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The Prez Speaks (with Special Commentary)
BUZZFLASH READER COMMENTARY
Ladies and gentlemen the President* of the United States (with special commentary by Mel Wert)...
"Health
care reform must begin with Medicare; Medicare is the binding commitment
of a caring society. We must renew that commitment
by giving seniors access to the preventive medicine and new drugs that
are transforming health care in America. Seniors happy with the current
Medicare system should be able to keep their coverage just the way
it is. And just like you, the members of Congress, and your staffs
and other federal employees, all seniors should have the choice of
a health care plan that provides prescription drugs."
---Read: Those who can afford it can keep their doctors, everyone else
gets jammed in HMOs... But hey, you get prescription coverage... Maybe
he's gonna put all seniors on the same plan members of congress get
when they retire.
"Our
fourth goal is to apply the compassion of America to the deepest
problems of America. For so many in our country -- the homeless,
and the fatherless, the addicted -- the need is great."
---Great, now i'm in the same group as druggies and bums. By the way,
that Murphy Brown is a bad influence...
"Americans
are doing the work of compassion every day: visiting prisoners, providing
shelter for battered women, bringing companionship
to lonely seniors. These good works deserve our praise, they deserve
our personal support and, when appropriate, they deserve the assistance
of the federal government."
---Read: If you have "God", "Christ" and/or "Church
of" in your name, we'll pay you. Meanwhile, what about the "fatherless
masses"? Nobody's visiting me.
"Too
many Americans in search of treatment cannot get it. So tonight I
propose a new $600 million program to help an additional
300,000 Americans receive treatment over the next three years."
---Okay so far so good, but....
"Our
nation is blessed with recovery programs that do amazing work. One
of them is found at the Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana. A man in the program said, 'God does miracles in people's
lives, and you never think it could be you.'"
---Ahhh... There it is. The 600 million must be going to bibles for
the addicts. No offense, if God helps you then by all means, go for
it, but let's be realistic here.
"And
in this work we must not overlook the weakest among us. I ask you
to protect infants at the very hour of their birth and end
the practice of partial-birth abortion."
---After they come out who gives a damn, but protect that fetus.
"We've
got the terrorists on the run. We're keeping them on the run. One
by one the terrorists are learning the meaning of American
justice."
---Meanwhile, back at the ranch, John Ashcroft is hoping we FORGET
what it means.
"And
this year, for the first time, we are beginning to field a defense
to protect this nation against ballistic missiles."
---They've been proven ineffective in numerous tests, but dammit it
makes for a GREAT soundbite.
"Our
war against terror is a contest of will in which perseverance is
power. In the ruins of two towers, at the western wall of the Pentagon,
on a field in Pennsylvania, this nation made a pledge, and we renew
that pledge tonight: Whatever the duration of this struggle and whatever
the difficulties, we will not permit the triumph of violence in the
affairs of men; free people will set the course of history."
---Dust off and wrap yourself in the 9-11 flag because we're segueing
into war on Iraq.
"Now,
in this century, the ideology of power and domination has appeared
again and seeks to gain the ultimate weapons of terror."
---Bush on the Bush administration
"All
free nations have a stake in preventing sudden and catastrophic attacks,
and we're asking them to join us, and many are doing so. Yet
the course of this nation does not depend on the decisions of others."
---Read: We don't give a damn about what the rest of the world thinks,
we just pretend we do.
"And
today the North Korean regime is using its nuclear program to incite
fear and seek concessions. America and the world will not
be blackmailed."
---This was once known as "diplomacy"
"The
North Korean regime will find respect in the world and revival for
its people only when it turns away from its nuclear ambitions."
---Wait a second, don't WE have nuclear weapons? Let's lead by example
then if we feel so strongly on this matter.
"He
has shown instead utter contempt for the United Nations and for the
opinion of the world."
---Bush on the Bush administration
"Since
when have terrorists and tyrants announced their intentions, politely
putting us on notice before they strike?"
---Um... The summer of 2001
"We
will consult [with the UN security council], but let there be no
misunderstanding: If Saddam Hussein does not fully disarm for
the safety of our people, and for the peace of the world, we will lead
a coalition to disarm him."
---Let's just paint a big Bulls-eye on America. Look, there's a reason
the world isn't with us. I don't know what it is, but if there was
a real, immediate threat, the world wouldn't stay on the sidelines.
Go this alone, and we, the people of this country are the ones who
will pay.
"We
seek peace. We strive for peace. And sometimes peace must be defended."
---Support peace or we'll shoot you. And strive for peace anyway
possible, as long as it doesn't involve diplomacy -- I mean "blackmail".
"We
Americans have faith in ourselves, but not in ourselves alone. We
do not claim to know all the ways of Providence, yet we can trust
in them, placing our confidence in the loving god behind all of life
and all of history."
---As long as it doesn't turn out to be Allah.
Now I do give him credit for his promise to help the AIDS crisis in Africa, and his environmental promises. That being said, words are one thing, but the Everyone-Pollutes-Again agency has shown me nothing but power-to-the-corporations. Am I being un-patriotic?
Signed,
Mel Wert
BUZZFLASH READER COMMENTARY
Articles in the BuzzFlash Contributor section are posted as-is. Given the timeliness of some Contributor articles, BuzzFlash cannot verify or guarantee the accuracy of every word. We strive to correct inaccuracies when they are brought to our attention.
