject was the Ukraine and the poisoning of the opposition candidate. Lugar is positive about the new election there. So am I.

Person of the year for TIME is George W Bush. Tim asks what Bush needs to do to have a successful second term. Biden says he should listen to others. Never going to happen. Warner says Bush is maturing as President. Levin says he should learn from his mistakes. Never going to happen either. Luger says he must reach out to others.

One of my favorites, Bob Novak &John Harwood are the guests. Again the subject of Rumsfeld comes up. The Kristol column came up. He calls for his resignation. Novak calls Rumsfeld a "scapegoat" for the failure in Iraq. Novak blames the neoconservatives, like Kristol for going there in the first place. Novak was against the war from the beginning. Harwood says Rumsfeld is only doing what Bush tells him to do. Novak thinks Rumsfeld has an abrasive personality and that makes him easy to attack.

Why is the Kerik story going on and on? Because that's the nature of the press, next they will go after Guiliani. Novak thinks this will doom Guiliani as a presidential candidate although, rightly, he believes Guiliani would never had gotten that far because he is too liberal on the social issues. Novak thinks the Bush administration shows its incompetence by this nomination in the first place. Harwood agrees with Novak, Guiliani would never make it in a Republican primary. Harwood also agrees with Novak that the inability to replace Sec. Snow as Treasury Secretary bodes ill for Bush.

Democrats and the social wars in America, will force Democrats to reexamine their positions on abortion, not to abandon their pro-choice issue, but to modify it. Novak disagrees. He thinks modifying their position will turn off their voters. Harwood thinks Dean is the leading contender right now for Chairman of the DNC, but he doesn't think he will win in the end. Novak doesn't know who will get the nod.

CNN 11A:M

2004-12-16T07:57:00.000-08:00

Biggest news Bin Laden tape. Back to the future...attacks the Saudi government, his first hate.
The usual killings in Iraq, this time murder of the Iraqi Communications minister and more civilians and US troops. The more this goes on, the more I am outraged. Every time I feel I have reached the limit of outrage, something else pushes it further. All those lost limbs, all those lives lost or radically changed, for what? Republicans are always talking about self responsibility, well what about this Administration. Rumsfeld is being attacked from all sides, will Bush ask him to leave next year? Probably not. That will force Bush to take responsibility for this fiasco which, unlike Truman, he is loathe to do, as, I think is Cheney.

Those Medals of Freedom are a good example of what I mean about pushing my outrage beyond any limits...first of all, they are supposed to be for civilians so what is Tommy Franks doing with one. But to give one to the resigned in disgrace CIA leader is beyond belief. This is the man who failed to see, despite the evidence, the 9/11 attack, assured Bush of WMD in Iraq and failed to see the upcoming insurgency in Iraq. For this he gets a medal. Is there no limit to the President's self serving use of his perks? In my over six decades of life, I have never seen the Medal of Freedom given to someone who is so apparently undeserving and for solely political reasons. Is there no limit to Bush's lack of shame? People, open your eyes!!!

And then there is this phony 2 day conference on the economy. Is it a straight-forward discussion of the pros and cons of the President's ideas? No, of course not. It is a cheering squad of like minded special interests. Take my tax money out of the conference. I don't like to spend money for things that have no value.

Trials to begin in Iraq of the old regime starting with Chemical Ali. Everyone sees that starting this trial now right before the January elections is a blatant political act by the temporary Iraqi government, all of whom plan to run for permanent status in January. Not surprising, given their mentor, George W, but that's OK. I wish them all luck. However, if I were them, after all the elections are over including the parliamentary elections later next year, war crime trials should be held by them. First defendant? George Bush of course, for the unnecessary deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi in this ill-conceived (to say the least) war. Wouldn't that be loverly?

More terrorists stings in US for more show trials. No problem with me. Let's see how it works.

MSNBC still promoting their entertainment shows disguised (badly) as news. Shame, shame.

Saw the latest "Barney " movie in full on Fox last night. All of the other stations showed an abridged version. FOX is on a campaign against the silliest movement in local government, taking out all Christian symbols out of their displays. This time, I agree. As a liberal, I want all the symbols of the season shown or none. We are a diverse nation including Christians. Let it be. We all pay taxes, we all should be represented. For the record, I am agnostic. I don't think we have any symbols.

Face the Nation, CBS

2004-12-12T06:55:00.000-08:00

Steroid scandal? Not interested.

Meet the Press, NBC

2004-12-12T05:45:00.001-08:00

Guest...John Dean...Kerik resignation...Dean is right, Kerik should have known better than to hire an illegal alien with three nominations, both Clinton & Bush, thrown out over the same issue.
Dean is right, Bush put us in danger when he invaded Iraq.The insurgency in Iraq was warned about by Sadaam himself. It is all as he described it.

Dean is also right. Democrats should not change their message, it is the better one. They must do a better job of explaining it. Still, I don't think he will be elected party chairman. He's from a northeastern state. Dean is a centrist but for some reason he doesn't come across that way.

Dean will not support Scalia as Chief Justice. He disagrees with Harry Ried, Democratic Senate Leader on that. Dean says Scalia is "mean spirited".

How can the Democrats present their abortion rights in a different way? I don't think just saying we think people should make their own choices will work. The pro-lifers don't see it that way. Talking about what happens after birth won't work either. Nothing will move the strong pro-lifers.

I do like tho'' the way Dean can laugh at himself like he does in the Yahoo commercial.

A great panel to discuss Iraq is amassed, Generals McCaffrey, Downing, Meigs & Military analyst Arkin. First issue, armor for the troops. Are the national guard troops being treated as second class? The generals say no, we were just not prepared in the beginning and are busy playing catch up. Arkin agrees with the CIA chief in Iraq that it is not going well in Iraq.McCaffrey agrees even tho' he supports the war. Rumsfeld is in denial says McCaffrey. Downing thinks the military has learned from the insurgency. He calls for more training of Iraqi security forces. He says the problems are limited to the Sunni triangle. Meigs says they don't have enough American troops there. McCaffrey doesn't think we have troops available. He thinks it must have a political answer. Meigs think we have more soldiers to send. It doesn't matter, says Arkin, what mistakes we made originally. What matters is now. He thinks the elections will fail. He thinks there will have to be another election later in the air. Downing thinks our military will be able to pull the election off. He believes that the insurgents wouldn't be intimating the Sunni's as they are if they didn't think the Sunni people wanted to vote. McCaffrey thinks failure is not an option. Meigs agrees. I think we are doomed to failure unless the Iraqis take over.

