Posted on 06/26/2004 1:10:53 PM PDT by BigWaveBetty
On June 14th of this year President Bush welcomed Bill and Hillary Clinton back to the White House for the unveiling of their portraits.
Being the gracious, polite adult that he is, President Bush had some kind words for X42 and that made some people very unhappy. President Bush had done the right thing being gracious to his guests and I disagreed with those who would have had him exoriate old X42. However, each time I heard a sound bite of the president's speech it became clear, someone with an imagination and knowledge of clinton could interpret those words in another way.
Here are my interpretations of some of President Bush's remarks.
The years have done a lot to clarify the strengths of this man.
As we republicans predicted it would take time to see the real damage done to our country and this White House, how do you like your boy now? Still think his presidency was chock full of peace and prosperity? Oh, and some of you still can't name three accomplishments of that Administration.
As a candidate for any office, whether it be the state attorney general or the President, Bill Clinton showed incredible energy and great personal appeal.
Nothing of any significance was accomplished.
As chief executive, he showed a deep and far-ranging knowledge of public policy, a great compassion for people in need, and the forward-looking spirit the Americans like in a President.
Again, nothing of any significance was accomplished.
Bill Clinton could always see a better day ahead -- and Americans knew he was working hard to bring that day closer.
Looking past the terror threat doesn't make it go away. Thanks to the media many were lulled to sleep and received a nasty wake up call that morning in September.
Over eight years, it was clear that Bill Clinton loved the job of the presidency.
What better way to feed his huge narcissistic appetite?
He filled this house with energy and joy.
Too bad so much was wasted keeping this slug out of trouble and the only good times came from saving clinton's bacon from the fire.
He's a man of enthusiasm and warmth, who could make a compelling case and effectively advance the causes that drew him to public service.
Boy he loves to charm the ladies and what's the ultimate chick magnate? The White House of course.
President Bush is a smart man, he knew clinton would sink himself with that stupid tome of his. Why in the world would President Bush attack clinton when clinton does it so effectively to himself?
Thank you President Bush, it was a refreshing change from trying to parse all that bill clinton speak.
That was my first thought, too, then I realized we weren't yet in a bizarro world situation where the Hildebeaste actually would drop her partisanship and praise the accomplishments and presidential-worthiness of someone like Condi!
On another note, I just wanted to share that over the weekend I read a great book by Michael and Diane Medved, "Saving Children." If you have children or grandchildren, or have any interaction with younguns, you may find it interesting.
Good morning, and thank you for the book recommendation.
Something to be watching for. Something I remember from Edwards' announcement he was running for prez.
Sometime in the next few days the media will be gathered outside Edwards' home waiting for him to meet the press. There's a picket fence, about 6 ft high, with a wide gate. Edwards made his "entrance" thru that gate.
On top of the gate there are these kitchy cut-out wooden squirrels, facing one another, holding one acorn between them. I only got a glimpse, so can't tell you whether they're smiling! Please, if someone can get a screen capture of that gate, ping me!
One other thing.
The south is full of good ole boy, charming backslappers like Edwards. We can spot 'em the minute they walk in the door. The media may be swooning now, but I predict he won't wear well with them. We'll see.
People tend to use the word faith as if it’s a good thing and it often is. If you’re talking about it in terms of loyalty and in terms of your friends, then it’s a beautiful thing. If you’re talking about it in terms of optimism and of being happy about life and things will turn out okay, then, it’s also okay. If you’re talking about it in terms of Allah taking care of me in the next life for being a martyr and, therefore, I will fly the planes into the Twin Towers, I don’t know how you can justify that as a good thing.
There is no difference between Mel Gibson’s faith and the terrorist’s faith. We have no evidence that there was a historic Jesus, we have no evidence that he died for our sins. We have no evidence, that we can agree on, for any of that. If you look at the distribution of religion, it tends to be geographical and not intellectual, which is a another discussion. link
It's interesting that, as much as the average person seems to loathe lawyers, the Dem ticket now consists of two of them, including one of the sleaziest variety, a personal injury lawyer - while the Republican ticket has none.
Heard on the local radio that since Graham wasn't picked, he'd mostly likely be in Kerry's cabinet. Maybe as NSC director or head of Homeland Security. I am laughing so hard.
At the doctor's today (he's a new doctor, my 2nd visit) I found out he's a republican, after the glee, he said he was confused, he didn't think I would be a republican because I'm a woman. He told me he doesn't meet too many logical, thinking women.
