You know I don't ever remember the ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR being used like they use the ATTACK ON 9/11.

STATE OF THE UNION 2008

THE PRESIDENT: Madam Speaker, Vice President Cheney, members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens: Seven years have passed since I first stood before you at this rostrum. In that time, our country has been tested in ways none of us could have imagined. We faced hard decisions about peace and war, rising competition in the world economy, and the health and welfare of our citizens. These issues call for vigorous debate, and I think it's fair to say we've answered the call. Yet history will record that amid our differences, we acted with purpose. And together, we showed the world the power and resilience of American self-government.

All of us were sent to Washington to carry out the people's business. That is the purpose of this body. It is the meaning of our oath. It remains our charge to keep.

The actions of the 110th Congress will affect the security and prosperity of our nation long after this session has ended. In this election year, let us show our fellow Americans that we recognize our responsibilities and are determined to meet them. Let us show them that Republicans and Democrats can compete for votes and cooperate for results at the same time.

From expanding opportunity to protecting our country, we've made good progress. Yet we have unfinished business before us, and the American people expect us to get it done.

In the work ahead, we must be guided by the philosophy that made our nation great. As Americans, we believe in the power of individuals to determine their destiny and shape the course of history. We believe that the most reliable guide for our country is the collective wisdom of ordinary citizens. And so in all we do, we must trust in the ability of free peoples to make wise decisions, and empower them to improve their lives for their futures.

To build a prosperous future, we must trust people with their own money and empower them to grow our economy. As we meet tonight, our economy is undergoing a period of uncertainty. America has added jobs for a record 52 straight months, but jobs are now growing at a slower pace. Wages are up, but so are prices for food and gas. Exports are rising, but the housing market has declined. At kitchen tables across our country, there is a concern about our economic future.

In the long run, Americans can be confident about our economic growth. But in the short run, we can all see that that growth is slowing. So last week, my administration reached agreement with Speaker Pelosi and Republican Leader Boehner on a robust growth package that includes tax relief for individuals and families and incentives for business investment. The temptation will be to load up the bill. That would delay it or derail it, and neither option is acceptable. This is a good agreement that will keep our economy growing and our people working. And this Congress must pass it as soon as possible.

We have other work to do on taxes. Unless Congress acts, most of the tax relief we've delivered over the past seven years will be taken away. Some in Washington argue that letting tax relief expire is not a tax increase. Try explaining that to 116 million American taxpayers who would see their taxes rise by an average of $1,800. Others have said they would personally be happy to pay higher taxes. I welcome their enthusiasm. I'm pleased to report that the IRS accepts both checks and money orders.

Most Americans think their taxes are high enough. With all the other pressures on their finances, American families should not have to worry about their federal government taking a bigger bite out of their paychecks. There's only one way to eliminate this uncertainty: Make the tax relief permanent. And members of Congress should know: If any bill raises taxes reaches my desk, I will veto it.

Just as we trust Americans with their own money, we need to earn their trust by spending their tax dollars wisely. Next week, I'll send you a budget that terminates or substantially reduces 151 wasteful or bloated programs, totaling more than $18 billion. The budget that I will submit will keep America on track for a surplus in 2012. American families have to balance their budgets; so should their government.

The people's trust in their government is undermined by congressional earmarks -- special interest projects that are often snuck in at the last minute, without discussion or debate. Last year, I asked you to voluntarily cut the number and cost of earmarks in half. I also asked you to stop slipping earmarks into committee reports that never even come to a vote. Unfortunately, neither goal was met. So this time, if you send me an appropriations bill that does not cut the number and cost of earmarks in half, I'll send it back to you with my veto.

And tomorrow, I will issue an executive order that directs federal agencies to ignore any future earmark that is not voted on by Congress. If these items are truly worth funding, Congress should debate them in the open and hold a public vote.

Our shared responsibilities extend beyond matters of taxes and spending. On housing, we must trust Americans with the responsibility of homeownership and empower them to weather turbulent times in the housing market. My administration brought together the HOPE NOW alliance, which is helping many struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure. And Congress can help even more. Tonight I ask you to pass legislation to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, modernize the Federal Housing Administration, and allow state housing agencies to issue tax-free bonds to help homeowners refinance their mortgages. These are difficult times for many American families, and by taking these steps, we can help more of them keep their homes.

To build a future of quality health care, we must trust patients and doctors to make medical decisions and empower them with better information and better options. We share a common goal: making health care more affordable and accessible for all Americans. The best way to achieve that goal is by expanding consumer choice, not government control. So I have proposed ending the bias in the tax code against those who do not get their health insurance through their employer. This one reform would put private coverage within reach for millions, and I call on the Congress to pass it this year.

The Congress must also expand health savings accounts, create Association Health Plans for small businesses, promote health information technology, and confront the epidemic of junk medical lawsuits. With all these steps, we will help ensure that decisions about your medical care are made in the privacy of your doctor's office -- not in the halls of Congress.

On education, we must trust students to learn if given the chance, and empower parents to demand results from our schools. In neighborhoods across our country, there are boys and girls with dreams -- and a decent education is their only hope of achieving them.

Six years ago, we came together to pass the No Child Left Behind Act, and today no one can deny its results. Last year, fourth and eighth graders achieved the highest math scores on record. Reading scores are on the rise. African American and Hispanic students posted all-time highs. Now we must work together to increase accountability, add flexibility for states and districts, reduce the number of high school dropouts, provide extra help for struggling schools.

Members of Congress: The No Child Left Behind Act is a bipartisan achievement. It is succeeding. And we owe it to America's children, their parents, and their teachers to strengthen this good law.

