tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84993762011-07-14T17:25:34.753-04:00Jim Van Nostrandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244561350886559296noreply@blogger.comBlogger2391100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1100547351007560202004-11-15T13:33:00.000-05:002004-11-16T17:24:51.116-05:00

This Joel Pett cartoon captures my view of the election. I've read so many analyses of what went wrong -- or what didn't go right enough -- that I'm overwhelmed and still perplexed. One question: Why are upper middle class Democrats who vote against their own financial self interest for programs to aid the poor and middle class called "elites"? Why are Hollywood liberals blamed for the

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1100296232952980052004-11-12T16:27:00.000-05:002004-11-12T16:50:32.953-05:00

Now that the election is behind us, and we've all had a chance to catch our breath, a few parting thoughts: 1. The election was about the war on terror, economic issues and trust in George Bush from more than half the voters. Columnist Charles Krauthammer pretty much demolishes the idea that the results turned on moral values. Many on the left, of course, are going around today complaining that

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1099436682857720802004-11-02T17:51:00.000-05:002004-11-02T18:12:12.650-05:00

Instead of me going over again John Kerry's qualifications -- or the reasons to remove George W. Bush -- I want to let the hundreds of people who stood in line to vote this morning make my argument. As I've written before, the amount of energy and commitment being expended by ordinary citizens reflects what's at stake in this election. John Kerry and the Democrats have run a campaign that

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1099427503212768882004-11-02T15:19:00.000-05:002004-11-02T16:02:31.296-05:00

Before my closing argument, just a couple of points, since Carol rebutted my rebuttal as well as my original post. 1. During Kerry's time on the Gridley, it was posted "off the coasts of" the Phillippines and New Zealand as well as Vietnam. To call that "Vietnam service" is a stretch, but never mind. Believe it or not, there is also a USS Gridley page on the Web, with its own John Kerry page.

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1099423267956589202004-11-02T14:16:00.000-05:002004-11-02T14:21:07.956-05:00

War on Terrorists. Notice the difference in terms. As the 9/11 Commission pointed out, we’re not at war against terror. Terror is a TACTIC. Our enemies are the people who have attacked us and want to attack us again. Yet, instead of actually finding and crushing those people, we changed focus to Saddam Hussein who, while vile, was being contained. We’ve done Osama bin Laden’s recruitment for

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1099402615471835702004-11-02T08:33:00.000-05:002004-11-02T08:36:55.473-05:00

War on terror: I said Kerry was the candidate for those who wish we hadn’t gone to war in Iraq and who don’t see the war on terror as something more than simply getting Osama bin Laden. I see I was correct. I hear nothing as an alternative to George Bush’s approach, just criticism that he is “diluting our power” in such a way that it’s harder to implement homeland security. In the first place,

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1099371300950841432004-11-01T23:47:00.000-05:002004-11-01T23:55:00.950-05:00

The nation’s on the wrong track, and the fool who is driving refuses to ask directions, let alone turn around. It’s time to take away his keys. I knew the George W. Bush persona that campaigned in 2000 as a “compassionate conservative” was a fake. But I allowed myself to believe that -- after being chosen in 2000, not by the people, but by the U.S. Supreme Court with the opposite of a mandate -

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1099346834134012142004-11-01T16:59:00.000-05:002004-11-01T17:07:14.133-05:00

(Note: Carol and I have decided to wind up with a mini debate. We will each post the case for our candidate. Then we’ll each post a rebuttal and a closing argument. This is my case for Bush) Two moments from this campaign stand out with stunning clarity – the first words out of the mouths of George Bush and John Kerry at their respective conventions. Bush: “I’m George Bush, and I’m proud to

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1099343049433080352004-11-01T15:56:00.000-05:002004-11-01T16:12:53.460-05:00

Chief Justice William Rehnquist missed today’s session of the U.S. Supreme Court. News reports that he is receiving chemotherapy has experts speculating that he has a rare, more serious form of thyroid cancer. Both liberals and conservatives like to point out that it's been 10 years since a new justice – Stephen Breyer -- was named to the court, the longest interval since James Monroe was

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1099337723671432762004-11-01T14:31:00.000-05:002004-11-01T14:35:23.670-05:00

Doctors in Paris say Yasser Arafat’s condition has stabilized, but his collapse last week reminds us that he is mortal and will be gone some day. If that day should be soon, there will be chaos among the Palestinians. And it's clear that the United States is way out of position to take advantage of new leadership among the Palestinians to help negotiate a peace. Few would argue that Arafat

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1099332815786383732004-11-01T13:36:00.000-05:002004-11-01T14:14:22.883-05:00

There's no question there will be a record turnout tomorrow, just a question of how much of a record. I believe there is no downside to that, and not only because these new voters tend to support John Kerry. Elections are not only about the moment, but also about the next election(s). Candidates know who voted last time, and in what numbers, and they are certain to pay more attention to the

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1099326237674005842004-11-01T11:10:00.000-05:002004-11-01T11:23:57.673-05:00

The reaction to Osama's October surprise has been as divided as the presidential election in general. The taped message will obviously help Bush because it reminds Americans that terrorism is a real threat that Kerry just doesn't know how to fight. The message will obviously help Kerry because if reminds Americans that Bush took his eye off the ball by going to Iraq instead of finishing of OBL.

