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Vice President Dick Cheney yesterday voiced sympathy for the families of fallen US soldiers and affirmed that the war in Iraq was worth fighting during his visit to Springfield, Missouri yesterday. The Washington Post reports Cheney said the US " will not relent in the war in Iraq and will hunt down insurgents there one at a time if necessary, implicitly rebutting escalating pressure on the Bush administration to bring U.S. troops home." The Post notes that Cheney told the "friendly audience of combat veterans" that victory in Iraq is "critical to the future security of the U.S." and said the country should not lose its resolve to defeat the militants." The Kansas City Star adds that Cheney "pointed to the hardships and heroism of Gen. George Washington s Continental Army, detailed in the recent best seller 1776 by historian David McCullough. Quoting Washington s dark forecast for turning back the British that year - the game is about up -- Cheney noted that weary American forces ultimately prevailed. They stayed in the fight, and America won the war, the vice president said. Once again, we re seeing the power of freedom to change the course of the world, Cheney said, citing large turnouts for the January elections in Iraq."
Iraqi consumers appear to be spending more money and gaining confidence in their economy. LA Times reports the morning Iraqis interviewed around the country generally appeared to be spending more money this year than last year, a possible indication of increased consumer confidence.
LA Times interviewed Iraqi shopkeepers who said recent political milestones had spread optimism about the country's future.
"Business is better than previous years," said Saleh Abed, 34, a
It's hardly surprising that the Alliance for Justice would join PFAW and NARAL in their obligatory opposition to Judge Roberts. Nan Aron first attacked Judge Roberts a mere 27 minutes after he was nominated and today s Alliance for Justice announcement is the continuation of a false smear campaign borne of a political agenda in lock step with the Michael Moore wing of the Democrat party. As the Senate Judiciary Committee prepares for the confirmation hearings next week, one can only hope that Democrats will choose to approach the hearings in a dignified fashion and reject the over-hyped attacks by the far left.
-Tracey Schmitt, RNC Press Secretary
Knocking on a few doors with the volunteers, I was really impressed with their enthusiasm and the responses we were getting from those with whom we visited. This level of activity at this time in the campaign bodes well for the grassroots efforts to elect a Republican, Jerry Kilgore, governor of Virginia this year.
To learn more about Jerry Kilgore visit, http://www.jerrykilgore.com/
Columnist Michael Barone reviews President Bush's proposals to rebuild the Gulf region, applauding specific plans to expand opportunity and ownership:
"In Jackson Square, Mr. Bush found his voice for the first time since the levees broke. He described the people he had seen on the ground and the recovery work already done. He promised to rebuild the Gulf Coast and re-engineer New Orleans, and added -- wisely, in view of Louisiana's heritage of corruption -- that inspectors general would oversee the spending.
"But despite the Great Society tone of his speech, he did not promise another Great Society. He proposed instead a Gulf Opportunity Zone -- presumably, a tax-free status to encourage investment. He called for Worker Recovery Accounts of up to $5,000 for job training, education and childcare. He proposed an Urban Homesteading Act on federal lands.
"Mr. Bush's liberal critics have hoped the Katrina disaster would increase support for big government, and they have a point when they say there are some things only government must do and it -- or they: local, state, federal -- must do them well.
"Mr. Bush's proposals use government differently. Like the GI Bill of Rights and the no-down-payment Veterans Administration home mortgages of Franklin Roosevelt, Mr. Bush's Worker Recovery Accounts and Urban Homesteading would help people, but only those who in turn do something to lift themselves. And his Opportunity Zone turns on its head the liberal notion that the most effective way to help the poor and helpless is to tax everyone else heavily and hand out money to those in need.
"Lower taxes and less bureaucracy, Mr. Bush is saying, will enable people in the private sector to build the kind of self-propelling economy that offers everyone a chance out of poverty."
Here s an interesting read from Jed Graham writing for Investor s Business Daily who argues that Social Security s function has mutated over the years, and that funding/early retirement challenges may be overcome through voluntarily personal investment accounts.
Those who resist amending the Social Security system are unrealistically expecting a program that fit several generations ago to fit modern day retirees. But, Erin Robert, a senior at The College of the Holy Cross and a member of Students for Saving Social Security, explains why it's time for Social Security to change with the times. "I'd like to think that I ll have my 21 year-old physique when I'm seventy, but I know I won't. My body will continue to change, and I will soon enough exchange stilettos for sensible shoes. That's why I can t understand that 70 years after its birth, some still deny the need to fix the Social Security system." And according to Erin, "[p]ersonal Retirement Accounts are the logical solution. PRAs allow increasingly financially-savvy Americans to invest - that is, to own - a part of their retirement. PRAs would improve the Social Security program, eliminating the demographic problem associated with a pay-as-you-go system."
