Monday, December 11, 2006

Another republican comes to his senses!

Senator Gordon Smith, R. Oregon, has come out in opposition to U.S. involvment in Iraq. Not that surprising, in that many politicians are jumping on this bandwagon (It took them awhile, but I guess they finally get it, that and polls and recent election results force their hand). What IS refreshing is he actually uses logic and reasoning:
"You know, this is a fight, when you get right down to the root of it, between Sunnis and Shias that goes back a millennia of time over who is the rightful successor to the Prophet Mohammed," Smith told Wolf Blitzer in an interview set to air on "The Situation Room." "That is not our fault. That is not our fight, and that's not something we can fix."
Oregon Republican explains why he no longer supports Iraq war
There have been few, Democrats, Republicans, or Talking Heads that have framed it so clearly.

SuperMax causes insanity?!


So, the mad bomber is not happy being imprisoned in SuperMax. Eric Rudolf has been corresponding with a reporter from the Gazette in Colrado Springs for a year or so and tells him that the place is designed to make a person go insane:
"It is a closed-off world designed to isolate inmates from social and environmental stimuli, with the ultimate purpose of causing mental illness and chronic physical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and arthritis...."
http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/12/11/rudolph.prison.ap/index.html
Are we really to feel sorry for this man? I know that many of my fellow Democrats feel that this may be inhumane treatment and I am sure that Amnesty international, and organization that I feel does great work, will come down on the side of Rudolf in this matter. But I am sorry, I feel NOTHING for this scum.

He is nothing less than a terrorist. And a cowardly one at that. He targeted innocent people in the Olympic Park bombing. He went after abortion clinics, regardless of what other services they might offer. Did he care that innocent people could be maimed or killed by his actions? No, of course not. So why should we care about his so-called sanity now? I wonder if he was truly sane to begin with, anyway. Perhaps he would prefer the Abu Ghriab treatment???

My thoughts on Rudolf, and all terrorists: "don't do the crime if you can't do the time"

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Friends of Dick Cheney BEWARE!!!

Seems the Veep has been spotted shopping at a hunting store, dressed to kill:

Dick Cheney Still in the Hunt:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Vice President Dick Cheney was spotted visiting a hunting store in Thomasville, Georgia Tuesday, the latest sign the avid hunter has not given up on his favorite pastime despite accidentally shooting a friend in the face on a hunting jaunt last spring.

The vice president -- sporting hunting regalia -- was greeted with cheers as he entered and exited the store.

Cheney also spent the past Election Day hunting in South Dakota -- his first trip since the accidental shooting last February.
Harry Reid, have you been invited to a special gathering with the Vice President? Wear full body armor!

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Speaker Pelosi loses round 1

Nancy Pelosi's attempt to pack the House leadership positions w/her cronies such as Murtha has failed.

Although some like Murtha's anti-war stance, I see him as too closely tied to old-school backroom pork deals. In my book, this makes him very UNLIKELY towant to change how Congress does business. That and his ties to the Arabscam scandal (though he was not charged with any wrong-doing).

This past election was about changing how things are done in DC. I hope Speaker Pelosi truly realizes that.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Not quite the "you won't have Randy Graf to Kick Around" speech I'd hoped for

But it is close:

Graf says '08 run for CD8 not very likely

A day after losing his bid for Congress, Republican Randy Graf said Wednesday he doesn't intend to run for the Congressional District 8 seat two years from now.

"I'm never going to say never to anything, but at this time, I don't see that as a likely possibility."


So, he won't run for Congress in two years! That is very good news for the Republicans, who hope they can find someone with a broader appeal. So, is he done with politics... Hardly:

"Let's just say there is a strong chance I'll remain involved in politics," he said. He wouldn't say whether or not that involved running for office.

Without a doubt, he will run for office. His ego won't let him be just a behind the scenes politician. Maybe he will try and return to the state legislature in two years. If McCain decides to forgo running for re-election to the Senate in '08 to focus on running for president, I could see him taking a shot at that. He could always go back to running for school board.

As much as we hate his politics, admit it, it would be fun to see him run again and screw up the Republican primary!

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Republicans playing fast and loose to the END!

So, wondered why the Rumsfeld 'resgination' came so soon after the election? Well, wonder no more!

Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Gates confirmation to move ahead, despite Senate uncertainty
from Alexander Mooney-->
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will proceed "quickly" with the nomination of Bob Gates for defense secretary and will not wait for new leadership to take the reins if Democrats win the Senate, the panel's top Republican and Democrat both said Wednesday.