We must also do more to help children when their schools do not measure up. Thanks to the D.C. Opportunity Scholarships you approved, more than 2,600 of the poorest children in our Nation's Capital have found new hope at a faith-based or other non-public school. Sadly, these schools are disappearing at an alarming rate in many of America's inner cities. So I will convene a White House summit aimed at strengthening these lifelines of learning. And to open the doors of these schools to more children, I ask you to support a new $300 million program called Pell Grants for Kids. We have seen how Pell Grants help low-income college students realize their full potential. Together, we've expanded the size and reach of these grants. Now let us apply that same spirit to help liberate poor children trapped in failing public schools.

On trade, we must trust American workers to compete with anyone in the world and empower them by opening up new markets overseas. Today, our economic growth increasingly depends on our ability to sell American goods and crops and services all over the world. So we're working to break down barriers to trade and investment wherever we can. We're working for a successful Doha Round of trade talks, and we must complete a good agreement this year. At the same time, we're pursuing opportunities to open up new markets by passing free trade agreements.

I thank the Congress for approving a good agreement with Peru. And now I ask you to approve agreements with Colombia and Panama and South Korea. Many products from these nations now enter America duty-free, yet many of our products face steep tariffs in their markets. These agreements will level the playing field. They will give us better access to nearly 100 million customers. They will support good jobs for the finest workers in the world: those whose products say "Made in the USA."

These agreements also promote America's strategic interests. The first agreement that will come before you is with Colombia, a friend of America that is confronting violence and terror, and fighting drug traffickers. If we fail to pass this agreement, we will embolden the purveyors of false populism in our hemisphere. So we must come together, pass this agreement, and show our neighbors in the region that democracy leads to a better life.

Trade brings better jobs and better choices and better prices. Yet for some Americans, trade can mean losing a job, and the federal government has a responsibility to help. I ask Congress to reauthorize and reform trade adjustment assistance, so we can help these displaced workers learn new skills and find new jobs.

To build a future of energy security, we must trust in the creative genius of American researchers and entrepreneurs and empower them to pioneer a new generation of clean energy technology. Our security, our prosperity, and our environment all require reducing our dependence on oil. Last year, I asked you to pass legislation to reduce oil consumption over the next decade, and you responded. Together we should take the next steps: Let us fund new technologies that can generate coal power while capturing carbon emissions. Let us increase the use of renewable power and emissions-free nuclear power. Let us continue investing in advanced battery technology and renewable fuels to power the cars and trucks of the future. Let us create a new international clean technology fund, which will help developing nations like India and China make greater use of clean energy sources. And let us complete an international agreement that has the potential to slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases.

This agreement will be effective only if it includes commitments by every major economy and gives none a free ride. The United States is committed to strengthening our energy security and confronting global climate change. And the best way to meet these goals is for America to continue leading the way toward the development of cleaner and more energy-efficient technology.

To keep America competitive into the future, we must trust in the skill of our scientists and engineers and empower them to pursue the breakthroughs of tomorrow. Last year, Congress passed legislation supporting the American Competitiveness Initiative, but never followed through with the funding. This funding is essential to keeping our scientific edge. So I ask Congress to double federal support for critical basic research in the physical sciences and ensure America remains the most dynamic nation on Earth.

On matters of life and science, we must trust in the innovative spirit of medical researchers and empower them to discover new treatments while respecting moral boundaries. In November, we witnessed a landmark achievement when scientists discovered a way to reprogram adult skin cells to act like embryonic stem cells. This breakthrough has the potential to move us beyond the divisive debates of the past by extending the frontiers of medicine without the destruction of human life.

So we're expanding funding for this type of ethical medical research. And as we explore promising avenues of research, we must also ensure that all life is treated with the dignity it deserves. And so I call on Congress to pass legislation that bans unethical practices such as the buying, selling, patenting, or cloning of human life.

On matters of justice, we must trust in the wisdom of our founders and empower judges who understand that the Constitution means what it says. I've submitted judicial nominees who will rule by the letter of the law, not the whim of the gavel. Many of these nominees are being unfairly delayed. They are worthy of confirmation, and the Senate should give each of them a prompt up-or-down vote.

In communities across our land, we must trust in the good heart of the American people and empower them to serve their neighbors in need. Over the past seven years, more of our fellow citizens have discovered that the pursuit of happiness leads to the path of service. Americans have volunteered in record numbers. Charitable donations are higher than ever. Faith-based groups are bringing hope to pockets of despair, with newfound support from the federal government. And to help guarantee equal treatment of faith-based organizations when they compete for federal funds, I ask you to permanently extend Charitable Choice.

Tonight the armies of compassion continue the march to a new day in the Gulf Coast. America honors the strength and resilience of the people of this region. We reaffirm our pledge to help them build stronger and better than before. And tonight I'm pleased to announce that in April we will host this year's North American Summit of Canada, Mexico, and the United States in the great city of New Orleans.

There are two other pressing challenges that I've raised repeatedly before this body, and that this body has failed to address: entitlement spending and immigration. Every member in this chamber knows that spending on entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid is growing faster than we can afford. We all know the painful choices ahead if America stays on this path: massive tax increases, sudden and drastic cuts in benefits, or crippling deficits. I've laid out proposals to reform these programs. Now I ask members of Congress to offer your proposals and come up with a bipartisan solution to save these vital programs for our children and our grandchildren.

The other pressing challenge is immigration. America needs to secure our borders -- and with your help, my administration is taking steps to do so. We're increasing worksite enforcement, deploying fences and advanced technologies to stop illegal crossings. We've effectively ended the policy of "catch and release" at the border, and by the end of this year, we will have doubled the number of border patrol agents. Yet we also need to acknowledge that we will never fully secure our border until we create a lawful way for foreign workers to come here and support our economy. This will take pressure off the border and allow law enforcement to concentrate on those who mean us harm. We must also find a sensible and humane way to deal with people here illegally. Illegal immigration is complicated, but it can be resolved. And it must be resolved in a way that upholds both our laws and our highest ideals.

This is the business of our nation here at home. Yet building a prosperous future for our citizens also depends on confronting enemies abroad and advancing liberty in troubled regions of the world.