McCaffrey originally believed the assumptions were correct. But, we were arrogant. He thinks the biggest mistake is in the pentagon still not seeing reality. He says we are using up our national guard and reserve. He wants an increase in the regular Army. Downey agrees. Arkin doesn't agree. He thinks we should take armies out of Europe. He also thinks, after the election, we should reduce our forces and replace them with quick reaction forces such as there is in Afghanistan. Meigs thinks we need two more divisions to support the Bush foreign policy.

It all boils down to this...Bush's war is a big, arrogant, stupid mistake.

2004-12-12T05:45:00.000-08:00

CNN,MSMBC,Fox, 12:noon

2004-12-10T09:17:00.001-08:00

Oh God, more speculation on the Peterson verdict. Nobody knows. Let's wait for the verdict and then, if you must, speculate on why or better, if you must, interview some of the jurors.

Speaking of speculation, FOX is doing just that on the Rather/Bush Nat'l Guard report. Let's wait until we hear it, please!

Berlisconi, the Italian Prime Minister acquitted of all charges of corruption. Only in Italy.

Everyone is talking about how a Tennessee reporter pushed that marine to ask Rumsfeld about the poor equipment. Does that matter? It should be disclosed of course, but that marine would not have asked the question and the applause from his fellow marines would not have followed if the problem wasn't real. An interview with two military men who have returned from Iraq seems to indicate the army is better supplied than the marines. I guess our leaders, as usual, expect the marines always to "suck it up".

Lyndee England case...charges withdrawn for now. Case transferred to Ft Hood. Whatever one thinks about the horror of Abbu Graves, she was an idiot, at least naive. Now she's an unwed mother. Not too swift, Lyndee.

Our soldiers being used as bait in Mosul. That reminds me of Senator Kerry and the swift boats. They had the same job, using their bodies to draw fire and thereby find insurgents. I remember an article in the Wall Street Journal in the early 70's, I think. It showed that if men 30-55 were sent to war, there would be no wars. Perhaps that's because those men would have more sense than to use themselves as bait. My heart goes out to their families. Let the Generals be the bait. Better yet, how about Bush. Rumsfeld and the other neocons or as they are more accurately describe, "chicken hawks".

Ashcroft gives his good-bye speech. My response, good riddance.

Strippers' offer to donate toys for poor tots turned down by their city. Did anyone ask the kids?

CNN,MSMBC,Fox, 12:noon

2004-12-10T09:17:00.000-08:00

CNN,MSMBC,Fox, 3pm

2004-12-09T11:51:00.000-08:00

Boy, what good news for the season. A couple won the lottery. But, not just any couple. These two some years ago created the "Garden of Angels", a cemetery for babies found discarded in trash cans etc. Then, they worked hard to create a law giving parents who would have done this the ability to bring the baby to a fire station, police station or hospital, with no risk of arrest giving them an option to discarding them. Since the law passed in California, over 300 babies have been saved. And then, to top it all, this couple wins a lottery! They are going to use the money to create scholarships for children. I wish I had gotten their name or email address. I want to help, don't you.

Compare that with the murder of 4 in an Ohio night club. There was a hero in that story too, a cop who responded to the call and was able to shoot that night. This is one of million of examples that prove GUNS DO KILL. If that young man could not have obtained a gun, 5 people, including him, would be alive today. Don't listen to the NRA, they are myopic. They only talk about what happens after the shootings. They don't give a damn about prevention, only guns. At least they could have a trust fund for the victims.

Those poor jurists that had to listen to 4 days of pap about what a wonderful guy Scott Petersen was. None of those witnesses talked about the victim. Oh boo hoo, Scott saved a rabbit, Scott was a good golfer, blah blah blah. Personally, I think the death penalty is too humane. It is much more horrible to sit in a jail cell year after year thinking about how you ruined your life when you selfishly killed your wife. In doesn't matter anyway in California. They rarely execute anyone there and the defense is going to appeal in any case.

Three cheers for that marine who got in Rumsfeld face about the poor equipment they are being asked to use in Iraq. Some woman even called C-Span to blame the equipment on Clinton. Is Bush not responsible for anything? Clinton did not send anyone to war with equipment that did not fit. Not one soldier died in Bosnia. It was Bush who decided to fight this war. He never asked if the military was properly equipped for this war. There was no hurry, he could have waited, like his father, until the military was properly geared up. But no, he accepted a rosy scenario because it fit his desire, not because it was right. Yet, he got reelected! No accounting for taste, huh?

Mia Hamm retires from Soccer. This is the first time a female athlete except in tennis was so celebrated upon retirement. Good for her, good for us.

Bush cabinet changes, who cares? Certainly not me. Pickering retired. He was the judge that Bush put in during a Congressional recess. I guess he didn't like the job.

More violence in Iraq. No surprise there.

Face the Nation, CBS, 10:30 AM

2004-12-05T06:50:00.001-08:00

Senators Roberts and Rockefeller of the Senate Intelligence Committee are the guests, but first a report from Bagdad. No surprises there, more murder. 17 Iraqis, whose only crime is working on infrastructure there, are dead.

Roberts is not surprised at the increase of insurgency attacks in Iraq, but thinks the election should not be postponed. Rockefeller thinks Iraqis may be too scared to vote. Roberts thinks Iraq is already in a civil war. Michael Duffy explains that Iraqi military forces are not ready. Rockefeller is not optimistic about the police there, says they are not adequately trained. Rockefeller says the Iraqi military also is not adequately trained.

