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

To: American Spirit who wrote (687222)	6/24/2005 6:41:49 PM
From: sea_biscuit	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769667

Hurray! Some 30 House Republicans joined Democrats to rule that United Airlines cannot just dump its pensions on the people. Looks like we have moved from the "Revenge of the Sith" episode (that lasted almost 10 years) to the "A New Hope" episode now. Watch out for "The Empire Strikes Back". It is on its way. Rove and his gang are not going to just give up...

To: American Spirit who wrote (687222)	6/25/2005 9:31:12 AM
From: Hope Praytochange	Respond to of 769667

Conservative Booknotes: Who Needs Property Rights? The Supreme Court has just issued another opinion confirming that liberals aren't really on the side of the little guy. In Kelo v. New London, Justice Stevens and the usual suspects on the Court's left wing have given local officials in Connecticut power to seize and demolish houses in a working class neighborhood. Not because the citizens of New London need a road -- not even because they've decided they want a park or a football stadium. These citizens' land is being handed over to private developers who plan to build, among other things, a health club and a hotel. According to the Associated Press story, Justice Stevens gives this reason for siding with the city government: "'The city has carefully formulated an economic development [plan--in the decision, but omitted from the AP story -- E.K.]that it believes will provide appreciable benefits to the community, including -- but by no means limited to -- new jobs and increased tax revenue.'" Well, as long as they've got a plan. Come to think of it, why do private citizens even need the right to own property? Apparently the government can make us all better off with "carefully formulated" schemes for the best use of our land. Read more conservative analysis on books and culture at Conservative Booknotes: hebookservice.com

To: American Spirit who wrote (687222)	6/25/2005 9:32:04 AM
From: Hope Praytochange	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769667

Jihad Watch: Calling the Saudis' Bluff When American soldiers raided jihadist hideouts in northeastern Iraq this week, they found a number of foreign passports, including two from Saudi Arabia. Several weeks ago the Syrians arrested 300 Saudis before they could cross into Iraq and join the jihad against America. These are just two more bits of evidence that loyalties continue to be divided in Saudi Arabia - underscoring the urgency of the Saudi Arabia Accountability Act of 2005, which was introduced in the Senate recently. The Saudis have been playing a double game since 9/11, maintaining their alliance with the U.S. while aiding the jihad worldwide; this Act tries to stop the duplicity. This Act endeavors to "halt Saudi support for institutions that fund, train, incite, encourage, or in any other way aid and abet terrorism, and to secure full Saudi cooperation in the investigation of terrorist incidents, and for other purposes." The bill - S. 1171 - notes not only that the Saudis are financing terrorist groups, but that they are also aggressively spreading the jihad ideology that fuels terrorism. And they're doing it in America. The Saudis' North American Islamic Trust owns over 300 mosques in the United States. The Accountability Act cites the January 2005 report from Freedom House's Center for Religious Freedom, which revealed that what is being taught in those mosques: "material promoting hatred, intolerance, and violence within United States mosques and Islamic centers." What's more, "these publications are often official publications of a Saudi ministry or distributed by the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C." And they put their money where their mouth is: the Accountability Act cites a September 2003 New York Times report noting that "at least 50 percent of the current operating budget of Hamas comes from 'people in Saudi Arabia,'" as well as a July 2003 Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) report stating that "Saudi-sponsored organizations have funneled over $4,000,000,000 to finance the Palestinian intifada that began in September 2000." And that is true despite the fact that the Saudis have not been particularly reliable allies in the war on terror. Get the rest of this week's Jihad Watch: humaneventsonline.com

To: American Spirit who wrote (687222)	6/25/2005 9:33:10 AM
From: Hope Praytochange	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 769667

Political Roundup from Bob Novak and John Gizzi EVANS & NOVAK: Republicans are experiencing the frustration of power as numerous political issues work against them. Public confidence in Congress is currently very low by historical standards, and as the majority, Republicans cannot help but shoulder the public's ill will. Among the issues at work are the continued bloodshed in Iraq, the controversy surrounding Majority Leader Tom DeLay, and President Bush's failure so far to make Social Security reform palatable enough that it becomes a political asset rather than a liability. Although the next election is far away, these issues give Democrats plenty of ammunition for next year. On the other hand, the issue of Democratic obstruction of Bush's judicial nominations still works in Republicans' favor. The Senate picture is shaping up to be worrisome for the GOP. NRSC fund raising is far from exceptional. The DSCC chairman, Sen. Chuck Schumer, has kept Dems at parity. Although our opinion is unchanged that they will keep their majority in 2006, Republicans could suffer a bad cycle-perhaps a loss of two seats. In Tennessee, Rhode Island, Montana, Pennsylvania and possibly Texas, Republicans will need to defend open or vulnerable seats. Sen. Rick Santorum (R.-Pa.) looks very ripe for defeat, and Sen. Lincoln Chafee's (R.-R.I.) future remains in doubt as a possible Republican primary looms. The Republican field in Tennessee has become very crowded, and the Democratic hopeful, Rep. Harold Ford (D.), is not to be taken lightly. GOP pick-up opportunities in the Senate have also dimmed significantly. In Florida, Rep. Katherine Harris (R.) begins as an underdog against Sen. Bill Nelson (D.). In Michigan, Sen. Debbie Stabenow's (D.) approval numbers are unexpectedly strong. In Minnesota, Rep. Mark Kennedy (R.) has fallen behind in fund raising, even though he was supposed to be the favorite. In Nebraska, the White House appears willing to let Sen. Ben Nelson (D.) alone. Although it is still winnable, the race in North Dakota to unseat Sen. Kent Conrad (D) can succeed only if Gov. John Hoeven (R.) gets in. Read the rest of Bob Novak's weekly analysis here: members.humaneventsonline.com