Our foreign policy is based on a clear premise: We trust that people, when given the chance, will choose a future of freedom and peace. In the last seven years, we have witnessed stirring moments in the history of liberty. We've seen citizens in Georgia and Ukraine stand up for their right to free and fair elections. We've seen people in Lebanon take to the streets to demand their independence. We've seen Afghans emerge from the tyranny of the Taliban and choose a new president and a new parliament. We've seen jubilant Iraqis holding up ink-stained fingers and celebrating their freedom. These images of liberty have inspired us.

In the past seven years, we've also seen images that have sobered us. We've watched throngs of mourners in Lebanon and Pakistan carrying the caskets of beloved leaders taken by the assassin's hand. We've seen wedding guests in blood-soaked finery staggering from a hotel in Jordan, Afghans and Iraqis blown up in mosques and markets, and trains in London and Madrid ripped apart by bombs. On a clear September day, we saw thousands of our fellow citizens taken from us in an instant. These horrific images serve as a grim reminder: The advance of liberty is opposed by terrorists and extremists -- evil men who despise freedom, despise America, and aim to subject millions to their violent rule.

Since 9/11, we have taken the fight to these terrorists and extremists. We will stay on the offense, we will keep up the pressure, and we will deliver justice to our enemies.

We are engaged in the defining ideological struggle of the 21st century. The terrorists oppose every principle of humanity and decency that we hold dear. Yet in this war on terror, there is one thing we and our enemies agree on: In the long run, men and women who are free to determine their own destinies will reject terror and refuse to live in tyranny. And that is why the terrorists are fighting to deny this choice to the people in Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Palestinian Territories. And that is why, for the security of America and the peace of the world, we are spreading the hope of freedom.

In Afghanistan, America, our 25 NATO allies, and 15 partner nations are helping the Afghan people defend their freedom and rebuild their country. Thanks to the courage of these military and civilian personnel, a nation that was once a safe haven for al Qaeda is now a young democracy where boys and girls are going to school, new roads and hospitals are being built, and people are looking to the future with new hope. These successes must continue, so we're adding 3,200 Marines to our forces in Afghanistan, where they will fight the terrorists and train the Afghan Army and police. Defeating the Taliban and al Qaeda is critical to our security, and I thank the Congress for supporting America's vital mission in Afghanistan.

In Iraq, the terrorists and extremists are fighting to deny a proud people their liberty, and fighting to establish safe havens for attacks across the world. One year ago, our enemies were succeeding in their efforts to plunge Iraq into chaos. So we reviewed our strategy and changed course. We launched a surge of American forces into Iraq. We gave our troops a new mission: Work with the Iraqi forces to protect the Iraqi people, pursue the enemy in its strongholds, and deny the terrorists sanctuary anywhere in the country.

The Iraqi people quickly realized that something dramatic had happened. Those who had worried that America was preparing to abandon them instead saw tens of thousands of American forces flowing into their country. They saw our forces moving into neighborhoods, clearing out the terrorists, and staying behind to ensure the enemy did not return. And they saw our troops, along with Provincial Reconstruction Teams that include Foreign Service officers and other skilled public servants, coming in to ensure that improved security was followed by improvements in daily life. Our military and civilians in Iraq are performing with courage and distinction, and they have the gratitude of our whole nation.

The Iraqis launched a surge of their own. In the fall of 2006, Sunni tribal leaders grew tired of al Qaeda's brutality and started a popular uprising called "The Anbar Awakening." Over the past year, similar movements have spread across the country. And today, the grassroots surge includes more than 80,000 Iraqi citizens who are fighting the terrorists. The government in Baghdad has stepped forward, as well -- adding more than 100,000 new Iraqi soldiers and police during the past year.

While the enemy is still dangerous and more work remains, the American and Iraqi surges have achieved results few of us could have imagined just one year ago. When we met last year, many said that containing the violence was impossible. A year later, high profile terrorist attacks are down, civilian deaths are down, sectarian killings are down.

When we met last year, militia extremists -- some armed and trained by Iran -- were wreaking havoc in large areas of Iraq. A year later, coalition and Iraqi forces have killed or captured hundreds of militia fighters. And Iraqis of all backgrounds increasingly realize that defeating these militia fighters is critical to the future of their country.

When we met last year, al Qaeda had sanctuaries in many areas of Iraq, and their leaders had just offered American forces safe passage out of the country. Today, it is al Qaeda that is searching for safe passage. They have been driven from many of the strongholds they once held, and over the past year, we've captured or killed thousands of extremists in Iraq, including hundreds of key al Qaeda leaders and operatives.

Last month, Osama bin Laden released a tape in which he railed against Iraqi tribal leaders who have turned on al Qaeda and admitted that coalition forces are growing stronger in Iraq. Ladies and gentlemen, some may deny the surge is working, but among the terrorists there is no doubt. Al Qaeda is on the run in Iraq, and this enemy will be defeated.

When we met last year, our troop levels in Iraq were on the rise. Today, because of the progress just described, we are implementing a policy of "return on success," and the surge forces we sent to Iraq are beginning to come home.

This progress is a credit to the valor of our troops and the brilliance of their commanders. This evening, I want to speak directly to our men and women on the front lines. Soldiers and sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen: In the past year, you have done everything we've asked of you, and more. Our nation is grateful for your courage. We are proud of your accomplishments. And tonight in this hallowed chamber, with the American people as our witness, we make you a solemn pledge: In the fight ahead, you will have all you need to protect our nation. And I ask Congress to meet its responsibilities to these brave men and women by fully funding our troops.

