Terry Moran of ABC News gets the gold medal last night for the questions he posed to the sitting president of the United States.
THE PRESIDENT: Terry.
Q Mr. President, your State Department has reported that terrorist attacks around the world are at an all-time high. If we're winning the war on terrorism, as you say, how do you explain that more people are dying in terrorist attacks on your watch than ever before?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, we've made the decision to defeat the terrorists abroad so we don't have to face them here at home. And when you engage the terrorists abroad, it causes activity and action. And we're relentless. We, the -- America and our coalition partners. We understand the stakes, and they're very high because there are people still out there that would like to do harm to the American people.
But our strategy is to stay on the offense, is to keep the pressure on these people, is to cut off their money and to share intelligence and to find them where they hide. And we are making good progress. The al Qaeda network that attacked the United States has been severely diminished. We are slowly but surely dismantling that organization.
In the long run, Terry -- like I said earlier -- the way to defeat terror, though, is to spread freedom and democracy. It's really the only way in the long-term. In the short-term, we'll use our troops and assets and agents to find these people and to protect America. But in the long-term, we must defeat the hopelessness that allows them to recruit by spreading freedom and democracy. But we're making progress.
Q So in the near-term you think there will be more attacks and more people dying?
THE PRESIDENT: I'm not going to predict that. In the near-term I can only tell you one thing: we will stay on the offense; we'll be relentless; we'll be smart about how we go after the terrorists; we'll use our friends and allies to go after the terrorists; we will find them where they hide and bring them to justice.
Source: The White House
You have to admit it: the president would have looked awfully stupid if he would have predicted that. I mean, couldn't he have at least guessed, or maybe, estimated? Or, my favorite, guesstimated?
I truly don't think he understood the context of the question. Since the march to the Iraq war began in early 2002, terrorist attacks have risen to levels never before recorded, and the president just nods his head, raises his hands in disbelief, and says, "Whudda thunkit."
Image: The White House
Bush's presidency has been defined by peaks and steady declines in his poll numbers. Bush began his presidency with declining poll numbers until the horrific events of nine-eleven (his approval numbers rose from 55 to 90 percent immediately following the attacks), then declined and rose sharply at the beginning of Bush's Iraqi war, then declined and rose sharply when Saddam Hussein was captured, and has declined steadily ever since. (Click to enlarge.)
Image: Washington Post
It is always important to remember that there have been others before you. Some that people overlook too easily. When magazines became the new medium (circa 1850) three excellent publications went into print. They are still in print today and have a presence on the web as well. I try to emulate these great journalistic publications, and I will always dream to work for one. (Seriously. Email me.) They are: The Atlantic; The Nation; and Harper's Magazine.
Tom Toles is a national treasure. Originally a staple of the Buffalo News, Toles has moved on to the Washington Post. (Nicer digs, eh?) He still creates the best political cartoons I know of. This cartoon is from April 20, 2005, a day unofficially celebrated for unofficial reasons.
Image: Washington Post
Recently archived: The Big-Business Payoff that is the House Energy Bill
Well, I am convinced. Bush (at the behest of the religious right (What am I saying - Bush is the religious right!)) has made concerted efforts with the House GOP to ban gay marriage so he will not be able to marry the Saudi Prince, with whom he has fallen head over heals for. That way the sexual tension never dies; there is always the "if" factor.
Image: Yahoo!
The state of Texas (it's a whole other country) has recently passed legislation making it illegal to be a gay foster parent. Invasion of privacy? Read below.
Image: MSNBC
It's official. If you helped, in any way, steal the election of 2000 for Bush, you have been promoted. The most recent kicker - John Bolton, the anti-UN appointee as ambassador to the UN. (You read that right.) The evidence: a photo of the recount operations (promplty halted by the United States Supreme Court) in Florida.
Image: The Oakland Press
The House of Representatives recently passed a twelve billion dollar energy bill. Within the bill:
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Limits product liability for makers of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), a fuel additive and suspected carcinogen that has fouled groundwater in cities across the nation;
- Bans MTBE use by 2014 and gives more than $1.7 billion in transition aid for MTBE makers to switch to other products;
- Offers federally guaranteed loans for five petroleum coke plants and a coal gasification plant in West Virginia;
- Extends expiring accident insurance protection for owners of nuclear power plants by 20 years;
- Opens Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil and gas drilling;
- Eases environmental constraints to build or expand oil refineries in economically depressed areas; and
- Authorizes more than $3 billion in research for oil, gas and coal industries.
Source: MSNBC
That is the energy bill?!? And Bush sees this as helping to lower the cost of gas at the pump how?
It seems to me that increasing fuel efficiency on all automobiles, increasing funding for research of alternative energy and renewable energy, and tax incentives for conservation is the solution. The truth is that this energy bill is a gift to the energy industry, and their cronies, their lobbyists, and their representatives in Congress. Amen.
Jon Stewart, arguably one of the funniest smart-men on television today (and in generations), delivered a great one recently.
Jon Stewart, emceeing a celebration for Time's 100 Most Influential People, on Michael Jackson's back troubles: "
Would maybe his back not hurt as much if he fondled taller people?"
Source: Salon.com
That's what I've been saying, people.
