HE LEFT OUT THE ECONOMY...stupid

i guess i was wrong. it was all iraq. i would have thought he might have given the economy an honorable mention, but why mess up a perfectly good chest banging, war mongering speech. or, maybe it was intentional. it must be that he and his strategists feel that his achievements in iraq relative to his record on the economy make it a lay down for what he will have us focus on. and since the iraq democratization is as the president put it, "a just cause", lets try to get everybody on board for the third world war that we must complete in order to make the world a safer place. as for the economy, since he didn't mention it, maybe he thinks that it will take care of itself.

now for the speech. actually, i would say it bordered on a fundraiser for the war in iraq. president bush confidently asked the american taxpayer for an additional $87 billion to pay for the war and reconstruction of iraq. president bush likened what we face currently to the destruction and subsequent reconstruction of germany and japan after WWII. in fact he tried to place a spin on it by stating that, "we have been repaid many times over for the money spent to rebuild those countries". so in a way he's saying that its an investment in our country's future.

in case anyone was wondering when or how the war on iraq will end, tonights speech made it very clear that he has no answers right now, yet he is prepared to see it through without "backing down". continuing his tough talk, the president unambiguously recommitted himself and the resources of our country, both money and lives, to the fight. seems to me that its coming a bit after the fact, and what are we all to do now? i don't think many people are prepared for this war to be a real war. this is starting to cost much more than most people signed on for and i think that many will be revoking their support shortly.

as that happens, unless the economy is really humming along and jobs are being created, support for the war will disipate, and so will the presidents hopes for a second term. it will be quite interesting to see a second bush win the war and lose the presidency. in fact, it looks like he may lose the war as well.

have a grateful day!

larry