Our enemies in Iraq have been hit hard. They are not yet defeated, and we can still expect tough fighting ahead. Our objective in the coming year is to sustain and build on the gains we made in 2007, while transitioning to the next phase of our strategy. American troops are shifting from leading operations, to partnering with Iraqi forces, and, eventually, to a protective overwatch mission. As part of this transition, one Army brigade combat team and one Marine Expeditionary Unit have already come home and will not be replaced. In the coming months, four additional brigades and two Marine battalions will follow suit. Taken together, this means more than 20,000 of our troops are coming home.

Any further drawdown of U.S. troops will be based on conditions in Iraq and the recommendations of our commanders. General Petraeus has warned that too fast a drawdown could result in the "disintegration of the Iraqi security forces, al Qaeda-Iraq regaining lost ground, [and] a marked increase in violence." Members of Congress: Having come so far and achieved so much, we must not allow this to happen.

In the coming year, we will work with Iraqi leaders as they build on the progress they're making toward political reconciliation. At the local level, Sunnis, Shia, and Kurds are beginning to come together to reclaim their communities and rebuild their lives. Progress in the provinces must be matched by progress in Baghdad. We're seeing some encouraging signs. The national government is sharing oil revenues with the provinces. The parliament recently passed both a pension law and de-Baathification reform. They're now debating a provincial powers law. The Iraqis still have a distance to travel. But after decades of dictatorship and the pain of sectarian violence, reconciliation is taking place -- and the Iraqi people are taking control of their future.

The mission in Iraq has been difficult and trying for our nation. But it is in the vital interest of the United States that we succeed. A free Iraq will deny al Qaeda a safe haven. A free Iraq will show millions across the Middle East that a future of liberty is possible. A free Iraq will be a friend of America, a partner in fighting terror, and a source of stability in a dangerous part of the world.

By contrast, a failed Iraq would embolden the extremists, strengthen Iran, and give terrorists a base from which to launch new attacks on our friends, our allies, and our homeland. The enemy has made its intentions clear. At a time when the momentum seemed to favor them, al Qaida's top commander in Iraq declared that they will not rest until they have attacked us here in Washington. My fellow Americans: We will not rest either. We will not rest until this enemy has been defeated. We must do the difficult work today, so that years from now people will look back and say that this generation rose to the moment, prevailed in a tough fight, and left behind a more hopeful region and a safer America.

We're also standing against the forces of extremism in the Holy Land, where we have new cause for hope. Palestinians have elected a president who recognizes that confronting terror is essential to achieving a state where his people can live in dignity and at peace with Israel. Israelis have leaders who recognize that a peaceful, democratic Palestinian state will be a source of lasting security. This month in Ramallah and Jerusalem, I assured leaders from both sides that America will do, and I will do, everything we can to help them achieve a peace agreement that defines a Palestinian state by the end of this year. The time has come for a Holy Land where a democratic Israel and a democratic Palestine live side-by-side in peace.

We're also standing against the forces of extremism embodied by the regime in Tehran. Iran's rulers oppress a good and talented people. And wherever freedom advances in the Middle East, it seems the Iranian regime is there to oppose it. Iran is funding and training militia groups in Iraq, supporting Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon, and backing Hamas' efforts to undermine peace in the Holy Land. Tehran is also developing ballistic missiles of increasing range, and continues to develop its capability to enrich uranium, which could be used to create a nuclear weapon.

Our message to the people of Iran is clear: We have no quarrel with you. We respect your traditions and your history. We look forward to the day when you have your freedom. Our message to the leaders of Iran is also clear: Verifiably suspend your nuclear enrichment, so negotiations can begin. And to rejoin the community of nations, come clean about your nuclear intentions and past actions, stop your oppression at home, cease your support for terror abroad. But above all, know this: America will confront those who threaten our troops. We will stand by our allies, and we will defend our vital interests in the Persian Gulf.

On the home front, we will continue to take every lawful and effective measure to protect our country. This is our most solemn duty. We are grateful that there has not been another attack on our soil since 9/11. This is not for the lack of desire or effort on the part of the enemy. In the past six years, we've stopped numerous attacks, including a plot to fly a plane into the tallest building in Los Angeles and another to blow up passenger jets bound for America over the Atlantic. Dedicated men and women in our government toil day and night to stop the terrorists from carrying out their plans. These good citizens are saving American lives, and everyone in this chamber owes them our thanks.

And we owe them something more: We owe them the tools they need to keep our people safe. And one of the most important tools we can give them is the ability to monitor terrorist communications. To protect America, we need to know who the terrorists are talking to, what they are saying, and what they're planning. Last year, Congress passed legislation to help us do that. Unfortunately, Congress set the legislation to expire on February the 1st. That means if you don't act by Friday, our ability to track terrorist threats would be weakened and our citizens will be in greater danger. Congress must ensure the flow of vital intelligence is not disrupted. Congress must pass liability protection for companies believed to have assisted in the efforts to defend America. We've had ample time for debate. The time to act is now.

Protecting our nation from the dangers of a new century requires more than good intelligence and a strong military. It also requires changing the conditions that breed resentment and allow extremists to prey on despair. So America is using its influence to build a freer, more hopeful, and more compassionate world. This is a reflection of our national interest; it is the calling of our conscience.

America opposes genocide in Sudan. We support freedom in countries from Cuba and Zimbabwe to Belarus and Burma.

America is leading the fight against global poverty, with strong education initiatives and humanitarian assistance. We've also changed the way we deliver aid by launching the Millennium Challenge Account. This program strengthens democracy, transparency, and the rule of law in developing nations, and I ask you to fully fund this important initiative.

America is leading the fight against global hunger. Today, more than half the world's food aid comes from the United States. And tonight, I ask Congress to support an innovative proposal to provide food assistance by purchasing crops directly from farmers in the developing world, so we can build up local agriculture and help break the cycle of famine.

America is leading the fight against disease. With your help, we're working to cut by half the number of malaria-related deaths in 15 African nations. And our Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is treating 1.4 million people. We can bring healing and hope to many more. So I ask you to maintain the principles that have changed behavior and made this program a success. And I call on you to double our initial commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS by approving an additional $30 billion over the next five years.

