The President's Thursday Press Conference

Published on April 29, 2005 By Gideon MacLeish In Politics

I was dismayed when TV programming was interrupted last night for President Bush's press conference. After all, it WAS delaying the most hyped episode of Survivor since...the last episode of Survivor. But I personally prefer source information over others' interpretations of the speech, which I knew I could readily access on the blogsphere.

He started on our point of commonality: Social Security. Why liberals don't get this one is beyond me, a representative of the first generation in line to be shafted once the account runs out of money with which we and our employers have endowed it for many years.

But then he went into defense of No Child Left Behind, which is, in my opinion, an indefensible piece of legislation (it is HORRIBLY unconstitutional). And it went downhill from there.

While he expressed sympathy for the energy "crisis" (read: price gouging), he mentioned no real solutions. Any sincere attempt by this administration to solve the problems created by corporations that hold us hostage over the energy barrel can only begin with an indictment of Ken Lay. I am among the many Americans that is tired of seeing this man go free while lesser offenses (Martha Stewart, anyone?) are presented as sacrificial lambs.

What appalled me the most is that his speech lacked the two words Americans need most to hear:

Exit strategy.

Comments

Dr Guy

on Apr 29, 2005

What appalled me the most is that his speech lacked the two words Americans need most to hear:

Exit strategy.

Nor will you. Only a fool telegraphs his next move to his enemies.

Gideon MacLeish

on Apr 29, 2005

Sadly, Dr. Guy, I fear it's because Bush HAS no exit strategy.

I'd love to be proven wrong on that score.

COL Gene

on Apr 29, 2005

Bush has no plan to lower gas prices in the near term. no plan for Social Security other than to have 70% of Americans cut in benefits. no plan to help the trade deficit. His only plan for Medicaid is to cut federal spending and dump it on the states. he has no plans to leave Iraq. Today there were a whole string of violent terrorist bombings. He is no solution for the federal deficit. In fact the budget that is about to pass Congress cuts 35 billion from Medicaid (transfers that to the states) and then cuts the revenue by another 70 billion in tax cuts. How does that move us closer to a balanced budget? Cut spending by 35 Billion and lower revenue by two times the amount of the cuts! This man is an idiot and disgrace to the office he holds. The Congress goes along with his plans and we get deeper into debt every day

Dr Guy

on Apr 29, 2005

Sadly, Dr. Guy, I fear it's because Bush HAS no exit strategy.

I'd love to be proven wrong on that score.

No amount of jawboning will convince you. Only time will show you.

Gideon MacLeish

on Apr 29, 2005

Dr. Guy,

I realize you are a hardcore Republican, but this war has thus far lingered on for two years since "victory" was declared.

Bush has shown NO inclination to bring our soldiers home, and my hopes are fading fast that we will see the egress of our troops from Iraq anytime during THIS administration.

Dr Guy

on Apr 29, 2005

I realize you are a hardcore Republican, but this war has thus far lingered on for two years since "victory" was declared.
Bush has shown NO inclination to bring our soldiers home, and my hopes are fading fast that we will see the egress of our troops from Iraq anytime during THIS administration.

I am not a republican. I am a conservative.

And even the dovish pols out there when not being stupid, will admit you dont cut and run with the job half done.

To leave now would be to open up Iraq the way Afghanistan was after the Russians left. And that would be worse.

Island Dog

on Apr 29, 2005

Any sincere attempt by this administration to solve the problems created by corporations that hold us hostage over the energy barrel can only begin with an indictment of Ken Lay. I am among the many Americans that is tired of seeing this man go free while lesser offenses (Martha Stewart, anyone?) are presented as sacrificial lambs.

You do know that Ken Lay was indicted and his trial will be sometime this year.

Gideon MacLeish

on Apr 29, 2005

I'm not suggesting we cut and run with the job half done. But you DON'T declare a "half done" job a "victory" as this administration did many, many months ago! Frankly, I feel this war has been poorly run (although, I will admit that the libs get part of the blame for this), and that we need to begin fomenting a REAL exit strategy.

Just my opinion, though.

Gideon MacLeish

on Apr 29, 2005

You do know that Ken Lay was indicted and his trial will be sometime this year.

I wasn't aware he was indicted, no. Interesting how that stayed at the BOTTOM of the headlines. Wanna bet Ken Lay's "trial" and resultant slap on the wrist will, too?

Island Dog

on Apr 29, 2005

I wasn't aware he was indicted, no. Interesting how that stayed at the BOTTOM of the headlines. Wanna bet Ken Lay's "trial" and resultant slap on the wrist will, too?

It wasn't at the bottom of the headlines, it was front page news.

I don't know what will happen to him. Are you suggesting some kind of conspiracy?

Gideon MacLeish

on Apr 29, 2005

It wasn't at the bottom of the headlines, it was front page news.

Maybe in YOUR neck of the woods. As someone who reads/watches the news EVERY day, it didn't filter down here AT ALL.

I don't know what will happen to him. Are you suggesting some kind of conspiracy?

No more of a conspiracy than that which has ALWAYS guided politics: that of "money talks".

Come on, our president rode to campaign stops on the Enron jet during the 2000 campaign. Do you really think he and his buddies will let down their old pal Ken?

Gideon MacLeish

on Apr 29, 2005

I did find the link, btw...but I'm still skeptical that Lay will serve even as much time as Martha Stewart.

Island Dog

on Apr 29, 2005

Ken Lay isn't a politician. Just because Bush used his jet really means nothing. The only reason the media paid attention to Enron in the first place is because they thought they could somehow implicate Bush. When that conspiracy theory failed it was just the usual news again.

I did find the link, btw...but I'm still skeptical that Lay will serve even as much time as Martha Stewart

That's up to the judge and jury.

Gideon MacLeish

on Apr 29, 2005

Ken Lay isn't a politician. Just because Bush used his jet really means nothing.

It means he always has had friends in VERY high places, plain and simple.

That's up to the judge and jury.

skilled lawyer usually trumps judge and jury. This has been proven time and time again. And Lay can afford pretty good representation.

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