James R. Fugate
In an article a few weeks ago, Bobby stated that our present lifestyles are as near a utopia as it can possibly get. In last week’s article, he talks about how the liberals have spoiled as many as three generations with their attempts to make life better for the less fortunate. Have these attempts aided the efforts toward this utopian society of which he speaks? Bobby speaks of those who packed up and went north where the jobs were and made a new life for themselves. He also speaks of those who stayed behind and became welfare-dependent. 
The presidential campaign officially opened more than a year ago with another seven months to go before the general election. Most all candidates were members of Congress but were permitted to campaign daily around the nation while business as usual was being conducted in Washington. The field has now been narrowed to three which appears to be the best the nation has to offer.
After having heard Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton cutting each other down and John McCain blundering over the facts for the past week, rest assured that this week I will not be beating anybody’s political drum.
Last week I read an article in the Lexington Herald-Leader about how much cheaper it is to buy the very best. I had written a similar article several weeks ago and had planned to publish it when you became as bored with politics as I am. I believe the time has arrived.
When Bush and Cheney were beating the war drums against Hussein and fabricating reasons for overthrowing him, I was opposed to leaving the pursuit of bin Laden and going after Hussein. Their lies convinced enough of Congress and the American public to go along with the pre-emptive invasion of a sovereign nation. It has since been proven that this was the worst decision that any President has ever made in the history of our country.
The presidential nominees have been fighting it out for more than a year. The Republicans have narrowed their choices to one and have selected their candidate. The Democrats have narrowed their choices to two and it seems that they are stuck in a quagmire. The three, would be nominees, are all minorities. The Republican nominee, John McCain, is the oldest candidate in the history of the country.
The Bush Administration has just celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Iraqi War. Financial and fatality statistics have been released, and the results are staggering. When Bush sold this mess to the American people, he said the total cost would be no more than $50 billion that would be financed by the sale of the Iraqi oil which was Cheney’s reason for invading Iraq.
I apologize for writing an article last week that was much too long. I will attempt to rebut some of Bobby’s accusations in a much shorter article this week. Bobby began his article last week by saying that I must be over my operation since I lambasted the actions of his Bush administration. First of all, my operation was for a hernia and not a brain operation. My mind still recognizes the blunders which the Bush-Cheney regime keeps making. Bobby says that I am talking the country into a recession. I didn’t know that my rhetoric was that powerful, but I don’t have to talk the country into a recession because any sane person who goes grocery shopping and or buys gasoline knows that we are already there.
I have noticed, as has Owen, the similarities of our own thinking on educational topics that Bobby has written lately. The Education Reform Act on which Owen has elaborated also encompasses the testing problems which Bobby has already addressed. I cannot claim to have the mental telepathy that Owen and Bobby have with each other but after having been there and done that, when it comes to education, it would appear that we are all on the same page. When the US Constitution was written, education was not addressed but left to each individual state. Kentucky has, in most instances, been at the bottom.
I have noticed, as has Owen, the similarities of our own thinking on educational topics that Bobby has written lately. The Education Reform Act on which Owen has elaborated also encompasses the testing problems which Bobby has already addressed. I cannot claim to have the mental telepathy that Owen and Bobby have with each other but after having been there and done that, when it comes to education, it would appear that we are all on the same page. When the US Constitution was written, education was not addressed but left to each individual state. Kentucky has, in most instances, been at the bottom.
Last week I wrote about the Bush economy and the tailspin that it is in. I don’t like to beat a dead horse but it’s hard to get away from this issue. I had hoped to see gas prices top out around $3.00 per gallon, but the Cheney energy policy must have had other goals. Last week crude oil topped $100 per barrel on the stock exchange and diesel fuel was $3.46 at the pump. This week it is $3.60 at the pump. It would appear that Bush and Cheney, being big oil men themselves, are going to make sure that their interest will be well off when their term expires.