America is a force for hope in the world because we are a compassionate people, and some of the most compassionate Americans are those who have stepped forward to protect us. We must keep faith with all who have risked life and limb so that we might live in freedom and peace. Over the past seven years, we've increased funding for veterans by more than 95 percent. And as we increase funding -- And as increase funding we must also reform our veterans system to meet the needs of a new war and a new generation. I call on the Congress to enact the reforms recommended by Senator Bob Dole and Secretary Donna Shalala, so we can improve the system of care for our wounded warriors and help them build lives of hope and promise and dignity.

Our military families also sacrifice for America. They endure sleepless nights and the daily struggle of providing for children while a loved one is serving far from home. We have a responsibility to provide for them. So I ask you to join me in expanding their access to child care, creating new hiring preferences for military spouses across the federal government, and allowing our troops to transfer their unused education benefits to their spouses or children. Our military families serve our nation, they inspire our nation, and tonight our nation honors them.

The strength -- the secret of our strength, the miracle of America, is that our greatness lies not in our government, but in the spirit and determination of our people. When the Federal Convention met in Philadelphia in 1787, our nation was bound by the Articles of Confederation, which began with the words, "We the undersigned delegates." When Governor Morris was asked to draft a preamble to our new Constitution, he offered an important revision and opened with words that changed the course of our nation and the history of the world: "We the people."

By trusting the people, our Founders wagered that a great and noble nation could be built on the liberty that resides in the hearts of all men and women. By trusting the people, succeeding generations transformed our fragile young democracy into the most powerful nation on Earth and a beacon of hope for millions. And so long as we continue to trust the people, our nation will prosper, our liberty will be secure, and the state of our Union will remain strong.

So tonight, with confidence in freedom's power, and trust in the people, let us set forth to do their business. God bless America.

BUSHED

Keith Olbermann has listed the various scandles in the Bush administration. Here are three more.

Click here to watch.

WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD

Click here to watch.

Keith Olbermann picks the three worst persons in the world.

DOGS RULE - YOU CAN SEE THE LOVE

THEY NEED YOUR HELP

Click here to watch.

Click here to go to the site.

PRETTY GOOD JOKES

WE ALL NEED A GOOD FRIEND

GREAT QUOTES:

"This is our country's calling," Bush said today at Arlington cemetery. "It's our country's destiny."

Memorial Day is especially bitter as men and women continue to be marched into the meat grinder of the Fool's War in Iraq, probably the most disastrous mission politicians have ever sent American troops to accomplish.

Sens. John McCain and John Kerry got in trouble for speaking of American lives "wasted" in Iraq. Our question: Is there one life lost in Iraq that's not been wasted? What patriotically correct euphemism would you use to describe the loss of life in this giant mistake?

MY KIDS

My God I love dogs.

BTW, what good is a picnic table if you can't lay on it?

Posted by thebscorner at 06:26 AM | Daily Dose |

January 28, 2008

STATE OF THE UNION

Click on image.

THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!

MORE TO SAY

Click here to watch.

THE MESS

THE NEW BUSH BUMPER STICKERS

Heckava job, Bushie

THE STATE OF THE UNION ACORDING TO G. W. BUSH

Tonight Bush makes his last State Of The Union address before leaving office. It'll be a game of NUMBERS, not the ones he will talk about but I will.

For the first time in four years, he will come before Congress able to report some progress in tamping down violence in Iraq. Yet the public appears to have moved on from the war. Always a step behind don't you think. The economy has supplanted Iraq as the top public concern, and with voters shifting their focus toward the presidential primaries, He'll say the economy is stable. Bush faces a steep challenge in persuading Americans to heed his words on the war, economic policy or any other issue. He's a LAME DUCK and his legacy is CRAP.

Here are the most important numbers that he won't talk about.

U.S. Deaths Confirmed By The DoD: 3933

U.S National Debt: $ 9,200,757,742,406.17

The War in Iraq Cost: $ 489,529,842,078

U.S. Trade Deficit: $ 53,400,303,421.40

BTW did you know your share of the National Debt is $ 30,245.32

And now the BIG NUMBER he sure as hell doesn't want to talk about and that number is 935. What is that 935 number? Well in brief Following 9/11, President Bush and seven top officials of his administration waged a carefully orchestrated campaign of misinformation about the threat posed by Saddam Hussein's Iraq.

Tonight we will need to keep track of the number of lies and half truths and add it to that 935 number.

*

Click here to read about the BIG NUMBER.

*

WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

Laura Ingran was a guest host on The Bill O'Reilly Show the other night. She did a segment about the celebrity culture we live in. She went on and on about how bad it has gotten.

And the question I have is isn't SHE PART OF THE PROBLEM IF SHE DEVOTES A SEGMENT OF HER SHOW ON THE SUBJECT?

I think part of her latest book covers this topic in-depth. I guess the answer is IT'S THE BOTTOM LINE THAT MATTERS.

Watch the video and you tell me.

*

Click here to watch.

*

CAROLINE KENNEDY SPEAKS

They say that in an election an endorsement doesn't mean much. But I think that this endorsement by Caroline Kennedy does carry some weight.

In the New York Times she said the following:

OVER the years, I've been deeply moved by the people who've told me they wished they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president. This sense is even more profound today. That is why I am supporting a presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries, Barack Obama. -- CAROLINE KENNEDY

I remember how I felt when her father ran for president. There was excitement in the air. You were happy to be an American. You just had a good feeling in your soul. That's how I feel about Barack Obama.

They say he doesn't have the experience but I say add up all the years experence of George W. Bush, Richard "Dick" Cheney, Ari Fleischer, Scott McClellan, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz. and tell me again how well that turned out.

You need GOOD JUDGEMENT not experence in the White House.

WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD

Click here to watch.

Keith Olbermann picks the three worst persons in the world.