On the Intelligence Bill, Roberts hope it will pass next week. Dennis Haster, the leader of the House does not want the vote unless a majority of Republicans vote against it. The Senate voted for it 96-2. Haster is afraid there will be more Democrats voting yes than Republicans. So what, this is not the time for protocol, this is about our security. Roberts is saying turf battles should not trump the President. Shiffer asks if the House votes against the President on the first bill he sends up, it will weaken him. If the House isn't careful, the right wing could vote against them in 2006 and give it to the Democrats. Duncan Hunter should rethink this. Will defying the President be worth loss of the House? Rockefeller believes that if it fails this year, it may never come up next year. Duffy thinks Rumsfeld is behind the resistance to the bill.

Face the Nation, CBS, 10:30 AM

2004-12-05T06:50:00.000-08:00

Senators Roberts and Rockefeller of the Senate Intelligence Committee are the guests, but first a report from Bagdad. No surprises there, more murder. 17 Iraqis, whose only crime is working on infrastructure there, are dead.

Roberts is not surprised at the increase of insurgency attacks in Iraq, but thinks the election should not be postponed. Rockefeller thinks Iraqis may be too scared to vote. Roberts thinks Iraq is already in a civil war. Michael Duffy explains that Iraqi military forces are not ready. Rockefeller is not optimistic about the police there, says they are not adequately trained. Rockefeller says the Iraqi military also is not adequately trained.

On the Intelligence Bill, Roberts hope it will pass next week. Dennis Haster, the leader of the House does not want the vote unless a majority of Republicans vote against it. The Senate voted for it 96-2. Haster is afraid there will be more Democrats voting yes than Republicans. So what, this is not the time for protocol, this is about our security. Roberts is saying turf battles should not trump the President. Shiffer asks if the House votes against the President on the first bill he sends up, it will weaken him. If the House isn't careful, the right wing could vote against them in 2006 and give it to the Democrats. Duncan Hunter should rethink this. Will defying the President be worth loss of the House? Rockefeller believes that if it fails this year, it may never come up next year. Duffy thinks Rumsfeld is behind the resistance to the bill.

Meet the Press, NBC, 9:00 AM

2004-12-05T05:55:00.000-08:00

Ghazi Al-Yawar Interim president and a Sunni of Iraq on Iraqi elections in January. ..I agree that postponing the elections will prolong the agony. Let's have it, let the Sunni's vote or not and then work on their constitution. A lot of concerns about Shi ite dominance can be worked out in the constitution using a Canadian system or Swiss, giving areas a great degree of autonomy. Al-Yawar doesn't believe Sunni Iraqis support the insurgency. Don't know about that although I agree many of them are frightened. Perhaps they would be less frightened if the Iraqi police were better trained and equipped and protected. Now all the police can be sure of is someone will try to murder them. Al-Yawar's statement that Kurds are also Sunni and thereby, there is really a 50-50 split between Sunni & Shi ite is reassuring. Al-Yawar surpassingly predicts American Troops can leave Iraq within a year.

Harry Reid, Democratic Leader of the Senate, a good choice to replace Dachele. And for those Christian crazies that say the Democrats will not let pro-lifers in positions of power, let them note that Reid is pro-life. I hope his plan of a communication center works. Something must be done to counter the GOP misrepresentations of Democratic positions. I can understand Nevada's opposition to storing nuclear waste there, but something must be done. Perhaps each state should create their own storage. After all, they are creating that waste. Reid actuarially depicts the reality that is preventing the Intelligence bill from being passed. I was shocked to hear that the letter President Bush was supposed to send the House last week still hasn't been sent. He is opposed to private accounts in Social Security. He says SS is fine until 2055. A better solution can be found in that time. He agrees with the President that income tax must be simplified. He likes Ghephart's idea of a consumption tax. He oppose gay marriage. Reid supports state's rights and opposes a constitutional amendment. He would support Scalia but not Thomas as Chief Justice. He says Thomas is an embarrassment to the Court. Reid says that Bush should follow the Clinton model on Supreme Court nominations. Clinton worked with Orrin Hatch on nominations prior to naming them and the two people Clinton nominated were passed with no problems. Reid wrote Bush asking him to use the Clinton method.

Rumsfeld is the only one who can push the Intelligence Bill. He is too cute by half when he says he supports the President. He never says he supports the Bill. Gregory and Broder agrees that the President does not want to pass the bill without majority Republican support. They are right, people will not support ss privatization unless the Bush administration works hard to convince them. Support in the Congress alone will not get it. They warn Bush not to nominate too conservative judges for the Supreme Court, no matter what Fallwell says. Gregory reminds us that Bush has not changed his mind that the country is not prepared to have Roe overturned.
Broder does not agree with Al-Yawar that Americans will be able to leave Iraq within a year, elections or no elections.

CNN,MSMBC,Fox, 5pm

2004-12-03T13:47:00.000-08:00

More changes in the Bush cabinet, no surprises there although I'd really like to know why the UN ambassador left so soon. Kerik, the NY Police Commissioner to head Homeland Security. If he can get the Congress to understand that money for first responders is not pork to bring home to whatever home state, no mater the risk, that will be a remarkable achievement. More attacks in Iraq, no surprises there although the viciousness never fails to astound. Yet, Rumsfeld is staying in the cabinet.

The Prez is supposed to send a letter to the Congress today urging them to pass the Intelligence Bill. So far, no response from the House.

MSNBC is continuing its shameful practice of promoting its entertainment shows in its news broadcast. Who cares who gets fired on the "Apprentice"? If they do, they could watch the show itself. This is demeaning to the newscast.

Police are researching Jackson's Neverland today. Boring!!!

Best news of the day...Ukranian Supreme Court rules that a new election should be held. I hope that means those poor patriots can go back to their warm homes.

Baseball and steroids....simple, use it, you're fired. Maybe Donald Trump should be the next commissioner.

CNN,MSMBC,Fox, 10:30AM

2004-12-01T07:33:00.000-08:00

Nice way for our president to speak when visiting another nation, to make a smutty joke about how many fingers were put up when Canadians waved. What class.

Seven cabinet replacements now in the Bush administration. Don't care, it's still the same President. I am just gritting my teeth waiting for the next four years to pass and hoping, in the meantime, he and his Congress have enough rope to hang themselves.

