[C1ay]

Originally Posted by InfiniteNow

Did you mean ANWR, the wildlife refuge?

Yep, fat finger syndrome strikes again....

[Buffy]

Originally Posted by C1ay

I think he missed an opportunity to bring up ANWAR if he really want to cut foreign oil dependence....

Yep. And that big fat pile of oil sitting right off all those Republican districts on the Florida Coast!

But seriously, did he mention the fuel economy standards changes? That was leaked last week: such decimation of sacred cows! (Sorry B!)

Honestly, if it weren't for the fact that Compasionate Conservatism died in such a horrible death on January 20, 2000, I'd think he'd turned over a new leaf.

Worth *trying* to believe there's something to it all...

Trick me twice, Won't get fooled again,
Buffy

[InfiniteNow]

.

I think I reveal no secret when I tell you that we are dealing with a stubborn adversary who is committed to the use of force and terror to settle political questions.

I wish I could report to you that the conflict is almost over. This I cannot do. We face more cost, more loss, and more agony. For the end is not yet. I cannot promise you that it will come this year--or come next year. Our adversary still believes, I think, tonight, that he can go on fighting longer than we can, and longer than we and our allies will be prepared to stand up and resist....

So I must say to you that our pressure must be sustained--and will be sustained--until he realizes that the war he started is costing him more than he can ever gain.

I know of no strategy more likely to attain that end than the strategy of "accumulating slowly, but inexorably, every kind of material resource"--of "laboriously teaching troops the very elements of their trade." That, and patience--and I mean a great deal of patience.

- President Lyndon B. Johnson, 1967 State of the Union Address, speaking to the issue of Vietnam.

[InfiniteNow]

The term lame duck...

Glossary - US Department of State

The term lame duck refers to an elected official who has lost an election, or will soon be leaving office, during the period between the election and the date a successor will take over. Such an individual is in a weakened politically position due to the impending expiration of his or her term.

...seems to be gaining traction. Which, for me, is incredibly disheartening considering that the man still has 726 days (nearly 2 full years) left in office.


The news seems to have stopped coddling his administration as well:
BBC NEWS | Americas | Bush speech leaves press unmoved

[TheFaithfulStone]

Originally Posted by buffy

But seriously, did he mention the fuel economy standards changes?

He did!

Other things he mentioned -

Tax Breaks for people making under $60,000 of up to $4500 to cover medical insurance premiums.

Reduction of Gasoline consumption by 20%

Immigration reform.


Now, let's see if actually comes through.

TFS

[Buffy]

Originally Posted by InfiniteNow

The term lame duck...

...and another species in our political zoology....

Originally Posted by InfiniteNow

The news seems to have stopped coddling his administration as well...

...is happening on both sides of the pond:

Originally Posted by Terry McAuliffe's new book "What a Party!" via ThinkProgress.com

“Asked by Cherie Blair what Americans thought of her husband, McAuliffe responded that ‘most people think you’re a lap-dog for President Bush.’ Cherie Blair then elbowed her husband and said ‘See, Tony, I told you so.’”

Rosebud,
Buffy

[TheFaithfulStone]

Originally Posted by myself

Tax Breaks for people making under $60,000 of up to $4500 to cover medical insurance premiums.

AHH, but we make employer sponsored health care taxable income.

There it is. I wonder where they are for the other two.

TFS <--- sucker.

[Buffy]

Originally Posted by TheFaithfulStone

AHH, but we make employer sponsored health care taxable income.

...which means an increase in income which means an increase in social security taxes paid by *both* employers and employees....

Read my lips,
Buffy

[jackson33]

its always interested me, that those preaching additional something are the first to complain about the actual attempt to add...untill its understood government is a reaction to the voters demands and solution to nothing, the only possible actions have to be an increase. people by nature will always request more gimmies and at some point these become demands...

[Buffy]

Originally Posted by jackson33

its always interested me, that those preaching additional something are the first to complain about the actual attempt to add...

You're right. A lot of the thoughts above by various people might be completely confusing out of the context, so just to clarify:

1. The "preaching additional something" in the speech was interesting because much of it had been disclaimed as being relevant or good, mileage standards (Cheney has repeatedly dissed conservation as merely a "a sign of personal virtue"), or global warming (which the administration has actively tried to suppress) being just two examples.
2. As for complaining about the "actual attempt to add," as you know the "Democrat Party" (a slur in itself by the way for the "Democratic Party") is for taxes. Republicans are agin' 'em. This was a Republican who's daddy was run out of office for raising taxes, talking about raising taxes.

Non-plussed,
Buffy