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1099328923799091762004-11-01T00:10:00.000-05:002004-11-01T12:08:43.800-05:00

To expand a little on something I mentioned earlier, the possible effect of the democratization of information on the commonweal after the election: Because of wall-to-wall election coverage for the last year in both the "old media" -- i.e., newspapers and TV -- and "new media" -- i.e., cable, talk radio and the blogosphere -- there has been unprecedent interest in this election, which could

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1099078647395226332004-10-29T15:34:00.000-04:002004-10-29T15:39:45.126-04:00

If I want to bash Kerry, I really have to work at it. I don't have nearly the support staff that the bash-Bush crowd has. After this is all over, a lot of people in my profession have go some 'splainin' to do.

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1099078121276491502004-10-29T15:24:00.000-04:002004-10-29T15:28:41.276-04:00

Yes, there really are some thoughtful undecideds out there. One has just written about her thinking process and how she came to finally choose guess who. And here's an endorsement that will drive John Kerry right around the bend. Oh, my god! It's all over now. Even Dan Rather thinks Bush will win.

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1099076717763640862004-10-29T15:02:00.000-04:002004-10-29T15:05:17.763-04:00

Of course there's no chance at all that the Lancet report is another piece of partisan poison from the get-Bush hit squad. I'm surprised it wasn't reported on 60 Minutes.

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1099074750986733902004-10-29T14:26:00.000-04:002004-10-29T14:50:47.443-04:00

Leo, the missing munitions story -- now pretty much confirmed with an April, 2003 tape from an embedded ABC News affiliate -- is about more than explosives. It's about how the White House didn't plan for the post-invasion period, didn't send enough troops and how -- time after time after time -- it has fudged the facts and sought to escape responsibility. In fact, Bush & Co.'s multiple

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1099075343066572192004-10-29T14:23:00.000-04:002004-10-29T14:49:43.980-04:00

Well, I guess it wouldn't be an election without the self-styled elite letting their moral preening and intellectual vanity bubble to the surface and harp on their favorite "Republicans are dunces" campfire song. Never mind that there might be something a little more subtle going on. Since liberals lead with the heart, and conservatives insist on thinking about things -- i.e., people move from

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1099073222491216992004-10-29T13:50:00.000-04:002004-10-29T14:15:03.513-04:00

Read a report that some people are so caught up in the election that they're going to turn their kids into campaign billboards for Halloween, plaster them with Bush or Kerry buttons and stickers. I'm not sure this is a great idea. They'll probably run into a lot of mean old men like me. To a Kerry-supporter trick-or-treater: Hey, kid. Looks like you got a lot more candy than any of the other

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1099071354982647222004-10-29T13:35:00.000-04:002004-10-29T13:41:08.260-04:00

Why in the world has the Kerry campaign settled on the "missing" explosives in Iraq as its last-minute-push issue? Tommy Franks is amazed, too. The United States has managed to destroy about 400,000 tons of explosives since it's been in Iraq, while it was deposing Saddam, rebuilding the infrastructure, keeping insurgents at bay. Now, 380 tons, one-tenth of one percent -- MAY be missing, in the

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1099073980668459372004-10-29T13:34:00.000-04:002004-10-29T14:24:10.810-04:00

The folks who continue to justify the Iraq war -- and the way the Bush administration has conducted it -- usually begin (and often end) with the fact that Saddam Hussein was a monster who had killed thousands of his own people -- and the Iraqis are better off with him out of power. Now comes a study by the British medical journal Lancet that may undercut even that argument. It concludes that

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1099066854226677672004-10-29T11:56:00.000-04:002004-10-29T12:46:22.993-04:00

I don't get all my news from "The Daily Show," but last night's appearance by pollster John Zogby (the only guy who got it right four years ago) had me making late night phone calls to friends. Jon Stewart asked Zogby who is going to win and he said, "Kerry," without equivocating. His reason? Bush is not polling high enough for an incumbent. In fact, as Zogby said, if the election were between

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098988857998932442004-10-28T14:26:00.000-04:002004-10-28T19:24:43.630-04:00

This article from the American Prospect crystallized something important for me. I don't hate George W. Bush. Really. But I do hate what his success says about the United States of America. In an earlier post, I mentioned a study that suggests that a disturbing number of Bush supporters are unaware of basic facts about Iraq and the view of America in the world. In addition, an overwhelming

