We'd love to hear Jimmy Carter say "I was wrong," but even we aren't idealistic enough to think that's going to happen in this lifetime. Still, shaming him into silence is almost as great an achievement as bringing democracy to the heart of the Arab world. Chalk up another triumph for George W. Bush. -- writes James Taranto, "Best of the Web"/WSJ. (2/2/2005)

 Just POlitics

Oil for Food scandal

Paul Volcker ,who is the hand picked chairman by U. N. Secretary Kofi Annan investigating the Oil for Food scandal, has come under a serious cloud of questionable fairness.

Volcker in several interviews, before The Heritage Foundation brought to light his membership in a pro-American United Nations group, was often critical of the U. S. and vague about European and United Nations involvement in the scandal.

On their website, The Heritage Foundation states that the whole U.N. investigation is now questionable:

CONCLUSION: The Independent Inquiry Committee into the Oil-for-Food scandal has been hailed by its supporters as a huge step forward for the United Nations in terms of increasing accountability and transparency. It has been held up as an example of a new spirit of openness supposedly sweeping through the world body and as a powerful symbol of Kofi Annan’s stated objective to restore the reputation of the U.N.

In reality however, the Volcker Committee suffers from a huge credibility problem of its own. It is hard to see how a team of investigators hand-picked by the U.N. Secretary-General, whose own son is a subject of investigation, could be considered truly independent. There is also a major question mark over its Chairman’s neutrality. After Mr. Volcker’s several years as a director of the United Nations Association and Business Council for the United Nations, it is difficult to see how he could cast a critical, objective eye over the U.N.’s leadership.

Nile Gardiner, Ph.D., is Fellow in Anglo-American Security Policy at The Heritage Foundation. William Schirano, Research Assistant in Foreign Policy at The Heritage Foundation, assisted with research for this paper.

The Washington Times in a story today covers the growing controversery. Accordignt to the Times the President of the organization (United Nations of America) that Volcker is on the board of believes that Volcker should have disclosed his membership in his organization:

"The question is whether he put it in his bio," UNA-USA President William H. Luers told reporters and editors of The Washington Times. "And I think, on balance, he probably should have."

Bush will Address:

President Bush will give the first State of The Union Address tonight of his second term and White House officials state that he will significantly move the ball on Social Security.

In addition, President Bush will propose call for a near-freeze in non-defense spending and reiterate his proposal to relax immigration laws.

President Bush will call for diplomatic solution to the dispute over Iran's nuclear program, demand that North Korea return to six-way talks, and rally Americans on the course in Iraq, pointing to the successful elections on Sunday as proof that the U.S. policy there is working.

Democrats hope to make hay off of Bush’s address and have sent an e-mail to their supporters:

Tonight, in his State of the Union speech, President Bush will use hard-sell tactics to try to build public support for his radical plan to privatize Social Security. He will try to create a sense of crisis -- even though Social Security is secure for decades to come. And he will disguise the risks involved in his dangerous plan to make Social Security a stock market gamble.

There's no better time than now for you to stand up against the Bush plan to dismantle Social Security. Help us launch our campaign to stop President Bush with your donation today.

Oh’ Hollywood

Oscar night might not be as much fun as some had hoped thanks to a conservative group that plans on rubbing it in the liberals face.

Citizens United President David Bossie said, "We're taking on Hollywood. We've done it in the past."

The group is reported to be putting up three billboards visible from the Kodak Theater thanking Hollywood for helping to elect President Bush. The sarcasm being that what ever the liberal kooks are for America is against.

The ads will feature liberal celebrities such as Michael Moore, Whoopi Goldberg, Ben Affleck, Martin Sheen, Chevy Chase, Barbra Streisand and Sean Penn. The billboards credit these actors with the President Bush's November victory.

Iraq election aftermath

Liberals are still stunned by the Iraq Election. Many have gone silent as an article in the Washington Times reports. Specifically the Times points out that Michael Moore, Jimmy Carter and George Soros are silent on the subject of the elections.

Maybe the reason for the tight-lipped approach is because of Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mark Brown comments in his editorial, "If it turns out Bush was right all along, this is going to require some serious penance."

The sky is too falling

While liberals are trying to inform the American public that there is no problem in Social Security, even the Washington Post is reporting it is not true. There is a problem with an ever-growing population bulge of retired individuals:

"In just 10 years, spending on the elderly will total nearly $1.8 trillion, almost half the federal budget, according to new Brookings Institution and Congressional Budget Office projections. That is up from 29 percent in 1990 and 35 percent in 2000."

"The bulk of that growth is spending on the federal government's two largest health care programs, Medicare and Medicaid. Their combined costs are projected to more than double, to a combined total of $1.2 trillion in 2015 from $473 billion last year. Social Security spending is expected to rise to $888 billion from $492 billion in that span."

"Senate Democrats said yesterday that they have more than enough votes to block President Bush's bid to allow private accounts in Social Security, increasing pressure on the president to begin outlining a plan tonight that might offer enough compromises or incentives to win over at least a handful of Democrats."

Hillary is OK

The Hillary operation sent out a detailed list of Hillary’s activities following her collapse. It seems that the Hillary operation wanted to make everyone aware of the fact that Hillary is OK:

Finally, a word of thanks to those who wrote or called us to express your concern for Hillary's illness on Monday. She resumed her regular schedule that afternoon telling her audience at Canisius College: "What better place to come and talk about healing the sick!"

Thanks again for your interest and your support.

Sincerely,

Ann F. Lewis, Director of Communications