The State of The Union
January 28th, 2008 at 07:54pm Matt Margolis
I’m not live-blogging tonight. But, feel free to leave your thoughts, opinions, reactions, etc. etc. etc. Posted in the extended entry are excerpts I received via email earlier this evening.
“The actions of the 110th Congress will affect the security and prosperity of our Nation long after this session has ended. In this election year, let us show our fellow Americans that we recognize our responsibilities and are determined to meet them. And let us show them that Republicans and Democrats can compete for votes and cooperate for results at the same time.”
On trusting and empowering the American people:
“From expanding opportunity to protecting our country, we have made good progress. Yet we have unfinished business before us, and the American people expect us to get it done. In the work ahead, we must be guided by the philosophy that made our Nation great. As Americans, we believe in the power of individuals to determine their destiny and shape the course of history…So in all we do, we must trust in the ability of free people to make wise decisions, and empower them to improve their lives and their futures.”
On the economy:
“To build a prosperous future, we must trust people with their own money and empower them to grow our economy. As we meet tonight, our economy is undergoing a period of uncertainty… And at kitchen tables across our country, there is concern about our economic future. In the long run, Americans can be confident about our economic growth.”
On earmarks:
“The people’s trust in their Government is undermined by congressional earmarks…”
On housing:
“…We must trust Americans with the responsibility of homeownership and empower them to weather turbulent times in the housing market.”
On strengthening No Child Left Behind:
“On education, we must trust students to learn if given the chance and empower parents to demand results from our schools. In neighborhoods across our country, there are boys and girls with dreams — and a decent education is their only hope of achieving them. Six years ago, we came together to pass the No Child Left Behind Act, and today no one can deny its results… Now we must work together to increase accountability, add flexibility for States and districts, reduce the number of high school dropouts, and provide extra help for struggling schools. Members of Congress: The No Child Left Behind Act is a bipartisan achievement. It is succeeding. And we owe it to America’s children, their parents, and their teachers to strengthen this good law.”
On the importance of trade:
“On trade, we must trust American workers to compete with anyone in the world and empower them by opening up new markets overseas. Today, our economic growth increasingly depends on our ability to sell American goods, crops, and services all over the world… These agreements will level the playing field. They will give us better access to nearly 100 million customers. And they will support good jobs for the finest workers in the world: those whose products say ‘Made in the USA.’”
“If we fail to pass this [Colombia free trade] agreement, we will embolden the purveyors of false populism in our hemisphere. So we must come together, pass this agreement, and show our neighbors in the region that democracy leads to a better life.”
On improving our energy security:
“To build a future of energy security, we must trust in the creative genius of American researchers and entrepreneurs and empower them to pioneer a new generation of clean energy technology. Our security, our prosperity, and our environment all require reducing our dependence on oil.”
On combating climate change:
“Let us create a new international clean technology fund, which will help developing nations like India and China make greater use of clean energy sources. And let us complete an international agreement that has the potential to slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases. This agreement will be effective only if it includes commitments by every major economy and gives none a free ride.”
On entitlement reform and immigration:
“There are two other pressing challenges that I have raised repeatedly before this body, and that this body has failed to address: entitlement spending and immigration. Every Member in this chamber knows that spending on entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid is growing faster than we can afford…Now I ask Members of Congress to offer your proposals and come up with a bipartisan solution to save these vital programs for our children and grandchildren.”
“Illegal immigration is complicated, but it can be resolved. And it must be resolved in a way that upholds both our laws and our highest ideals.”
On the freedom agenda:
“Our foreign policy is based on a clear premise: We trust that people, when given the chance, will choose a future of freedom and peace. In the last 7 years, we have witnessed stirring moments in the history of liberty…And these images of liberty have inspired us. In the past 7 years, we have also seen images that have sobered us…[and] serve as a grim reminder: The advance of liberty is opposed by terrorists and extremists — evil men who despise freedom, despise America, and aim to subject millions to their violent rule.”