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098984983614038792004-10-28T13:19:00.000-04:002004-10-28T19:29:15.750-04:00

Is there a cosmic message in this year's World Series? The Boston Red Sox destroyed the Curse of the Bambino by winning the World Series for the first time in 86 years. And they did it in the most historic way ever -- coming back from being down 3-0 to the despised New York Yankees and then going on to sweep the Series. That's eight wins in a row. It's often been true that an American League

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098981752377496932004-10-28T11:46:00.000-04:002004-10-28T19:30:06.426-04:00

Leo, the missing explosives bombshell has not fallen apart -- not by a long shot. In fact, the White House's shifting stories about when they knew about it and what might have happened to those munitions provide even stronger evidence that they're desperately-seeking excuses. (Talking Points Memo has several excellent posts looking at the various tall tales.) Wishing won't make it so. But

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098914100061665092004-10-27T17:49:00.000-04:002004-10-27T17:55:00.060-04:00

Now that the "missing explosvives" bombshell has fallen apart faster than a Bush National Guard memo, and the New York Times joins CBS news at the bottom of the "We're for Kerry and don't care how we have to get it done, so get out of here with your stupid credibility nonsense" pile, Kerry clearly needs a different October surprise. Maybe he should try this, which is right up there with the

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098913287804686142004-10-27T17:37:00.000-04:002004-10-27T17:41:27.803-04:00

Now that I've mentioned the horrifying possibility of a Kerry win, I should note that there are at least two reasons conservatives won't have lost everything if Bush doesn't win re-election: 1. Kerry in the White House cuts Hillary Clinton off at the pass for a 2008 presidential bid 2. The likelihood of a Republican Congress will tie Kerry up in gridlock and keep domestic spending and

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098913010461808022004-10-27T17:32:00.000-04:002004-10-27T17:36:50.460-04:00

Obviously I want George Bush to win. But I have an almost equal wish: that whoever wins, either Bush or John Kerry, wins big, at least by 3 or 4 percent, so we can head off the recounts and the lawsuits and the wrangling that goes on for (at least) the rest of the year. I would like to go to bed Tuesday night (or get up Wednesday morning) with a president-elect and a losing candidate who has

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098906206183830882004-10-27T15:35:00.000-04:002004-10-27T16:07:00.983-04:00

Here's another W.hopper to add to the collection: "W. is for Women." In fact, the Bush administration has reversed, or is attempting to reverse, many of the major gains made by women in the past three decades -- enforcement of equal pay laws, laws against sexual harassment, gender equality in education and sports. Bush's war on the poor affects women -- and children -- disproportionately: The

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098844654613657872004-10-26T22:24:00.001-04:002004-10-28T19:31:24.953-04:00

Last night, a friend told me she was planning to put a sign on her front door: 1. Yes, I plan to vote 2. Yes, I know my polling place 3. No, I don't need a ride Philadelphia is a center of GOTV -- Get Out The Vote -- efforts in this swing state and we are being overwhelmed with callers and visitors making sure that we're going to get out there. Since the city is likely to go 4 to 1 for Kerry,

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098841558771064792004-10-26T21:41:00.000-04:002004-10-28T19:32:31.686-04:00

Talk about an election that's too close to call: As reported earlier, President Bush's hometown paper, the Lone Star Iconoclast of Crawford, Texas, endorsed John Kerry. Now we learn that John Kerry's hometown paper, the Lowell, Mass., Sun, has endorsed Bush. Those of us in the news profession probably make too much of newspaper endorsements. They probably fall more into the "preaching to the

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098827638972093992004-10-26T17:50:00.000-04:002004-10-26T17:53:58.973-04:00

People who accuse George Bush of being a liar can't quite accept that their own man is a braggart and a blowhard. Even when he's caught in outright whopper like Christmas in Cambodia, they shrug it off or ignore it. But a man who will say anything, even when it's so obviously easy to check out, cannot really be trusted.

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098827233463199802004-10-26T17:44:00.000-04:002004-10-26T17:51:02.856-04:00

So, Carol, you are "stunned" by the New York Times "revelation" that 380 tons of HMX and RDX explosives, which can be used to trigger nuclear devices, are missing from Iraq. I'm so glad you've come over to our side and finally admitted there were Weapons of Mass Destruction that might get into the hands of, oh, you know, terrorists.

