SOTU

Curious what everybody thought about the SOTU last night..

Old Chimpy got up there and kissed Pelosi's butt, and then launched into his speech.

All in all, it was not as bad as previous years, but the bar has been set so low...

Major themes:

- 20% reduction in oil usage

OK, on the surface, I am for this...but he never specifically mentions CAFE standards, or LEGISLATION to mandate major improvements..he sites more Ethanol (Tom Harken and Iowa) which If I am not mistaken may help our Oil consumption, but if the goal is lowering greenhouse gases, I think it is a neutral proposition as it takes a lot of energy to make ethanol...surprised he didn't try to go to the ANWR platform again

So I call this one HOT AIR - nothing substantial will happen.


- Health Care reform - HA! he doesn't propose anything to address the problem of run away costs, only a (Drum roll please) plan to create a tax program that allows people to buy insurance...sounds so-so on the surface (even supporters have to be skeptical of anything this guy says), what this basically means is that small businesses will no longer offer health care, and the burden will be shifted to individuals...might work ok in the short term, but in the end, the costs will continue to rise, and these "affordable" plans will become overpriced like they were before, and the business lobby will have succeeded in shifting a cost back onto the employees. Oh, and he went to the HSA route...there is the solution for the working poor...save more money in tax sheltered HSA's - ummm...these people live pay check to pay check..putting away money in a rainy day health care account at the expense of gas to get to work, and heat for the house in the winter or clothes for the kids...come on! Lip service...never will happen, but at least he recognizes this is a problem [roll eyes]


War on Terra - same old bull shit --

Iraq - come on!! one more chance...I love you baby, I promise I won't hit you again..I am a changed man...no more drinkin', I won't get angry...WHAT! you can't find the remote...WHAP!

I am sure there was more, but Ellen had to leave the room because I started yelling at the TV :) - at least I didn't film myself doing it

Kevin Garnett no Royce Gracie

Kevin Garnett, you're seven feet tall and built like a racehorse. So why do you fight like my sister?

Sometimes comedy is simple

Sean Salisbury's Junk

how did I miss this? apparently last month ESPN suspended Sean Salisbury, allegedly because he took pictures of his package with his cel phone, and showed it to female coworkers

If Sean Salisbury Asks You to Look at his Equipment, Don't Do It

Goddamn Hippies and their Subaru's

hold my beer!

I want to do this!

Bush on our Country's Sacrifices

From the News Hour last night:

LEHRER: Let me ask you a bottom-line question, Mr. President. If it is as important as you've just said -- and you've said it many times -- as all of this is, particularly the struggle in Iraq, if it's that important to all of us and to the future of our country, if not the world, why have you not, as president of the United States, asked more Americans and more American interests to sacrifice something?....

PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, you know, I think a lot of people are in this fight. I mean, they sacrifice peace of mind when they see the terrible images of violence on TV every night. I mean, we've got a fantastic economy here in the United States, but yet, when you think about the psychology of the country, it is somewhat down because of this war.

Everyone needs to do their part, so last night I watched the news on TV while eating a pint of Ben & Jerry's. I'm sure my sacrifice is of great comfort to a soldier trying to dig a foxhole in a sand dune right now. Glad I could help!

Update: Here's another quote from the same interview:

BUSH: Success also means making sure al-Qaida doesn’t get a foothold in Iraq, which they’re trying to do in Anbar province…. [T]he final option is secure the capital and at the same time chase al-Qaida into Anbar. And what’s different is that there would be more troops this time and better rules of engagement so that the Iraqi troops and our troops, working side by side, will be able to go after the enemy.

As Digby and other bloggers point out -- Bush is planning on keeping al-Qaeda from getting a foothold in Anbar by driving them into Anbar. Hmm...

Conan's take on the iPhone

:)

Specter! no...not the 007 Specter, but similar

Turns out the mystery senator who inserted the provision into the Patriot Act that allows the circumvention of USDA's being confirmed by the Senate is none other then PA's own Arlen "what did I get in Return for this" Specter....

hmmm...so at the last minute in conference, he is instructed by the DOJ (Al Gonzo) to insert this clause...

Question is...what did the Chimpy in Chief promise in return?

This is Our Country!

From the West Coast, to the east coast!

Bush Co is firing attorneys without cause...some of them are investigating Republicans for corruption...using a loophole in the Patriot Act that allows him to appoint loyal Republicans who won't investigate him...This is our Country!