On the surge in Iraq:
“The Iraqi people quickly realized that something dramatic had happened. Those who had worried that America was preparing to abandon them instead saw…our forces moving into neighborhoods, clearing out the terrorists, and staying behind to ensure the enemy did not return…While the enemy is still dangerous and more work remains, the American and Iraqi surges have achieved results few of us could have imagined just 1 year ago…”
“…Some may deny the surge is working, but among the terrorists there is no doubt. Al Qaida is on the run in Iraq, and this enemy will be defeated.”
On our 2008 objectives in Iraq:
“Our enemies in Iraq have been hit hard. They are not yet defeated, and we can still expect tough fighting ahead. Our objective in the coming year is to sustain and build on the gains we made in 2007, while transitioning to the next phase of our strategy. American troops are shifting from leading operations, to partnering with Iraqi forces, and, eventually, to a protective overwatch mission.”
On this generation rising to the moment in the war on terror:
“We must do the difficult work today, so that years from now people will look back and say that this generation rose to the moment, prevailed in a tough fight, and left behind a more hopeful region and a safer America.”
On Iran:
“Our message to the people of Iran is clear: We have no quarrel with you, we respect your traditions and your history, and we look forward to the day when you have your freedom. Our message to the leaders of Iran is also clear: Verifiably suspend your nuclear enrichment, so negotiations can begin. And to rejoin the community of nations, come clean about your nuclear intentions and past actions, stop your oppression at home, and cease your support for terror abroad. But above all, know this: America will confront those who threaten our troops, we will stand by our allies, and we will defend our vital interests in the Persian Gulf.”
On the American people:
“The secret of our strength, the miracle of America, is that our greatness lies not in our Government, but in the spirit and determination of our people.”
# # #
Entry Filed under: Congress, President Bush
60 Comments
1. LiberalMind | January 28th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
What a truly pathetic, little man who ascended to the presidency through an accidental appointment and allowed to remain because of a apathetic population.
It will take many decades to repair the damage this criminal and his cohorts have wrought on our fine nation.
2. liberalT | January 28th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
pretty weak on the whole. The thing that amazes me is that when you listen to him describe what he thinks he is and what he thinks he has done it strikes me that absolutely none of those things are true. He is exactly not those things. But just a few more months and then nobody will ever care what he thinks again. Can’t wait…
3. CookieMonster | January 28th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Oh how the nation and the world will rejoice when this insecure, mean little man-boy leaves office. Honestly. The world will give a great sigh of relief.
The count down has begun.
I give thanks to God.
4. Rich | January 28th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
I’m starting to think you libs are masochists. This man pains you so much but you just can’t turn away and find something constructive to do. Get a life, both of you.
5. Rich | January 28th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Make that the three of you. Cookiemonster snuck in while I was typing.
6. Matt Margolis | January 28th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Obviously, LiberalMind , LiberalT and CookieMonster were gonna bash the speech regardless of what was said. It’s pathetic, really.
7. LiberalMind | January 28th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Matt:
You are right, I guess we just no longer “misunderestimate” Bush’s stupidity.
He always delivers.
8. neocon | January 28th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
LiberalMind,
I never misunderestimate your stupidity. You never let me down. For instance your comment about an apathetic populous that re-elected Bush. Just for the record, and since you’re obviously ignorant to it, 2004 saw one of the highest voter turnouts ever.
U.S. Voter Turnout Up in 2004, Census Bureau Reports
Sixty-four percent of U.S. citizens age 18 and over voted in the 2004 presidential election, up from 60 percent in 2000, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. Tables from a November survey also show that of 197 million citizens, 72 percent (142 million) reported they were registered to vote. Among those registered, 89 percent (126 million) said they voted. In the 2000 election, 70 percent of citizens were registered; and among them, 86 percent voted.