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098747139016003652004-10-25T19:24:00.000-04:002004-10-28T19:35:11.636-04:00

The news in what Bush supporters sneeringly call the "reality based community" is pretty bad. Bob Herbert's column today included a good wrapup -- Iraq, the economy, etc. -- and that didn't include the Times's stunning revelation that, by failing to secure a site where munitions were stored -- and about which it had been warned -- the United States let 380 tons of explosives be stolen, explosives

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098746303492197942004-10-25T19:11:00.000-04:002004-10-28T19:45:15.640-04:00

Leo writes: Teresa Heinz Kerry made a very dumb remark about Laura Bush never having had a real job, because she forgot about her time as a librarian and teacher. Teresa then apologized, which was classy, and Laura then said the apology wasn't necessary, which was even more gracious. ... Many women who went into corporate suites have discovered it's difficult to really have it all and are

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098737995082961362004-10-25T16:54:00.000-04:002004-10-28T19:43:05.610-04:00

Jeff Schult of Connecticut writes a follow-up to our recent exchange. I'll just quote a few of his most recent remarks and my responses. Jeff thinks the war on terrorism is a wash as an issue because "we have two candidates who have promised to wage a tough, aggressive war on terrorism. As president, either would have the exact same tools with which to wage the war. They both say they'll hunt

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098493596689576322004-10-22T21:02:00.000-04:002004-10-22T21:06:36.690-04:00

If, like me, you're becoming a bit of a blogoholic, check out the site I found a link to on the blog of mystery writer Roger L. Simon. It's like a table of contents for many popular blogs, which contains, in a very pleasing format, the highlights of the blogs' recent postings. I just bookmarked it.

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098492776818053362004-10-22T20:40:00.001-04:002004-10-22T21:12:57.850-04:00

I know this is pointless, trying to get people so caught up in the "Iraq is a quagmire" echo chamber to stop and consider the other side occasionally. Some people in Iraq actually want to be free and are glad we seem committed to that, too. And there are even Iraqi bloggers who are trying to get the word out.

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098492199096280672004-10-22T20:40:00.000-04:002004-10-22T20:43:19.096-04:00

And I wouldn't be so smug about Bush and reading, either. Kerry isn't the gooodest speaker in the world, as it turns out.

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098491511614347502004-10-22T20:23:00.000-04:002004-10-22T21:16:06.913-04:00

Carol, I know your side gets a lot of yucks out of the way Dubya mangles the language, which gives you some credibility when you say he's dumb as a rock (or, as you suggest, doesn't even read). But you might want to check out this site that compares all the available test scores for Kerry and Bush (SATs, military exams, etc.) and tries go guage their intelligence. The whole thing is fascinating

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098490258832569922004-10-22T20:09:00.000-04:002004-10-22T20:10:58.833-04:00

Best line about Kerry's Ohio photo op, from blogger Hugh Hewitt: "How do you ask a goose to be the last goose to die for a campaign stunt?"

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098489286370973072004-10-22T19:49:00.000-04:002004-10-22T21:22:30.186-04:00

Bad news for all of you banking on the youth vote going Kerry's way. Channel One, the in-school education network, just released the results of a nationwide poll it conducted of 1.4 million high school students. Bush got 393 electoral votes and 55 percent of the total. Kerry carried only nine states and the District of Columbia. All these kids will be voting soon, in fact about 2008, when Hillary

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098488927468970102004-10-22T19:37:00.000-04:002004-10-22T21:18:17.933-04:00

Tersa Heinz Kerry made a very dumb remark about Laura Bush never having had a real job, because she forgot about her time as a librarian and teacher. Teresa then apologized, which was classy, and Laura then said the apology wasn't necessary, which was even more gracious. The entire exchange was probably observed with more than a little chagrin by millions of stay-at-home moms, who, once upon a

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098485549335430832004-10-22T18:33:00.000-04:002004-10-22T19:33:27.333-04:00

Last week, David Chasteen of optruth.org (a nonpartisan website run by Iraq war veterans) appeared on Air America Radio. One thing he said jumped out at me: Before the war, CIA types referred to a possible invasion of Iraq "elective surgery." That is, Saddam Hussein was a bad guy and would be better removed, but the operation wasn't necessary to save life. I thought of that when I read two

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098483679398792802004-10-22T17:53:00.000-04:002004-10-22T18:33:11.776-04:00

Leo writes of his frustration at both campaigns attempts to frame their candidates as "regular guys." It reminded me of the Philadelphia Daily News' endorsement of Al Gore in 2000, in which we were compelled to write: "Gore should be running away with this election, but he isn't. "Why? If you ask the so-called 'swing' voters, it's because Bush is more 'likeable' than Gore. He's nicer, cuter

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098411241668664402004-10-21T22:10:00.000-04:002004-10-21T22:14:01.670-04:00

I almost feel sorry for John Kerry, trudging through the damp, chill Ohio morning in his goofy camouflage jacket, looking for waterfowl and conservative voters, trying to convince us at this late date that he is just a Regular Guy with a .12-gauge and a dream of duck for dinner. And of course he had trouble working that trip in, since he’s had to devote so much time to rabidly rooting on his

