I’ve written about Medicare before but I found out about this today and I had to post it.
This is a perfect example of why George Bush and the Republicans are worse than the Democrats ever could be.
In the name of compassionate conservatism (attempting to purchase votes by giving away government services to key constituencies) the Bush administration pushed a prescription drug program for seniors. This was going to cost a lot but in the long run they argued we’d save because seniors would take drugs early to solve their problems instead of having expensive procedures later on when their conditions worsened. The cost quoted in every debate by supporters of this program was $400 Billion over the next decade.
Now that the bill is passed and debate is over the Bush administration is revealing their real cost estimates for this plan. $534 Billion. Half a trillion dollars. I find it hard to believe that they didn’t have this actual figure months or even years ago when they first crafted this plan.
///begin rant///
Sign me up with the Bush haters. I’ll vote for whoever has the best chance of beating G.W. Bush next election…even if the Dems nominate that nut job Wes (I’ll tell any lie…I’ll switch any stated position) Clark. We need to bring divided government back. I’m serious about this. Anyone who is thinking about holding their nose and voting for Bush next election even though they know what a fool he’s been is really making a mistake. Especially if they are young enough that they are going to be the taxpayers financing healthcare for babyboomers while trying to raise families in the next couple decades. We are getting rear-ended by Bush and Rove…they are selling our future for the dubious possibility of electoral success.
///end rant///
Of course…I could take all of that rant back when I read it again tomorrow morning with a clear head…but I don’t know that I will. This whole thing really pisses me off.
Aspiring parents should consider Kelly Harward’s warnings…and remember his techniques. Those pictures will be of considerable worth to this forward thinking parent in 14-15 years…
Lisa and I were in bed this morning talking about our plans for the day when we heard a little girl in her room across the hall yell: “Hey! Something ‘mells in here guys!”
We laughed then I yelled back, “Did you blow gas bubbles out your bum?”
She cracked up laughing and said, “Yeah!”
She’s been gassy all week. It is amazing that something so cute can smell so bad! I’m glad she has a great sense of humor about it! She’d better keep a good sense of humor about it too because I’m going to tease her about her morning greeting today for the rest of her life.
I know it seems like I’m unfairly focusing on this guy but I just can’t help it…there are so many weird things to focus on. It is like driving past a train wreck…it is bad to look but you just can’t help it…
Bandow has a bead on Clark’s foolish foreign policy on NRO. Read the whole thing but here are some highlights:
Milosevic was a nasty character, but Clark’s claim that there was “an imminent threat” of war is just plain silly. Milosevic’s regime was bankrupt and isolated. It made no pretense of developing weapons of mass destruction. It wasn’t capable of conquering its neighbors. It had no means of or interest in hurting the U.S.
Ironically, Milosevic’s policy of a greater Serbia had consistently led to a smaller Serbia. Getting rid of him meant good riddance to bad rubbish, but was irrelevant to American security.
Nor was war a last resort after diplomacy had failed, as Clark claimed. The U.S. tried to impose its own settlement, which neither the Albanians nor the Serbs supported. Washington offered an ultimatum, not diplomacy. And no country, including America, would have accepted an “agreement” which, among other things, allowed NATO forces free transit through Yugoslavia proper.
Iraq was completely different. Saddam Hussein had engaged in a policy of domestic brutality on a massive scale, killing tens, and probably hundreds, of thousands of people. He ran a police state, attacked two of his neighbors, killing hundreds of thousands more, and, it seemed, was developing weapons of mass destruction. He was capable of cooperating with terrorists, though those connections remain unproved.
Of the two, Wesley Clark thinks Yugoslavia posed the greatest danger? And warranted war without international sanction?
Such passes for foreign-policy analysis from a leading presidential candidate.
Winning the presidency will require that the Democratic nominee be taken seriously on foreign policy. Wesley Clark is not that candidate.
A good point that should have been obvious is that Clark, in claiming it was more urgent to put troops in harms way in Yugoslavia than it was in Iraq, is either a fool…or a liar. I think the guy is probably not a fool…
Can you guess which Bush supporter said this?
“[Saddam Hussein] is not only malevolent and violent, but also unpredictable. He retains his chemical and biological warfare capabilities and is actively pursuing nuclear capabilities. . . .
Saddam has been pursuing nuclear weapons for over twenty years. According to all estimates made available he does not now have these weapons. The best public assessment is that if he were to acquire fissionable material he might field some type of weapon within two years. . . . At some point, it may become possible for Saddam to acquire the fissionable materials or uranium ore that he needs. And therefore, Iraq is not a problem that can be indefinitely postponed.
In addition, Saddam Hussein’s current retention of chemical and biological weapons and their respective delivery systems violates the UN resolutions themselves, which carry the weight of international law.