9. neocon | January 28th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Matt,
The liberals here on this blog are brainless, hyper-sensitive children with knee-jerk reactions to a speech that was yet fully delivered. Pre-mature ejaculation of the mind, if you will, which is evident in every issue they address.
10. Ken | January 28th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
truly pathetic, little man
insecure, mean little man-boy
we just no longer “misunderestimate” Bush’s stupidity
Remember, it is only hateful if a Republican says it…
11. neocon | January 28th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Notice the quality of our resident liberals dissent. Nothing of substance, just personal attacks.
12. Magnum Serpentine | January 28th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
george cannot order agencies to ignore money given to them by the Congress. he does not have that power.
13. ShanghaiRay | January 28th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I’ve always been a big supporter of Bush and thought he’d be a great President. Needless to say, he has disappointed me. I mean he is better than anyone the Dems could come up with but not a true conservative in my opinion. I am also somewhat happy Bush will be leaving office, however, who do we have to replace him? Another Dem? Oh God. The likes of McCain? Oh God. I’d rate Bush’s overall 2nd Term performance as thus:
War on Terror - B+
Stopping Another Terrorist Attack - A+
Economy - C
Foreign Exchange Issues - D
Israel/Pali Problem - D-
Immigration - F-
Taxes - A
Dealing with Dems - F
Mexican Border Issue - F-
Trade Inbalance with China - D
Dealing with Saudis/Oil - F
Congress - F
Overall: D im afraid
14. Kahn | January 28th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Liberal, you know the Washington Post counted the disputed ballots and Bush won, right? Look it up.
Talk about Pathetic. man go look in a mirror.
15. Kahn | January 28th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Magnum, well actually he can. He must spend money VOTED on by Congress. But some of these earmarks are inserted AFTER the bill is passed. If he does it and it’s challenged, I guess we’ll find out.
Gotta say, I wouldn’t pick a fight on whether he can do it. I’d point out that he should have been doing it for seven years. Don’t forget that “the bridge to nowhere” was from one of us Republicans.
16. Mark Noonan | January 28th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Magnum,
So, let Congress sue…and let the Supreme Court decide if the Congress can disburse money wihtout an appropriation being properly voted on. The Constitution doesn’t just apply to the Executive, you know?
17. Mark Noonan | January 28th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
And you liberals are rather pathetic. Just a whine…in your muddy dreams, you’ll never approach the intellectual and moral heights President Bush has scaled.
18. Ricorun | January 28th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Kahn: He must spend money VOTED on by Congress. But some of these earmarks are inserted AFTER the bill is passed.
Apparently I haven’t been paying attention. They’re still dropping in stuff AFTER bills are passed???? Jeepers. I have a big problem with earmarks in general, but I understand it’s a complicated question. But whatever else you could say about them, inserting them AFTER bills are passed is well beyond the pale.
Who is doing this, Kahn? Can you document anything?
19. Diana Powe | January 28th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Mark,
Your membership in the President George W. Bush Cult of Personality remains assured. I haven’t the faintest idea of the President’s IQ. It might be 200 for all I know.
However, it’s rather difficult to get all mushy about the “intellectual heights” of a man who actually said, “I also read three Shakespeares” immediately after stating that he had read The Stranger by Albert Camus. Trust me, being from Texas, that is not a Texas-ism. We would all say something like, “I also read three of Shakespeare’s plays” or “I also read three of Shakespeare’s sonnets” or somesuch. Alumni of Yale University everywhere must have cringed.
20. Magnum Serpentine | January 29th, 2008 at 12:01 am
The yellow spine Demo-publicans will not sue george because they are so afraid it will cause them to loose the election.
The Demo-publicans need to grow a spine and know that things need to be done even if it does cost elections. george does not have the power to tell agencies how to spend their money. The Congress does. Show me in the constitution (You know that piece of paper that george hates) where george has the power to do this.
