STATE OF THE UNION

Yeah ... I know it's my job, but I didn't stay up to watch the speech last night. So sue me. You can always get up the next morning and read the thing, you know .. and then you don't have to deal with all the applause, grimaces, smiles and other nonsense coming from the House floor.

First thought: Bush actually used the word "freedom" in the speech several times. He used it four times in reference to America. That's something you don't often hear from Democrats. The word "democracy" appeared four times. This is interesting when you consider the fact that this word never appeared in a State of the Union Speech before the Wilson - Roosevelt era.

By the time I hit the air there will be much more to say about the speech. (These notes have to be submitted to the Winsome Web Wench before I even leave for the studio). I will say, however, that I was pleased to see Bush acknowledge the role of the private sector in the delivery of health care. If we want an efficient and affordable health care system in this country, turn the private sector loose. If you want chaos and rationing, vote for pretty much any Democrat.

More later.

STIMULATING THE USELESS

The Democrats in Washington want to make sure of one thing ... if you are going to try to stimulate the American economy, you have to include the freeloaders who haven't been paying income taxes. Now I'm not talking about retired folks here, I'm talking about those of working age who have so squandered their American birthright that they can't even manage to ear enough money to pay a dollar in income taxes. Democrats are now stepping forward with their own economic stimulus plan .. a plan targeted at people who tend to vote Democrat.

Harry Reid is the ring-leader of this effort. Not only does he want to extend unemployment benefits but he also wants to boost home heating subsidies. Oh, that's one of my favorites. Let's use this economic stimulus plan to pay for the heating homes of poor people. The truth here is that these people are going to buy that heating oil one way or the other. When the government steps in with the subsidies the people receiving the handout can spend their money on cell phones, vacations, big-screen televisions or some other lifestyle expenditure. How in the hell is that going to stimulate anything? The big magic of home heating subsidies is that most of the people who use oil to heat their homes live in areas dominated by Democrats. That, of course, means votes.

Reid also wants to raise food stamp benefits and approve money for public works projects. God forbid the private sector should create more jobs with money saved from tax cuts on businesses and business owners.

OK ... so much of this is boring. I'll spice it up on the show today as only I can.

ACADEMIC FREEDOM ...

... yeah right. In Turkey, a court has sentenced a university professor to a 15-month suspended jail term because he insulted the state's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Professor Atilla Yayla is a criminal for suggesting, in an academic discussion, that the early Turkish republic was not as progressive as it is portrayed in the official government textbooks. He has apparently been vilified by the Turkish press, suspended from work at the university and was brought to trial. The prosecutor initially asked the judge to impose a five-year prison sentence ... five years, for suggesting that a government figure may not have been "progressive."

Mr. Yayla says that academics must be guaranteed freedom of expression in order to pursue their research. Turkey has a law, Article 301, on "insulting Turkishness." This law has been used to prosecute writers and intellectuals including Nobel Prize winners. And this country wants to be a member of the European Union?

Sounds like Berkley ... or Georgia State.

THE DEFENDERS OF THE ENEMY

A few days ago, an op-ed ran in one of the most influential papers in Iran, the Kayhan. This op-ed was written by the paper's editor, Hossein Shariatmadari, who is close to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Op-ed in an Iranian paper? Big deal, you say? Well ... you might think that way - until you read it. You need to know that this newspaper has immense power in Iran. Some think that it may be the voice of the Islamic weird beards who run the whole show. If that's the case, the alarm is ringing. The article calls on Muslims to unite and retaliate on American, European and Israeli "sensitive centers." This is because of "the war crimes that these countries are committing in the Gaza Strip" and because of their support for Israel.

As if that isn't bad enough, just take a peek at this paragraph:

"America and its European and Zionist supporters must know that their support for Israel's crimes will cost them very dearly. Once they discern that this support will cost them the property and lives of their citizens, they will doubtless reconsider their support for the savage Zionists... And didn't the Imam [Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini] teach that if every Muslim pours out one bucket of water, there will be a flood that will sweep away Israel, and destroy it?

Do I need to say more? Remember .. these people have a fairly advanced weapons program. But let's worry about Britney for a while ... and let these Iranians just rant.

NO SPEECH FOR ROVE

Karl Rove was set to be the commencement speaker for the prestigious prep school, Choate Rosemary Hall. That was then. This is now. Thanks to whining and protesting from the entitlement and self esteem generation of graduating students, Rove has backed out. They were going to walk out on their graduation if Rove made a speech. Now this should tell you something ... who did the students want to hear speak instead of Karl Rove? TV comedian Stephen Colbert. That's the future of America, folks.

RIDICULOUS GOVERNMENT SCHOOL MOMENT OF THE DAY

In Denton County, Texas a seventh grader has been under investigation by the police for sniffing hand sanitizer in class. The middle school student was accused of trying to get high by sniffing the teacher's hand sanitizer. After rubbing the gel on his hands he allegedly "inhaled heavily," according to school officials. He was then sent to the principal's office. But it didn't end there. A police officer was assigned to the school to begin an investigation.

The student was required to serve in-school suspension. He was also fingerprinted and photographed by the local police department. He returned to class, thinking everything was normal until he was served with a petition charging him with delinquency for inhaling the sanitizer "induce a condition of intoxication, hallucination and elation." Finally the prosecutors did a turnaround, realizing how stupid they have been ... and how this has been a complete waste of time and tax dollars. They determined that the gel is not an abusive inhalant under the Texas Health and Safety Code. Well good. So long as government says it is not an issue, than it must be true.

READING ASSIGNMENTS

Liberals are turning against Hillary ... is this actually happening? You know, my friends, sooner or later she's going to absolutely lose it. I want to be watching when that happens.

When it comes to John McCain, there are a lot of issues that we disagree on. Illegal immigration, for instance. And McCain's new Hispanic outreach director isn't making his case any better.

And Barak Obama, in the meantime, wants to give drivers licenses to illegal aliens. Put this on top of his plan to raise capital gains taxes .. and we're starting to get a picture of this guy that isn't all that attractive.

The CEO of Shell gets all gushy about global warming and the fight to go green.

Here's another failure of the TSA to catch a mock bomb that a covert agent slipped through security. My guess is that it took place during a shift change. The uniforms are snappy though.

In New York City, they actually want to grade how well a teacher is performing. Imagine that! Too bad it won't happen, because of the insipid teachers unions.

Canada, of all countries, has withdrawn its support for a UN anti-racism conference. One government official referred to it as "a gong show." Good for Canada!

The "big polluters" of the world are convening in Hawaii for a meeting aimed at curbing global warming without stalling economic growth.

In Great Britain they are going to give high school credit for teenagers that work at McDonald's.

A political party in Austria, described as "right-wing," is trying to ban the construction of mosques. More accurately, they are creating a law that would prohibit "unusual" buildings that don't fit in with traditional architecture.

Here's what happened when one Muslim woman used a Muslim online dating service to find herself a good ole' imam for a boyfriend. We could have a bit of fun today coming up with a name for a Muslim online dating service. I'll get back to you on that one.

Even Chelsea Clinton can't stand Ron Paul supporters. That should tell you something.

This is what the British can look forward to ... Mark and Diane Albrecht are upset that their son was laid to rest without a brain in his head. Literally.

Seriously, is this the best campaign ad ever or what?

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