Sen. John Warner, R-Va., the current chairman of the committee, said the pressing duties of a defense chief necessitate moving ahead with Gates' confirmation, despite the possibility that power might change hands.

"We're at war," Warner said. "The decision-making of that department must be in the hands of an individual who has the confirmation behind him."

However, Warner said the usual confirmation process would be followed andno corners would be cut to move it along more quickly. (CNN Political Ticker, Wed7PM)

So, they will rush this through, but NOT cut corners! Ha! Come on, Republicans, why stop NOW??? You've only got TWO more months to cut corners.... you are addicted to it, you will need as many corners cut as you can grab, as they will have to lst you a Loooong loong time!

URGENT: Put John McCain on Suicide Watch!!!


A couple of weeks ago, I came across a quote from John McCain, one that I copied and pasted into a word document , hoping that I would be able to use after the elections. Well, that time is here, the situation is looking like it just may be Johnny M's worst nightmare:

Thursday, Oct. 19, 2006

I think I'd just commit suicide. I don't want to face that eventuality because I don't think it's going to happen.

— Sen. John McCain

on a visit to Iowa to campaign for Republican congressional candidates, when asked of his reaction to a potential Democratic takeover of the Senate


I believe that this came from Time's quotes of the day webpage.

Now, I really don't want the senior senator from Arizona to go out an off himself, but it would be nice to force hi to eat his words. Here's hoping things turn out BLUE in Virginia and Montana!

UPDATE: It is OFFICIAL 51-49 majority-control of the senate...... Keep all guns, sharp instruments, bridges, power tools, etc out of reach of the sr senator from Arizona!!!!1

Friday, November 03, 2006

Pederson For Senate rally: short vid

Here is a short video made from pictures and clips from the Pederson for Congress rally here in Tucson on November 2nd.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1378387900

Sadly, I lost 1/2 of the video clips I took due to technical issues with the memory card in my digital camera.

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Kerry Screws up, and Fights back!

(if this seems a bit disjointed, forgive me, I am home sick and on cold medicine)

John Kerry stuck his foot in his mouth yesterday:
"You know, education -- if you make the most of it, you study hard and you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well.

"If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."

When I first heard this, I thought: "there goes HIS 2008 Presidential campaign!"

Of course Republicans jumped all over him, calling for him to apologize to the troops. McCain said:
"Senator Kerry owes an apology to the many thousands of Americans serving in Iraq, who answered their country's call because they are patriots and not because of any deficiencies in their education"


Kerry and his peeps say that this was a botched joke, an attempt to state that not doing your homework you end up with what we have in Iraq.

I felt that this was a big problem for the Democrats, one that we didn't need this close to the election. BUT, after watching Kerry's press conference just a few minutes ago, I feel even better about our chances.
If you didn't see it, Kerry came out swinging and swinging hard! He attacked the WhiteHouse stating that THEY should apologize to the troops for getting them into the boodogle in Iraq. He called Bush's foreign policy a "Katrina foreign policy"

If Kerry had come out swinging against the Swift Boat ads in '04 like he did today, he would have WON!

more later, when my head is clearer....(NyQuil is a wonderous thing and LEGAL TOO!)

Friday, October 27, 2006

Some Thought For Food

I hadn't seen this article commented on by many, but I think that it reveals a lot about the candidates:
Grilling the candidates
10 running for public office tell what they do and don't eat - and why
C.J. KARAMARGIN
Tucson Citizen

Candidates reveal their human side, often humorously, when they answer this type of kitschy questions. For example:

Kyl didn;t respond, proving that he feels he is above these questions and takes himself far too seriously.

Graf only answered two questions, showing that he is afraid to show his true side (or maybe that he really is, deep down inside just a shallow person!)

Giffords admits that she loves cheeseburgers, revealing that she is honest and doesn't concern herself with appearing too pedestrian. And revelation that her Astronaut Fiancee (a macho profession if there ever was one) makes apple pies reveals that she is more concerned about honesty that protecting a loved one from what is sure to be some pretty harsh ribbing from fellow astronauts at NASA!

Munsil's favorite meal gives off a good ol down to earth, old fashioned feel. (or reveals that he makes his wife work her tail off on Sundays! :) )He turned his disclosure of his love for Krispy Kreme into a shot @ Napolitano reveals one of two things: either he is desperate and ready and willing to blame anything on Janet, OR he really does have a keen sense of humor.