21. Mark Noonan | January 29th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Magnum,
Ok:
The laws are made by majority votes in both the House and Senate and approval of the President…if an appropriation doesn’t jump through such hoops, then the money cannot be spent. President Bush is stating that if any appropriation doesn’t meet this Constitutional muster, his Administration will not spend the money.
If you think that the President is wrong, then you are free to take up your case in the Courts…
22. Mark Noonan | January 29th, 2008 at 12:11 am
Diana,
And yet he’s President, and you’re not…and he said things tonight, and you haven’t…
23. SamSpitzer | January 29th, 2008 at 12:25 am
Uhhh…yeah…right. Ok.
If my offspring conducted him/herself in public the way the nincompoop in office has, well…adult or not, we would have a little discussion.
Your the leader of the free world damn it, not some wanna be cowboy. Enough with the cocky name calling. Enough with the yo, Blairs…
Pick up a copy of Bushism’s. You’ll split yer sides a laughin’
Please, intellectual? Spare us. What a clownish statement
I’ll throw oh I don’t know, just for goofs, just 3 of many “moral” outrages the Deciderer has associated with his administration.
1. Abu Garib/Gitmo
2. Playing the “gitbox” the day after Katrina.
3. TORTURE
So many, many more, sad. Just sad.
Moral and George Bush should not be in the same sentence.
24. Jonathan | January 29th, 2008 at 1:01 am
You’re right.
I’ll never be able to have my daddy get me into an Ivy League School, or plunge America into an unnecessary and pointless war, or blow all the goodwill we had from our allies after the 9/11 attacks and turn it into contempt.
Wait, those are qualities that we shouldn’t have in a President of the United States…..
Mark, I pity you.
Because I realize that after Bush Jr. rides off into the sunset, and history will inevitably judge him as one of, if not, the worst president in American history, there will people like you who are still deaf, dumb, and blind to the damage Bush and his posy have wrought on our nation.
25. Mark Noonan | January 29th, 2008 at 1:14 am
Sam,
And if you can find someone who was tortured, I’d be interested to hear his story…
Jonathan,
What is sad is that in your desperate desire to hate what is better than yourself, you actually think the worthless goodwill of Chirac’s France was something worth preserving.
26. Diana Powe | January 29th, 2008 at 1:15 am
Mark,
You’re a sycophant and I’m not which proves…blah, blah, blah off topic stuff designed to pull the thread into a discussion I want to have because I haven’t got anything to actually say…(Ed. Note - Diana; trust us on this one, we’re on to you).
27. SEW | January 29th, 2008 at 2:00 am
Mark, trust me here. “I also read three of Shakespeare’s sonnets” is NOT a Texas-ism! But a Texan would definitely say I read three Shakespeares.
Just another case of BDS. IQ likely 100 at best.
28. donttasemebro | January 29th, 2008 at 2:28 am
SEW
An IQ of 90-100 is considered average. I am not quite sure what your previous comment implies. Do you believe a person with an IQ of 100 is an idiot? Maybe you are a genius with an IQ of 200 and anyone below that is stupid. You should have said “IQ likely 85 at best.” Do a little research before you attempt to insult someone.
29. keefer | January 29th, 2008 at 4:49 am
But a Texan would definitely say I read three Shakespeares.
SEW, a Texan such as diane would say “I read three Playgirls, but only looked at the pictures. Moo!”
30. bozo the neoclown | January 29th, 2008 at 5:05 am
“9. neocon | January 28th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Matt,
The liberals here on this blog are brainless, hyper-sensitive children with knee-jerk reactions to a speech that was yet fully delivered. Pre-mature ejaculation of the mind, if you will, which is evident in every issue they address.”
“11. neocon | January 28th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Notice the quality of our resident liberals dissent. Nothing of substance, just personal attacks.”
Yeah, you REALLY showed ‘em! The “do as I say, not as I do” mentality of neoclowns knows no bounds. Thanks for the laugh
31. neocon | January 29th, 2008 at 7:05 am
Clown,
When personal attacks on the President in re: to his SOTU, are leveled only half way through the speech, that would be called a premature ejaculation of the mind.