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098400513797678072004-10-21T19:14:00.000-04:002004-10-21T19:18:26.343-04:00

Leo writes: “We have Abu Ghraib; the other side flies planes into buildings. If you call Abu Ghraib 'torture,' what word do you possibly have left to describe beheadings?” This comment took me aback. We’re the good guys, remember? The bad guys are bad because they do bad things, like fly planes into buildings. We don’t do stuff like that, no matter what the provocation. Otherwise, we become

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098383190396499592004-10-21T14:25:00.000-04:002004-10-21T15:20:42.686-04:00

It turns out that lawsuits are even less of a factor in the shortage of flu vaccine: As the AP reported today, Congress voted to add flu vaccine to a 1986 federal compensation law for childhood vaccines. The bill awaits President Bush's signature. There are ways to protect drug making companies for difficulties with vaccine without limiting everyone's ability to sue for real negligence.

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098324718312873772004-10-20T21:48:00.000-04:002004-10-21T08:45:05.586-04:00

Jeff Schult of Connecticut writes: "Leo asks readers at Free-Fire Zone to read Sarah Baxter's 'I'm a Democrat for Bush' and then goes on to ask how voters can possibly vote for Kerry. I'll take him at his word that he's genuinely curious, at least for the sake of discussion. "I'm 48 and have been a registered Independent for most of my adult life. I was a Democrat in the 1970s, turning 18 in

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098289541952612352004-10-20T13:24:00.000-04:002004-10-20T16:28:03.083-04:00

It is true that the crisis in flu vaccine availability -- the fact that there are only TWO companies licensed to make flu vaccine for the United States -- started long before George W. Bush became president. This is for a number of reasons, the most important of which is not lawsuits but the fact that there's not a lot of profit in it: The vaccine making process takes months, the price is too low

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098241564844940972004-10-19T23:05:00.000-04:002004-10-20T16:40:23.396-04:00

Carol chooses not to address what I think is a central point: The threats to civil liberties from the Patriot Act are written into the act, not a result of Bush and Co. misinterpreting the act, and Kerry voted for the act. Blaming everything on an evil right-wing cabal is to ignore a fundamental fact of history. Rights are always at risk in a time of war. Always have been, always will be. My

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098238672934100652004-10-19T22:17:00.000-04:002004-10-20T16:34:47.073-04:00

For a little sane consideration of the deficit "crisis," check out this bit of wisdom from Jack Kemp. And this just in: John Kerry said lots of foreign leaders wanted him to win. Here's one of them. Sure make's me feel good about his leadership potential. And Tommy Franks sets Kerry straight on Tora Bora.

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098237490803081942004-10-19T21:58:00.000-04:002004-10-20T16:36:41.030-04:00

Tonight's special election topic is health care. We're in the stinkin' middle of World War IV (the Cold War having been World War III), with the future of the nation and the fate of the civilized world hanging in the balance, and John Kerry is out on the campaign trail accusing George Bush of ... causing the flu vaccine shortage. Hey, I hear winters in Minneapolis have been getting colder since

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098233629884856572004-10-19T20:43:00.000-04:002004-10-20T16:39:50.953-04:00

Leo writes of civil liberties: "But nothing I've heard or read convinces me that the Bush administration (i.e. the Devil Incarnate John Ashcroft) has gone overboard in prosecuting the provisions of the (Patriot) act, especially considering past denials of rights in time of war and in light of the absolute necessity of prevailing over the monsters we now confront." It's so much more than the

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098160437199387892004-10-19T01:21:00.000-04:002004-10-20T16:41:22.653-04:00

For the benefit of those dwindling few undecideds, here are a couple of essays that might offer some guidance. Gregory Djerejian reports on everything George Bush has done wrong, then goes on to explain why he's endorsing him. Daniel W. Drezner details all of John Kerry's weaknesses, then announces that he will most likely vote for him. Though both articles are thought-provoking and offer much to

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098157174258306342004-10-18T23:39:00.000-04:002004-10-20T16:45:29.623-04:00

Rachel Campbell quotes my post that Kerry "is willing to say anything, and you can never tell from his actions whether he really means it or not. If that's the kind of uncertainty you want in the White House, go ahead on and vote for it" and comments: "I'll take the POSSIBILITY of keeping my rights over the certainty of their removal any day." I'm guessing she's talking about the Patriot Act. I

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098136202147996542004-10-18T16:32:00.000-04:002004-10-20T16:50:53.073-04:00

This isn't about Mary Cheney. I'll bet that John Kerry now wishes he had used some other lesbian to make his "cheap and tawdry" point in the third debate that we are all God's children. It is true, as Leo points out, that both Bush and Kerry maintain that marriage is "between a man and a woman." But while Bush and Kerry may believe the same thing about marriage, they surely do not believe the