As Erin understands today's "Levi's (jeans) aren't going to hold up for the next 70 years - regardless of how many patches" you use. "Social Security is no different. On its 70th birthday, it's time for Social Security to act its age."
In case you missed it, "New Jersey governor's race exploded into a firestorm yesterday, with the revelation that super-rich Sen. Jon Corzine gave $470,000 to a former flame (girlfriend) who runs one of the biggest state-employee unions," the New York Post reports. News of the gift sparks accusations that "the gift represents a conflict of interest because Katz and other unions have vowed to seek billions in taxpayer funds for pay hikes from the next governor." Republican candidate for governor Doug Forrester said " I believe that if someone is responsible for representing the public interest in a negotiating process of any form, the nature of the financial relationship that existed or continues to exist should be known, There needs to be no question on the part of the public that the actions that are being taken are being taken solely with the public interest in mind. " http://www.nypost.com/php/pfriendly/pfriendly_new.php
In a Wall Street Journal editorial today, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani writes There is no more important international issue today than the need to defeat the curse of terrorism A transformation of the Iraqi state and Iraqi society is impossible without a sustained commitment of soldiers from the U.S. and other democracies.
Iraq s democratically elected head of state, government and Parliament and the fact that members of the most repressed ethnic groups now hold the highest offices of state are a result of the courage and vision of President Bush and his allies.
Talabani continues, Without foreign intervention, the transition in Iraq would have been from Saddam's bloodstained hands to his psychopathic offspring. Instead, thanks to American leadership, Iraqis have been given an opportunity of peaceful, participatory politics The rapidity of the democratization and reform of Iraq is staggering. There was no German state for four years after the Second World War. By contrast, Iraq has moved from a dictatorship to a decentralized, federal republic in half that time For all the short-term problems, the soundness of the long-term strategy of building up Iraqi forces was demonstrated in recent days when Iraqis took over sole control of security in the holy city of Najaf Without American forces, the vision of American leadership and the quiet fortitude of the American people, Iraqis would be almost alone in the world. With its allies, the United States has provided Iraqis with an unprecedented opportunity. Iraqis have responded by enthusiastically embracing democracy and volunteering to fight for their country. By giving us the tools, your troops help us to defend Iraqi democracy and to finish the job of uprooting Baathist fascism.
Vice President Dick Cheney yesterday voiced sympathy for the families of fallen US soldiers and affirmed that the war in Iraq was worth fighting during his visit to Springfield, Missouri yesterday. The Washington Post reports Cheney said the US " will not relent in the war in Iraq and will hunt down insurgents there one at a time if necessary, implicitly rebutting escalating pressure on the Bush administration to bring U.S. troops home." The Post notes that Cheney told the "friendly audience of combat veterans" that victory in Iraq is "critical to the future security of the U.S." and said the country should not lose its resolve to defeat the militants." The Kansas City Star adds that Cheney "pointed to the hardships and heroism of Gen. George Washington s Continental Army, detailed in the recent best seller 1776 by historian David McCullough. Quoting Washington s dark forecast for turning back the British that year - the game is about up -- Cheney noted that weary American forces ultimately prevailed. They stayed in the fight, and America won the war, the vice president said. Once again, we re seeing the power of freedom to change the course of the world, Cheney said, citing large turnouts for the January elections in Iraq."
Vice President Dick Cheney yesterday voiced sympathy for the families of fallen US soldiers and affirmed that the war in Iraq was worth fighting during his visit to Springfield, Missouri yesterday. The Washington Post reports Cheney said the US " will not relent in the war in Iraq and will hunt down insurgents there one at a time if necessary, implicitly rebutting escalating pressure on the Bush administration to bring U.S. troops home." The Post notes that Cheney told the "friendly audience of combat veterans" that victory in Iraq is "critical to the future security of the U.S." and said the country should not lose its resolve to defeat the militants." The Kansas City Star adds that Cheney "pointed to the hardships and heroism of Gen. George Washington s Continental Army, detailed in the recent best seller 1776 by historian David McCullough. Quoting Washington s dark forecast for turning back the British that year - the game is about up -- Cheney noted that weary American forces ultimately prevailed. They stayed in the fight, and America won the war, the vice president said. Once again, we re seeing the power of freedom to change the course of the world, Cheney said, citing large turnouts for the January elections in Iraq."