Truth stings and come November, there will be a lot stung liberals. As evidenced by the vacuous posts by our resident liberals who have nothing of substance in rebuttal.
SteaM linked us to Obamas platform in an earlier thread and I was quite pleased to read the litany of platitutdes constituting nothing in real change. And he and Clinton are your only hopes.
Good luck with that.
32. SEW | January 29th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Donkey, Dian considers herself in the upper IQ class and thus considers 100 IQ an insult. It’s obvious by her writing ’style’ she has a high opinion of herself, but the content is the easy giveaway. Empty and full of BDS.
33. Christian Wright | January 29th, 2008 at 7:35 am
Bush does NOT support the troops.
Army officials in upstate New York instructed representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs not to help disabled soldiers at Fort Drum Army base with their military disability paperwork last year. That paperwork can be crucial because it helps determine whether soldiers will get annual disability payments and health care after they’re discharged.
Now soldiers at Fort Drum say they feel betrayed by the institutions that are supposed to support them. The soldiers want to know why the Army would want to stop them from getting help with their disability paperwork and why the VA— whose mission is to help veterans — would agree to the Army’s request.
34. Joe | January 29th, 2008 at 7:49 am
Wow… all these personal attacks by everyone.
Guess nobody wants to talk about the actual State of the Union address that was delivered last night (also the point of the post).
Guess the speech really was as bad as everyone expected since nobody here is defending anything he said.
Talk about an empty speech. Wow.
35. neocon | January 29th, 2008 at 8:00 am
Joe,
Talk about a disconnect with reality. Wow. Luntz’s focus group last night, comprised of many Bush opponents, gave him very high marks.
Of course, within your BDS bubble, I can see where you would come to that conclusion. LibT arrived at that conclusion 15 minutes into the speech, much like all of you have declared the war lost and the economy in the tank.
Facts just never support your conclusions.
I can’t wait for November. Say hello to President Romney.
36. neocon | January 29th, 2008 at 8:12 am
Christian,
You know we are all growing tired of your ignorant dishonesty.
The problem you refer to is more of an on-going systemic problem which the Bush Admin acknowledged and even brought in President Clintons HHS Secretary to help resolve the issue. I hope this sheds a little light into your dark world.
Former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, who co-chaired President Bush’s recent commission on veterans’ care, says stories like this one show how the whole disability rating system is broken and needs to change.
37. William Teach | January 29th, 2008 at 8:13 am
I enjoyed Gov. Sebelius’ rebuttal. I wonder if she realizes that the Democrats in the House shelved legislation “Expressing the sympathy of the House of Representatives to the citizens of Greensburg, Kansas, over the devastating tornado of May 4, 2007. ”
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HE00400:@@@X
38. SEW | January 29th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Joe, no need to “defend” the speech. It speaks for itself. Earmarks will be vetoed and the troops will remain until those on the ground say otherwise, not polls or politicians in DC who pretend to be experts but are liberal politicians looking for the next vote. And wait until the real evidence about the Dem candidates is presented.
39. Greg-O | January 29th, 2008 at 8:18 am
On the topic, I thought it was a good swan-song SOTU speech by President Bush with the only real negatives involving the spending, but that’s a known quantity by now. The President’s litany of successes in the War was good to hear; he should have done this much more all along. Adult stem cells replacing embryonic stem cells was a great point as well.
The choice of Kansas Gov. Sebelius was interesting for the rebuttal as she tried to talk about “unity” but just this past May she was blaming the President for Kansas National Guardsmen being deployed in the War when a tornado hit the town of Greensburg; turned out she had 83,000 troops at her disposal to assist an affected population of 1,500. Reminds me a bit of the situation here in Louisiana when Gov. Blanco tried to pass her responsibilities during Hurricane Katrina off onto the President. The national Media did their best for her cause, but we Louisianians who were actually here on the scene knew who was really at fault, and now she isn’t Governor anymore. Maybe Gov. Sebelius wants to avoid the same fate.
