The Bush Administration faces a public overwhelmingly opposed to the agreement to give a Dubai-owned firm control over six American ports, and more pessimistic about the situation in Iraq than ever before.  This, along with reminders of the massive impact of Hurricane Katrina and negative assessments of how the government and the President have handled it for six months, has brought the President’s approval ratings down to only 34%.

W (worst ever) now receives the lowest marks of his Presidency, even on fighting terrorism, a measure that has long been his strongest suit.  Half of Americans now disapprove of how he is handling that effort, while only 43% approve.  Also, people are now questioning his integrity and honesty.  Click here for details of the CBS News poll.

The same poll tested views of Dick Cheney and found that only 18% of people have a favorable view of the Vice President.  What a shame!  You know it is very hard to get a rating under 25%, you really have to work at it.

In a second poll by the BBC World Service which was conducted in thirty five countries.  People around the world, overwhelmingly believe that American’s invasion of Iraq has increased the danger from internatioinal terrorism.  Click here for this story.

Continuing his poor day in the polls, Zobgy Intenational and Le Moyne College conducted a poll of American troups in Iraq.  Guess what?  Over 70% believe the US should withdraw within a year and almost 3 in ten believe the US should leave immediately.  So much for "perpetual war."  Click here for the story.

As Democrats, we should now anticipate that W (worst ever) will be isolated and turned into a scape goat as Republicans try to find some way out of the mess before mid-term elections this fall.

One of the lead stories in the Christian Science Monitor chronicles the fall in income for younger working Americans.  In the past four years, median income for Americans under the age of 35 has fallen 8% after inflation!  For those under the age of 44, their wages have only fallen by 9%.  The problems range from fewer jobs and lower salaries to rising debt levels and the ever increasing need for families to have both partners working just to keep even.  Effects are especially apparent for lower skilled workers who have been hard hit by globalizaion.

Another issue raised by young Americans is the issue of generaltional fairness in taxation.  Capital gains taxes and taxes on un-earned income have dropped faster than income taxes paid on wages for the average American.  With this some people worry that they will never catch up.  If inflation is taken into account a majority of Americans are earning less than they did in 1970! 

Click here to read the story.  Thanks W (worst ever).

The W (worst ever) administration said today that it will not re-consider the ports deal.  This is in the face of severe criticism from the head of the 9/11 Commission, former Governor Thomas Kean (R-NJ).  The former head of the CIA Osama Bin Laden unit, Mike Scheuer chimed in saying "the fact that your are putting a company in place that could already be infiltrated by Al-qaida is a silly thing to do."  

Isn’t it just like W (worst ever) to refuese to talk?  Is he losing touch with reality?  Or was the money too good to pass up?  Click here to see the latest story. 

Senator Charles Schumer D-NY plans to introduce legislation on Monday to kill the deal.  Talk on Capital Hill suggests that a great majority of congressional members will be voting against the administration.  Keep tuned, there is no doubt more lunacy to follow.

Repuplican David Petersen, Arzona’s State Treasurer, issued a terse two sentance press release in which he withdrew from the upcoming election.  A formal investigation of various charges and allegations from former state employees by the Arizona Attorney General has recently commenced.  The facts in the story seem to suggest that more news is coming.

The announcment appears to be a boost to the candidacy of Richmond Vincent, a Gilbert Democrat.  No doubt the Republicans will try to come up with other candidates, but the looming scandal may give us an edge.  Click here to read the story in the Tucson Citizen.

George seems to have over-stepped himself.  His personal arrogance and demeanor is now working against himself.  W (worst ever), Dick, Connie, and Rummy absolutely ever never make mistakes.  Everything that goes wrong (and plenty does) is someone else’s fault.  This issue with leasing U.S. ports to middle eastern interests is turning into comedy hour for Democrats.

Democrats, Republicans, and just about everybody outside of the administration are aghast at the idea that control of our ports should be turned over to middle eastern interests.  It seems to fly in the face of the war on terrorism.

Putting aside the issue of the ports deal itself, the spector of an American President dueling with his own party leadership is a bazzar spectacle.  Yesterday in back to back interviews, W (worst ever) seems to be saying to Senator Frist "I’m right your wrong, I’ll veto any thing you try to do."   Now today, the White House says well, the President didn’t really know about this deal beforehand.  We assume that means he’s trying to back away.  But as reported yesterday, this was and is an international money deal and Treasury Secretary Snow and others have been involved for some time.  Always remember to watch the money! 

Click here to read the latest story which is at least good for a chuckle.

Phoenix, AZ - Jon Kyl’s latest FEC report reveals that Kyl has continued to be well rewarded by pharmaceutical special interests for his consistent opposition to measures which would lower prescription drug prices. In fact, Jon Kyl has taken over $80,000 in contributions from pharmaceutical and insurance interests in just the last quarter alone and $779,884 from these interests throughout his career.

What is this guy thinking?  As you know quite a few Republicans and some Democrats don’t think it’s wise to lease control of American ports to middle eastern interests.  Now George is so upset at the criticism that he has threatened to VETO the bill being introduced by Sen. Frist, the Majority Leader.  Putting aside the merits of leasing US ports to middle eastern interests (even if you’ve been well paid, click here for money side of the story), threatening your own party leaders doesn’t seem to make sense.  It is as if he wants to pick a fight with his own people.

This is not a real good way to assure your "legacy" as a President.  Just being cynical, but perhaps the Republicans are about to declare that George is a idiot as a means of creating some distance between George and the Republicans in time for the fall elections.

Anyway, click here to see the latest follies concerning W’s (worst ever)’s statement this afternoon.

Former U.S. Congressman Randy Cunningham is looking at the possibility of a ten year sentence which has been recommended by prosecutors in San Diego.  The California Republican has been found guilty and is awaiting sentencing. He has been convicted of taking $2.4 million in bribes for defense contracts.  Reportedly, his price for a $16mm defense contract was $140,000 to be paid under the table.  Randy resigned from congress in November.  The California Republican was the Chair of the House Committee on Human Inteligence Analysis.  That put him at the center of the WMD debate and in an excellent position to pick up some spare cash.  Click here to read the story.

This email came from one of our club members and I can’t resist sharing it with all of us.

These are things you have to believe to be a loyal Republican these days,

• Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton
• Saddam was a good guy when Ronald Regan sold him arms, a bad guy when W (worst ever)’s dad made war on him, a good guy when Dick Chaney did business with him, and finally a bad guy when W (worst ever) needed an "I cant find Osama" alibi
• Trade with China is wrong because the country is Communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony (and Walmart profits)
• The United States should get out of the United Nations, but our highest national priority is to enforce UN resolutions regarding Iraq
• A woman can NOT be trusted with decisions about her body, but multi-national corporations can make decisions affecting all of mankind without oversight let alone regulation
• The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troups in speeches while slashing veteran’s benefits and combat pay
• If condoms are kept out of school, adolescents won’t have sex
• A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our long-time allies and then demand their cooperation, support and money.

After reviewing the so called Guns and Butter debate, the influntial magazine The Nation concludes that Republicans want Perpetual War.  Is that what we really want?  Does this make us safer?  It certainly makes us poorer.  W (worst ever) proposed a $2.7 trillion budget designed to give us much less butter and a whole lot more guns and deficits.

The Republicans have abdicated the right to call themselves fiscal conservatives.  It is up to us Democrats to push them out of office and put the national budget back in balance.  First up, eliminate no-bid contracts to Halliburton!  Click here to read the story