Koffi Anan talking about reogranizing the UN. Talk about closing the barn door after the cow gets out, the Oil for Food scandal is so disheartening. The Anan reorganizing plan will do nothing to end the corruption and the incompetence and veniality of its members. It makes me feel awful, I have so much hope for the UN. Too bad only the nation being representative can determine its delegate. It would be better, I think, if they have to be confirmed. Right now, any leader's brother in law or kid sister can be appointed without having any qualifications. Sigh.

Having no idea what is actually in the Intelligence bill, I can't say whether or not it's a good thing. However, it is delicious to see Bush battle his own Congress. Hee hee.

Oh geez, how many tributes do I have to watch about Tom Brokaw. Boy can NBC milk something or what?

So that guy finally lost in Jeopardy. This is serious news?

Today, President Bush is going to thank the Canadians for hosting 33,000 American travelers stranded during 9/11. Better late than never, I guess. It just serves to remind me how much support the US had after 9/11 and how Bush just pissed it away. I think he will find Canadians aren't as easily manipulated as 51% of Americans. They can't be moved by the guns, god and gays dog and pony show. It is kind of sad that today, Canadians represent US values better than we do. I wonder why Bush suddenly feels the need to mend fences there. So far, (I am watching his speech now) it's been just corney, stale jokes. Well, are we going to let Canadian beef or what? He just makes jokes about it. I heard no promises of change. Here come's the Bush foreign and domestic policy speech. Does he really think Canadians are as gullible as our red states residents? So far, they are listening politely. We'll hear the commentary later. Oh god, now he's talking about missle defense. He must really believe this stuff or he wouldn't have the nerve, I think, to promote it in a nation where 80% of the people oppose him. Here he goes defending the war in Iraq again. I guess the Canadians appreciate his talking to them about it all, but he really is saying nothing new, just the same warmed-over "we gotta get them there before they come here", "spread freedom", "get the sponsors of terrorism" pap. He just repeats the same old words we've all heard before. It's not the goals the other nations of the world oppose, it's his methods. Now he is saying it was the terrorists that are making Iraq the central front of the war. No, it wasn't they who decided that, it was Bush and he never even asked the Iraqi people for permission. Does the President really think the world believes him when he says he wants to help the Palestinians & Israelis in a balanced way? I believe he would like the battle to end, but I don't think he understands the problem, not with his unqualified support for that butcher Sharon. Still, it was sort of a conciliatory speech but I am sure I am not the only one wondering why he felt the need to visit, he had nothing new to say.

Today is International Aids Day. I heard almost nothing on the news about it. Usually there would have been all kinds of news and updates. Maybe there will be later in the day.

Phishing is all the rage today. I can't believe people haven't gotten the message yet, don't give out your vital numbers to any email that asks. I got one two months ago, said it was from Smith Barney. (Thank goodness for the split screen that shows part of the e-mail without opening it.) Said it was forwarded by my last employer. Come on, you can do better than that. I sent my ex empoloyer an email alerting them that a worm was being sent under their name. They purged it.

CNN,MSMBC,Fox, 10AM

2004-11-29T06:53:00.000-08:00

congratulations, Julia Roberts. Good luck with the baby twins.

Iran nuclear issue settled? Well see.

Ukraine Supreme Court says it will rule later on the fraudulent election. Very interesting and even heart warming story happening there. Part of the Ukraine is threatening to secede to Russia. I see Putin's hand here. George W better reelvaluate his reading of Putin's soul.

Don Evans being replaced as Commerce Secretary. This is a "plum" job usually given to big donors. Some, though have been good. Evans, for all he's done, should have stayed home the last four years. Bush plans to announce his replacement at 11:05 AM. Don't think it matters much. If there ever was a vestigal agency, it is the Department of Commerce. It could be a valuable agency if it took its job seriously, but it doesn't.

Don't care about the Ebersol plane crash except to say these small planes are scary. One crashed last month on it's way to pick up Bush I. I wouldn't get on one that's over a few years old. The Ebersol plane was very old.

59% of people polled say Bush should not appoint judges who would overturn Roe. I think the Christian Right will be disappointed in this president, as they have been ripped off by others like Reagen in the past. They never work to overturn Roe. Maybe next time these voters will stay home as 6 million did in 2000.

Speaking of the Supremes, today they hear a case about medical marijuana. Let's see if this states rights court is consistent with this one. Speaking of states rights, the court, today, declined to take up the Massachussets court's decision to allow gay marriage. Once again, the haters and intolerant ones are stymied. Why don't they mind their own business? If they don't want to marry a gay person, that's fine. If they don't want to have an abortion, don't. If they don't want any benefit from stem cell research, turn it down. These are matters of individual rights and they should stay out of it.

More killings of Americans and Iraqis in Iraq. Looks like the insurgents are moving north to Mosul. Be careful guys, the Kurds are there. Al-Zarqari is said to move south to Basra. With the Shi ites in control there, it doesn't make much sense. If he's there, it's a sign he's desperate. Good. Send him back to Jordan. He has already been tried and convicted there for other terrorist actions he dreamt up. If the Sunnis are worried that violence will deprive them of a free election, let them act to end the violence instead of cowering in their houses. My solution is to send them those old US Western Movies where the hero rides in to help the townspeople get the backbone to throw the corrupt mayor, sheriff and their hired hands out of town. Maybe it will inspire them.

Iraq's oil industry doing well in spite of sabateurs. Iraq should do the same thing Alaska does, give royalties to every Iraqi citizen. If anyone deserves it, they do.

WalMart isn't doing so well in Christmas sales. Oh boo hoo.

Another oil spill, this time in the Delaware River in Maryland. Why hasn't the US demanded that all oil tankers be double hulled so if there is a gash, as there seems to have been in this liner, the oil doesn't spill out? I am so tired of industries fighting what is good for the country only because it will hurt their bottom line. It's bad enough when it's US industries, but this problem is worldwide. That is the only place Ralph Nader is correct. This country is being run by industry, not the people. Remember when we used to say, "Japan, Inc"? We have been USA Inc for decades.

Fox news is covering the delivery of the White House Christmas tree. Isn't that nice. So is CNN. No one came to cover my Christmas tree which I purchased and brought home Saturday.

