Your turn at the Soapbox

I want to reserve judgement. I would like my conservative friends to help me not think so poorly of the Head of State. Please, clear this up for me. I don’t want to, really, truly don’t want to believe that our President is an idiot. But, listening to him whenever he opens his mouth I can’t help but think he ain’t too bright. I’m not saying this to be mean or to disparage him. I just cannot stand to listen to him talk simply because I get embarrassed for him. It’s like watching a kid giving an oral report in class who spent his time playing XBOX instead of studying. I’m sure he is knowledgeable, he graduated from a prestigious school. I’m sure he has an understanding of world issues and politics, he is the Pres after all. But, then, why does he sound like such an idiot?

A few examples.

Make no mistake about it, I understand how tough it is, sir. I talk to families who die.

Rarely is the question asked, is our children learning?

I'm honored to shake the hand of a brave Iraqi citizen who had his hand cut off by Saddam Hussein.

Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across the country.

Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream.

You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.

Here’s a great exchange.
President Bush: Peter. Are you going to ask that question with shades on?
Peter Wallsten of the Los Angeles Times: I can take them off.
Bush: I'm interested in the shade look, seriously.
Wallsten: All right, I'll keep it, then.
Bush: For the viewers, there's no sun.
Wallsten: I guess it depends on your perspective.
Bush: Touché.

Exchange with legally blind reporter Peter Wallsten, to whom Bush later apologized, Washington, D.C., June 14, 2006

No question in my mind these are tough times for America. But there's no question in my mind we'll prevail. Right is on our side. And we'll prevail, because we're a fabulous nation, and we're a fabulous nation because we're a nation full of fabulous people.

It’s not just these occasions. I have a habit of not listening to his addresses because it is just too painful.

Is it too much to ask for a President who doesn’t sound like an idiot? To the rest of the world, he is our spokesman. That thought alone makes me want to cry. Now he is spouting about how he doesn't want his aides to appear in front of congress under oath because it would be a ‘show trial’ (Yea, I digress). First off, has anyone asked the President if he knows what a show trial is (doubt it), and second, has he no understanding of how common this is? Since Republicans are so fond of harking back to the Clinton days, lets look back and see how many White House aides appeared under oath before congress. In total: 31.

So is the the testimony part that they are so afraid of, or the under-oath part? Strange, in this case, Clinton appears to have a higher moral ground than Bush.

And he could put two sentences together.

My praises go out to Josh for an awesome updated site. Well done buddy! It looks fantastic. The drawings are hillarious. I love them. I am proud to be associated with such talented people.

Let the fun of the '08 election begin. Believe me, there is a lot more at stake then partisan politics. It is scary to even comprehend the tragedy of what would happen to our country if the wrong person gets to the White House. I am not condoning Pres. Bush with that statement, I am only verbalizing the need for the Winston Churchill of our times. It is going to get really intersting...

I'm done tweaking the site, for now at least. I left room in the graphic at the top of the page for any of our other friends who want to start posting. Also, the traffic to the blog has increased a lot the past week so I just wanted to say welcome to our guests and invite anyone to post comments. Oddly, it seems like the biggest jump in traffic is coming from visitors in Malaysia- don't have a clue why but, welcome anyway!

Things might get a little wonky around here. I'm trying to update the site to give it a cooler feel so be patient with me. When I'm done, we'll have little caricatures of us up top- there's an old one of me right now, but I should have yours done soon.

Other than the visual stuff, it's basically the same, but comments are now located on the top of the post instead of the bottom. Let me know what you think!

Instead of responding to James' post about Valerie Plame in the comments I thought I would just start another post because, well... I'll admit it, I'm long winded.

I think it is hilarious how Conservatives have tried to downplay the Plame affair. Really, though, it shouldn't be a surprise. It is potentially the largest scandal to hit the Bush administration- quite an accomplishment since this administration has taken to scandal like a fat kid to spaghetti-o's.

Let’s lay out the facts. First, Valerie Plame was not only a covert agent but had a ‘Non-official cover’ or NOC, one of the most difficult (but not the most difficult-deep cover )type of cover for the agency to create. She wasn’t a desk jockey. She was an intelligence officer posing as a private energy expert. She was a spy.

The second fact is that she was outed to damage her husbands credibility. Someone (not exactly sure who- but I’m guessing Rove was the genesis of the idea but Cheney probably gave birth to it) wanted damage Wilson's credibility and knew the easiest way to do it. The White House was on course to invade Iraq and no amount of truth was going to stop them. They were willing to do anything to get there.

This is a unique situation because it is the only time in our history that an undercover agent was outed by the White House during a time of war.

Oh yea, outing an undercover agent, that’s a bad thing to do. Treason, in fact.

If she had been outed because she was a double agent, or working for the soviets, that would have been one thing. But outing her because her husband disagreed with the administrations policies? That is such an appalling disregard for the safety of those who dedicate their lives to our country that any undercover agent should be shaking in their shoes.

It looks as though this leak wasn’t even authorized or done through proper channels.

