Volume 1 Issue 49
January 28, 2003
Mr. Speaker...
The Swamp State of the Union Spectacular! (Part I)
"He shall, from time to time, give to the Congress information on the state of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient." - Article II, Section 3, United States Constitution
That's right folks, it's time for the Swamp State of the Union Special! Sorry its a bit short today, lot of meetings to go to, including one across town that will take most of the afternoon, so you get an early swamp today as well. Tomorrow in addition to recapping the speech, I'll update you on our growth, including our website unveiling date, and such. Enjoy the speech!
The Swamp State of the Union Spectacular! (Part I - you get Part II tomorrow)
Guess who will get a preview of Bush's speech? That's right, business folk and oil lobbyists! -
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0301280306jan28,1,4207994.story?coll=chi%2Dnewsnationworld%2Dhed
So what did Bush promise last year? Here's a look at the then and now -
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20030128/4814659s.htm
If you're going to be in the Capitol area today, be aware it will be locked down. One thing I couldn't find in time for today's early deadline was who the "disaster" person would be, that is the cabinet member who gets left behind in case there's a cataclysmic event that wipes out the rest of the government -
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20030128/4814776s.htm
Paul Krugman isn't holding out for much in tonight's address -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/28/opinion/28KRUG.html
Oh, and of course, courtesy of our friends from the pit of the Fairchild building, the best way to get through the State of the Union is the old fashioned way...with a drinking game -
http://www.marcmelzer.net/sotudg/
Guess who? Guess who opposes the war on Iraq at this time? None other than former General Norman Schwarzkopf, the commander of US forces in the 1991 war -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52450-2003Jan27.html
Look Who's Running for President: ABC is reporting that Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich will announce whether or not he will run for President on February 16, at an Iowa political event. Kucinich would be the most anti-war candidate, but may also be more of a fringe candidate then even Al Sharpton and Howard Dean. Stay tuned...
Look Who's Running for President 2: An issue has begun to surface that you can expect to hear a lot about the next few months...how many Senate and House votes certain members of the 6-pack are missing -
Look Who's Running for President 3: So if there was a deadlock for the nomination, and the convention moved to nominate Al Gore...would he accept? Gossip Queen Cindy Adams says definitely -
http://www.nypost.com/gossip/cindy.htm
Look Who's Voting for President: So now the New Hampshire folk seem to have decided that since DC is not a state, it can go first in the primary process. Which leaves a few questions: 1) What about the sanctions the Democratic Party was threatening? 2) If DC did go first, would it receive the coverage and importance of a Iowa or New Hampshire? In reality, having a primary that centers on an urban, mostly minority population would be a fascinating thing. Also, what ever happened to the regional primary system (was it the Delaware plan, as I recall?) that would have fixed this ridiculous system? -
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/027/region/DC_primary_can_go _first_New_Ha:.shtml
Look Who's Running For President - A Scorecard Update (1/23):
RUNNING
Gov. Howard "Jed Barlett" Dean (Vermont) - http://www.deanforamerica.com/
Senator John Kerry (Massachusetts) - http://www.johnkerry.com
Senator John Edwards (North Carolina) - http://www.johnedwards2004.com/
Congressman Richard Gephardt (Missouri) Is the man ever going to get a website?
Al Sharpton (NY) - http://www.sharptonexplore2004.com/
Senator Joe Liberman (Conn.) - http://www.joe2004.com
CONSIDERING
Former Senator Gary Hart (Colorado) - http://www.garyhartnews.com
Congressman Dennis Kucinich (Ohio)
LONG SHOTS
Senator Bob Graham (Florida)
Former Senator Carol Moseley Braun (Illinois)
General Wesley Clark (Arkansas)
Senator Joseph Biden (Delaware)
Senator Chris Dodd (Conn.)
50 "favorite sons" under the Donna Brazille plan
And half the Democratic Party over the age of 35.
OUT
Former VP and President-Elect Al Gore
Governor Gray Davis (California)
Former Senator Bill Bradley (New Jersey)
Senator Tom Daschle (South Dakota)
Senator Hilary Clinton (New York)
Card Movement Today: OK, Dennis, you're back under considering...
Other Elections:
Israel is having an election today a well, with Ariel Sharon's party expected to win again -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/28/international/middleeast/2 8MIDE.html
GOP Battles Demographics: The Republicans are trying to fight the changing demographics, and capture more minority votes -
http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/01/27/Republicans.ap/ind ex.html
The Debate Continues: Charlie Rangel continues to push to reinstate the draft. I'll discuss this more in a day or two -
http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/01/27/rangel.draft/index .html
Warplanes and other such things: On of the things mentioned in the UN report was that Iraq would not allow inspectors to do U2 flyovers. Why do we still use these planes? Slate has a good explanation -
http://slate.msn.com/id/2077661/
Indebting a generation: Have a lot of college loan debt? You're not alone -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/28/education/28STUD.html
Luckiest Man of the Day: An 18-year old Missouri man saved his life by grabbing and hanging on to utility wires after being thrown from his Jeep in an accident. -
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Midwest/01/28/saved.by.wires.ap/i ndex.html
Gregory S. Gadren