Matt Towery makes a strong case for keeping President Bush s tax cuts in place in today s Christian Science Monitor. He believes it is necessary that the cuts remain for America to recover from the current fiscal situation, saying the cuts originally helped rescue us from the recession that Bush inherited when he took office . He says taxpayers should not be the ones to suffer the financial effects of recent disasters such as the hurricanes.
Small business owners, entrepreneurs, and corporations are supplying most of the nation's jobs, and the burden on them will only increase as they will be relied upon to absorb the many workers displaced by Katrina. Punishing these job creators is the absolute last thing our leaders should resort to.Look for Social Security reform to continue as the hot topic this fall. Lawmakers and interest groups on both sides of the Social Security debate are using the program's 70th birthday to build momentum, reports USA Today. Both sides "are using the program s 70th anniversary Sunday as an occasion to kickstart a debate begun last winter when Bush made Social Security the centerpiece of his State of the Union address."
Chairman Ken Mehlman heads to West Virginia this week, and that state s Republicans are ready to give him a warm welcome. The Wheeling (WV) Intelligencer editorializes, "West Virginians -- Northern Panhandle residents in particular -- should feel honored that" Mehlman "is coming to Wheeling this week. His visit is more evidence that politicians on the national stage no longer take the Mountain State for granted or dismiss it as not important enough to merit much attention. George Bush paid attention to West Virginians in 2000 -- and was elected president of the United States because he cared about the Mountain State. During his time in office, Bush has provided abundant proof that his expressions of affection for our state and its people -- and of concern for us -- were not empty platitudes." West Virginians "should not be taken for granted." Mehlman s "planned visit to Wheeling is a demonstration that he and other party leaders understand that."
Democrats and third party groups may continue to call for the release of more, more and more information on Judge John Roberts, making it seem as if access to such information is being denied. However, this is far from the case. The Washington Times today covers the unprecedented access to information on Judge Roberts in regards to his nomination to the Supreme Court. Specifically, the paper highlights the use of the Web in disclosing information and allowing the American people to make their own evaluation of the nominee.
Judge Roberts "will end up the most-scrutinized Supreme Court selection in history, due in large part to the Internet, which has made it easier to look at his writings and to rally for or against his nomination." Unlike earlier nominations, "the press is no longer the sole source of information. This time, senators, lawyers and laymen alike can dissect Judge Roberts' record firsthand and share their thoughts with the world," the Times reports.
And Mrs. Bush had words for those making outrageous criticisms against the President. The AP reports, "Laura Bush described as 'disgusting' comments by rapper Kanye West and Democratic chairman Howard Dean blaming her husband for the disproportionate number of black hurricane victims. 'I think all of those remarks are disgusting, to be perfectly frank, because of course President Bush cares about everyone in our country,' the first lady said Thursday in an interview. 'And I know that. I mean, I'm the person who lives with him,' she said. 'I know what he's like and I know what he thinks and I know how he cares about people. "
The AP notes, "On a nationally televised telethon Friday, broadcast live on NBC, West departed from the script to declare 'George Bush doesn't care about black people.'" Dean, earlier this week, "told the National Baptist Convention of America, a black religious group, that race played a role in the hurricane casualty numbers. Mrs. Bush said it was clear that poor people were more vulnerable when the hurricane hit. 'They lived in poorer neighborhoods. Their neighborhoods were the ones that were more likely to flood, as we saw in New Orleans. Their housing was more vulnerable,' she said. 'And that's what we saw, and that's what we want to address in our country.'"
Katie Harbath
The AP reports this morning Iraq's landmark constitution was adopted by a majority of voters during the country's Oct. 15 referendum, election officials said Tuesday .The constitution, which many Kurds and majority Shiites strongly support, is considered another major step in the country's democratic transformation, clearing the way for the election of a new Iraqi parliament on Dec. 15.
RNC members across the nation are energized about taking what they learned at last week's national meeting in Pittsburgh and are running with it to continue expanding the Republican Party. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports Mehlman "dispatched Republican National Committee members with marching orders to focus on grass-roots, voter registration and targeting with the goal of bucking the six-year itch, a historic trend of congressional losses by the party of the White House incumbent. 'History is not on our side,' Kelley McCullough, the RNC chief of staff, told the group. 'Traditionally the party of the president loses seats in the second mid-term election.'" The Post-Gazette goes on to report that "Speaker after speaker during the RNC's summer meeting stressed the importance of nurturing that volunteer network as well as maintaining a technological edge over the Democrats."