Off-topic, Christian Wright omitted the source for the post.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18492376
Also omitted was this portion of the article…
Tom Pamperin, deputy director of the VA’s compensation and pension service, believes VA officers are not qualified to help with soldiers’ disability paperwork.
“We do not train our employees in the intricacies of the Defense Department’s disability evaluation system, so we would feel that it would be inappropriate for our employees to apply VA standards to a Defense Department process,” Pamperin says.
40. neocon | January 29th, 2008 at 8:24 am
I thought Gov. Sebelius rebuttal was zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
What a dynamic leader.
41. SEW | January 29th, 2008 at 8:35 am
I certainly enjoyed GWB’s suggestion for the liberal elites who are always for raising taxes to voluntarily send their money orders or American Express numbers to the IRS. Amazing how liberals are so full of BS but never ever voluntarily do what they want to impose on everyone.
Francois Heinz et al inheriting their wealth, along with the entire Kennedy clan, for the feds confiscating your estate at death but ALWAYS protecting theirs. True liberal committment to their ideals. Buffett and Gates, the same for your empty words.
Joe, Dian, LiberalT, higher tax Dems, open your checkbooks, send the check to the IRS. Today. Go ahead, double what is actually due. Make your day. I didn’t think so. Empty BS.
42. SEW | January 29th, 2008 at 8:41 am
Actually I failed to give credit where credit is due to liberals. When they say cut and run, you can count on them to cut and run. And yes, there is a “Texas-ism” for that dian. It can be found in the chicken coup.
43. Zach | January 29th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Well, well….
From the many attacks on the Presidents last SOTU speech from our regular contributors, I’d say that it only confirms what I believe..
It was a well delivered, well written speech.
I found myself clapping, and yelling, and doing the “cha-ching” motion quite a bit. Haha. When talk of the progress we’ve made in Iraq contrasting to a year ago came about I found myself simulating a boxing match wherein President Bush absolutely pummeled Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi..
Just think a year ago, Jim Webb rebutted the last SOTU speech essentially saying that the surge would not work, and that it was too late for President Bush to turn this war around….Harry Reid called the war “lost”…
How are these people still in office? How can they possibly be taken seriously?
Even through the bad times with President Bush he has been a leader. He’s the type of leader that you follow through the good and the bad. We need someone to replace him with this sort of resolve and leadership capabilities.
Well done Mr. Bush on your last SOTU!
44. Baxter | January 29th, 2008 at 10:41 am
It is absolutely hilarious to watch liberals call President Bush “dumb”,”stupid”,”insecure”,and all the other super intelligent evaluations that they come up with.
If Bush is so stupid and dumb,why has he been handing liberals their a$$’s for the last seven years.
Bush humiliated the super intelligent liberals by sending Al-Gore home in 2000,and Kerry home in
2004.
He has won on most of his legislation whether it
was no child left behind,tax cuts,NSA wiretapping,supreme court judges…..etc.etc.
Bush has stayed strong on the war in Iraq that Democrats and Republicans voted for.
Democrats taking control in 06 was supposed to bring the end to the war in Iraq and impeachment.
We have more troops there than before 06 and showing great success there that has liberals denying the facts on the ground and coming up with great statements like “the surge worked because democrats have been threatening to cut and run”or
“genocide is complete”rants.Even the harshest war
critics like Murtha have acknowledged that the surge
has worked.
Reid/Pelosi took impeachment off the table as soon
as they won in 06 and had the money and the votes
from the useful idiots that actually think there is a case for impeachment.
Bush has outsmarted and won on almost every front
since he has been in office.
If such a “dumb”,”stupid”,man can win this much,than liberals are more pathetic and ignorant than even they have shown in this thread.