Pederson's admitted preference for Italian food shows that he will buck the trend and give is the right answer, as opposed to giving the answer he thinks we want to hear, ie the stock answer "mexican food".

Janet is proud of her Italian heritage and not afraid to admit it, which I think is good for a non-hispanic to do. She really does need to lay off of the ice cream, however.

Barry Hess, Libertarian candidate for governor clearly had the best answers, particulalry the 'sodium pentathol tablets' comment. It shows creativity, honesty and humor. (the latter being a requirement as a 3rd party candidate, I would assume).

Grijalva claims that his love for green corn tamales shows he loves his mother, but does it really? Come now, Raul, making green corn tamales is a heck of a lot of work! She shows that she loves YOU by making them! (Just kidding about the loving your mother part, but making green corn tamales IS a lot of hard work. But, I would love your mother if she made ME a couple of dozen green corn tamales!)

the most bizarre has to be from CD8 independent candidate Jay Quick:
Independent candidates candidly eat dates while lying under palm trees on deserted islands.
We drink pure icy water from fast running mountain streams and cook papaya leaves over coals while watching the sun extinguish itself into the ocean every evening. For protein we barbecue ship wrecked Republicans and Democrats who've washed upon the shore.
Every night we lay out a place setting on the beach for Isis. She often stops in for dinner. Her tastes are simple - a mug of warm mead is all that she requires as she brings us tales of the deeds of heroic adventurers from other worlds.
At night we sleep independently in deep tents which we've fashioned from the skins of hundreds of frond eating frogs. Clouds fly by at night across the sky carrying politicians to their wars and returning wounded warriors to their countrymen.
Dawn erases images of stars from the blackboard of the night and we rise, as all good men and women must, to chores of maintenance. We wind the clocks to start the world on it's day. We stir the coals to ignite the sun. We rouse the birds and send them aloft as scouts and messengers of good and evil intent.
Such is the steady and true life of the truly independent - no party animals are we!

Clearly he lives in a fantasy world. Is it any wonder he has dropped out of the debates because of what he called the 'animosity between Giffords and Graf' (no more debates, says CD8 candidate)

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

"Rush" to Judgement: Limbaugh attacks Michael J. Fox

Rush Limbaugh has done it again. In a repeat of his never ending personal attacks on those that disagree with his myopic view of the world, Limbaugh attacked Michael J. Fox's appearance in TV ads for democratic senate candidates in Missouri and Maryland. In the ads, Fox "sways uncontrollably" while looking into the camera. Rush Limbaugh stated that Fox was "exaggerating the effects of the disease... He's moving all around and shaking, and it's purely an act." and that Fox was "allowing his illness to be exploited and in the process is shilling for a Democrat politician." (link)

Limbaugh should be ashamed of himself (and for a whole lot of reason besides this incident). Parkinson's is not a disease that is completely controlled by drugs (and Rush knows about drugs, doesn't he). The person with Parkinson's often have good and bad days, often in spite of the drugs designed to control the tremors. Anyone who remembers Mo Udall, one of my heroes, and his bout with Parkinson's will recall that he would appear fine one day, and be barely able to communicate the next.

Rush Limbaugh was once disabled, he suffered from hearing loss, should have more sympathy and understanding. It is no surprise however that he doesn't, because he chose to hide and deny his disability from his listeners. Fortunately for him, he was able to have surgery to correct his hearing problem. (one that just may have been caused by his own abuse of prescription medications such as OxyContin). Why does he deny Fox and others who have diseases such as Parkinson's a chance at a cure?

Friday, October 06, 2006

Guns in School... a bad idea

Some moronic state legislator in Wisconsin has what he thinks is the solution to the recent slate of school shootings: Arm the teachers, administrators, and custodians:
MADISON, Wisconsin (AP) -- A state lawmaker, worried about a recent string of deadly school shootings, suggested arming teachers, principals and other school personnel as a safety measure and a deterrent.

It might not be politically correct, but it has worked effectively in other countries, Republican Rep. Frank Lasee said Wednesday.

"To make our schools safe for our students to learn, all options should be on the table," he said. "Israel and Thailand have well-trained teachers carrying weapons and keeping their children safe from harm. It can work in Wisconsin."

Read the entire article: CNN.COM



Having taught middle school (grades 6-8) for 16+ years, the last thing I want in a school is and armed teacher, principal, counselor or custodian. talk about tempting fate!!

