Bush set another
record. Incomes haven’t grown
for five years – first time!

My elderly cat occasionally falls off the bed,
looks up as if it was deliberate, and trots
off to the kitchen for a snack and some water.
Like Bush saying the new Iraqi constitution
will pass in October and end the insurgency, so
he can resume trying to “save� Social Security.

Information about John G. Roberts, Jr.,
nominee for the Supreme Court,
tends to be gray, not black or white,
but on matters linguistic we know
everything – and so does he.
His great grammar, super spelling,
and voracious vocabulary surely
won Bush’s attention and approval.
Those critical characteristics concealed
the chinks in his conservative crust.

Battle of the moms,
a struggle for Crawford, but
not like Katrina

They warn us of “instant instability�
in the middle east if we “cut and run,�
but no one mentions the consequences
of demonstrating our impotence.
Surely the specter of America
held hostage by insurgents emboldens
terrorists and reassures tyrants more
than admitting we made a mistake.
No matter how Bush spins it, Iraq’s
proposed constitution is not what he wanted.
If they insist on […]

E. J. Dionne Jr. says Kim Beazley
has a promising proposal. The
Australian Labor Party leader suggests
a “phased extraction� from Iraq and
refocusing attention on the real war
on terrorism in Afghanistan.
Unfortunately the first step requires
Bush to admit his mistakes.

Mr. President, how will we know?
If victory is when terrorist attacks stop,
the war will never be over.
If it requires ending the insurgency,
history and the experts say that’s impossible,
they will fight until we leave.
If we go now, there could be a civil war, but
a Kurd or Sunni triumph might be better for women
than the […]

The proposed Iraqi constitution
is one small step for man,
one giant step for Islam.
It seems to guarantee Iran
a friendly neighbor –
democracy beholden to Mullahs.
No one but Bush seems happy.
Of course he hasn’t read it,
but he met another deadline.

Bush is raising gas mileage
requirements on vans, trucks
and SUV’s – except the giants.
He also ignored ordinary cars.
In six years 40% of new vehicles
will use 5% less gas – not much
saving, but more than we’re likely
to get from new drilling in Alaska.
The public could buy cars instead
of vans, trucks and SUV’s and
burn 20% less fuel now, […]

It’s good to hear discussion of the war.
It would be better if it wasn’t
Democrats arguing with each other.
Republicans just say “stay the course,�
not realizing it meanders aimlessly.
Progressives don’t have to toe a line,
but they need to unite behind the fact
this war is wrong. Those who voted
for it should apologize and help look
for a way […]

Militias put muscle in the Iraqi military,
and may make constitutional federalism
moot before a document is approved.
They participate in policing Kurdish
and Shiite areas – enforcing order, often
with abductions and assassinations.
The U.S. may not approve, but the provinces
involved are the ones we plan to turn over
to Iraqi control soon – to soldiers or goons?

Politicians say nothing can be done
about the price of gasoline.
It’s a matter for the free market.
Investigations would do no good.
Oil companies are above reproach.
Changing mileage requirements
would take years to make a difference.
All they suggest is drilling for oil
in Alaska. They don’t mention it would
take years and not make a difference.

If you’ve never been frightened
by an 18-wheeler swaying into
your lane, you probably won’t care
about Bush’s latest foray into safety.
For years commercial truck drivers
couldn’t work more than 10 hours
without a rest. Experts say the limit
should be 8, but business wanted 12.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration split the difference at 11.

“Before Sheehan left Crawford…
Bush explained to reporters
that he needs to get on with his life,
a remark stunningly insensitive…
Cycling, his new exercise narcotic,
is important…Americans want to know
that their president leads a balanced life.
No, Mr. President, we just want to know
that you’re balanced, period.�

Reporters pour over thousands of pages
Roberts wrote as a Reagan minion, and
find a bright, conservative, clever man
who never did any wrong on paper.
Of course, smoking guns would have been
withheld because of national security.

is an undisputed rule,
but aren’t neighbors supposed to be selected?
Illegal immigration means that isn’t always so.
Sometimes neighbors are just waiting for a job
day after day on a corner near your house.
That takes the edge off charity, except for Bush.
Business likes cheap labor, the President enjoys
their support, so the borders remain porous.
Stopping worker flow might shut […]

Condoleezza Rice
told Iraq just one more week
is all you-all get.

the creator of chaos in Crawford
keeps reporters alert and busy.
We’ve lost track of why we’re in Iraq –
the reasons keep changing. She put a face
on the cost in casualties and money –
too many and too much.
To defuse the Cindy Sheehan fuss
the President needs to define victory
and its value – to gold star mothers,
face to face.

The President’s dad used to talk about the “big mo�
now his son has managed to create it by accident.
Cindy Sheehan has collected consultants, counselors
and folks with money who would like to see this war
closed down. Enough is enough.
Insurgents want to kill Americans.
When we are gone they will stop.
If they don’t there might be a […]

Some call Bush a master politician.
Everyone credits Rove with brilliance.
Which one decided to let a grieving mother
camp out in the rain and mud
with a bunch of bored reporters?
The President snubbing Cindy Sheehan
made her a celebrity and her organization,
Gold Star Mothers for Peace, a potential power.
If this grows into a real anti-war movement
some unwitting genius deserves […]