[Aristophanes]

Juan Williams seemed genuinely impressed with what Bush said about helping children of prisoners and AIDS victims in Africa.

Question: where does the Constitution authorize federal programs for mentoring the children of prisoners? For helping AIDS victims (in Africa or otherwise)?

I was disgusted (as usual) by the speech. My former party has completely abandoned even the pretense that they're for limited government or the Constitution. The difference between the Demoncrats and the Pubs is merely a matter of degrees.

[RicocheT]

"Question: where does the Constitution authorize federal programs for mentoring the children of prisoners? For helping AIDS victims (in Africa or otherwise)?"

You are correct in saying the federal government has been expanded and exercises power beyond the plain reading of the Constitution. Both Republicans and Democrats are guilty of this power grab.

Lessening federal power is not likely to happen. I console myself by saying the money Bush promised for African AIDS and the children of prisoners mentoring is peanuts compared to the promise of drugs for seniors. The drugs for seniors was something like 400 billion and that is a very scary number. That program will break the economy and cause young taxpayers to vote to euthanize their parents and grandparents.

[capitan_refugio]

Where does it say, "A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage"?? Every campaign promise, every SOTU pledge, has to be backed up with legislation and appropriation. That's why we are called a "deliberative democracy."

[Marysecretary]

I can see you aren't in favor of it, but I feel if you mentor children of prisoners, they may not end up in the same place, thus saving taxpayers a lot of money. America is a compassionate country and I hope this program works instead of being beaten down by bureaucrats.