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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: goldworldnet who wrote (369277)	3/10/2003 3:43:05 PM
From: TigerPaw	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 769670

Bush is extremely popular in Texas Not so much as you may think There is support for the troops, except for the CINC Bush, military supporters rally at Capitol By Tony Plohetski AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Sunday, March 2, 2003 To the chanting crowd Saturday afternoon on the steps of the Capitol, now is not the time for anti-war protests. It is the time for unity. For patriotism. For supporting President Bush and the military. Holding banners that expressed those sentiments, many in the crowd were quick to say that they do not necessarily advocate war. However, they think the nation should stand behind the president if he decides to invade Iraq in coming weeks. "I'm not pro-war," said Andrew Phillips, a civil engineer in Austin. "I'm pro-America -- showing a united front." Organizers said they decided to coordinate their "Rally for America" event to counter the city's vocal anti-war crusades. Ironically, a protest against war was being held simultaneously downtown several blocks from the Capitol. Several other anti-war activists also showed up at the "Rally for America," carrying signs supporting their beliefs. The rally included the Pledge of Allegiance, prayers for troops and the singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner." The crowd carried signs that said things such as "Adios Saddam," "Let's Roll" and "God Bless the USA." Rally participants stood about 12 deep in a semicircle around the Capitol steps. A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper estimated that about 250 people attended. A recent anti-war rally in the same location and on Congress Avenue brought about 10,000 people. Saturday's Capitol rally also was far smaller than the one Feb. 18 in Killeen, the home of Fort Hood. There, a rally to support troops headed for the Persian Gulf drew a standing-room-only crowd of military and civilian families to the city convention center, which seats 3,500. Carol Hanle of Austin, whose son, Bo, is in the Navy, came to the rally to support her son and his comrades. She said she believes Bush is trying to do his best to prevent war but understands the need to protect the United States. "He believes Saddam is a threat to the entire world," she said. "He is trying to bring a peace that will last." tplohetski@statesman.com; 445-3605

To: goldworldnet who wrote (369277)	3/10/2003 3:53:06 PM
From: Thomas A Watson	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

I support the President 100% on Iraq and I would have been really upset if the Pope had any other position. The Pope has personal positions and positions on doctrine. You clearly don't seem to understand the difference. Advocating the direct murder of any innocent is always evil.(abortion) The war with Iraq is not advocating the direct murder of any innocents. It is about eliminating evil individuals. The Pope has not stated that Catholics cannot fight in the war against Iraq. Fighting or supporting the war has not been declared sin.

To: goldworldnet who wrote (369277)	3/10/2003 4:12:01 PM
From: Kenneth E. Phillipps	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 769670

Poll: Texans expect tax increases By MONICA WOLFSON Scripps Howard News Service Seventy-two percent of Texans have little or no confidence lawmakers can balance the state budget without raising taxes, according to The Scripps Howard Texas Poll. And when it comes to financing public schools, Texans overwhelmingly favor reform and would like the governor to call a special session if lawmakers are unable to accomplish the task before the session ends June 2. Lawmakers are facing a $9.9 billion deficit and only 26 percent of Texans are confident that legislators can balance the budget without a tax increase. The public’s skepticism didn’t surprise some tax policy analysts. "I would say the public understands better than some legislators that you need a balanced approach to balancing a budget," said Dick Lavine, senior fiscal analyst with the Center for Public Policy Priorities, an advocacy group for middle- and lower-income Texans. "The hole is much too deep to fill with cuts alone." If lawmakers raised taxes, 24 percent of Texans would support raising sales taxes — a 7 percent increase in support from October. But cigarette taxes are still the overwhelming favorite chosen by 45 percent. Creating an income tax has 7 percent support, while raising property and gasoline taxes were both chosen by 2 percent. Meanwhile, a personal income tax proposal to reduce property taxes and raise money for public education has lost some support. Forty-one percent support creating an income tax, down 5 percent from October. According to the Texas Constitution, two-thirds of revenue generated from an income tax must be used to reduce property taxes, while the rest of the revenue has to be spent on education. Fifty-three percent oppose an income tax, up from 46 percent in October. "There has been lots of rhetoric against an income tax lately," said Wayne Pierce, executive director of the Equity Center, which represents property-poor school districts. "I think personal income reductions in retirement accounts have also made people skittish about an income tax." Republican state leaders don’t support creating an income tax, Lavine said. But 67 percent of Texans believe they will pay more in taxes if there were an income tax, while 12 percent say they will pay fewer taxes. Texans are also undecided about whether businesses pay a fair share of state taxes. Forty percent strongly or somewhat agree, while 40 percent strong or somewhat disagree that businesses pay a fair share of state taxes. "I think that split and the support for increasing the sales tax gives the Legislature a menu of opportunity to consider what revenue is needed," said John Connolly, executive director of the Texas School Coalition, which represents property-wealthy school districts. Support for Robin Hood, which is an element of the state’s school funding equalization system, is unchanged from October. Fifty percent of Texans support the recapture system called Robin Hood, where property-wealthy school districts share property revenue with property-poor school districts. Forty-one percent oppose. "The public blames Robin Hood for everything," Pierce said. "It’s a wonder it has as good marks as it does. The Legislature is absolutely wrong in trying to replace Robin Hood without a better system in place. Ninety percent of the children in Texas benefit from Robin Hood." The Texas Poll was conducted Feb. 6-28 by the Scripps Data Center. The Poll surveyed 1,000 adult Texans by telephone in a random sample of active telephone exchanges statewide. The margin of error is ± 3 percentage points.

To: goldworldnet who wrote (369277)	3/10/2003 4:19:37 PM
From: American Spirit	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

Looks like UN will reject, so it's all up to Bush. And it seems he's already made up his mind. Unless he's a really good poker player and is bluffing. But I doubt it. If we go to war, it will be one of the poorest prepared least provoked wars ever. Few allies, high cost during severe deficits, no clear transition plan or end game. That said, if it turns out half as okay as Afghanistan I guess we can live with it. My biggest fear is Saddam will go out with a very messy deadly bang plus more terrorist strikes will result. In which case Bush's charge that Saddam may attack us some day becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy. And if he blows up his oil-wells who will pay for the war? We will, of course. Adding much more to the deficits.