DOGS RULE - YOU CAN SEE THE LOVE

THEY NEED YOUR HELP

*

Click here to watch.

*
CALL TOLL FREE 1-888-776-0111 and give what you can.

*

Click here to go to the site.

*

PRETTY GOOD JOKES

RED NECK DOGS

GREAT QUOTES:

She'd been asking me about the war, and she'd said to me: "The issue is who pays the price? I'm not going to pay a personal price. My kids are too old and my grandchild is too young. You're not going to pay a particular price, as I understand it, with an immediate family. So who pays the price? The American military and their families." --- Barbara Boxer

MY KIDS

My God I love dogs.

BTW, what good is a picnic table if you can't lay on it?

Posted by thebscorner at 07:38 AM | Daily Dose |

January 27, 2008

PROUD OF AMERICA

Click on image.

I'M PROUD OF AMERICA ONCE AGAIN

It's been years since I've had the feeling in my heart that our country is on the right track, yesterday changed all that. South Carolina gave Barack Obama a big win. . . a very big win. And he did it the OLD FASHIONED way . . . he earned it.

It was especially fitting that he won this primary on the week that we celebrate Rev. Martin Luther King, who in his I HAVE A DREAM speech said "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." His dream may have come true yesterday with the Obama win.

As in Iowa and New Hampshire, South Carolina crossed all the lines. Young, old, male, female, Black, White and Hispanic. He won the hearts of Americans.

It reminds me of my dad when I was a kid in the 1950's and early 1960's well before the civil right marches started. He always voted for this one Washington State democratic representative who happened to be black. My dad said he liked the guy because he was honest and did his best to serve the people in our district.

A simple man and not very complicated that was my dad. He really didn't look at the color of your skin. He wasn't well educated but he knew the difference between right and wrong, except when it came to drinking.

So for me THIS ONE'S FOR YOU DAD:

FIRED UP!!! READY TO GO!!! YES WE CAN!!!

*

Click here to watch Obama in S.C.

*

WEEKEND FUNNIES

DOGS RULE - YOU CAN SEE THE LOVE

THEY NEED YOUR HELP

*

Click here to watch.

*
CALL TOLL FREE 1-888-776-0111 and give what you can.

*

Click here to go to the site.

*

DOGGY WISDOM

MY KIDS

My God I love dogs.

BTW, what good is a picnic table if you can't lay on it?

Posted by thebscorner at 06:16 AM | Daily Dose |

January 26, 2008

WEEKEND FREE 1/26/2008

Click on image.

WEEKEND FUNNIES

DOGS RULE - YOU CAN SEE THE LOVE

THEY NEED YOUR HELP

*

Click here to watch.

*
CALL TOLL FREE 1-888-776-0111 and give what you can.

*

Click here to go to the site.

*

DOGGY WISDOM

MY KIDS

My God I love dogs.

BTW, what good is a picnic table if you can't lay on it?

Posted by thebscorner at 07:04 AM | Daily Dose |

January 25, 2008

BACK FOR NOW

Click on image.

THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!

MORE TO SAY

Click here to watch.

THE MESS

THE NEW BUSH BUMPER STICKERS

Katrina

OH POOR ME

I've been a bit under the weather the last few days. As a result I haven't felt much like posting the last few days.

In addition to not feeling very good I get no respect from my kids. For example Jada hogs my recliner and even if I feel like I want to sit there and just doze off I can't because she has taken it over. She looks so cozy I just can't make her get down.

Buddy just sleeps and sleeps and sleeps. That's what I should be doing instead of watching the news over and over all day long.

Sweet just thinks I'm a big baby. She says to me to not baby myself and just grow up. A little harsh I'd say. But that's my Sweet she just doesn't let anything trouble her not even that pesky Jada.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE

House leaders and the Bush administration reached agreement yesterday on a $150 billion economic stimulus package that would quickly send hundreds of dollars to poor and middle-class workers while offering businesses one-time incentives to invest in new equipment.

You'll get a check for $300 to $600 or more depending on some magic formula.

How can this be a good idea in light of following stats:

Outstanding National Debt: $ 9,194,610,087,560.96

The WAR in IRAQ COSTS: $ 488,679,960,786.00

(note the cost of the IRAQ WAR is a snap shot at the time I checked.)

I'm a bit slow when it comes to finances. For most of my adult life I figured if I made a buck I needed to spend two. Saving a dime was not part of my vocabulary. When I got close to the time I wanted to retire I decided I needed to take a hard look at my finances.

I found that if you where in debt it's NOT A GOOD IDEA TO ADD EVEN MORE DEBT to your load.

I see that's exactly what this stimulus package does. I just don't see it solving anything.

When I retired I decided I only needed two credit cards Costco and my Visa. I also decided that I would pay off my credit card balance at the end of each month. Some months where hard because I didn't plan very well, but I did pay off the balance and did better with each passing month.

A few years ago I decide to buy a new small Masda SUV. It wasn't something I could pay off at the end of the month so I did the next best thing and made bi-weekly payments which turned out to be about twice the normal monthly payment. So I was able to pay the car off faster and save a little interest to boot.

As I said I don't get how this check that I'm supposed to get will help do anything but get me deeper in debt.

JON STEWART ON THE MEDIA

Jon has something to say about the media.

* *

BUSHED

Keith Olbermann has listed the various scandles in the Bush administration. Here are three more.

*

Click here to watch.

*

WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD

Click here to watch.

Keith Olbermann picks the three worst persons in the world.

DOGS RULE - YOU CAN SEE THE LOVE

THEY NEED YOUR HELP

*

Click here to watch.

*
CALL TOLL FREE 1-888-776-0111 and give what you can.

*

Click here to go to the site.

*

PRETTY GOOD JOKES

SNOW FLAKE

GREAT QUOTES:

I have never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back. - Zsa Gabor

MY KIDS

My God I love dogs.

