Just some real-time notes as I watch this incomprehensible ninny who is our president.
- We must eliminate the unfair double tax on dividends. OK, this sounds fine to me – if corporations actually were paying taxes. The largest corporations in America never pay any taxes, and some – like, for instance, Enron – actually got CHECKS from the government. If the tax code is fixed so that corporations pay taxes on their earnings, I’m all for eliminating the dividend tax, even though it will help the rich.
The silliness of the “unfair double taxing” phrase is brought into sharp focus if you think of it this way: I get paid my salary, which is taxed. I buy a product with that already-taxed money, and pay a sales tax. The company that produced that product is taxed (including payroll taxes for the workers who made it, who them pay more taxes on their salary). The company pays dividends to shareholders, who pay a tax on that. The cycle never ends. If you want to eliminate unfair multiple taxing, why not only tax the first person who has the money? For instance, the first person who gets a freshly printed dollar bill can only use it to buy 25� worth of anything. Then all those who follow get the full dollar. - The continuing talk of cutting taxes is getting ridiculous. One minute he speaks of the need to cut government spending, then he talks about increasing discretionary spending by 4%. He says that amount is how much they expect the American paycheck to increase. Well, that’s fine, except you are now taking less of that paycheck!
He speaks about the future of a balanced budget and reduced deficits, as if his predecessor is the one he has to clean up after. Remember, under Clinton we had a balanced budget and a surplus, which Bush destroyed in record time. - I feel a kinship with Nancy Pelosi. She has the same unbelieving look on her face and furrowed brow that I do as she watches this man.
Read on for more.
- He’s proposing more $600 million programs here and there… um, how are we going to pay for these programs with all the tax cuts?
- “Instead of HMOs, we must put Doctors and nurses back in charge of American medicine.” Bravo! Of course, how will we afford the doctor’s fees?
- Energy independence and environmental conservation: again, bravo, but how can this happen if we don’t reduce our dependence on oil by promoting renewal technologies and start making the SUV a less attractive option? I applaud his call for fuel cell automobiles – excellent and unexpected. Where’s the catch? I don’t think I trust this oil executive to accomplish this.
- “Protect children at the very hour of their birth.” Here we go.
- Educating children in Afghanistan. Well, who couldn’t be for that? Question is, what are you going to teach them?
- I’m amazed at his “concern” about AIDS in Africa. He quotes statistics about the lack of medicines in Africa. He says that in this age, no one should have to be without medicine (I’m paraphrasing.) Question is, does he know how many people in this country have AIDS? How many cannot afford the expensive drugs? Is he going to step up funding for US AIDS treatment? I can only assume, as a conservative, that he is compassionate for African AIDS victims because they are not generally assumed to have contracted the disease through gay sex.
- The war on terrorism goes on, and we are winning, he says. As with many other issues, he claims to know things but won’t tell us. He says we’re winning this war, but I can see no evidence of it. He says Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, but hasn’t shown proof. Well, Mr. President, pardon me if I don’t take your word for it. Put your money where your mouth is, and a lot of people like me will shut up.
- The terrorists are on the run. Well, that’s no good – we don’t want them running, we want them caught! Osama bin Laden is on the run, when he should be in detention – or worse.
- Now, the FBI, CIA, Dept. of Defense, and Homeland Security (oh, that name) will work together in some kind of terrorism intelligence office… well, what the hell was the point of the Dept. of Homeland Security, then? Why didn’t they just start with the terrorism office? I dunno. I just don’t understand. It seems like the Bush administration is so kneejerk and reactionary that it never thinks things through. Funnily, it’s almost FDR-ish in it’s push to try one thing then walking over it to try another.
- “Now in this century, the ideology of power and domination…” Is he talking about the United States? I heard some quote the other day about states with weapons of mass destruction and the history of using them. The first nation that came to mind was us.
- “The course of this nation does not depend on the decisions of others.” Gee, if Saddam Hussein said that, he’d be… oh, wait. I think he did say that, more or less. How can we say that Iraq is a rogue because doesn’t comply with the decisions of the rest of the world, and at the same time we don’t have to?
- North Korea: “America and the world will not be blackmailed.” OK, I agree with this. But how are you going to deal with this situation?
The Korean “Pininchuhla.” Love that pronunciation. Although, he seems to be doing much better tonight. He must have had some speech coaching. But once and for all, it’s NOO-kle-ur, not NOOK-yuh-lur. - He talks about how sanctions and isolation have not stopped Saddam Hussein from seeking nuclear weapons. But a moment ago, he said that those very things would stop North Korea from seeking them. Saddam Hussein “has shown no respect for the opinions of the world.” Huh? And George Bush has?
- Again, he is trying to connect Iraq with Sept. 11, this time by asking us to imagine what MIGHT have happened if Saddam Hussein had equipped the hijackers with weapons. So, basically, he’s telling us that we must go to war with Iraq because if he had a time machine he could go back in time and get involved with the Sept. 11 terrorists.
- Telling us yet again about Saddam Hussein’s use of WMD against his own people, his use of torture and rape. Horrible, to be sure. Evil, definitely But nothing new. If it wasn’t enough to go to war before, why is it now?
- Love this phrase: “Iraq’s ongoing defiance of the world.” I hate to drive the point home again, but what about OUR ongoing defiance of the world?
- It seems like he is saying that we are going to war right after February 5. Will this be a boon for TV networks during the February sweeps? Cripes, as much as a pacifist as I am, I am almost so tired of waiting for this war that I just want to say “do it, already!! Stop teasing!”
- The choice of words is getting silly. “If this war is forced upon us…” Yeah, they’re forcing us.
- The call of history… I think history will look back at this time as a very, very low point. That is, unless the conservatives continue to rewrite history books and aggressively transform history curriculum to the rich white male point of view.
- Who’s cell phone keeps ringing there in the House chamber? I mean, don’t they have a vibrating setting?
And there we have it. There were two things that this speech really lacked: there was absolutely no eloquence involved – hardly surprising coming from this President – and there were no grand initiatives, especially considering the place this man has brought this country to (economic stagnation, terrorism, threat of war). I will admit that two initiatives did catch my attention: the promise of extensive aid to Africa and the call for fuel cell vehicles, both rather progressive and decidedly not typical for a conservative. It makes me wonder what the ulterior motives are. Perhaps since we have lost the hearts and minds of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, he thinks he can win over Africa? Regardless, I applaud that compassion and commitment. Will he do the same for Americans?
I’ll be first in line to buy a fuel cell car. Are his pals in the oil industry going to sell hydrogen at the corner gas station?
There’s a reason I am not a loud mouthed pundit or a seasoned political reporter. These are just my opinions….
