Vintage George "head in the sand" Bush. He also said the US troops in Iraq would "come home when the Iraqis are capable of defending themselves". Defending themselves against what??? Against the US? What if we didn't want to leave? We would only have to show the Iraqi's can't defend themselves...that should be easy, right?Just hire some Saudi terrorists to blow up some stuff in Baghdad. Or just blow it up ourselves. So thats Bush's plan to leave...when the Iraqi's can defend themselves. My question is: who gets to decide when that is? You'd guess, in newly Democratic Iraq, it would be the Iraqis. You would be wrong.

Watching Bush-wa's press conference this morning I was put in mind of the old TV show "Hee Haw" (one of America's most popular shows in its time). All those knee slappers! Imagine his press conference with its own laugh track. Then the press corp wouldn't even have to show up - not that anybody'd notice. And maybe if John Roberts died his hair, the Presnut would allow him a follow-up question.

Not only does he support DeLay, he looks forward to working with him during the next year.

Oh, also he sees no problem in government propaganda being used in the media for American consumption.

"The goggles! They do nothing!"

Look, private social security accounts are a good thing. I am a teacher in Ohio, I DO NOT PAY SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES, because we have our own seperate retirement system. After 30 years of teaching, I am guraenteed 72% of my 3 highest paying years. If I teach for 35 years, that jumps to 80%. Why not allow everyone the opportunity to recieve real retirement money, not just a crappy suppliment. My Father started working at age 16, served in Vietnam, and payed social security tax until his death at the age of 53. NOBODY in my family (mom, brother, or myself) will ever see a cent of the money Dad payed into this terrible fund. It is a tax on everyone, but a benefit to only a few. With Private accounts, you have the option to make sure that YOUR money gets to the people you want.

Now S.S. does provide decent benefits for certain individuals, such as the disabled, or mentally retarded. We need to make sure that these peopel continue to be protected and partially supported by the federal government. Assuming that they can figure this out...Privatized accounts for those that wish to take part is an outstanding idea, and I really think that if you look at it from a nuetral position and you don't play party politics, you will see that this is the best thing for most people. I love the idea of having a choice of what I want to do with the money that I earn.

Privatized accounts for those that wish to take part is an outstanding idea, and I really think that if you look at it from a nuetral position and you don't play party politics, you will see that this is the best thing for most people. I love the idea of having a choice of what I want to do with the money that I earn.

If privatized SS guaranteed us the returns teachers got from pensions like yours - guaranteed like your pension is guaranteed... and if we paid in as little as you all paid in (and I know how little that is because I have family who are teachers and gov't employees and they pay squat compared to the benies they get)... If we get all that, then no one would complain.

Reality is Bush plan is set up to cut SS benefits not increase them for all but those near death (they stay the same in the very near term)... Even 60 year olds who are told 'nothing will change' are lied to if the COLA formula is included... because in about 5 years most will be alive but benefits will already be shrinking...

Bush's plan is a terrrible deal for middle class americans of both parties and if you quit playing party politics you would realize this...

BTW - if you want to own 'voluntary private accounts' you can do it now... it is called 'saving'. You should try it.

We don't pay squat huh? My last pay stub would beg to differ...We pay 10% of our gross pay automatically to the STRS (retirement) and that number increases every time we recieve a pay increase. So please don't ever say anything like we pay bubkis for our great benefits...because truth be known you don't know. As far as your savings account theory...What percentage do you get back on a savings account these days? It is impossible to save for retirement with the interest it draws. How is it a bad idea for middle class americans? Please explain this view further. Now I agree with you that it will hurt some older people waiting to retire...but is that a reason to punish those just joining the workforce? You can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs. I would love to see congress come up with some sort of plan to help those of the older age, but until we quit saying that Social Security is a good program...it does not matter because we have to many people that want to say everything bush does is bad (a lot is) and because of this, we are all too stuburn to find a better program