Face the Nation, CBS, 10:30 AM

2004-11-28T07:00:00.001-08:00

Bob Shieffer brings two historians together to show that elections here have always been contensious. Even our founding fathers said awful things about each other than we do now.

I already know about that, so I'll change the channel.

Face the Nation, CBS, 10:30 AM

2004-11-28T07:00:00.000-08:00

Meet the Press, NBC, 9:00 AM

2004-11-28T05:44:00.000-08:00

The issue...Intelligence reorganization. The guests...the Chair and Vice Chair of the 9/11 Commission. I don't believe the President is pushing the bill but Gov. Keane does. Yea, just like he pushed for the continuation of the ban on assault weapons. Hamilton thinks the military dept's objection is bogus, that it is a budget control issue.

Hamilton thinks the objections are too narrow especially the immigration issue. Keane thinks the people will be harmed if they move it to the next session. He predicts it will take 6 mormonths. Again, I said, if Bush wins, the Republican House would slow down the bill. If Kerry had won, it would be already passed just to keep the old Administration's stamp on it. Driver's licenses indeed. Another bogus issue. Driver's licenses and other immigration problems can be addressed next year. After all, it is a Republican Congress. Standards on driver's licenses must be done with cooperation of the states. That will take months.

Michael Scheuer's letter asking why the report did not recommend the firing of some in the intelligence community is a good one. Keane said they didn't see any purpose in naming names, the mistakes were administration wide. Hamilton agrees. I don't. Higher ups in the FBI and CIA were directly responsible for not sharing info or giving credence to the people in the field. If they had listened, for certain, 9/11 would not have happened.

Next issue, Politics and Religion, Fallwell, Sharpton, Wallis, Land. Wallis make the point the morals are not just a few issues as the Republicans define them, and Democrats have wider issues such as poverty, health care and the environment, not just abortion and gays. Sharpton wants people to make their own decisions, government should not impose decisions. Amen to that.

Fallwell's "Statement of Purpose" shows that his morals are only sexually related. I never hear these guys talk about honesty, charity etc. He still maintains that abortion is the #1 issue, even when he states the other values are important. Bush has never said he would ban abortion, but Land still believes Bush will appoint anti-Roe judges. The Right says it should be a state issue. Land even says the mother's body doesn't matter. If Roe is overturned, the Right will make every state miserable about this issue. Sharpton thinks it is a civil liberties issue. The state should not be making decisions for individuals. Wallis thinks common ground could be found by trying to prevent unwanted pregnancies, Fallwell brings it back to pro-life only. In other words, my way only, forget the reasons individuals may choose abortion. Wallis says if life is truly sacred, then what about capital punishment and the war in Iraq and social justice. Fallwell brings it to Gays, giving the Bible primacy over everything. He does not allow for anyone who thinks the Bible is simple an historical document.

Tim reminds everyone that more abortions and divorce are in the red states than the blue states. Even the new show "Desperate Housewives" is more popular in the red states. Fallwell says, not in his religion. Wallis says the problem is not gay marriage, the problem is strengthening families. Fallwell's church programs for unwed mothers, aids, etc. is his church putting his money where their mouth is and that is good. But, the Bible is not the be all for everyone and should not supersede the Constitution EVER!

Land equates the fetus with slavery. At least he did apologize for the southern churches opposition to ending slavery and to the civil rights bill. Land is espousing that the man is supreme in marriage and women should defer to them. At least, he is not pushing for a return to the old laws the supported this view.

Tim throws Fallwell's statement of 9/13/01 blaming 9/11 on God's punishment to the US for abortion, feminism, etc. Wallis reminds Fallwell that he said God supports the Iraq war. Fallwell equates the war in Iraq to WWII. That is specious. Tim questions both sides about saying what God wants. Tim asks what about those who don't believe in Jesus. Wallis reminds us that there are many people who do not belong to any religion and live morally. Fallwell and Land say this is a religious country that allows secularism. Oh, thanks..

CNN,MSMBC,Fox, 1pm

2004-11-26T10:11:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving like I did. Wednesday, most of the news was weather and travel reports. Today, it's almost all about shopping, the day after Thanksgiving supposedly is the biggest shopping day of the year. I am staying home.

Of course, there was news about Iraq...possible chemical weapons lab, bomb making factories, dead bodies found in Falluja...the routing of insurgents in other cities in Iraq...and 15 Sunni political parties demanding the elections be held later than January. There is one hopeful note, that meeting of sunni and shi ite leaders from Iraq to be held in Jordan. Hope that bears some fruit.

I am enjoying the Ukraine story. See Lech Walesca of Poland was there yesterday and that the Ukrainian Supreme Court is looking into the matter of vote fraud.

Yesterday, it was interviews with US soldiers in Iraq, today it is interviews with the wounded.

Bird flu is causing concern in Asia against this year. Keeping all those chickens crowded together is not only inhumane, but spreads disease exponentially. Asians are wierd about animals, they don't care too much about them except as food. Bird flu is their just reward.

Well, I guess that's all for today. A "slow news" day.

CNN,MSMBC,Fox, 10:30AM

2004-11-24T07:30:00.003-08:00

Well, kudos for the Republican Congress! I heard on C-Span they cut out of their $388B budget bill, monies for George W's research on a "bunker busting" small nuclear weapon, realizing that we can't work to reduce nuclear weapons expansion if we're working on new ones. The time is past when we can say to the world, do as I say not as I do.

Most of the news this morning is on expected car and airline traffic for the Holidays. Me, I'm just walking up the street to my daughter's house, so I don't care.

Have you ever noticed that week after week, there are terrible weather stories out of Texas? I wonder what Rev. Falwell, who said 9/11 was God's punishment for our abortion laws and homosexuality, thinks of the weather in Texas. I mean, isn't Texas one of the most Christian Right states? What could God be thinking sending them record high temperatures in summer and these debilitating floods in winter?

Whoa, I see the Supreme's are going to take up a medical marijuana case from California. I never could understand why marijuana is illegal in the first place. It is safer than alcohol, no one has ever overdosed from it (they fall asleep first) and it breeds distrust in our young people about our drug laws. I know it wasn't included in the original drug laws passed in the early part of the 20th century until Seagram's lobbied to have it included. But, my theory is that the puritans can not abide marijuana because it doesn't have inherit in it a punishment for pleasure. No hangover, no addiction travails, no throwing up like happens with alcohol.

