AUTHOR: TomCarr DATE: 9:49 PM ----- BODY:

SOTU



overall, I give the address about a 7, as far as these things go. It was skillfully delivered, and hit a lot of points that will resonate with the public. He also quite skillfully put the Democrates on the run...it will probably be about another two months before has to come out swinging too hard. Oh yeah...the stimulyus package still won't get passed.

Anyway, what I'm gonna try to do it go through the transcript with a comb now that it's available...I was driving home during the speech, so I couldn't take notes, but there were enough obvious points to hit on that I think I can do OK...so here goes:

The first one was toward the end:

"My call tonight is for every American to commit at least two years -- 4,000 hours over the rest of your lifetime -- to the service of your neighbors and your nation. "

which was falowed five paragraphs later by:

"No people on Earth yearn to be oppressed, or aspire to servitude..."

Calling us to servitude, and then saying no people on Earth aspire to it...what up with that?

And this, toward the middle:

"When America works, America prospers, so my economic security plan can be summed up in one word: jobs."

OK, but how, precisely, are those jobs to be found...the devil is in the details and this speech was heaviliy lacking in it. Andrew Sullivan has already noted that Bush out-Clintoned Clinton is co-opting the popular agenda of his oppoenents. In the middle of this speech, I felt he out-Clintoned Clinton by throwing too many one line zingers like this...words without substance.

"Good jobs begin with good schools, and here we've made a fine start. "

How's this? Testing? More money for unions? Where are the vouchers?

"I ask Congress to enact new safeguards for 401K and pension plans. "

I've got a great safeguard...tell people not to invest in the company they work for, and absolutly not to invest 100% of their retirement in one stock...there's your safeguard.

"yet as we act to win the war, protect our people, and create jobs in America, we must act, first and foremost, not as Republicans, not as Democrats, but as Americans."

great line...this keeps the opposition on the run...and it's almost square in the middle of the speech, there for, not an easy line to rememeber amongst the openers and closers, but an easy sentiment to remember...it will probably be in the back of the publics mind when ever ol' Daschle makes some silly comment over the next week or two.

"A terrorist underworld -- including groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Jaish-i-Mohammed..."

Four out of four terrorist groups agreee: Israel = bad

"But some governments will be timid in the face of terror. And make no mistake about it: If they do not act, America will."

This one should be handed over to Tarantino to rewrite for Sam Jackson.


Anyway, that's about the best I can do write now...I'm sure there will be enough of a buzz in the beltway to provide for large amount of comment over the next few days.




-------- AUTHOR: TomCarr DATE: 9:53 PM ----- BODY:

Back to Healthcare



some may remember an article I wrote that turned into a bit of a personal argument. well, now....vindication.

To those who actually listen to what studies have to say comes this.

this gist is that Kaiser (which is payed for by customer dollars, and is the worst healthcare in the US) is actually better and cheaper than UK healthcare which is paid for by everyone regardless of use.

hmmm.....right....fuck y'all
-------- AUTHOR: TomCarr DATE: 10:34 PM ----- BODY:

Observation...



So I'm at the Oakland Airport and noticing something, despite all the ramped up security. It's just after a Raiders game and the place is packed with LA folks who some up for the game, all decked out in Raiders gear...and so are the airline employees. I can't tell an employee from a passenger...they all blend into a sea of black and silver. This is a great opportunity for a security breach.

Now, I'm not a security expert, but I am capable of a bit of logic...who's fucking bright idea was this?

*sigh*

-------- AUTHOR: TomCarr DATE: 9:49 PM ----- BODY:

Whacked out hypothesis...



Remember Chandra Levy...young Washington intern? Disappearded before Sept 11, etc.

So, what if she is really a al-Queda spy sent to the capitol to infilitrate and gain as much inside information as possible, and then disappear just before the attacks to maintain her cover?

still needs some plot deveolpment... --------