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

AZ Congressman backs Hastert

In a letter to his colleages, conservative Republican congressman John Shadegg (AZ) backs Hastert, says calls for his resignation and attacks on him 'unwarranted and unfair'.

How so, John? The man was given evidence that Foley was engaging in inapporiate contact with UNDERAGE pages!! in the letter, Shadegg states:
Before coming to Congress he both taught and coached high school students. In Congress, he has fought vigorously, and at times almost single-handedly to protect America’s youth from the scourge of illegal drugs. His lifelong dedication to America’s youth is unquestionable

Yeah, and Foley wrote key legislation to protect kids from on-line predators and was on the committee on Missing and Eploited Children. Shadegg also goes on to say:

To demand his resignation, based on the current facts and before the full investigation that he has called for is completed, is unwarranted and wrong.


The problem is, Hastert et all blocked an attempt to FULLY investigate who knew of "Foley's Follies" and when they knew it.
If Hastert is as innocent as you say, conduct the full investigation. You went after Clinton over his lying about his extra curricular activities witha consenting adult, you should be ready to do that and more about someone who ignored or covered up information about sexual advances on underage pages.

Shadegg's letter

By the way, it looks like there were warnings about Foley going back to his first term:
Warnings about Rep. Mark Foley (R-Florida) go back more than a decade, the Washington Post reports. "In 1995, male House pages were warned to steer clear of a freshman Republican from Florida, who was already learning the names of the teenagers, dashing off notes, letters and e-mails to them, and asking them to join him for ice cream."

From the CNN Political Ticker
Looks like the cover-up may go back a full decade!

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Hastert heading for a fall??

Don't look now, but it seems that some i the GOP are starting to pin some of the blame for the Foley Follies on the speaker:

Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Boehner: Foley scandal is Speaker's "responsibility"
From CNN Ticker Producer Alex Mooney

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- House Majority Whip John Boehner, R-Ohio, says House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, assured him he had taken care of the matter involving former Rep. Mark Foley's, R-Florida, inappropriate e-mails to a congressional page, when he first learned of the situation last spring.

"I believe I talked to the speaker, and he told me it had been taken care of, and, and, and in my position, it's in his corner, it's his responsibility," Boehner told the Mike McConnell Show on Cincinnati's WLW 700, this morning. "The Clerk of the House who runs the page program, the Page Board, all report to the speaker, and I believe that it had been dealt with."
Source: CNN Political Ticker


Sure reads like Boehner is pinning some blame on Hastert! This incident could very well turn out to be an October surprise that turns the tables and gives the Democrats a majority. I have commented elsewhere that I expect a big late-October surprise from the Whitehouse to try and secure a Republican Majority in both houses. Not sure how you counter Foley's self-destruction and the cover-up by the GOP leadership.

Monday, October 02, 2006

Republican Leadership does a FLIP FLOP on FOLEY

First he said he knows NOTHING about Foley's IM fiascos:
Monday, October 02, 2006
Hastert says he did not know about instant messages
From CNN Ticker Producer Alex Mooney

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, said Monday that he was not aware of former Rep. Mark Foley's, R-Florida, sexually explicit instant messages with a 16 year old page until the conversations were released by ABC News on Friday.

"The instant messages reportedly between Congressman Foley and a former page sent in 2003 were vile and repulsive both to myself and to my colleagues," Hastert told reporters at a Capitol Hill news conference. "No one in the Republican leadership nor Congressman Shimkus saw those messages until last Friday when ABC news released them to the public."

Rep. John Shimkus, R-Illinois, the chairman of the House Page Board, said the instant messages made him "sick" and he was committed to protecting the pages from such behavior. Shimkus said that pages and former pages can call a hotline if they have any concerns about "improper contact."

Neither Hastert nor Shimkus took questions in the seven minute press conference.
http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2006/10/hastert-says-he-did-not-know-about.html



A few hours later, his tune changes a wee bit:

Hastert doesn't recall learning of Foley's actions last spring
From CNN Ticker Producer Alex Mooney

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- House Speaker Dennis Hastert told CNN that he does not recall Rep. Tom Reynolds informing him last spring of former Rep. Mark Foley's inappropriate emails and messages to a former page.

"I don't recall Reynolds talking to me about that. If he did he brought it in with a whole stack of things," Hastert told CNN's Andrea Koppel. "I think if he would have had that discussion, he would have said it was also resolved, because my understanding now, that it was resolved at that point."
http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2006/10/hastert-doesnt-recall-learning-of.html


I have a strong feeling that it is about to come out that there is some proof that he was informed about Foley's IMs and chose to ignore it.