The postal department wants to raise the price of first class stamp to 41cents. What are they trying to do, put themselves out of business? They are just pushing more and more people to pay on line. Pretty soon, the only mail we'll get is bills and junk mail. With e-mail, etc., now the only mail I send is Christmas cards.

A full court press going on in Iraq to capture all the insurgents who slipped out of Falluja. Want to know more? Sorry, most of the news today is about weather, travel and how long to cook your turkey. Only FOX gave it any real coverage. Not surprising, they are big supporters of the war. But, still, I have to give FOX credit for giving us the details. CNN is behaving as if all that's happening is Thanksgiving travel. If I see another weather map, I'll scream!

So the Christian crazies are now going after the movie "Alexander" because it talks about his homosexuality. Well, too bad, it's true. I guess it's OK to celebrate a man who, because of his big ego, terrorized half the world, but being gay?, no, no, that's a bigger sin.

Seven students stabbed at an Indiana highschool. Have you ever noticed that, lately, these things only happen in the heartland and in the south, otherwise known as the "red states".

Some Florida residents are being accused of ripping off FEMA by falsely filing claims of hurricane damage. Another example of morality from a "red state".

Ukraine election crisis...Putnin's hand seen in the alleged election fraud. This reminds me of the Yugoslavia election where the people peacefully protested by the thousands when they realized the election had been stolen. They won and, as long as this demonstration remains peaceful, the people will win in Ukraine. Terrorists, watch if you want the world's support. Ghandi was right.

CNN,MSMBC,Fox, 10:30AM

2004-11-24T07:30:00.002-08:00

CNN,MSMBC,Fox, 10:30AM

2004-11-24T07:30:00.001-08:00

CNN,MSMBC,Fox, 10:30AM

2004-11-24T07:30:00.000-08:00

CNN,MSMBC,Fox, 10:30AM

2004-11-22T07:23:00.000-08:00

The penalties given to the Pistons and the Pacers seem reasonable to me. I am suspicious that steroids are involved. Unreasonable anger is one of the side effects. Also, I am sure adrenalin is a factor. However, these men are supposed to be professionals and they are paid very well. If they can't stand the pressure, they can work in another industry. I also think the referees handled this badly and there is too much drinking by the fans.

Billy Graham is on his last crusade. I never thought he would seem to be a moderate to me, but in this time of cultural war, he is a cooling voice. Graham was never divisive. He never preached "my way or the highway". For the most part, he stayed out of politics. It's too bad his son and not his daughter will be his heir. She seems miles above in intelligence.

While no one including myself know what's in the intelligence bill, I can't say if it's good or not. I did predict if Kerry lost, the Congress would let it slide until next year. Concerns over defense intelligence may be legitimate, don't know. But, this issue over whether aliens can get driver's licenses seems very petty. Let them get international licenses. They are readily available. This may be the first battle Bush loses no matter what his "capital" may be.

The story about that hunter in Wisconsin that killed 5 people with an assault rifle over a "hiding tree" is stunning. When will the NRA admit, that waiting until someone commits a crime to take his gun away is backwards. Many times, the first time they kill someone is also the first time they've ever be arrested. Guns do kill, especially when they are conveniently available and more especially when they are mixed with alcohol. We need common sense gun laws. Wisconsin is a no death penalty state. There will be death penalty advocates who want to use this to push their agenda. but it's the wrong case. This obviously is not murder in the first degree case. There was no premeditation. Even in Texas, the death penalty wouldn't apply.

What, a 72 year old Oklahoma woman is being deployed to Iraq!??? I missed the beginning of this story so I don't know the details. She seems willing to go.

Trump is filing for bankruptcy over his Atlantic City casinos. At the same time, he says he has plans to open casinos in Las Vegas and Pennsylvania. Reminds me of the old adage, if you owe the bank, the bank controls you. But, if you owe the bank millions, you control the bank.

More troops may be sent to Iraq because of the upcoming election there. I wonder if that 72 year old woman will be among them.

So, Iran says it will halt uranium enrichment. We'll see on Thursday, I guess. I still don't trust them, not because they're Iranis, but because the Mullah's there are so corrupt, amassing millions in the name of Allah.

Face the Nation, CBS, 10:30 AM

2004-11-21T06:59:00.001-08:00

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is the guest today. I hear he's thinking of running for President in 2008. So, what is he going to say about the failed Intelligence Bill? I am glad the Senate did not back off in the conference committee. Frist said the bill was not ready. After 4 months? They will try to pass it in December. No one wants to admit it is basically a turf war and the House is playing games with it. Frist would not directly answer the obstruction of the Defense Department on this bill. Doesn't Rumsfeld work for the President? It makes one wonder if the President is as eager for this bill as he says he is. Why isn't he leaning on Rumsfeld? Or, is he a convenient excuse not to get this done.

Nobody knows who slipped that sentence into the $388B spending bill allowing staffers to look at anyone's IRS info. The Senate took it out. Frist says the House will in 3 days. We'll see. Frist says the bill only raises discretionary spending 1%, but if those 14,000 pork inserts were removed, maybe we would have actually had a decrease in spending. The Republicans want to get rid of the filibuster when it comes to judges. They will probably succeed. They will probably live to regret it.

Round table...David Brooks blames the failure of the Intelligence bill on House members who refuse to remove immigration provisions. Doyle blames it on the "lukewarm" support of Bush.

Is Denny Haster afraid of Tom DeLay? Are the rest of the House that timid? That they would compromise one of their principals outlined in the "Contract with America" to protect DeLay may come back to haunt them. At least, I hope it does, they deserve it.

Face the Nation, CBS, 10:30 AM

2004-11-21T06:59:00.000-08:00

Meet the Press, NBC, 9:00 AM

2004-11-21T05:56:00.000-08:00

Michael Sheuer is not "anonymous" anymore. The author of "Imperial Hubris", now that he has left the CIA,has been on talk show all week. Always glad to see John McCain, but I know what he is going to say, mostly, he will continue his campaign for responsible spending by the Congress. Good luck, John.