BTW, what good is a picnic table if you can't lay on it?

Posted by thebscorner at 04:56 AM | Daily Dose |

January 21, 2008

ML KING DAY

Click on image.

I HAVE A DREAM

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

* I HAVE A DREAM *

RACE IN AMERICA

Remember back almost a year ago when Don Imus made his stupid remark about the Rutgers women's basketball team and then was fired and pulled off the air.

I thought then that we would have an OPEN and HONEST discussion about race in this country. It didn't happen.

Most recently a female sports radio commentator made a dumb remark about golfing's Tiger Woods. She apologized to Tiger and was taken off the air for two week. No more talk about that one.

Golf Magazine did a story on the above incident using a hangmen's knot on the magazine cover. The editor of that story was fired. No more discussion.

Then we had the big dust up over what was and wasn't said by the Hillary campaign regarding Martin L King and Barack Orama. The story was twisted by the media. They used clips and much editing to make their point, all of which was wrong.

Here is Bill Moyers take on what the media did. It's very clear.

*

Click here to watch.

*

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH

Maybe it's time for more songs like this.

* *

DOGS RULE - YOU CAN SEE THE LOVE

THEY NEED YOUR HELP

*

Click here to watch.

*
CALL TOLL FREE 1-888-776-0111 and give what you can.

*

Click here to go to the site.

*

MY KIDS

My God I love dogs.

BTW, what good is a picnic table if you can't lay on it?

Posted by thebscorner at 05:26 AM | Daily Dose |

January 20, 2008

WEEKEND OFF 1/20/2008

Click on image.

THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!

366 DAYS LEFT

DOGS RULE - YOU CAN SEE THE LOVE

THEY NEED YOUR HELP

*

Click here to watch.

*
CALL TOLL FREE 1-888-776-0111 and give what you can.

*

Click here to go to the site.

*

DOGGY WISDOM

MY KIDS

My God I love dogs.

BTW, what good is a picnic table if you can't lay on it?

Posted by thebscorner at 05:59 AM | Daily Dose |

January 19, 2008

WEEKEND FREE 1/19/2008

Click on image.

THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!

367 DAYS LEFT

DOGS RULE - YOU CAN SEE THE LOVE

THEY NEED YOUR HELP

*

Click here to watch.

*
CALL TOLL FREE 1-888-776-0111 and give what you can.

*

Click here to go to the site.

*

DOGGY WISDOM

MY KIDS

My God I love dogs.

BTW, what good is a picnic table if you can't lay on it?

Posted by thebscorner at 07:24 AM | Daily Dose |

January 18, 2008

TIME TO THINK

Click on image.

THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!

MORE TO SAY

Click here to watch.

THE MESS

THE NEW BUSH BUMPER STICKERS

Cut and run

ALL SPIN ZONE

Words. I guess if you string enough of them together you can come up with something that might make sense. Especially if you don't care about the TRUTH.

That's what happened last night on the Bill O'Reilly Show when he tried to defend this statement to Ed Schultz "if you know where there's a veteran sleeping under a bridge, you call me immediately and we will make sure that that man does not do it". By the way he's said it before.

As he starts to blast John Edwards he claims that he got where he is today because of HARD WORK and HONESTY. Well right off the bat he isn't being HONEST by what he says and his own SLIDE. Look above for what he ACTUALLY said the other day to Ed Schultz and then what he is trying to say he said now in his Talking Point Memo. Some creative writing I'd say.

He then says that Edwards is using Homeless Vets because of the Economy and not because they are addicted to drugs and mental illness.

Then O'Reilly gives a civic lesson on what it means to be poor in America. He says poor households have lots of stuff. . . Color TV's, DVD players, air conditioners, cars, trucks, cable, and homes. So by O'Reilly's logic they aren't poor enough, and his answer is that it's just the Addiction and not the economy.

Well MY GOD is Bill O'Reilly NUTS? I think so.

First John Edwards point was not that it was the ECONOMY alone that has made these VETS HOMELESS, no one has ever said that including Edwards. You just need to look back at the Walter Reed scandal about a year ago to see what happens to these VETS. They are put aside and forgotten.

Many come back from war to no job or training others with mental illness, some turn to drugs, some commit suicide, some become homeless. There are many reasons that they become HOMELESS and O'Reilly is trying to twist it around to say the Edwards just blames the economy. WHAT BULLSHIT.

In the end Bill says "WE DEAL WITH FACT NOT FICTION" and that John Edwards owes him an apology.

ONLY A TWISTED, DEMENTED SOUL WOULD BELIEVE HIS GARBAGE.

*

Click here to watch.

*

JON STEWART vs Jonah Goldberg

Jon does a number on Goldberg.

* *

JON STEWART ON RACE

We need Jon Stewart to show just how insane the media is when it comes to issues.

*

Click here to watch.

*

BUSHED

Keith Olbermann has listed the various scandles in the Bush administration. Here are three more.

*

Click here to watch.

*

WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD

Click here to watch.

Keith Olbermann picks the three worst persons in the world.

DOGS RULE - YOU CAN SEE THE LOVE

THEY NEED YOUR HELP

*

Click here to watch.

*
CALL TOLL FREE 1-888-776-0111 and give what you can.

*

Click here to go to the site.

*

PRETTY GOOD JOKES

DOGGY (AND KITTY) WISDOM

GREAT QUOTES:

Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first. - Mark Twain

MY KIDS

My God I love dogs.

BTW, what good is a picnic table if you can't lay on it?

Posted by thebscorner at 06:05 AM | Daily Dose |

January 17, 2008

HAVE A GOOD DAY

Click on image.

THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!

MORE TO SAY

Click here to watch.

THE MESS

THE NEW BUSH BUMPER STICKERS

Ahmed Chalabi

TAKING SOME HEAT

Earlier this week and even before Bill O'Reilly put his foot in his mouth and his head up his a** about there NOT being a homeless veteran problem.

