Our National Shame

Our children are under siege.

Whether it's lead in their toys, Super Bugs in their schools.... or a president intent on pouring billions weekly into Iraq while vetoing expanded health insurance for children in poor and middle class families (SCHIP), or threatening to veto the increase in diagnostic and research funding for the epidemic of autism.... dangers are daily stalking our children.

The latest estimate is that as many as 1 in 150 children have some form of autism.... a disorder which steals emotional warmth and communication skills, replacing them with unsocial and angry behaviors.... heartbreaking and devastating for families.

One in 150.... !

The increase for autism-related funding in the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations (LHHSE) 2008 appropriations bill? Just $37 million.... a blink of the eye in Iraq spending terms.

And the Super Bug? It is now estimated that drug-resistant infections will become the third leading killer in the U.S.... exceeded only by cancer and heart disease.

Uninspected children's toys from China continue to flood the country, even after the discovery of life-threatening lead in such toys. It's an outrage.

Because the entire LHHSE appropriations bill has $9 billion more in discretionary spending than The Decider asked for, he's promised to veto the bill, thus threatening the much needed budget increases for such national health agencies as the Center for Disease Control, and programs like that of autism for diagnosis, treatment and research.

This disgraceful president, while running up truly historic debt only vetoed one bill during the six years of a GOP-controlled congress.... for vital stem cell research.... is now standing by with veto pen at the ready for legislation passed by the the Democratic congress.

Could the real reason for El Presidente Bush's veto of the LHHSE appropriations legislation be because the bill also scuttles other policies he's been pushing? The bill does refocus some of the administration's priorities back to U. S. citizens.... such as, barring the Social Security Administration from processing claims for retirement benefits that are based on illegal work

From Iraq to Mexico, too many White House priorities put the welfare of our citizens, and especially our children, last.

Do your part to thwart The Decider's continuing disregard for the welfare of our citizens, and especially our children under siege. Contact your legislators and urge their support of the 2008 LHHSE Appropriations bill.

As Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) said of this legislation.... "This appropriation bill has no rival for greater importance to America because it deals with our nation's capital assets: health, education, and labor. It is my hope the president signs this bill into law in the interest of the nation's general welfare."

Friends of George.... NOT!

Good thing The Decider has Barney.... perhaps his only friend in D.C. right now.... one who won't publicly bark about their time together.

The way former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan did in his recent book "The Age of Turbulence" when he howled at Bush for his lack of fiscal discipline and for presiding over a "dysfunctional government." (WaPo)

The Decider was said to be surprised by Greenspan's criticism. Guess Captain Clueless thought self-described "libertarian Republican" Greenspan would applaud the administration's meteoric spending and black-hole national deficit.

But, just as the White House was defending Bush, spinning that his veto "threats" kept GOP congressional spending from spiraling out of control.... (you mean it could have been worse?)....., the man Bush thanked for being "a friend to Laura and me," also turned to bite the overly generous hand feeding the Mexican poor that Mexico's government dumps over our border.

Former Mexico President Vicente Fox, in his new book "Revolution of Hope," called Bush "stubborn" and "the cockiest guy I have ever met in my life." Fox even mocks Bush's Spanish skills as "grade-school" level. (CNN)

Here, Barney.....

Maybe that is why The Decider has nominated what appears to be an honest man.... retired federal judge, law-and-order conservative Michael Mukasey.... as his new Attorney General (WaPo).

Is Bush finally looking for friends in the right places.... and trying to bring to heel his tattered legacy?

Perhaps. But it's much too late for doggie treats for a Bush-wary nation.

Bush Flops on Hill

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) summed up the reaction of GOP Senators after a Capitol luncheon meeting with The Decider who was re-selling his immigration amnesty legislation.... "It was a good give-and-take. We didn't expect anybody to stand up and holler that they had an epiphany."

Indeed.

If the remarks by Iowa's only GOP Senator, Charles Grassley, are a sample, it was far from an epiphany. Grassley said following the meeting that he will continue to oppose any legislation that includes amnesty, and that he "didn't think the meeting changed anybody's mind."

On Tuesday, Grassley and eight other GOP senators sent a letter to The Decider telling him to enforce the border security laws already approved by Congress, as that "is the best way to restore trust with the American people and facilitate future improvements of our immigration policy."

Grassley gets it.

So why won't The Decider just enforce current laws? Why is he so insistent on a "comprehensive" bill?

Ah, the Devil is in the details.

On page 211 of the draft immigration legislation: "Sense of Congress Regarding Partnership for Prosperity - It is the sense of Congress that the United States and Mexico should accelerate the implementation of the Partnership for Prosperity....."

This partnership was embarked upon by The Decider and Mexico's former president Fox without discussion with U.S. citizens or Congress, let alone approval. But, it's a critical cornerstone of The Decider's stealth plan for a North American Union. Obviously, he's willing to tear our national house down to hammer home this policy nail.

Hopefully, our elected representatives will continue to reject The Decider's schemes, or the voters will register their grand epiphany come November 2008!