Sounds great but will this latest initiative of Bush's end up like most of the others he bragged about going to do -- unfunded. No $$$$$$. Bush talks a good game about what he's going to do but then doesn't put the money where his mouth is.

Chris, you mean Bush will claim the terrorist collaborating Dems refused to fund it, of course.

If only those Dems weren't working with Osama (I'm not concerned about him) Bin Laden, the Repubs could get that pushed through.
If only.

Am I the only one asking WTF an American Competitiveness Initiative is?
"The president wants Congress to authorize tax credits for business research, increased money for federal science programs and improved math and science education in American high schools."

This guy has no idea what the frontiers of science are at all. I just hope that stem cell research is a part of this deal.
As far as improving math/sci in high schools, Id say that his first obstacle is that modern students dont care. Where I live, only a few per class are willing to work hard enough to ensure a good college admission. The biggest problem here is motivation.

Their is no point promoting math and science. A country without a manufacturing base does not need engineers, programmers or scientists. We are now producing more waitresses and bartenders and maids, many with college degrees. 11,000 people showed up for 235 jobs at a Chicago Walmart, but unemployment is down. We live in a sea of lies. Every lie is designed to move money from your pocket to those with the power to lie.

Yeah, this is a social problem and no top-down solution will help much. A fine example will take place on Sunday as Americans will drool while watching a bunch of knuckle-dragging Negros. A society can only honor stupidity for so long until it takes a toll.

A fine example will take place on Sunday as Americans will drool while watching a bunch of knuckle-dragging Negros. A society can only honor stupidity for so long until it takes a toll.

LOL Paleo you sound alot like my wife (well she would have a problem with the 'knuckle-dragging Negros' part). The trouble is, I have to remind her that the day before we have to watch a bunch of pig-tailed 5 yr old girls bunch up and kick a soccer ball around a field for 2 hours, too. American's love sports and there is nothing wrong with that... but more need to get out and play them rather than sit back drink beer and watch it on TV. And, er, post on internet blogs.

Ness: It's corporate welfare created by intel and some other biggies. Government and industry working hand in hand.
You know.
Socialism.
Or to quote Righnut, Bush is a commielibscum.

A perfect example?
The FDA sanction against Biomedical Tissue Services of Fort Lee, N.J., was the latest development in a brewing scandal involving scores of funeral homes and hundreds of looted bodies, including that of "Masterpiece Theater" host Alistair Cooke.

Federal and local authorities have been investigating whether the firm's chief executive, Michael Mastromarino, and a business associate paid off funeral homes so they could take bone and skin from the dead without their families' knowledge.

Investigators say some body parts came from elderly people and perhaps victims of infectious diseases, and the paperwork was doctored to say they had been younger and healthier.

OMG, you mean Bush proposed another vacuous program which will never be funded? WOW!! HOW EXCITING!!!

Fool a Republifundie once... shame on... shame on you. Fool a Republifundie twice... shame on... shame on you. Fool a Republifundie thrice...

Bush talks a good game about what he's going to do but then doesn't put the money where his mouth is.

Posted by califchris at 2006-02-03 11:35 PM | Reply

All hat and no cowboy.

A society can only honor stupidity for so long until it takes a toll.

Posted by paleocon at 2006-02-04 01:01 AM | Reply

You are a great example of that.

What Bush really means by competitiveness is rolling back all the protections won by workers in the last century. Eliminate unions, minimum wage laws, workplace safety standards, environmental protections, etc., and we too can compete with the Chinese. Maybe he should include courses in Mandarin in his initiative.

The president wants Congress to authorize tax credits for business research, increased money for federal science programs and improved math and science education in American high schools.
Would this be the science of Intelligent design?

Bush promoting science is a bit oxymoronic, isn't it?

Ness

The problem is not the kids. There are kids who would like to learn however finding a teach worth a damn in schools these days is becoming increasingly difficult. Anymore a teacher has to be more beuracrat and less teacher. Then you top it off with parents working two jobs who are never around to help their kids, then mix in the fact that half those parents don't have the education to help the kids if they did care.

Kids who otherwise might try are fighting a stacked deck from the get go.

Kids who otherwise might try are fighting a stacked deck from the get go.

Posted by TaoWarrior at 2006-02-04 10:40 AM | Reply


Several good posts on here. The family has been torn apart and 2 incomes are necessary to make ends meet for many many people. Appears to me turning our kids over to day care and public education wasn't all it was cracked up to be.

Having said all that's been said on here what's the answer?

Having said all that's been said on here what's the answer?

Posted by dirtman580e at 2006-02-04 11:21 AM | Reply

Better wages.

"American Competitiveness Initiative"
LOL
goes into the same box as Bush's newly-created
"Energy Hog"
and the older
"Whip Inflation Now" (WIN) slogans

oooohhhhhhh how dare he propose something like this.....with unions why should anyone have an initiative to be competitive in anything.
when it comes to the matter of funding,....yeah I see your point on that.,,of course if it is funded properly then all of you will be talking about how much money he spends....

you see.....we are hip to your little game of semantics and accusations...it simply doesnt matter what he does or proposes. you will bitch....thats what happens when THATS ALL YOU HAVE>

Better wages.
Posted by jimmywallback at 2006-02-04 12:22 PM

Certainly for the lower to minimum wage earners. Minimum has not kept up with costs. Some families have no choice but 'dual-income' just to survive.

Couple of questions though... do people really consider pre-school and public schools detrimental?

Also, would financially secure families with at least one well-compensated worker go back to the more traditional stay-at-home parent model to take care of young children, given the opportunity? Or is the desire for more money and living that requires 'dual incomes' trump the needs of the children.

You are a great example of that.

Posted by jimmywallback at 2006-02-04 09:06 AM | Reply

Dirtman,

Pandoras box is open and cannot be closed again. The loss of our manufacturing base was preventable, but not reversible. Recognize that China, BushCo & many CEOs are the enemy of working human beings. Start with healthcare and tax reform and stop giving our technology away for slave labor. Move all defense spending back within our borders. We cannot afford to have berets or circuit boards, let alone Navy Ships, made in China.

"Bush Promotes Competitiveness Initiative"

I think the Democrats should apply...they need all the help they can get

I agree bay....but wasnt this done by more presidents other than the bush administration.....
it has been a long time since there was a 40% tarrif on all goods coming into the us, for instance.

BushSycophant2:
why SHOULD the Dems propose anything right now? The Republicans control both houses of congress, the supreme court, and the executive branch.

I mean, Jumping Jesus on a sidecar, can't you guys propose anything meaningful yourself? And don't give me that bullshit-cum-snake oil Social Security Private Accounts thing. we all know that's smoke and mirrors...it does NOTHING to salvage the Social Security porblem 30 years from now. It's not OUR fault the country elected an idiot president who can't veto anything!

But, if you're ASKING us to pick up after our Problem Child, then just ASK, and we'll take back the country from your corrupt, wasteful, leaders.