BROADCASTING FROM WASHINGTON DC

The Neal Boortz Show is on the move once again. Today we're broadcasting form the radio studios of The Heritage Foundation in Washington DC. As an extra treat for our listeners Jamie Dupree will join us for an extended visit when the news situation gives him a breather.

Why Washington? OK .. are you ready for a long title? This afternoon I'll be testifying for the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. My ... how these folks do love to form committees.

No .. my testimony won't be seen on C-SPAN. Are you kidding? I'm such a small fish in this pond up here .. but it will be an interesting experience nonetheless.

The committee has asked me to testify on the issue of "tax transparency." In other words, how to make the tax system more transparent and easily understood by the average taxpayer. Evidently there are some members or committee staff who feel that it would be good for Americans to know just how much they're paying in federal taxes every year, and just how those taxes are being spent.

The invitation was pretty much last minute. I had to prepare a written version of my "testimony" on the way up here yesterday, then get 20 copies ready to submit to the subcommittee this afternoon. Tomorrow I'll print my "testimony" here in Nealz Nuze. I would guess that protocol dictates that they see it first. But, then, what do I know about all this.

OK .. here is what I DO know. There is one sure way to make the federal tax system transparent for all, and that is to enact the FairTax.

The good news here is that the invite for me to appear before the subcommittee is clear evidence that the FairTax is definitely on the radar screen here inside the Beltway. No --- the invitation didn't come from Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss, who introduced S 25, the Senate Version of The FairTax Act. The invite came from the staff of a Senator far, far away.

Oh .. another interesting fact. One of the other witnesses in today's hearings? The Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service.

Wish me luck.

LOOKING FOR DR. STUPID

OK .. so I'm sitting here trying to prepare some mildly interesting program notes. I decide I want to find an example of the general ignorance that permeates our society. What better place to look than the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's daily Vent feature?

OK .... Cover me. I'm going in! Be back in a minute with whatever I've found:

(Pregnant pause)

Uh oh. This has backfired on me. I could just go ahead and erase this portion of my notes, but honesty compels me to move ahead with this project.

I reviewed today's vent and, though it shocks me to say this, I didn't really find any example of wretched ignorance. There was one posting by someone who has decided to climb on the tired and worn out "Bush is dumb" train; to wit:

If Dubya had been interviewed by Chris Wallace, his speech writers would have needed a week to review the questions, and another week to write what Dubya would say.

But then I found this vent from someone who actually gets it!

Folks who continue to bash Bush for spending and reducing taxes conveniently forget to note that federal revenues are up and the deficit is going down.

I think the people at the Vent knew I was going to do this today, and set a trap for me.

HEY - COULD YOU PLEASE HAND ME SOME NEWS UNDER THE PARTITION?

I just love these programs designed to encourage people to read. Reading is truly the pathway to all knowledge.

The amazing minds at Palm Beach Atlantic University have come up with a novel idea. It seems that students weren't all that interested in reading the campus newspaper, and bulletins on the bulletin board were largely ignored. Enter "Stall Talk," It's a weekly poop sheet (excuse the pun) printed on toilet paper and placed in campus restroom stalls.

As one of the students says .... Hey, everybody goes to the bathroom, so as long as you're there, you might as well read it!

I've been thinking of printing my caricature on rolls of toilet paper. Anything for a buck.

TEARING CLINTON'S LIES TO SHREDS

The Bush Administration sent Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the New York Post to meet with editors and reporters. The mission: shoot down every one of Bill Clinton's lies that the former president told on Fox News Sunday. Secretary Rice made several rebuttals.

In response to Clinton's claim that the Bush Administration did nothing to try and get Bin Laden, Rice shot back: "The notion somehow for eight months the Bush administration sat there and didn't do that is just flatly false and I think the 9/11 commission understood that. What we did in the eight months was at least as aggressive as what the Clinton administration did in the preceding years." OK .. so now we have two sides to THAT story. Who to believe? The man disbarred from the practice of law because of perjury, or Condi Rice?

As for Bill Clinton's statement that he left behind a comprehensive terror strategy, that too was exposed as a lie. "We were not left a comprehensive strategy to fight al Qaeda." She would know. And what about Bill Clinton's statement that George W. Bush demoted Richard Clarke...the country's best guy on terrorism? Rice shot that down, too: "Richard Clarke was the counterterrorism czar when 9/11 happened. And he left when he did not become deputy director of homeland security, some several months later." So there you have it.

Just as predicted, Bill Clinton may have looked all big and bad when he huffed and puffed on TV in front of Chris Wallace. But in doing so, he invited scrutiny...and his statements simply are not holding up.

It's nice to see the Bush Administration isn't taking Clinton's history revisionism lying down.

LOW GAS PRICES A GOP CONSPIRACY?

Believe it or not, there is actually a new Gallup poll out that says 42% of Americans believe the new, lower gas prices we've been experiencing are a ploy by the Bush Administration to get Republicans elected this fall. Leading the parade of ignorance is Jim Mohr of Lexington, Illinois, quoted in the Associated Press wire story that is making the rounds. According to Mohr, sure, it's the end of the summer driving season..."But I think the big important reason is Republicans want to get elected. They think getting the prices down is going to help get some more incumbents re-elected." So there you have it....George W. Bush controls gas prices!

