Wednesday, February 11, 2004

Asian Bird Flu In the USA
Just last week "comedian" Bill Maher joked about the alarmist news surrounding Asian Bird Flu, saying something to the effect of don't try to make me worry about something I'll never catch. I like Bill's show but still think he's kind of smarmy and self-impressed. Anyway, Bill can start worrying now because the second incident of Asian Bird Flu has been reported here in America. Read it here, BBC.
Rattlesnake Madness!
Last weekend while hiking in Beachwood Canyon, we met a friendly rattlesnake. Yes, it is a bit early, still being winter and all, but Mr. Rattlesnake was out having a slither in the warm sunshine. This article sheds (guffaw!) some light on the social nature of rattlesnakes, here, from BBC News. That rattling noise means they're just happy to see you!
Just Hanging About...
An Australian snorkeler was bitten by a shark, but the ornery shark refused to let go. Read about it here. The snorkeler rolled with the punches, swam in, and drove to a lifeguard station with the shark still attached to his leg. Sadly, the shark did not survive the ordeal.

Monday, February 09, 2004

Tim Russert Interviews President Bush
Go to this link, here, from MSNBC to read the transcript of Russert's interview with the President. Among the more enlightening Q & A exchanges, is this:


Russert: Senator Charles Grassley, a Republican

President Bush: Yes.

Russert: said he is absolutely convinced we will capture Osama bin Laden before the election.

President Bush: Well, I appreciate his optimism. I have no idea whether we will capture or bring him to justice, may be the best way to put it. I know we are on the hunt, and Osama bin Laden is a cold blooded killer, and he represents the nature of the enemy that we face.


and -

Russert: Do you have a pretty good idea where Osama is?

President Bush: You know, I'm not going to comment on that.



Once again, it seems that the Big October Surprise predicted right here by yours truly, will be the head of Osama Bin Laden presented to the American voters right before the election. Senator Grassley was probably informed that we have Osama in custody and will be trotted out after "a daring raid" or something similar. It will be too close to the election, and Bush will be basking in his "Mission Accomplished" mode, flight suit and all. Are the Democrats ready for this? Russert also goes on to grill Bush on his AWOL status during his Air National Guard days and secures a promise from Bush to turn over all his files relevant to determining whether he truly was AWOL. Russert also sums up the Bush presidency in this question:

Russert: The Bush Cheney first three years, the unemployment rate has gone up 33 percent, there has been a loss of 2.2 million jobs. We've gone from a $281 billion surplus to a $521 billion deficit. The debt has gone from 5.7 trillion, to $7 trillion up 23 percent.

Based on that record, why should the American people rehire you as CEO?


In a related news item, the US is keeping the dollar intentionally low against the pound, yen and Euro, to make imports more costly and to hopefully kickstart more American production by starving off the appetite for imports. The US dollar is now at an 11 year low. Read that, here, from the BBC.

More from the Russert - Bush interview:

Russert: But when you proposed your first tax cut in 2001, you said this was going to generate 800,000 new jobs. Your tax cut of 2003, create a million new jobs. That has not happened.

President Bush: Well, it's happening. It's happening. And there is good momentum when it comes to the creation of new jobs.


More -

Russert: The General Accounting Office, which are the nation's auditors have done a study of our finances, and this is what your legacy will be to the next generation. It says that our “current fiscal policy is unsustainable.” They did a computer simulation that shows that balancing the budget in 2040 could require either cutting total Federal spending in half or doubling Federal taxes.

President Bush: Um hmm.

Russert: How why, as a fiscal conservative as you like to call yourself, would you allow a $500 billion deficit and this kind of deficit disaster?

President Bush: Sure. The budget I just proposed to the Congress cuts the deficit in half in five years.


More -

Russert: But your base conservatives and listen to Rush Limbaugh, the Heritage Foundation, CATO Institute, they're all saying you are the biggest spender in American history.

President Bush: Well, they're wrong.


And -

Russert: Every president since the Civil War who has gone to war has raised taxes, not cut them.

President Bush: Yeah.

Russert: Raised to pay for it. Why not say, I will not cut taxes any more until we have balanced the budget? If our situation is so precious and delicate because of the war, why do you keep cutting taxes and draining money from the treasury?

President Bush: Well, because I believe that the best way to stimulate economic growth is to let people keep more of their own money. And I believe that if you raise taxes as the economy is beginning to recover from really tough times, you will slow down economic growth. You will make it harder.

See, I'm more worried about the fellow looking for the job. That's what I'm worried about. I want people working. I want people to find work. And so, when we stimulate the economy, it's more likely that person is going to find work. And the best way to stimulate the economy is not to raise taxes but to hold the low taxes down.

Russert: How about no more tax cuts until the budget is balanced?

President Bush: Well, that's a hypothetical question which I can't answer to you because I don't know how strong the economy is going to be.