Bury Me Broken

Bush Radio Address Demonstrates Divide

President Bush demonstrated the divide between the parties with each specific point that he made. Said to be the most ideological president since Reagan, and maybe more so, he hammers home the same points demonstrating a steadfastness and strength regardless of the results.

''The terrorists and insurgents are trying to get us to retreat. Their goal is to get us to leave before Iraqis have had a chance to show the region what a government that is elected and truly accountable to its citizens can do for its people,'' Bush said in his weekly radio address.

But can the president understand the concept that the Iraqis can have a successful, elected and accountable government with our troops withdrawing? Can the president understand that maybe withdrawal of troops will signal insurgents that we are not looking to be in Iraq permanently (although we have been erecting permanent military structures)?

The president should also stop talking about these mythical people that don't believe Iraq can be successful. There is no group of Democrats, ultra-liberals, people in the Middle East or people in Europe saying that Iraq can't be free or successful or democratic or have a constitution or elect officials or stop the violence. All men are created equal and if given the opportunity can accomplish the unimaginable.

But back to the radio address.

On the economic front, he addressed trade agreement with Central America, Social Security legilation and energy bill. Once again, he demonstrates the divide. A trade agreement with Central America is one where Americans are apprehensive after the downside of the North America Free Trade Agreement. We don't want the short end of the stick. I am sure once it is demonstrated that CAFTA won't hurt America like NAFTA, it will pass.

Social Security, however, is not relevant to a stagnant job market. We have heard economic indicators on the uptick for the past two years but if you go talk to John Q. American, he is unemploed or underemployed. An addition of 50,000 low paying jobs in a month, especially in retail does not make up for the jobs lost since President Bush took office in 2001. He promised his tax cuts would stimulate the economy and create jobs. His economic plan hasn't met the promise of job production three months in a row for five years and privatizing Social Security doesn't address the failure of his tax cuts for the average American.

Finally, the energy bill also will not directly affect the economy. Do we need an energy bill to move toward alternatives to crude oil? Yes. Do we need all of your corporate friends and V.P. Cheney's friends to meet in secret and receive a lot of deals and friendly legislation and pass a bill that harms the average American. No we do not.

See Mr. President, your legislation hurts the average American, the out-of-work Ohioan whose plant closed, the barely make ends meet Tennessean who has seen no significant gains from the massive tax cuts and the other faces around the country that you don't see because you are the only president in the history of America to stage rallies with no one opposing you to be invited.

You don't know what we look like because Rove and Co. have done a masterful job of shielding you from us, shielding you from reality, shielding America from seeing our soldiers come home blind or without legs and shielding the facts from being healthily debated in the media.

Your bankruptcy bill doesn't help America; it helps corporate America. Your stopping terrorism progress reports doesn't help America, it hurts America. Your attack on science doesn't help America, it hurts America. Your lowering of environmental standards doesn't help America, it helps the White House corporate friends, the Pioneers and Rangers. Your overtime bill doesn't help America, it helps corporate America. Your energy bill doesn't help America, it helps corporate America. Your anti-class action legislation doesn't help the average citizens demonstrate corporate negligence, it helps corporate America hide negligence.

''We need to work together to ensure that opportunity reaches every corner of our great country,'' Bush said.

What opportunity Mr. President?

posted by niteskolar @ 7:15 AM