Random Political Thoughts for a Wednesday Afternoon

Before I get on with this week’s installment I must ask… what was that loud droning sound coming from Washington DC last night between 8 & 9 central time?? I could have sworn it sounded like an adult from the old “Peanuts” cartoons…

Anyhow, Scott and I were going to use this time and space to rant and rave about the nothingness that was the President’s State of the Union speech last night, but rather than moan and groan about the lies and inaccuracies of last night’s speech, it’s time we get on offense and concentrate on the looming midterms. MoveOn.org has a 3-step plan to win in ’06: 1) Hold Republicans accountable. 2) Encourage Democrats to stand up and fight. 3) Get out the vote.

Anyhow, here we go with this week’s exciting installment of RPTFAWA...

President Bush to Traipse Across the Country. President Bush will take his SOTU “message” (such as it is) on the road Wednesday as he travels to Tennessee to tout his plan to increase American economic competitiveness and to cut U.S. dependence on imported oil. On Thursday Bush is scheduled to take his act to Minnesota. This should make for some interesting theater, as I am sure he will get a lukewarm response from many. Although, as carefully orchestrated as his past visits have been, it will probably be the same ol, same ol. (Personally, I haven’t heard or seen such claptrap since I was forced to read “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” in college. Talk about your pieces of crap…)

Even without an Opponent, Hillary’s Chest Grows & Grows (War Chest that is). Despite the fact that her GOP opposition has plunged into Illinois-GOP-Style disarray, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) has forged ahead with a forceful fund-raising campaign that took in nearly $6 million in the final three months of 2005, giving her campaign $17.1 million in the bank. Now, with the absence of any real significant threat to unseat her, conjecture is now growing about her precise political ambitions. (Scott and I have said it before, and I’ll say it again. NO! She is not electable; she will take votes away from more electable Dem. candidates and will screw us over more than if John Kerry tries for the nomination again. Listen to me Mr. Dean: New blood… we need new blood)

Alito Sworn In. The Senate confirmed ‘Sam’ Alito on Tuesday (coincidentally just hours before the SOTU… hmmmm, I’m sure that wasn’t planned – no matter how hard you try, you just can’t express sarcasm in the written word) as the 110th justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and immediately took the front-row seat of Sandra Day O'Connor at the SOTU later that night. The vote, 58 for and 42 against, was the second-narrowest Supreme Court confirmation in more than a century. (Come on now, shouldn’t that tell you something about this nominee???) Judge Alito’s biggest decision yesterday, according to the Washington Post, was whether to clap or not clap at the President’s drivel. I wish we could all hope that that’s the ONLY thing he ever has to make a decision about… but that’s unlikely.

“There is a better way.” (We need to get some t-shirts printed up with this slogan, now people!!) Using the phrase that is sure to become the Democratic/Liberal call-to-arms for the midterms and the ’08 Presidential election, newly elected Governor Tim Kaine (D-VA) delivered the Democratic response to the SOTU last night… and easily smacked down the Republicans. The smack down was good, but not as good as the smack down the Dems laid down when Shrub (sorry my bad, Bush) stated, “Congress did not act last year on my proposal to save Social Security," and the Democrats applauded and gave him a standing ovation. Nice. Wonderfully played everyone. (Click HERE to read the transcript of Kaine’s rebuttal or HERE to see it)

More SOTU Ejections. Cindy Sheehan (who I am not a particular fan of btw) wasn’t the only person escorted out by Capitol Police during last night’s SOTU. The wife of Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R-FL), Beverly, said she was ejected during the SOTU on Tuesday for wearing a T-shirt that said, “Support the Troops Defending Our Freedom.” Capitol Police told a different accounting of the incident, with a Capitol Police Sergeant stating “She was not ejected from the gallery. She did leave on her own.” (So we have begun to turn into this kind of a society now… stay tuned…)

Nominee says laws ‘adequate.’ The nominee to oversee coal mines stated on Tuesday that current mine safety laws are “adequate” and that many problems result from mine operators that ignore safety regulations. Richard Stickler, facing some pointed questions from Democrats, declined to endorse any of the new safety measures being called for, such as increasing the number of mine-rescue teams, requiring communication equipment that could help locate trapped miners or the so-called ‘safe-rooms’ that saved the lives of some Canadian miners earlier this week. It should be noted that the United Mine Workers opposes Stickler’s nomination and has long been pressing Bush to withdraw it. (No such luck as, once again, the administration shows its complete lack of support or respect for ANY union or blue-collar workers in this country)

Newsflash! GAO Faults Federal Government for Katrina Response. The General Accounting Office (GAO) released a report that showed it was a failure of federal leadership that caused the massive breakdown of Federal response to Hurricane Katrina. (Well, duh. All I can say, as I’ve said on this site many times… Karma,baby! What goes around, comes around)

Revenge of the Daschle? It seems former Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) may be serious about running for president in ‘08? Today Mr. Daschle will make his second trip to Iowa and will give a speech at Iowa State University that will, most likely, criticize the President on a wide range of issues including, but surely not limited to, energy policy. Stay tuned…

Take them as you will…