McCain is presenting a calming voice about Iran. Will the Europeans refuse to buy their oil if they don't give up their development of nuclear weapons.? Don't think so. I wish the Senator wasn't such a cheer leader for the war in Iraq, but at least his criticism is honest. Still, no one in the administration is listening to him. How can it be that the number of Iraqi children suffering from malnutrition has doubled since we invaded? How can it be that this is the first we heard this?

Didn't I say before the election that if Bush wins, the Congress will stall the new Intelligence Bill?
If they don't pass it before this Congress ends, it will have to start from the beginning in the new Congress. Two house members holding this bill hostage over driver's licenses and immigration.
I understand the President has called them both to no avail. McCain also hinted the Sec. of Defense is also blocking the bill behind the scenes. What is going on here?

This is the first time I've ever seen McCain backpedal over any issue as he supports Porter Goss. I predict Goss will fail as the CIA director, but I don't think he will be as bad as his immediate predecessor.

14 thousand pieces of pork in the new $388B spending bill! This is a conservative congress? .McCain has tried to stop this, but he can't. Senator Stevens' staff snuck in a provision allowing Congress to see our IRS records. Thankfully, a Democratic Senator alerted the Congress and it was thrown out of the spending bill.

In 2000 McCain took on the Christian Right in his Presidential Campaign and still refuses to pander to them. He lost the nomination. It will be interesting to see how Bob Jones et al exert their influence on Bush now that they feel entitled.

Scheuer is correct. The Muslim terrorists don't care about our freedom, as Bush likes to say. We will never end this until we admit the cause is our policies . For decades, we have supported the dictators there to ensure our oil. The answer is not SUV's and invasion or unqualified support for Sharon of Israel. I do not agree with Scheuer that Al Queda will be successful with another attack in the US. They can do it easily in Iraq, thanks to Bush. The reason no one was fired over the 9/11 attack is that the #1 person responsible was the President, the #2 is Rice and yes, I agree with Scheuer, the #3 is the Republican darling, FBI director Freeh. They just did not take the threat seriously no matter how much they were warned, because they were more interested in their agendas, Iraq, China, placating the Saudis, etc.

Capital Gang CNN 7 PM

2004-11-20T15:52:00.000-08:00

Collin Powell/Condy Rice. Too bad for Bush. Powell knew the world, Rice is a Soviet expert. Smart lady, but we're not at war with the Soviet Union. Novak and Kate make the expected remarks. It's said Rice really wanted to be Defense Secretary. Given the choice, I'd rather State. Don't care about the Agricultural Secretary, although surprised to hear Bush asked her to resign. Probably because they want one less Dem in the Senate.

Oh, here comes the Spector thing. Senate sure put the Christian Right in their place .But it was hard to see Spector made to crawl so the Senate could have it both ways.

DeLay, no shame? The leader of the "politics of personal instruction", does the name Hillary Clinton mean anything to you? By now, everyone knows that Attorney General convicted 15 politicians, 12 Democrats, 3 Republicans. Still, "The Hammer" calls him partisan! And, he gets away with it! Kate, she defends the rule change and the man.

Clinton was right, the press were sharks gobbling up all the leaks Ken Starr was happy to throw. Novak, give me a break, lighten up. The Clinton Libray opening was nothing more than a chance for everyone to show they can play nice.

Kate interviewing Martinez. Softball, anyone? Yea, yea Martinez, we know the agenda. Hey, he didn't miss a base. Good going!

Iran's nuclear program...do they have one or not. Can't know, CIA record not so good right now. Still, if you were one of 3 of an "axis of evil" ...one gets attacked, the one with nuclear weapons doesn't....blame George Bush, call it deterrence against the US. Ah, I think it's just a macho thing.

For once, I agree with Kate! Her "outrage" was right on. Good for you, Kate.

CNN,MSMBC,Fox, 11AM

2004-11-19T08:19:00.000-08:00

Well, except for Bush being in Chili and the Christian Right's loss in their campaign against Senator Spector, hee hee, there's not much new in the news today. I guess the Republicans in the Senate figured out they better try to nip this in the bud. There we 6 million Christian Right voters out of 120 million votes cast. If the Republican Senate cowtowed to them so early, they would be constantly being pushed by this bunch. We'll see what issue they decide to flex their 6 million members about next. Still, they have to throw them a bone once in a while or they'll stay at home next election like they did in 2000.

MSNBC is promoting one of their entertainment shows again. This time it's "The Apprentice". I do not approve of this. I don't even like it on local news shows. But MSNBC? This is silly.

FOX is doing an incredible job covering the Oil for Food scandal. Oh, I know the conservatives hate the UN and that is where FOX is coming from, but the other news channels are barely covering this outrage. eek! FOX is covering the Petersen case again. Tell me what the sentence is next week, don't care about all this conjecture.

Is Iran cheating or not? Probably, it's a pretty corrupt and arrogant regime. What will the Europeans do? With all of Iran's oil, probably very little. Still, we're talking about nuclear weapons here...

Michael Jackson is being sued by his herbalist. Ho hum.

I see they are protesting against Bush in Chili. So, what else is new? China is beginning to be the biggest trading partner with Chili, passing the US. Will the 21st century be ultimately the China century? Oh oh!

FOX is railing against "liberal" professors again. Either it's the liberal professors or the liberal news media. Has anyone considered that maybe these professors and reporters are liberal because they are better informed than most Americans? Well, in case they might, they can be besmirched by railing against the "educated elite". Socrates & Plato must be turning in their graves.

Republicans are suggesting that Collin Powell run against Hillary Clinton for Senate in NY. Ain't gonna happen. Which reminds me, one of the things that amaze me about the Republicans is that they are always accusing the Democrats of doing what actually the GOP does. For instance, a few days ago, that pillar of integrity, Tom DeLay, said that they had to change the rule against forcing someone to step down in the leadership if he or she is indicted, he being in danger of being so in Texas. He actually said they had to protect themselves against the Democratic policy of "personal destruction". The Democratic policy...what about Hillary Clinton?
That poor women has been the recipient of GOP personal destruction since 1992!

