Monday, March 14, 2005
Should the President Attribute a Joke He's Stolen?
In The Washington Post today, Mark Leibovich talks about how President Bush is using humor on his desperate odyssey to find enough suckers P.T. Barnum talked about in order to convince Congress to pass his still-unknown Social Security reforms. The article, "Don't Stop Him Even If You've Heard This One," references a joke Bush makes about cattle guards wearing uniforms.
The really funny thing (because the joke isn't) is that in Robert Shogan's book "Constant Conflict: Politics, Culture, and the Struggle for America's Future," a variation of the cattle guard joke is attributed to Democrat Kent Hance, a Texas state senator and congressman and Bush's opponent in the 1978 19th district congressional race. According to Shogan, Hance painted Bush as a elitist Easterner who asks what color uniform the cattle guards will be wearing (p 232).
Now that joke may be as old as the ones about the priest, rabbi, and reverend entering the bar, or Bush figures that he can steal a joke from a former opponent because no one would think of checking it. Tsk, tsk, President Bush, that's what bloggers are for. At least the president could mention the circumstances during which he learned the cattle guard joke. Sadly, the only original joke the president seems to be telling is his plan to reform Social Security, a rather sick joke indeed.
The really funny thing (because the joke isn't) is that in Robert Shogan's book "Constant Conflict: Politics, Culture, and the Struggle for America's Future," a variation of the cattle guard joke is attributed to Democrat Kent Hance, a Texas state senator and congressman and Bush's opponent in the 1978 19th district congressional race. According to Shogan, Hance painted Bush as a elitist Easterner who asks what color uniform the cattle guards will be wearing (p 232).
Now that joke may be as old as the ones about the priest, rabbi, and reverend entering the bar, or Bush figures that he can steal a joke from a former opponent because no one would think of checking it. Tsk, tsk, President Bush, that's what bloggers are for. At least the president could mention the circumstances during which he learned the cattle guard joke. Sadly, the only original joke the president seems to be telling is his plan to reform Social Security, a rather sick joke indeed.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Debt Management, Republican Style
You know, this administration lead the way in the effort to forgive Iraq's debt, most of it held by nations such as France, Germany and Russia. Also, this administration has often bent a favorable ear to efforts by U2's Bono and others to forgive the debt of third-world nations, especially in Africa, most of which is held by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
But when it comes to debt held by large political allies and campaign contributors, well, nothing less than repayment is in order. The passage of the bankruptcy bill illustrates how the Republicans care more about the interests of their rich creditor friends than their poor debtor voters.
Both The Washington Post and The New York Times offered front-page stories on the bill and its "inevitable" passage in the Senate, but the Times did a better job. An especially revealing quote illustrates the Republican's disregard for their constituents' interests.
"In a letter to Congress two weeks ago, 104 bankruptcy law professors predicted that 'the deepest hardship' would 'be felt in the heartland,' where the filing rates are highest - Utah, Tennessee, Georgia, Nevada, Indiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Ohio, Mississippi and Idaho."
Every one of those states voted for Bush last year, most likely due to "moral values." I guess helping out those in debt and in need isn't one of the Republicans' "moral values."
Most of the time you hear about how the Republicans have sent more federal dollars back to "red" states than those states pay in taxes. And that may be true. Here however, is a pretty good example of how the Republicans are definitely not operating in their constituents' best interest.
You can read the Post story here and the Times story here.
"The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." - Proverbs 22:7
But when it comes to debt held by large political allies and campaign contributors, well, nothing less than repayment is in order. The passage of the bankruptcy bill illustrates how the Republicans care more about the interests of their rich creditor friends than their poor debtor voters.
Both The Washington Post and The New York Times offered front-page stories on the bill and its "inevitable" passage in the Senate, but the Times did a better job. An especially revealing quote illustrates the Republican's disregard for their constituents' interests.
"In a letter to Congress two weeks ago, 104 bankruptcy law professors predicted that 'the deepest hardship' would 'be felt in the heartland,' where the filing rates are highest - Utah, Tennessee, Georgia, Nevada, Indiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Ohio, Mississippi and Idaho."
Every one of those states voted for Bush last year, most likely due to "moral values." I guess helping out those in debt and in need isn't one of the Republicans' "moral values."
Most of the time you hear about how the Republicans have sent more federal dollars back to "red" states than those states pay in taxes. And that may be true. Here however, is a pretty good example of how the Republicans are definitely not operating in their constituents' best interest.
You can read the Post story here and the Times story here.
"The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." - Proverbs 22:7
