LOOKING FOR HIGHLIGHTS

Don't misunderstand. This isn't about George Bush as much as it's about Presidential State of the Union Speeches. They're usually more accurately defined as campaign speeches than a true and honest appraisal of the state of our nation. Last night President Bush spent quite a bit of time talking, not about America, but about other areas of the world. Iraq and Afghanistan, of course, and Iran and the rest of the Middle East. He talked about poverty and disease in Africa. He talked about ending tyranny in the world. These are all crucial issues and need to be addressed, but the "union" referred to in the requirement for a presidential report to the congress is ours; the United States of America. This was the occasion to discuss what needs to be done at home, not how we're going to fight HIV in Africa or build schools in Iraq. It wasn't until the second half of the speech that President Bush actually started talking about the actual state of the union.

Now ... about Bush's next grand commission. I guess we could call this one an entitlement commission! Bush wants yet another commission to "examine the full impact of Baby Boom retirements on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid." Wow. I feel better already about these programs. We're going to get another commission! Don't we just all know that this commission is going to come up with some bold ideas for reform of these entitlement programs, and that an eager and impressed congress will immediately pass them into law! I can hardly wait! Remember, these programs exist as vote-buying programs. In every one of these programs' income is redistributed from those whose votes are less valuable to those whose votes are essential. Reform? We're nowhere near desperate enough.

What about illegal immigration? There is no doubt that the issue of illegal immigration concerns Americans greatly; much more than it seems to concern the political class. Bush had no choice but to address the issue last night, but there was nothing new. Bush said "We hear claims that immigrants are somehow bad for the economy." Really? Who said that? I haven't heard those claims. I've heard people complain that illegal immigration was bad, not to mention dangerous; but I haven't heard people just saying that immigration is bad. So, here we have George Bush trying to paint our concerns over illegal aliens as a general opposition to immigration. To be fair, the President did say that we need stronger immigration enforcement and border protection .. but he tied that to a guest worker program that rejects amnesty. What's that again? A "guest worker program that rejects amnesty?" Does this mean that everyone who is here now illegally will be rounded up and sent back? No, it doesn't. It means they'll be legitimized. They'll be rewarded for their illegal actions. They'll be absolved of any criminal wrongdoing and allowed to stay. That's not amnesty? The reality is that Bush is pushing a guest worker program that includes, not rejects amnesty.

Health care was on the president's mind also. At one point he said; "Our government has a responsibility to help provide health care for the poor and the elderly." Really? And just where is that written in our Constitution. Tell me, Mr. President, just what Article and Section of our Constitution sets forth that responsibility? If the government is responsible for providing health care for the poor and the elderly, why not the rest of us? Isn't there something in the Constitution about "equal protection?" How is that mandate met by providing health care for the old, but not the young? The poor, but not the well-to-do? The reality, of course, is that there is no such mandate in the Constitution, and it is most definitely not the responsibility of the federal government, of any government, to provide that health care.

We'll give credit to Bush for one statement relating to health care. He said that we need to make sure that individuals and small business employees can buy insurance with the same advantages that people working for big businesses get. Does this mean that money spent on a private insurance policy should be just as deductible as premiums spent by business? What about insurance mandates that increase the cost of health insurance for every working family? Why should a 55-year-old couple be forced to pay for maternity coverage when they buy a private insurance policy? Why can't nurses or physician's assistants see patients and write prescriptions for simple matters such as an infected cut? Why can't the American Medical Association's stranglehold on who can and who cannot practice medicine be loosened? Why can't we deduct all medical expenses from out taxable income? Come on, George .. you can do better than this.

And what is a State of the Union Speech if we don't have some brand-spanking new initiatives? Well, last night we heard about the Advanced Energy Initiative and the American Competitiveness Initiative. One deals with our dependency on foreign oil, the other with the state of education. Remember, Mr. President, competition isn't good for humans. That's what that union teacher said in Florida after she and her union succeeded in destroying a school choice initiative. Now you want an initiative on competitiveness. Better check with the teacher's unions first.

Bush is getting praise today for his comments on oil dependency. The headline-grabber this morning is that Bush said that "America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world." That's right...we're all drug addicts, and it's our fault. Really? What about the administration's inability to begin drilling for oil in ANWR? What about our complete surrender to anti-capitalist environmental groups who oppose any drilling for oil anywhere? What about the refusal of the President's brother to allow natural gas exploration off the precious Gulf coast of Florida? Blaming the public for the U.S. government's own inability to drill for its own oil isn't exactly very good politics.

So what is Bush going to do about our dependence on foreign oil? Is he going to propose we drill for our own? Send the rigs up North to ANWR? Push for more offshore drilling in Florida? Nope. The administration couldn't get either proposal past the Democrats and weak-kneed Republicans in Congress. No...the answer is more government spending....and lots of it.