Well, it's fluff time on Cable news, so I guess I go get some lunch.

CNN,MSMBC,Fox, 10:15AM

2004-11-17T07:17:00.000-08:00

Bush's pardon of the Turkey, Biscuit. I tried to look at it as simply trivial, but no, he had to make it so political, talking of God and petty jokes about 527's etc. Yuk. However, to be fair, we all wish the Iraqi soldiers have a good Thanksgiving.

Speaking of Iraq, the one hostage I hoped we could find was Care''s Margaret Hassan. Again, I ask, with 130,000 soldiers plus Iraqi police & soldiers, why couldn't we find her? This is senseless and I am sick about it, especially when I know we can't escape a lot of responsibility for this. It never would have happened if we weren't there.

Porter Goss's memo to the CIA staff and his purging of the upper ecelons of the CIA is curious. He may be correct, the CIA hasn't been too swift since it hadn't a clue the Soviet Union was on the brink of collapse and partisan leaking from the agency is demeaning to them. But Goss's memo was heavy handed and arrogant.

Kmart & Sears merging...one failing company buying another...I predict both will be gone soon. SELL!

Citibanks and one Spanish based bank being bombed in Argentina. Who, what and why, nobody knows.

Fallujah and Mosul seem to be quelled for now. I guess the best part of the battle is finding all those weapons, bomb making equipment etc. Don't know if it will make any differnce, tho'.

UN Money for Food scandal is a real black eye to that organization. How was it that the plan was arranged so that Sadaam, in effect, actually ran it? Breaks your heart. No one is surprised by Sadaam, but the veniality of the UN members and the nations and companies involved is beyond disgusting.

Clinton Library ready to open. That he chose to make it in Little Rock shows what a good man he really is, no matter his petty affairs. This will bring billions of dollars to that city. He did it out of love for the people of that city and state.

Ashcroft, in his farewell address, patted himself on the back profusely and even said, because of him, the war on terror was won! This is a perfect example Presidential action that is based solely on political pandering rather than putting the country first. It never works.

What is it about so-called conservative Republicans? Don't they see the contradiction between espousing "strict constructionists" for the courts and always trying to amend the constitution? What is so conservative about trying to change our most important document? First it was flag burning, then an amendment to enforce federal balanced budgets, next gay marriage and now changing the rule that you have to be American born to run for the Presidency. LEAVE THE CONSTITUTION ALONE! It's just fine the way it is.

I don't like MSNBC using news time to promote the network's entertainment show. This week it's been "The Biggest Loser". Let the news be news. Enough of the 24 hour news networks' time is spent of fluff. If they don't stop it, people may even go back to the big 3, ABC, CBS and NBC, or better yet, the internet.

It really doesn't matter who Bush chooses for the cabinet. There all his clones anyway.
Iran is playing a dangerous game. Like all petty tyrants, they truly believe they are smarter than anyone else. Do they really think they can hide their true nuclear intentions? Maybe in the light of the UN Food for Oil scandal, they may be right. After all, that went on for years.
Russia is planning new nuclear weapons. Is anyone surprised. Bush gave them the go ahead when he announced that the US is designing new nukes. How will this make the world safer? Do as I say, not as I do, doesn't work with parents and it certainly doesn't work with the rest of the world. Those days are gone forever.
I'm telling you, nothing can surprise me anymore. Remember Rostenkowski? When he was indicted, the Republicans sanctimonously passed a rule stating no Republican can be in a position of leadership if they are similarly indicted. Now, it's their own Tom DeLay so, blightly, they are deciding to recind that rule. Have they no shame? I can't wait to hear the rationalizations their supporters bray on C-Span.

CNN,MSMBC,Fox, 1pm

2004-11-16T01:33:00.000-08:00

Finally, after almost 6 days, my service is back. They said they had t shut down to "improve" the service. I see no difference.

So much has happened, resignations, nominations, Falluja etc. On the new Bush cabinet, it reminds me of the Kremlin. No one need to apply if they don't agree with Bush/Cheney. Look at what's happening at the CIA! Still, Condi Rice looked really proud and pleased to be nominated. Maybe, by dealing with foreign leaders, she'll learn something. No one says she isn't smart.

Margaret Hassan killed. No good deed goes unpunished by those barbarians in Iraq, This may be the straw that breaks the foreign terrorists' back. Hassan was loved for over 30 years in Iraq for her work for children. It is clear that the revulsion in Iraqis will not turn to support for the Americans. Margaret Hassan lived for years in Iraq under Sadaam. Her death is a direct result of the horror we have created there by using their country to lure terrorists. The Iraqi people aren't stupid. They know what we are doing WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSION. How dare we fight our wars on their soil. I had hoped Hassan would be released. The two female hostages related to Allawi have been released. Bust Hassan was more than a woman, she was an angel. She is the first female to die as a hostage. Bush is right, the terrorists are evil. How dare we invite them into Iraq.

I see that one of the terrorist groups have renamed themselves after Arafat. Young and stupid men who think they know more than their elders. I wonder if their fathers can reign them in. I want to support the Palestinians, but it is impossible to support the murder of innocents Sometimes I think the 21st Century will more resemble the Dark Ages. Look at the 22% of voters for Bush who self describe themselves as Conservative Christians. These flat earthers who are pushing creationism in school, who read the Bible literally, remind me of the Inquisition. Is this what we are coming to? I hope they lose the battle of Arlen Specter. I'm am getting really sick of these know it alls who know nothing. They complain the liberals look down on them. You betcha!

You know the worst thing about war? It's what it does to our young men. Teaching our finest to kill and hate and then sending them home to be "civilized" and unaffected. That young marine who killed the wounded insurgent in Iraq was filled with anger but his anger was misplaced. That is why he displayed it so inappropriately. His anger should be directed at the war. Send him home and give him therapy. He is only human.

Look at that spectacle at the Vibe ceremony. I've seen European soccer fans behave better.
And those shoppers who watched a young woman, screaming in terror, be thrown into a trunk of a car, don't they make you proud to be an American?. No one even had the courage to write down the license plate #. I can't stand it.