1st Monday in October....

and time for the Supreme Court to get back to work. Sure sounds like we could be in big trouble.

Supreme Court to tackle race, abortion in new term

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Abortion and race: The two most divisive social issues of recent decades will get high-profile hearings this fall before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The justices begin their new term Monday but will postpone hearing arguments for a day in observance of Yom Kippur.

The Supreme Court is proceeding forcefully under new Chief Justice John Roberts. In addition to abortion and affirmative action, the docket includes meaty issues such as immigration, a attempt to limit multimillion dollar jury awards, a criminal defendant's fair trial rights and the government's ability to control smog.

"In the term that's about to start, the Supreme Court has really stepped into the biggest social issues of the day," observed Thomas Goldstein, an attorney who has argued numerous cases before the high court.

Goldstein added that conservatives on the court may be looking to scale back some of the more liberal rulings of the past. "They may cut back on programs that look like affirmative action and expand the power of government to regulate abortion," he said.

Most of the attention will be focused on a federal law banning a controversial procedure that critics call "partial birth" abortion.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/09/26/scotus.main/index.html


This could be a very scary term in regards to abortion, affirmative action, and the environment goes.

Saturday, September 30, 2006

Foley Resigns

Well, what do we have here? A REPUBLICAN congressman sends sexually suggestive messages to an UNDERAGE page. There was apparently a cover-up of the incident, as the IM contact in question happened last year:

Majority Leader John Boehner, an Ohio Republican, learned about the matter during the spring, but "there wasn't a level of alarm because there was no specificity about the contact," an aide to Boehner told CNN.

CNN.com - House to probe resigning congressman's notes to teen - Sep 30, 2006



The congreesman incharge of the Page program, a REPUBLICAN, learned of this over a year ago and dimissed it, telling Foley to 'be mindful of his conduct'. Pelosi called for an investigation of the incident AND the cover-up by the Republican Leadership, but her move was blocked. An investigation into Foley's actions passed unanimously. It will be investigated by the Ethics Committee.

I find it extremely hypocritical to investigate Foley without investigating an apparent cover-up! Foley served on the comittee dealing with internet predators. Maybe he was there as a subject-matter expert!

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Sandra Day O'Connor Stands up to the Far Right!

For a long time, I have been concerned that the far right has been allowed to attack the judicial system with impunity as they went after what they called 'activist judges'. If they don't like a ruling they go out hard and heavy, calling the judges(s) "activists" and call for restrictions on the courts/judges.to me, this was nothing short of an attack on the Constitution and the seperation of powers. There have been a few politicians that have really made an effort to defend the courts from such attacks. What bothers me even more is that fewer still have even pointed out how 'activist judges' have actually been at the forefront of establishing equality in our society. (see BROWN v. BOARD OF EDUCATION, 347 U.S. 483 (1954)
Well, at least until now:
O'Connor, Breyer call for end to attacks on judiciary
From CNN's Bill Mears

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Backed by four of her former colleagues on the
Supreme Court, retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor sounded a deep warning on
"criticism we're hearing today about so-called 'activist judges,'" calling them
direct political attacks on judicial independence.

Speaking at a two-day conference she is co-sponsoring with Justice
Stephen Breyer, O'Connor told fellow attorneys the rule of law is undermined
when judges are threatened with impeachment, legislative oversight, and loss of
independence by lawmakers angry with court rulings.

"The breadth of unhappiness expressed about the courts," said O'Connor,
"shows a level perhaps greater than in the past, a cause of great concern."


http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2006/09/oconnor-breyer-call-for-end-to-attacks.html


Illegal Wiretaps, its a Republican thing, you just wouldn't understand!

Gee, I guess that this whole wiretapping bit has become so ingrained into the soul of Republicans that they feel they can do it within their own personal life:

ALBANY, New York (AP) -- An awkward pause during an important speech. A puzzling geography gaffe. An aborted bid for the U.S. Senate. A husband who keeps getting into trouble.

The latest in a string of pitfalls for state attorney general candidate Jeanine Pirro came Wednesday when she announced she is being investigated for allegedly plotting to secretly record her husband to find out if he was having another affair.

Despite the stumbles, the Republican forcefully maintained at a Manhattan news conference that she has no plans to drop out of the race against Democrat Andrew Cuomo.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/09/28/ny.ag.ap/index.html



Now, I am not trying to defend her husband's alleged infidelity, but trying to bug your own husband in an effort to catch him cheating??? If you have that much mistrust in your marriage, it is OVER folks.... (maybe a pre-nup is involved and she is trying to get it nullified for marital infidelity, but still..)