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1098070351999419502004-10-17T23:30:00.000-04:002004-10-20T16:52:08.236-04:00

Carol: I'm glad even a diehard liberal like you was able to see what a disaster Jimmy Carter's presidency was. Your confession about John Anderson compels me to make one of my own. I voted for Libertarian Ed Clark that year, one of almost 1 million who did so; I think the Libertarians' share of the vote peaked in 1980. Of course I voted enthusiastically for Ronald Reagan's second term. My

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097856682335135012004-10-15T13:12:00.000-04:002004-10-20T16:54:45.363-04:00

Ian Barnes of Macon, Ga., writes: "It is amazing that Republicans want to have their cake and eat it too. It seems that they are offended that John Kerry mentioned Mary Cheney in the debate Wednesday night. "Maybe they need to be reminded why we are discussing gay marriages -- Republicans want an amendment banning it. "This has created a major dilemma in many Republican families. They must

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097855657056345672004-10-15T11:55:00.000-04:002004-10-15T11:54:17.056-04:00

IAN BARNES, Macon, GA writes: It is amazing that Republicans want to have their cake and eat it too. It seems that they are offended that John Kerry mentioned Mary Cheney in the debate Wednesday night. Maybe they need to be reminded why we are discussing gay marriages - Republicans want an amendment banning it. This has created a major dilemma in many Republican families. They must decide

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097853651158580062004-10-15T11:44:00.000-04:002004-10-15T11:44:57.063-04:00

In a way, this election reminds me of 1980. Americans (including this one) were unhappy with Jimmy Carter, but afraid of the idea of a former actor, and a Barry Goldwater-conservative to boot, as president. In fact, the American people were nowhere near as conservative as Reagan back then. The race was rather close. Then came the debates. Issues aside, the debates made Reagan

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097790659139653632004-10-14T17:52:00.000-04:002004-10-14T17:50:59.140-04:00

I've been looking through the e-mail, and more than half of the anti-Bush missives are, well, a little extreme. The expressions used start from "pathetic," "outright liar," "evasive" and "no poise or intellect" and go all the way to "looks like he might have had a small stroke" and "jabbering monkey." These are not people who came to the debates looking for a challenging exchange of ideas. I say

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097781176282465942004-10-14T15:11:00.000-04:002004-10-14T15:22:18.276-04:00

I’m having technical problems with my computer, so these are only a few excerpts of reader responses ... CRAIG SKINNER: Four years ago this president promised to fix the Social Security crisis. He offered to create personal savings accounts to help with revenue gaps in the system. George W. Bush was given a plan to create these privatized accounts four years ago. Instead of using the budget

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097777475868565692004-10-14T14:09:00.000-04:002004-10-14T14:13:21.710-04:00

Hi Leo, All the instant polls following the debate showed Kerry as the clear winner. I thought Bush totally blew it when he was asked to commiserate with people who had lost a job and instead, he told them they should get more education. After four debates, it's clear that the professionals pale in comparison to the real people who asked questions in the Town Hall Meeting. For example,

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097723505768393172004-10-13T23:01:00.000-04:002004-10-14T00:37:44.100-04:00

Well, it's a wash on the three debates. Kerry one the first one, the second one was a tie, Bush won this one. The president was much more relaxed, found a humorous note or two; Kerry was the one on the defensive. He feels he has to keep reassuring the country that he would defend it; that is not reassuring. The strange thing is that the Bush people reportedly wanted the first debate to be on

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097722155218827142004-10-13T22:52:00.000-04:002004-10-14T15:15:41.526-04:00

As I'm watching the spin, I see that the Republican line is that Kerry doesn't have plans, he has "a litany of complaints." Bush et al. wish that were true. In the end, on domestic issues, the Democrats will run on health care - and John Kerry has an excellent plan to insure 95 percent of Americans. The Kerry plan focuses not on creating a new bureaucracy, a la Hillary Clinton, but

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097722206982639392004-10-13T22:31:00.000-04:002004-10-13T22:52:53.476-04:00

Jessica Stuart asks: Does President Bush realize that he is only feeding the division in this country by throwing around unnecessary, backhanded and weighted stereotypes? He deliberately uses terms like "liberal senator from Massachusetts" and criticizes John Edwards because he was a trial lawyer. All of those buzzword blanket statements make Bush sound juvenile, like an elementary school

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097720922879642242004-10-13T22:27:00.000-04:002004-10-13T22:33:13.053-04:00

Carol: And, of course, Kerry has a litmus test, too. He more or less said so. A president is always going to have a litmus test (even if he doesn't call it that) for what he wants in a Supreme Court justice. That's another way for us to decide which president we want. I totally agree. So everyone who wants Roe vs. Wade to be preserved should vote for Kerry, and those who want abortion

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097720869637314782004-10-13T22:26:00.000-04:002004-10-13T22:31:20.120-04:00

Michele says: There is nothing wrong with a president having flaws, it actually makes him more human and relatable. The problem with our current president, is that he won't admit to having any! On the other hand, what if he's right?