Bush proposed a 22% increase in spending on the Department of Energy, to promote solar, wind, nuclear, ethanol and hydrogen energy. Big whoop. The president says we should reduce our imports of foreign oil by 75%....by the year 2025. Why rush? That's two decades away! The real answer to reducing our dependence on foreign oil is to unleash the marketplace. If companies were allowed to drill for all the oil in the United States, if we could use those immense amounts of oil shale throughout the west, we wouldn't be having this problem. But as is the case with many things in the Bush administration, more government spending is the answer. I'll give him this. He is asking for more nuclear power.

CINDY SHEEHAN .... LOON

The Crawford Crackpot....Cindy Sheehan....decided that she was going to attend George Bush's State of the Union speech last night. She got a pass to the House gallery from leftist Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey. So did she plan to just sit there, keep her mouth shut and watch as the media cameras gave her plenty of attention? Nope...and that's where she screwed up.

The Capitol Police arrested her and charged her with demonstrating in the Capitol building. She wore a shirt, which she had covered up until she got to the gallery, that had an anti-war slogan on it. Police warned her that wasn't allowed...but Sheehan didn't respond. She could have taken off the shirt. But that's not what she wanted...she wanted to be arrested, and she was. Off she went to the police station.

Too bad..if she had really been thinking, she would have just acted like a normal person and let the media fawn all over her.

By the way ... what can you say about a congresswoman who would give Sheehan, a woman who said that George Bush was ten-times a worst terrorist than Osama bin Laden ... a pass to sit in the House Gallery for the State of the Union speech? Well, you could say she was California. That would about cover it.

Another fine "separated at birth" suggestion...

BANG THOSE POTS AND PANS

The left had their protestors out there last night. They were outside the U.S. Capitol banging pots and pans. Now that's what I call making a statement! Those of you on the left much be very proud of these efforts to bring divergent viewpoints to the people; banging pots and pans. Nice going!

THE TROOPS HAVE IT RIGHT

Interesting observation from some of our troops in Iraq today. By now you know that ABC World News Tonight anchor Bob Woodruff and his cameraman were injured a few days ago in a roadside bombing in Iraq. They've been transported back to the United States, where they are expected to eventually make a full recovery. Our prayers go out to them and their families as we wish them a speedy recovery.

But some aren't so thrilled with all of the media coverage Woodruff and his colleague are getting. It seems the rank and file are a bit peeved that the injuries of 2 journalists are getting all of this attention. What about the other troops that have died or have been seriously injured? Good point.

Said one: "Why do you think this is such a huge story? It's a bit stunning to us over here how absolutely dominant the story is on every network and front page. I mean, you'd think we lost the entire 1st Marine Division or something. There's a lot of grumbling from guys at all ranks about it. That's a really impolite and impolitic thing to say ... but it's what you would hear over here." I suppose they're right, although it's not Woodruff's or his cameraman's fault.

One military officer said it seems the impression being left is that press people are more important than the military. They just might be right.

So, what is this massive structure in the desert? Find out.

REDNECK SCRAP BOOK

Who needs one of them fancy rocking chairs like they've got at the Cracker Barrel? This one'll do me just fine! More in the Redneck Scrap Book.

READING ASSIGNMENTS

In case you missed anything, here is the full transcript of the president's State of the Union address.  Don't forget to read the Democratic response.  That  should be good for a few laughs.

It's going to be difficult for the mainstream media to keep a lid on this one: did you know that Louisiana government officials turned down federal help in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina?  Also, did you know that most Louisiana government officials are Democrats?  Read on.

This is an interesting show of support from an unexpected source: Pat Buchanan says the United States should continue to financially support the terrorist group Hamas, which just took over in the Palestinian territories.  He really said that.

Dr. Walter E. Williams says judges who violate the Constitution by handing down disastrous decisions like the Kelo one should be impeached.  He also gives an excellent overview of why that particular Supreme Court ruling was so terrible.

John Stossel has a good point about government schools.  In some districts, the public is spending $100,000 per student...and the kids are still failing.  Why not give parents a choice...and save thousands in the process?

Michelle Malkin says it's time to fight the bullies of Islam and points to a recent case in Denmark where editorial cartoonists have been threatened with their lives.  What for?  Drawing political cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed. How dare they!

Brent Bozell calls out ABC for their conservative-bashing.  'Nightline' did a report on justices who took trips, paid for by outside groups.  The problem?  Only Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia were featured.

Hamas is a group much like Al-Qaeda and with the West expected to cut off funding to the Palestinian Authority, Jack Kelly says the Iranians will probably pick up the slack.  He says it's time for the Israelis to take off the gloves.

Here's an interesting observation.  Of the four Democrats that voted yesterday to confirm Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court, all 4 are from red states and all are up for re-election.  Jay Bryant explains why they voted the way they did.

Members of the House are starting to call for George Bush's impeachment.  And just who are these people?  The usual suspects, including Maxine Waters.  What a surprise!

Be on the look-out for sliced ham with a special ingredient...dog squeeze!

Man attacks snowboarder for running over 7-year-old daughter's skis.

WHAT THE HECK ARE THOSE POINTY HAND THINGS?

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