His latest goof up was when he had talk radio host Ed Schultz on his show and told him there aren't any vets sleeping under a bridge, which is just a bold a** lie.

Countdown did a segment on the problem using the Veterans Affairs own stats that show over 195,000 are homeless on any given night.

They put it to O'Reilly and now the ball is in his court. We'll see what he does. Past record suggests he won't do any thing.

*

Click here to watch.

*

TAKING SOME HEAT PART TWO

Here is an email I sent Bill O'Reilly yesterday. Doubt he'll publish this at the end of his show.

Mr. O'Reilly,

It seems to me you owe John Edwards, Ed Schults and the US Military an apology.

It also seems to me that with your own research group you could have used the same amount of effort as I did (one Google search) to get the answer to the question of the number of homeless veterans on any given night.

I found this on the United States Department of Veterans Affairs WEB Site here: http://www1.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=1

Overview of Homelessness

About one-third of the adult homeless population have served their country in the Armed Services. Current population estimates suggest that about 195,000 veterans (male and female) are homeless on any given night and perhaps twice as many experience homelessness at some point during the course of a year. Many other veterans are considered near homeless or at risk because of their poverty, lack of support from family and friends, and dismal living conditions in cheap hotels or in overcrowded or substandard housing.

I hope you won't take your comment to Ed Schultz "if you know where there's a veteran sleeping under a bridge, you call me immediately and we will make sure that that man does not do it" not mean literally sleeping under a bridge because the point is these people are homeless whether under a bridge, in a doorway, on a grate or in a cardboard box.

Remember Jack Abramoff? Well he has another republican pal named Mark Siljander only this guy took it a step further he wanted to fund terrorist . . . for a price.

A former Republican member of Congress from Michigan was indicted Wednesday in connection with his work for a U.S.-based Islamic relief organization that allegedly supported a prominent Afghan warlord.

Mark D. Siljander, 56, a Washington lobbyist who served in the House from 1981 to 1987, was charged with money laundering, conspiracy and obstruction of justice in a multicount indictment by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo.

Why are there so many crooks in the republican party?

BUSHED

Keith Olbermann has listed the various scandles in the Bush administration. Here are three more.

*

Click here to watch.

*

WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD

Click here to watch.

Keith Olbermann picks the three worst persons in the world.

DOGS RULE - YOU CAN SEE THE LOVE

THEY NEED YOUR HELP

*

Click here to watch.

*
CALL TOLL FREE 1-888-776-0111 and give what you can.

*

Click here to go to the site.

*

PRETTY GOOD JOKES

DOGGY WISDOM

GREAT QUOTES:

My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would stop dying. - Ed Furgol

MY KIDS

My God I love dogs.

BTW, what good is a picnic table if you can't lay on it?

Posted by thebscorner at 04:40 AM | Daily Dose |

January 16, 2008

DO YOU HEAR THE NOISE

Click on image.

THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!

MORE TO SAY

Click here to watch.

THE MESS

THE NEW BUSH BUMPER STICKERS

Kenneth "Kenny Boy" Lay

IT'S THE BOTTOM LINE STUPID

GLENN BECK is all pissed off with his trip to the hospital.

It was the day after Christmas. I went in for just regular surgery and I went into a place that's not even -- I mean, this used to be a two- or three-day hospital stay but because better living through pharmaceuticals, I'm sorry, better living through HMOs, we no longer put people in the hospital for this. Nothing has changed. We just don't pay for it anymore. So congratulations on that. You get to go home right after the surgery

I listened to his discussion on his "medical care" and for the life of me I can't figure out what his beef is. Watch this video and I swear you'll be as confused as I am.

I thought at first he was mad that the hospital didn't help him FAST ENOUGH when he went in. Then he started talking about who had the best plan for health care and he said Rudy Giuliani. He said he likes the privatize plan.

He talked like it was a government run program that he had but similar to getting a driver license but he never said what kind of coverage he actually had.

Some how he couldn't see anything wrong with his HMO, who by the way are the ones that pushed to make this an OUTPATIENT procedure. Why wouldn't that be one question Glenn might have asked himself.

IT'S THE BOTTOM LINE STUPID. How is privatizing going to change that.

*

Click here to watch.

*

THE ALL SPIN ZONE

I saw Ed Schultz last night on The Bill O'Reilly Show and must say I'm torn by his going on the show.

The reason I'm torn is that while I think he did a pretty good job of taking O'Reilly's BULLSHIT and giving him back the FACTS, it's my opinion Bill O'Reilly doesn't LISTEN so you can not make a point that means anything. A perfect example was the discussion on VETS sleeping under the bridge.

Also O'Reilly's hatred for AIR AMERICA is based on his dislike for Al Franken not that it's another radio station. It's the same reason he hates NBC and MSNBC because Keith Olbermann is a challenge to him.

O'Reilly dislikes Media Matters because they are a LEFT WING SMEAR GROUP in his words. Yet Media Matters uses his words and provides the context by the way and that pisses Bill O'Reilly off. He can't stand the truth.

I think that by going on the O'Reilly show you provide him cover for being a legitimate voice regardless of what outrageous CLAIMS he makes. There is no bigger SPIN MERCHANT than Bill O'Reilly.

THEY JUST DON'T GIVE UP

Yesterday the pundits where saying that strait talk from John McCain was going to win the day in Michigan and Mitt Romney was in trouble. Today it's just the opposite it was Mitt's talk about "Everything is beautiful" talk that won the day.

On Morning Joe this morning that's exactly what Joe Scarborough was saying. Mitt told the good folks that he would bring the good jobs back, while McCain was giving them some straight talk about retraining and that the old jobs won't be coming back.

It's guys like Mitt Romney that worked hard to send these jobs overseas and then kicked back and waited for his GOLDEN PARACUTE to open.

BUSHED