Bush achieved the Governorship of the state of Texas,twice elected President of the United States,lead the charge for freedom with the American Soldier in freeing 50,000,000 people from some of the worst terrorist regimes the world has known and still maintained one of the strongest economies in the world with record low un-employment,longest consecutive job growth in American history,and reaching record stock market growth.
The fact that liberals see this as failure on proves that the reason they have to constantly tell each other how smart they are is because it does not show.
45. Percy Beezer | January 29th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Average IQ for police officers across America; 104. And no one has more respect from me than an honest police officer.
To the SoTU; it is inspiring to hear someone of conviction speak.
46. Libsbane | January 29th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
MS,
As the head of the Administration of the Federal Government, the President has every right and authority to dictate if the funding for the departments is used, beyond those which are constitutionally mandated. He has the authority to order the departments to not exceed the Budgets his office approved; he cannot, however authorize them to spend beyond the funding.
This isn’t in the Constitution; I’m not sure I understand what you think the Constitution is, but it isn’t a operations manual. You’ll find the President’s authority outlined in the Policy bulletins from OMB.
You need to understand how a governmental budget is administered.
47. SteaM | January 29th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Because too many people in this country aren’t paying attention and are confused and misinformed in terms of what is actually going on within the federal government. If they had been paying attention they would’ve demanded that Congress impeach him in 2005.
We The People…
48. SEW | January 29th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
SteaM, this is how James Carville worded what you stated.
“Eighty percent of the people who call themselves Democrats don’t have a clue as to political reality.”
“What amazes me is that you could take a group of people who are hard workers and convince them that they should support social programs that were the exact opposite of their own personal convictions. Put a little fear here and there and you can get people to vote any way you want.”
“The voter is basically dumb and lazy. The reason I became a Democratic operative instead of a Republican was because there were more Democrats that didn’t have a clue than there were Republicans.”
“Truth is relative. Truth is what you can make the voter believe is the truth. If you’re smart enough, truth is what you make the voter think it is. That’s why I’m a Democrat. I can make the Democratic voters think whatever I want them to.?
All quotes by James Carville
49. SteaM | January 29th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I agree with most of what he is saying, yes. Except I don’t think more dems or clueless over republicans. I think that’s not true.
But either way, the premise of his statements are unfortunately true no matter what party you are with.
But that’s why I am so frustrated. People won’t take the time to fact check and so they allow themselves to get screwed. The problem is that it’s really really hard to fact check when people are so good at spinning and telling half-truths. It’s so easy to just go to church and watch fox news and listen to sean hannity and feel comfortable being ignorant and illinformed.
50. Percy Beeser | January 29th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Typical liberal; the whole world is stupid except you big-brained liberals.
You show such disdain for the average American and you wonder why the populace doesn’t embrace your socialist ideas?
Buy a clue; conservatives believe in the basic good in people (Bush’s SOTU) and liberals openly decry the American Public’s right to self-determination. Just another bunch of stupid sheep that need a government to tell them how to live, how to spend, and how to take care of each other.
51. SEW | January 29th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
I would say Carville is describing SteaM. To be impeached, there has to be an impeachable offence.
“That’s why I’m a Democrat. I can make the Democratic voters think whatever I want them to”. Carville
52. SteaM | January 29th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Yeah, Carville is talking about me. Sure, I am sooo dumb and all.
Screw you.
Did you ever think it’s the people who voted for him twice that were unaware of how bad a president he would be that are to blame for the worst president in our history being elected?
I didn’t vote for him. How’s it my fault that he won then proceeds to screwed things up so badly?
53. Brian Gregory | January 29th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
I’d give it a 7.5/10. The President was as strong as ever in his demands to Congress, and he maintained his in-control, success-is-imminent position on the war. One thing that worries me is that he did not address the possibility of long-term troop presence in Iraq (which I think is a horrible idea)…
54. keefer | January 29th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Impeached him in 2005, SteaM? For what?