Our President has emphasized the urgency of eliminating these weapons and weapons programs. I strongly support his efforts to encourage the United Nations to act on this problem. And in taking this to the United Nations, the President’s clear determination to act if the United Nations can’t provides strong leverage undergirding further diplomatic efforts.
(Emphasis mine)
This sounds very sensible when you consider what was generally known about Iraq before the Baathists were wiped out. Whoever said this was probably someone I could really support and agree with.
So…who was it?
(more…)
Move-On.Org is an internet echo chamber for those on the left who are most angry about what is going on in the world. They recently had a competition on who could create the best anti-bush TV ad. The winning ad will be played on the night of Bush’s state of the union address.
This is the winning ad…it is very effective and its message focuses on why I will not vote for GW Bush this election. (people with dial-up internet probably won’t want to visit the link…it is a pretty big file)
I’ve never been a huge fan of BYU. Maybe it is because I grew up in Utah among Mormons who always cheered for sports teams from what they referred to as ‘the Lord’s university’. It always bugged me. I could never explain to people why I disliked the university…sometimes I felt like I was just doing it to be contrary. I knew there was something that just really bugged me about the church owned school.
This morning I read something that removes all doubt from my mind about whether or not my dislike for BYU was justified. The Salt Lake Tribune has a story this morning about BYU altering photos of their athletes to hide tattoos or exposed bellybuttons. Apparently they are doing this because they worry about people complaining about the offending adornments being shown in pictures published by BYU. BYU and the church frown on Tatoos…but I don’t really know what their problem is with belly buttons.
Duff Tittle, BYU associate athletic director for communications, acknowledged this week that the large photo of Araujo had been altered, along with others.
“We have touched up photos for years — as far as removing tattoos, covering up bellybuttons, just things like that,” Tittle says.
…BYU volleyball players, soccer stars and especially football players frequently get Honor Code makeovers. Tittle says it’s easier to doctor photos than deal with irate callers demanding to know why athletes are being immodest or wearing tattoos that many Latter-day Saints deem offensive or a violation of church standards.
(emphasis mine)
I have a testimony of the truthfulness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints…but I think BYU is an absolute joke as are any people who would call to complain about pictures with exposed tattoos and bellybuttons. These people are too stupid to be allowed to be in my church.
UPDATE 01-16-04
It looks like the Trib exagerated a little bit in its story. The 2004 media guide contains pictures of the incriminating tattoos. There have been some minor touch ups on some photos but nothing like what I assumed when I typed this post. I still think BYU is a lame school and I also still think that people who would call to complain about exposed bellybuttons are stupid…but I think the above post is a little too exteme in mocking BYU. I’ll take stories from the Salt Lake Tribune a little more lightly from now on.
UPDATE 01-16-04
This kid would never fit in at BYU…
Wes Clark says there should be absolutely no legal restrictions on Abortion for any reason…up to and including the moment the child’s head shows as he is being born. Wes says if the woman doesn’t want the baby the doctor should be allowed to kill it.
Does Wesley in his heart of hearts really believe this? Probably not…but this is further proof that he is willing to say absolutely anything to gain power. Wesley Clark’s take on abortion is just like his publicly stated comments on most other topics…completely manufactured to provide immediate political gain. This guy is a slimy fellow even as far as politicians are concerned.
I still say with many reservations: Vote Lieberman! (even though I hate most of the stupid things he supports…on the whole he is probably more fiscally conservative than Bush and he isn’t a completely looney on foreign policy like the other Democrats)
Bush needs to go but sensible foreign policy needs to stay.
I wish this guy success in his lawsuit!!! I’m waiting for this guy to make his millions then, if it works for him, I’ll file lawsuit against the computer game industry. I’ve lost tons of sleep because of their addictive and entertaining games!
(Link courtesy The Agitator)
I think I like The American Thinker. The posts are well thought out and they post interesting content before Instapundit (at least they have so far) which is a pretty big deal.
This guy can’t be punished enough. This is a perfect example of how depraved our society can become when we get to the point where celebrities are worshipped. George Harrison wasn’t even allowed to die with dignity…thats just sick.
(link courtesy TPM)
I can’t believe how big a deal this whole Crocodile Hunter thing has become. The kid was at risk…but probably not to a much greater degree than any kid who is strapped into a car that is driven on the freeway.
We have become so health and safety concious that I think as a people we are less cool and much less robust than our forebears.
Steve Irwin is a man’s man. He is tough and smart and extremely brave…as is his father. I’m betting his son will be too.
It was pretty dumb to do that on camera but our society really needs to lighten up.
Dan has been published by one of my favorite Internet content publishers, Tech Central Station. They have a rally dumb name but the articles are always very well written and reasoned. Dan’s piece is no exception.