How many Jim Mohrs are there out there in America? Evidently millions, judging by the 42% figure cited by Gallup. Here's another telling statistic from the same poll: two-thirds of those who believe Bush is manipulating oil prices are Democrats. However, if our liberal friends would stop and think for a minute (I know that's asking a lot,) they would ponder a few observations:

1.) I thought Bush was an idiot. If he's so dumb, then how is he controlling the price of gasoline and the world price of oil? Surely such an intellectual lightweight is incapable of lording over the worldwide energy market and controlling it.

2.) If Bush controlled energy prices, wouldn't he keep gasoline cheap all the time, ensuring Republican domination during his entire presidency? Why did he allow the gas prices to go up in the first place? During his 2004 campaign...when gas prices were high and hurting his re-election campaign, wouldn't it have been handy to call all the gas stations and knock a buck or two off the price?

3.) And last but not least, why are gas prices only around $2 right now? Surely if the GOP operated the gas price lever, they would drop it down to around a dollar...ensuring a sweeping victory in November.

The fact that most who believe this nonsense are Democrats is telling. With their government educations, it is just impossible to explain to some people how simple supply and demand and economics work.

Sadly, what we're really seeing here is pure evidence of the rampaging ignorance that exists to far to great a degree in our population. These people don't know the difference between a profit and a profit margin, but they by-God know that Bush is manipulating the price of gasoline.

FATWA FRIDAY CANCELLED

Dennis Mitsubishi in Columbus, Ohio has thrown in their turban. After coming under pressure from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR,) the auto dealership has canceled their plans to run a radio ad for "Fatwa Friday." So there will be no women in burqas threatening jihad on the automotive market. That's too bad.

It's hard to criticize the auto dealership. After all, they're running a business. They have to decide whether or not to run an advertisement based on how it will affect their business. If they thought it would do more harm than good, then it made business sense to pull the ad. But the response to the ad shows you just how thin-skinned and overly sensitive the Islamic leadership is in this country.

If they're not terrorists, then why be so offended when somebody makes fun of terrorists? It's a legitimate question, you know. But it makes sense that CAIR would be upset. Because that organization is an offshoot of Hamas, a terrorist group. They couldn't have somebody making fun of their friends like that.

So, there will be no free rubber swords for the kiddies this Friday. One thing's for sure...it's brilliant marketing...think of all the free advertising they've gotten with a commercial that never ran!

REDNECK SCRAP BOOK

A redneck train set would not be complete without these. More in the Redneck Scrap Book.

READING ASSIGNMENTS

What do Americans want from their health care system? Well, surprise, surprise, surprise. They want guaranteed health care - paid for by someone one else. Aren't you surprised?

"I have monkeys in my pants."

Dick Cheney, never one to mince words, is taking on the Democrats....accusing them of being soft on terrorism with a strategy of resignation and defeatism.  Democrats shot back that Cheney was using smear and fear tactics.  The mid-term election campaign is officially underway.

The Bill Clinton/Chris Wallace smackdown drew big ratings for 'Fox News Sunday.'  In fact, the show had its biggest numbers since the capture of Saddam Hussein almost 3 years ago.  They even beat 'Meet The Press.'

Apparently Iran is ready to suspend its nuclear program and stop enriching uranium.  So what's the catch?  Iran insisted on including a provision that the temporary suspension be kept secret.  Well, surprise....it's a little late for that.  We all know now.

The prediction that Democrats are going to sweep into power this fall, taking over the House and Senate, is no longer widely being made.  In fact, Democratic insiders admit the Republicans are doing a better job at campaigning.

Columnist Robert Kagan makes a great point about the National Intelligence Estimate, which supposedly says the war in Iraq has created more terrorists.  Where can we read this document?  Where are the quoted passages?  The answer is nowhere, because current reporting only relies on leaks.

Debra Saunders wonders why Bill Clinton continues to go around talking about his failure to catch Osama Bin Laden.  She also responds to Clinton's accusation that Fox News is a tool for the GOP.  Did you know that Rupert Murdoch donated $500,000 to the Clinton Global Initiative last week?

Bill Kristol says Bill Clinton may have known what he was doing when he blew up on Fox News last week.  Clinton knows that painting the Democrats as weak on terrorism will hurt their election chances.

Pope Benedict XVI was attacked by Muslims for confronting evil, not for criticizing their religion.  So says Dennis Prager, who also calls the Pope's critics hypocrites...and offers a bit of a history lesson.

Thomas Sowell looks at some of the news over the past week...and has some brilliant observations.  Like this one:  why are people striving to extend Geneva Convention protection to terrorists that aren't covered by the Geneva Convention?

Is the United States prepared to go to war with Iran, or has President Bush already decided against the idea?  Pat Buchanan looks at the options for dealing with Iran.  Which route will the U.S. go?  Interesting reading.

A 28-year veteran art teacher is on leave because a parent complained that their kid saw a nude statue on a trip to the Dallas Museum of Art in April. Next, the parent plans to complain about a recent trip to the zoo because the monkeys weren't wearing pants.

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