The last person to get caught leaking classified information was Daniel Ellsberg in 1971 who did it to prevent the United States from getting into further wars. He faced multiple life sentences.

Cheney (probably) leaked info in a dirty political trick. I’m calling it treason.

Not only did that expose someone who dedicated and risked her life to this country, but also years and thousands of dollars in building her front company "Brewster Jennings & Associates" and all the people who work there.

It is disgusting disregard to anyone who sacrifices for this country. The idea that the White House will destroy your career, put your life in danger and commit treason because your spouse dares to point out the fact that the President is either lying or uninformed is a blight that cannot be forgiven.

As for the book deals, she looks pretty, etc. If you were the only person be on the receiving end of a treasonous act by a White House official, you would write a book too! Also, is the act of writing a book a sign that you wanted to end up in a current situation? Right! I’m sure that Sgt. Bryan Anderson became a triple amputee just so he could get on the cover of Esquire.

Cheney makes Spiro Agnew look like Robin Hood.

John Kerry video

I don't know if you can follow this link, but I watched this on the net and thought it was interesting.......check it out.

What do you guys think about this mess?

I was hoping to hear some evidence of foul play.......so far, all we know that their was a leak. But to imply a conspiracy..........is the left blowing this out of proportion (this case definately has a partisan feel)? Honestly, I'm legitimately curious to what you guys think. It's a shame it happened, but the case just seems to be lacking anything of substance.

No one can deny this is yet another partisan affair......Reid is ticking me off--his accusations before any evidence is so Gulf-War like.

It seems like Plame is glorifying her past with the CIA. She wasn't as covert as she claims. Does she have alternivative motives.......she's coming out with a book, she's in the limelight, she's pretty............it seems like this "blow to the gut" was the best thing that's ever happened to her.

Is this case anything more than a moment(s) of incompetence by Libby.....maybe Cheney?

I'm trying hard to understand the Rove situation as well......do I have to be more patient to understand the "meat" and implications of this case. What exactly, was done illegally......help me out. Is it illegal to fire people........I thought Rove's job was appointed by the President--to a certain degree it makes sense to have people that share common ground. I don't understand what's going on. It sounds like the President wasn't even involved.

This is a politcally incorrect essay.....especially since I'm White focusing on Black issues......oh well, just know that I realize their is a bigger picture to what I've written.....My focus is just that many Blacks should at least consider leaving the Democrat Party.

It’s been since Kennedy that African-Americans have been glued to the Democratic Party. This relationship is like a bad marriage. The honeymoon is over and ended in the 70s.

Ya' know, a marriage should be a companionship where each spouse is able to share their love in a give-and-take relationship. The Democratic Party is like the husband on the recliner waiting for his wife to bring him the newspaper, his remote control, a nice cold beer, and expecting a foot massage……….in the meantime, taking his wife for granted and giving nothing back in return.

What have the Democrats done for Blacks lately?

The Democratic Party should be exposed for capitalizing on the misfortune and dysfunctions of those they “represent.” By exploiting the crises the poor face, they promote “entitlements” and ignore the prospects of self-sufficiency or the hope of a better future. Kind of sounds like leeches thriving on the bleeding wounded doesn’t it?

What have these entitlements produced…..hard to say exactly, but 70% of African-American children are born out of wedlock—their daddies have been replaced by the welfare check apparently.

The low expectations the Democrats place on Blacks is pure and simple bigotry. It’s wrong, it’s conceited, it is why affirmative action is wrong……..let’s stop undermining people’s vast potential! Let’s start giving people a hand and not a hand-out!

I don't think it will be long until more Blacks join the Republican Party. Let's face it--the majority of Blacks are already social conservatives (abortion, gay marriage). It can't be long.

Next short essay will be on our flawed Welfare system.

Guess who's movin' up in the polls?

Yep! 22%.........just 7% behind frontrunner Rudy (in New Hampshire).

1st place in having the strongest character.
1st place in his stance on major issues.

Not bad........Not bad at all.

Just imagine what some name recognition would do--only 50% of Republicans know who Romney is!

Man I'm glad all the bogus stories on him have almost been exhausted......especially when his profile was pretty low. The liberal media will be hitting themselves for their bad timing in the months to come.

Although, look for an upcoming story from the Washington Post: "Romney's Mormon Force in Iowa." Well, that's what the reporter might call it. This reporter has been harassing BYU graduates in Iowa trying to dig up a story of Romney mingling church and politics.

It's funny, I bet black ministers are preaching from their pulpits to vote for Hillary or Obama, and evangelicals are preaching support for Brownback or Huckabee........but Mitt is the one getting crapped on for not separating church from politics.

Off the subject:
I really want republicans to stretch out their hands to african-americans more........it's ridiculous that 90% of them vote democrat. Personally, I think it's from ignorance and heavy political sway from idiots like Jackson and Sharpton.

Dems take minority votes for granted........I can't wait until it's exposed.

I can't wait for the day the blacks realize that many of them are in this perpetual state of living in the slums because the dems keep them there. Don't worry--someday I'll write an essay to express my views on this subject in depth. But right now I should get back to studyin'.