I told him about being married to a liberal, I think his head started spinning. "It's usually the other way around.", he said shaking his head with a smile as he walked away.
Dr. thinks like I do, GWB will win. I gave him my prediction, 1,000,000 more votes for Bush/Cheney in FL this year!
has anyone shoved a mic in front of the beaste yet to get her take on the ticket? I really thought he'd pull a fast one and pick her. I hoped he would. It would have been cataclysmic.
Just saw the press pack slobbering after Edwards. I was watching for the squirrelly gate, but then they said this is his WASHINGTON HOME! The squirrels are at his residence in N. Carolina.
Doesn't he also have that big beach house??? So we've got a donkey presidential candidate with 6 estates...and his veep has 3 houses (at least).
Suggested campaign slogan: "Be populist like us and you, too, can have multiple estates!".
On Saturday, Dick and Lynne Cheney stopped in Cleveland for a rally - I think it was before they went to West Virginia. I volunteered for the event and got to shake hands with both of them before they left.
I will now attempt to post one of the pictures I took. If all goes well, I will post others and a link to the picture of my daughter and me with the First Lady taken last month.
All in all not a bad way to spend my free time these past couple of weeks.
Here goes:
< img src = "http://www.shutterfly.com/view/picture_dt.jsp?state=67b0de219ab4a90df41d&idx=4" >
OK, there's a link, but no picture. Any help?
Here's the link to the Laura Bush picture: < img src = "http://www.reflectionsorders.com/view_user_photo.asp?EVENTID=5585&ID=8358868" >
Apologies for my lack of participation lately, as you know running for office is a busy busy job.
The Detroit News asked me to answer these 5 questions.
Here are my answers. If you have anything you think that I should add, take away, or rephrase, please post. I welcome your input.
Campaign Questions
Provide concise answers to the following questions. (1000 character limit)
Q: What are Michigan's top priorities in the federal budget? Will the growing federal budget deficit eventually hurt the economy, and what should be done about that?
A: The Federal budget must support a strong military and intelligence capability. The war on terror is real – the fringe islamists want to kill us! The budget must constrain spending on “pork” projects – something neither party seems to want to do. If elected I will do everything I can to do this because savings can a) Reduce the deficit, and b) be used for other “real” priorities. I will also resist further spending on education. It is clear that throwing more money at the problem does not solve the problems. The No Child Left Behind initiative is clearly in the right direction – require more accountability to students teachers, and schools. By the way, much of the NCLB budget is still unspent even as states complain about the costs.
I will push for making the tax cuts permanent. They clearly have helped increase employment and the growth of the GDP. Business, particularly small/medium business that creates most jobs, hates uncertainty. Until this is resolved uncertainty will depress enthusiasm for expanding business which will affect capital spending and hiring.
Everyone agrees that given war spending decreases beginning in 2005, productivity continues to improve at record rate (the tax cuts incent spending on new capital tools and services), and employment continues to increase, and the budget spending is constrained, the deficit will decrease significantly through 2008. Under these assumptions the deficit will not be a burden for future generations. Once again, the tax cuts have reduced the deficit estimates due to increased taxable profits and wages.
. Q: Should an increase in automotive fuel economy standards be part of a national energy policy?
A: The “direction” of improved standards is a good thing as policy. But we must remember that the auto industry is market-driven. Imposing standards contrary to the market solves nothing. Currently hybrid vehicles cost 10% to 20% more than conventional vehicles. While there is a lot of interest in them, volume will not translate into sales-profit for the automakers until the market is ready. Fuel standards should increase over time based on reasonable estimates of market demand, and the impact on sales/revenue for the employers of the auto workers. We don’t want to lose jobs for the sake of increased efficiency. We also need to open ANWR in order to make the US let dependent on foreign oil.
Q: Explain how you would bring America's military involvement in Iraq to a successful conclusion.
A: Training is the magic word. The sooner we can equip and train Iraqi personnel in sufficient numbers to truly take over the security tasks currently provided by the coalition, the sooner we can bring our troops home. We now have a leader, General Patraius, that I believe can make this happen in 2005. The key is to make the elections happen in January 2005.
Q: What should the federal government do to end Michigan's loss of manufacturing jobs to other countries?