The Republicans seem to have this whole 'we are above the law' air about them. Damned International Law, the Constitution, and Civil Rights: Full Steam ahead!
This nut-job is indicative of what the Republicans stand for. Thank God she stands little chance of winning her race.

Monday, August 28, 2006

The Wicked Witch of the 2000 Election shows her true nature!

US Rep. Kathrine Harris, theif of the 2000 election, has shown her true colors.
She is using scare tactics of obsurd proportions in her race for the US Senate.
Rep. Harris: Church-state separation 'a lie'

    Here are some highlights of what she said:
  • "If you're not electing Christians, then in essence you are going to legislate sin,"
  • "we have to have the faithful in government" because that is God's will. Separating religion and politics is "so wrong because God is the one who chooses our rulers"


    Gee, I thought it was the VOTERS who chose the leaders, well other than in 2000, and she had a hand in that.
  • "If you are not electing Christians, tried and true, under public
    scrutiny and pressure, if you're not electing Christians, then in
    essence you are going to legislate sin,"

She is obviously courting the ultra right-wing conservative Christan voters at the expense of any reasonable voter. She has gone so far to the right that her own party is distancing itself from her. She actually believes her own crap, and that is scary, but scarier still, is that there are voters out there who will FALL for her line of crap!

At least Mel Gibson HAS and excuse for his statements, HE WAS DRUNK!

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

State of disUnion: State of the Union Speech

My thoughts and ramblings as the President gave his State of the Union speech...

OK, Bush continues to link Iraq with the ar on terror... HE created the problems we have with terror in Iraq. As happened in Yugoslavia after the collapse of the soviet style authoritarian govenrment and the collapse of the soviet-backed dictatorship in Afghanistan.

He talks of bringing democracy to the middle east, but when the Palestinians elect HAMAS, we get indignant...

BTW, Mr President, Iran DOES have elections.... not a full democracy, but it is more than what the people of China are allowed to do. (so why wasn't China listed with North Korea, Syria, etc)


He addresses Iran much in the same way he addressed Iraq in the months BEFORE we invaded..... this scares me...

He said that the US will pull out of Iraq when military leaders say it is time... well, why do you want to listen to them NOW??? a couple of years ago, some military leaders said many more troops would be needed.... and one who was vocal was promptly and severely punished... (so much for democracy, eh)

BTW: who really believes that terrorist in the US would openly call their leaders elsewhere and talk openly about thier plans...

God, that smirk on his face during applause, comes of like "Yeah, see, I am right and all of you f-ers who oppose me are WRONG"

"peed feoples fears...." oops George...

BTW: did Sen McCain looked peeved or at least irritated????

He wants to make tax cuts permanent when the deficit is skyrocketing??? He thinks that we can cut deficit in half by 2009??? not with the mess he caused.

McCain liked that bit about stopping porkbarrel....

Wow.... House-Senate response getting VERY partisan.... and thank god that congress didn't act on HIS plan for 'fixing' SS!
he wants people around the world to "buy American", (well, everyone BUT Americans it seems)

Amnesty and guest worker programs... that is one area that I thing GWB may be on the right track....

GWB, most people who work for big businesses have crappy insurance, too!

Affordable energy... Hmmm.. he has made NO MOVE to hold oil companies accountable to the gouging of America...

Clean, safe nuclear energy, a double oxy-moron if there ever was one!

OK, he want to end dependance on energy, increase research in alternative fuels.. hmm, wasn't that one of GORE'S campaign points in 2000?

More tax credits.... permanent ones..... OK, that money is gotta be made up SOMEWHERE.....

He brags about NCLB... but he has NOT fully funded the initiatives required by the law...

Yet he NOW makes a push for Math and Science education....Folks, he has CUT finds for technology in schools.. his budget cut it to ZERO.... the House and Senate set the funding @ 55%.

"activist courts" How can he attack activist courts on a night when he OPENED his speech honoring Coretta Scott King and the civil rights movement, a movemnet that was DRIVEN by 'activist courts"

Public Trust... hmm, George, why don't YOU START this push by releasing ALL info and pictures the White House has regarding ANY AND ALL contacts that YOU and YOUR STAFF had with Abramoff???!!!!

There is that smug look again as he finished....

Folks, those are my thoughts as they happened during the speech live, so please forgive grammar and spelling.