I guess you’re sad that Kookcinich dropped out…
55. SteaM | January 29th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
keefer,
You actually don’t believe that there are numerous valid reasons to impeach him?
1. Violating the United Nations Charter by launching an illegal “War of Aggression” against Iraq without cause, using fraud to sell the war to Congress and the public, misusing government funds to begin bombing without Congressional authorization, and subjecting our military personnel to unnecessary harm, debilitating injuries, and deaths.
2. Violating U.S. and international law by authorizing the torture of thousands of captives, resulting in dozens of deaths, and keeping prisoners hidden from the International Committee of the Red Cross.
3. Violating the Constitution by arbitrarily detaining Americans, legal residents, and non-Americans, without due process, without charge, and without access to counsel.
4. Violating the Geneva Conventions by targeting civilians, journalists, hospitals, and ambulances, and using illegal weapons, including white phosphorous, depleted uranium, and a new type of napalm.
5. Violating U.S. law and the Constitution through widespread wiretapping of the phone calls and emails of Americans without a warrant.
6. Violating the Constitution by using “signing statements” to defy hundreds of laws passed by Congress.
7. Violating U.S. and state law by obstructing honest elections in 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006.
8. Violating U.S. law by using paid propaganda and disinformation, selectively and misleadingly leaking classified information, and exposing the identity of a covert CIA operative working on sensitive WMD proliferation for political retribution.
9. Subverting the Constitution and abusing Presidential power by asserting a “Unitary Executive Theory” giving unlimited powers to the President, by obstructing efforts by Congress and the Courts to review and restrict Presidential actions, and by promoting and signing legislation negating the Bill of Rights and the Writ of Habeas Corpus.
10. Gross negligence in failing to assist New Orleans residents after Hurricane Katrina, in ignoring urgent warnings of an Al Qaeda attack prior to Sept. 11, 2001, and in increasing air pollution causing global warming.
56. SEW | January 29th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
SteaM, Thanks for your help here. Don’t forget your meds!
57. TiredofLibBullShit | January 29th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
MeatShead -
1) Wrong - UN resolutions since the first Gulf War cease fire authorized ANY member nation, to resume hostilities to force Saddam to adhere to his conditions of the cease file. “Illegal War” - debunked before it started.
2) “torture” - oh please. Show these thousands who have been tortured. Maybe three were subjected to water-boarding and immediately started talking. Thousands - with this news media - they would be top subject every evening. To you libs, playing loud music was torture.
The rest is liberal bullsh*t talking points that have no basis in fact and greatly exaggerated - where are all those who were illegally wiretapped (FISA allows for wiretaps without a warrant on US citizens, read it), illegally imprisoned “non-Americans” (who have no rights if they are enemy combatants).
Katrina - local governments failed to request federal assistance, required by law. Gov. Blanco was caught on an open microphone stating she should have asked for assistance sooner. Global warming - is it over? They’ve never had another one like Katrina if global warming is getting worse. That has been dismissed from those at the Hurricane center.
Stop with the debunked talking points it only makes you look more foolish.
58. neocon | January 29th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
SteaM,
C’mon. I was starting to gain a little respect for your viewpoint and then you post the litany of debunked liberal propaganda once again as fact in post # 55.
That’s all bullshit and you know it is. THINK! Don’t regurgitate.
59. Max Power | January 29th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
“intellectual heights”…Ha ha!
..that’s a good one Mark
You’ve got Colbert beat by a country mile.
I’d almost believe you were serious.
Best comedy site on the web!
60. Mark Noonan | January 30th, 2008 at 12:14 am
SteaM,
In regards to President Bush, you liberals are starting to be like the lone dissenting juror who never met eleven such obstinate people in his life…the man is leaving office in a year, isn’t it time you dropped all the “Bush LIED!!!!!” nonsense by now? You know he didn’t lie - and you don’t have to run against him again…relax, take it easy…