A: The answer is NOT to move toward protectionism. Free trade will always benefit America. Even Bill Clinton agrees with this. The strategy must be to incent productivity, deploy meaningful training programs to coincide with the policy to assure America maintains the lead in high-skill capabilities, and incent companies to invest in new technologies. Manufacturing jobs are a totality of a manufacturing enterprise – say Ford. To get a winning car out the door requires more than just putting the alternator on the car with low wage workers. Research and Development, design, marketing, finance, quality control, management strategies and policies, all contribute to the success of a product in the marketplace.
Should Ford/GM/Chrysler, and their suppliers really try to compete with Kia or Hyndai on price alone? Of course not. American workers are the most productive in the world. We must keep it that way.
Q: What would you do to improve the prescription drug benefit for Medicare patients?
A: First, simplify the program. Right now it’s confusing to seniors. Secondly, implement policies which allow drug companies to lower their cost-base in the U.S vs. Canada and other countries. Did you know that more money is spent by U.S. drug companies on advertising than on R&D? This all flows to the bottom line for determining U.S. pricing to get a fair return. The same can be said for all the “overhead/management” expenses to determine what development decisions are made. A foreign “reseller has none of these expenses. Third, implement FTC programs to ASSURE that importation of foreign drugs is safe for Medicare patients, and allow them to be reimbursed by Medicare.
The Cheney rally in Cleveland on Saturday was fantastic. C-Span ran the one in West Virginia and it was essentially the same, although I humbly submit that our crowd was even better [no offense, mountaineer :)]! At one point, Cheney even commented on what a great crowd it was.
George Voinovich introduced Lynne Cheney and both she and the VP and one of their granddaughters came on to the stage. The crowd was cheering and yelling, "four more years," for a long time. Everyone on stage was laughing because Mrs. Cheney kept trying to start her introduction but the crowd kept yelling.
He spoke for at least half an hour to 40 minutes and it was hot and stuffy in the building we were in. He was constantly interupted with cheers and applause. When he got the part where he criticizes Kerry he noted, "this is the good part of the speech." Everybody laughed and cheered.
Despite the heat and the really long wait, everybody in the room was thrilled to see them and it showed with all of the yelling, cheering and clapping. There was an older couple standing near me and I had the impression that the woman had never participated in a rally like this before. She would start chanting, "four more years," a little self consciously, but she was dancing in place to the music and the clapping and waving her little flag. She was so sweet.
After it was done, we went up to the rope line and both the VP and Mrs. Cheney were shaking hands, so I dug in and went two for two! All I could think to say was, "thank you, sir."
About 100-150 protestors showed up (although the Cleveland Plain Dealer described it as "hundreds") and were standing behind barricades across the street. There were some pro-Bush supporters with signs standing near them, so they weren't there unanswered. When we left after the event, they were yelling things like, "Cheney go home!" One of the guys I was with reminded them that when Cheney goes home, it'll be to the White House. (Technically not correct, but clearly they hadn't really thought too much about their chant)!
When the Bush-Cheney 04 bus pulled out and drove past the protestors, he came on over the loudspeaker and wished them a Happy 4th of July.
A VP debate (the only one, or are there several?) will be in Cleveland in October. I will be your faithful correspondent!
Hope you all enjoyed your holiday weekend. Mine certainly rocked!
Speaking of women presidents.. I was marching in a parade and working the crowd on Saturday. I was passing out my literature ( if you can call it literature, it's business card sized ) and a woman said " Oh I will vote for you, we need more women in office".
Hey great, I agree, then she had to ruin and say " I hope Hillary runs for president, she will be the best president ever".
I thanked her and then wanted to puke.
Oh well, take 'em where you can get 'em.
Your answers are excellent!
#3: change
"....General Patraius, that I believe can..."
to "General Patraius, WHO I believe can...".
i have a couple of minor suggestions which I will email to you later.
1) The spending is out of control. Just stoppit.
2) Drill our proven reserves and we'll be fine.
3) Declare a "victory" and get our kids outta there.
4) Stop investments in China. They are not our friend.
5) Get out of healthcare: it's none of your business, and you just screw it up from top to bottom.
Good luck with it, HLL.
I took your grammar correction and added the WHO. I also found a couple of other errors in spelling that I changed.
I took out the 'fringe islamist terrorists' and that Bill Clinton even agreed with our free trade.
Oh, I also took out the 'Democrats and republicans don't want to budget cut the pork, but left cutting pork.
I am sure that many will think that my stances are too harsh, but I just refuse to be wishy washy.
Kerry Pumped Up
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