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Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Road Walker who wrote (226363)	3/25/2005 9:17:09 PM
From: TimF	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1572771

Deficit Grew for Four Straight Years True, but it doesn't serve as an answer to any of my points. The deficit while larger than it should be, isn't out of line with deficits in the 80s and 90s, or with current deficits in other developed countries. Economic Growth Has Not Exceeded Expectations I guess that depends on your expectations, but I'm certainly not surprised by our level of our economic growth so I wouldn't say your statement is at all out of line. Now what's the point of making it (or quoting someone else making it)? Cutting the Deficit in Half? In the press statement announcing the $413 billion deficit figure, Treasury Secretary John Snow said the Administration was on track “to reach the President’s goal of cutting the budget deficit in half in five years, bringing it to a level that will be low by historical standards at less than 2 percent of GDP.” As we have discussed in previous analyses of the Administration’s budget plans,* such deficit projections cannot be taken seriously; Here I think you have a point that is both true and meaningful. It doesn't refute my points, or support your original contention that our fiscal situation is "like Argentina", but it is well supported, and it is relevant to our fiscal situation. Tim

To: Road Walker who wrote (226363)	3/26/2005 6:02:43 PM
From: tejek	Respond to of 1572771

March 26, 2005 The Charleston Gazette: Israel No more settlements Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon embarked on a courageous course when he ordered the dismantling of illegal settlements in Gaza. Now it appears that he is trying to play both ends against the middle in an attempt to win back support from those he alienated. On Monday, the Israeli government confirmed that construction will begin on 3,500 new housing units in Maale Adumim, an area in the West Bank east of Jerusalem. Two U.S. State Department officials arrived in Israel on Tuesday for previously scheduled talks. They need to make it clear to Sharon that he cannot have it both ways, getting credit with the international community for dismantling illegal settlements in one place while adding to them elsewhere. Expanding the Jewish presence in traditionally Arab areas around East Jerusalem seems a particularly provocative move, tailored to create a reality on the ground that Israel will then attempt to make permanent through negotiations once peace talks begin. Already, King Abdullah of Jordan has warned that Israel’s plans for Maale Adumim threaten the prospects for peace and make it harder to imagine a contiguous Palestinian state. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has courageously cracked down on militant activity, making the difficult argument to his people that peaceful negotiation will produce better results than violence. The American-sponsored “road map” for peace specifies that Israel must halt all settlement activity. Sharon has a moral responsibility — to Israelis, to Abbas and to the international community — not to squander this moment when a real breakthrough is possible. One painful lesson from past decades is that such moments are fleeting and infrequent. If they are not used, more bloodshed follows. The White House needs to make this point forcefully to Sharon. wvgazette.com