Moreover, Chairman Mehlman says that expanding the base does not mean we have to sacrifice our principles, rather it's quite the opposite. They work together; our strong values are what motivates new Americans to join the GOP. "The theme of the Republican Party's summer meeting this weekend was expanding its base," the San Francisco Chronicle reports. "'We don't have to choose between motivating our base and bringing new faces and new voices into the party,' said GOP Chairman Ken Mehlman. ... 'We talk about a compassionate conservative philosophy that not only unites Republicans, but attracts support among discerning Democrats and among independents.'" Santorum, the keynote speaker on Friday at the meeting, "told fellow Republicans that his traditional values message 'is a good solid message for every community in America.'" The GOP "sees its strong traditional values message, coupled with the failures of the welfare state and the Democratic Party's rigidity, as the keys to attracting minorities and other new members. 'We're not asking Republicans to become more liberal to lure new voters into the party,' Mehlman told the delegates."
RNC members across the nation are energized about taking what they learned at last week's national meeting in Pittsburgh and are running with it to continue expanding the Republican Party. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports Mehlman "dispatched Republican National Committee members with marching orders to focus on grass-roots, voter registration and targeting with the goal of bucking the six-year itch, a historic trend of congressional losses by the party of the White House incumbent. 'History is not on our side,' Kelley McCullough, the RNC chief of staff, told the group. 'Traditionally the party of the president loses seats in the second mid-term election.'" The Post-Gazette goes on to report that "Speaker after speaker during the RNC's summer meeting stressed the importance of nurturing that volunteer network as well as maintaining a technological edge over the Democrats."
Moreover, Chairman Mehlman says that expanding the base does not mean we have to sacrifice our principles, rather it's quite the opposite. They work together; our strong values are what motivates new Americans to join the GOP. "The theme of the Republican Party's summer meeting this weekend was expanding its base," the San Francisco Chronicle reports. "'We don't have to choose between motivating our base and bringing new faces and new voices into the party,' said GOP Chairman Ken Mehlman. ... 'We talk about a compassionate conservative philosophy that not only unites Republicans, but attracts support among discerning Democrats and among independents.'" Santorum, the keynote speaker on Friday at the meeting, "told fellow Republicans that his traditional values message 'is a good solid message for every community in America.'" The GOP "sees its strong traditional values message, coupled with the failures of the welfare state and the Democratic Party's rigidity, as the keys to attracting minorities and other new members. 'We're not asking Republicans to become more liberal to lure new voters into the party,' Mehlman told the delegates."
RNC members across the nation are energized about taking what they learned at last week's national meeting in Pittsburgh and are running with it to continue expanding the Republican Party. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports Mehlman "dispatched Republican National Committee members with marching orders to focus on grass-roots, voter registration and targeting with the goal of bucking the six-year itch, a historic trend of congressional losses by the party of the White House incumbent. 'History is not on our side,' Kelley McCullough, the RNC chief of staff, told the group. 'Traditionally the party of the president loses seats in the second mid-term election.'" The Post-Gazette goes on to report that "Speaker after speaker during the RNC's summer meeting stressed the importance of nurturing that volunteer network as well as maintaining a technological edge over the Democrats."
Moreover, Chairman Mehlman says that expanding the base does not mean we have to sacrifice our principles, rather it's quite the opposite. They work together; our strong values are what motivates new Americans to join the GOP. "The theme of the Republican Party's summer meeting this weekend was expanding its base," the San Francisco Chronicle reports. "'We don't have to choose between motivating our base and bringing new faces and new voices into the party,' said GOP Chairman Ken Mehlman. ... 'We talk about a compassionate conservative philosophy that not only unites Republicans, but attracts support among discerning Democrats and among independents.'" Santorum, the keynote speaker on Friday at the meeting, "told fellow Republicans that his traditional values message 'is a good solid message for every community in America.'" The GOP "sees its strong traditional values message, coupled with the failures of the welfare state and the Democratic Party's rigidity, as the keys to attracting minorities and other new members. 'We're not asking Republicans to become more liberal to lure new voters into the party,' Mehlman told the delegates."
The AP reports this morning Iraq's landmark constitution was adopted by a majority of voters during the country's Oct. 15 referendum, election officials said Tuesday .The constitution, which many Kurds and majority Shiites strongly support, is considered another major step in the country's democratic transformation, clearing the way for the election of a new Iraqi parliament on Dec. 15.