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097720403916564092004-10-13T22:14:00.000-04:002004-10-13T22:26:02.936-04:00

The Assault Weapons Ban was a fraud. It forbade some guns and permitted others on the way they looked. Renewing the ban would thwart terrorists? Please.

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097719985851453682004-10-13T22:11:00.000-04:002004-10-13T22:15:45.376-04:00

Carol: And, of course, Kerry has a litmus test, too. He more or less said so. A president is always going to have a litmus test (even if he doesn't call it that) for what he wants in a Supreme Court justice. That's another way for us to decide which president we want.

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097719910871446292004-10-13T22:10:00.000-04:002004-10-13T22:15:02.836-04:00

Bush didn't support the renewal of the assault weapons ban because there weren't enough votes? What does he think leadership is?

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097719731497937512004-10-13T22:06:00.000-04:002004-10-13T22:27:48.183-04:00

Amy Saleik asks: If we can count how many immigrants are coming across our borders each day (4,000 says Kerry), why can't we stop them as we're counting??? :) Good point. The real issue isn't really how many get across, but our attitude about the ones that are here. I'm afraid the Bush administration hasn't taken the issue seriously enough, and I doubt a Kerry one would, eitehr.

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097719488074427412004-10-13T22:03:00.000-04:002004-10-13T22:10:58.746-04:00

This is just getting tiresome. Poor little kids don't have afterschool programs just so the evil rich can keep more of their money. Get a new line, please.

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097719391779006322004-10-13T22:01:00.000-04:002004-10-13T22:07:47.130-04:00

Does anybody really believe that G.W. Bush doesn't have a litmus test against Roe vs. Wade?

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097719360994642092004-10-13T21:58:00.000-04:002004-10-13T22:09:37.786-04:00

This is John Kerry as his politics-of-envy, class-warfare best. It became so obvious that increasing the minimum wage hurt people at the low end that even the New York Times editorial page has argued against it. And "equal pay" for women? Compare like groups (single men and women with a college degree, for example) and the difference goes away. But Bush ducks. Doesn't want to sound like an evil

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097718867977875652004-10-13T21:53:00.000-04:002004-10-13T21:59:39.406-04:00

This guest worker program that Bush speaks of is a sham: The people come, stay for three years, but have no hope of citizenship. What this does is further suppress wages for the lowest-income workers.

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097718771846627432004-10-13T21:52:00.000-04:002004-10-13T21:53:42.236-04:00

I know the moderator is from that evil bastion of liberal Bush-bashing, CBS. But he's asking good, tough questions of both of them.

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097718651573641282004-10-13T21:49:00.000-04:002004-10-13T21:52:37.673-04:00

Why does Kerry just go after the over-$200,000 bunch? What about those who make $100,000? Aren't they rich, too? Take their money as well. Until I start making $100,000 a year, of course.

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097718536961898222004-10-13T21:48:00.000-04:002004-10-13T21:51:44.350-04:00

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097718466238800822004-10-13T21:46:00.000-04:002004-10-13T21:51:23.243-04:00

Health Savings Accounts, which Bush supports, would have exactly the opposite effect of what Bush says - and leading economists agree. It would end up raising health care costs further - and reduce even further the availability of health insurance. HSAs favor the healthy and the rich and would leave the sick and the poor in the private system, and THAT would increase even further the number of

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097718480169623342004-10-13T21:39:00.000-04:002004-10-13T21:48:00.170-04:00

There is reason to hope that in a second term, Bush won't just try to match Democrats in spending. His plan to let young people opt out of Social Security, along with his plan for health accounts, is a way to start moving government out of diasterous financial area. And listen to Kerry -- the very idea that government should back off something and let people have it back is practically treasonous

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097717938015463942004-10-13T21:36:00.001-04:002004-10-13T21:45:10.920-04:00

This is a critical difference on health care, and Bush has it exactly right. The main cost of rising costs is that consumers feel no connection between what they use and what the costs are - most of it is taken care of by third-party payers, and the government is the biggest bully on THAT block. Health-savings accounts will give people back some feeling of ownership of their health care. Kerry's

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097717860967926332004-10-13T21:36:00.000-04:002004-10-13T21:44:11.710-04:00

Leo writes about gay marriage: This one's headed for the Supreme Court. I agree. And I believe the Constitution, without an amendment, guarantees gay marriage.

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097717633404290702004-10-13T21:32:00.001-04:002004-10-13T21:36:57.540-04:00

Kerry has focused on the parts of the Catholic faith that the bishops mentioned have relegated to secondary status: economic justice, environmental stewardship. I think he's made a connection with some Catholics on this.

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097717645051023032004-10-13T21:32:00.000-04:002004-10-13T21:36:24.636-04:00

Another good exchange on abortion that shows us two different views. Kerry gave a rationale for his position. Bush gave his own, without calling Kerry a sinner.

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097717526735345492004-10-13T21:29:00.000-04:002004-10-13T21:34:34.623-04:00

Bush and Kerry both gave interesting, thoughtful answers on gay marriage. But the hidden trap in this debate is the "full faith and credit" clause of the Constitution. Sooner or later, it has to be decided whdether one state's acceptance of gay marriage, as in Massachusetts, must be accepted by other states. This one's headed for the Supreme Court.

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097717331758086602004-10-13T21:26:00.000-04:002004-10-13T21:33:42.230-04:00

Bush should be glad they're moving into social issues, gay marriage and such. He can make valid philosophical points to match Kerry's valid philosophical points. No Republican can ever outpromise a Democrat. I've heard two things on my list already from Kerry - a good-paying job and cheap gas.

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097717149061033132004-10-13T21:24:00.000-04:002004-10-13T21:33:12.126-04:00

Someone told Kerry to look, not at the moderator, but at the camera.

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097717083756155402004-10-13T21:23:00.000-04:002004-10-13T21:32:39.713-04:00

Yes, punish all those lousy companies that want to go where they can get the best deal so they can offer their product at the cheapest price. And what about all those lousy foreign companies that dare to come over here and hire Americans. We should take all their money, too ...

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097716925884731402004-10-13T21:20:00.000-04:002004-10-13T21:22:46.993-04:00

Is Kerry serious in criticizing the president for changing the subject from jobs to education. There is a connection, Senator.

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097716598257240282004-10-13T21:15:00.000-04:002004-10-13T21:17:31.740-04:00

Kerry: For every one of my plans, I show how to pay for it. Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho. But he's right about Bush never using the veto (on spending bills).

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097716546484414602004-10-13T21:14:00.000-04:002004-10-13T21:18:00.116-04:00

FROM READER JEFF SCHULT: Dubyah is giving up his own personal flu shot ... for us. Brings a damn tear to my eye, it does.

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097716414406303072004-10-13T21:11:00.000-04:002004-10-13T21:16:13.953-04:00

Talk about sticking to your talking points. The question was about flu vaccines - another curve ball from the moderator. Bush: Flu shots = chance to slam Kerry on frivolous lawsuits. Kerry: Flu shots = chance to slam Bush on health insurance. They both had a chance to promise that all Americans have the right to free flu shots. What a disappointment.

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097716295127581442004-10-13T21:10:00.000-04:002004-10-13T21:12:44.236-04:00

If you had contaminated vaccine, wouldn't you want the right to sue?

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097716170950362432004-10-13T21:08:00.000-04:002004-10-13T21:12:12.910-04:00

The company that makes the flu vaccine is from California.

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097715955975098842004-10-13T21:04:00.000-04:002004-10-13T21:07:35.170-04:00

I wasn't going to post this early, but just have to say: The betting around here today was who would find a way to cheat the "domestic agenda" format and bring up foreign policy first, Bush or Kerry. And the winner is ... the moderator.

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097715615461990692004-10-13T20:59:00.000-04:002004-10-13T21:08:59.440-04:00

Being a bleeding-heart liberal, I am not watching to see what's in it for me. I'm doing pretty well in my middle-class life. I AM watching to see what's in it for the people who work 40-hour weeks at places like Wal-MART and yet are struggling to pay rent AND eat, whose kids don't have health insurance. A recent "self sufficiency" study done in Pennsylvania found that it takes $16 an hour for

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097681768207099032004-10-13T11:27:00.000-04:002004-10-13T21:11:19.126-04:00

Since the opinion in Washington seems to be that we are all just cogs (consumers of government services) in the wheel, I plan to watch tonight's domestic-agenda debate with one idea in mind: What's in it for me? And when I say I want cradle-to-grave coverage, I'm not fooling around. I don't just want a guaranteed good job; I want a promise of a four-week vacation in Europe every year. I don't

Leo Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704624539490803107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499376.post-1097521141136892002004-10-12T22:30:00.000-04:002004-10-13T21:15:07.876-04:00

Leo writes: "Funding for the education department went up 58 percent in Bush's first three years - not bad for a Republican - and funding specifically earmarked for No Child Left Behind has gone up 12 percent since the law's inception. Kerry makes his claim based on the fact that Bush didn't fund the law by the full amount Congress authorized, which Bush never promised to do." It may be true

Carol Towarnickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871440554980108134noreply@blogger.com0