Opinion
In Brief
A fresh start
Newly-confirmed Secretary of State Condolezza Rice’s journey abroad to Europe is most encouraging as she is fulfilling her confirmation pledge that “Now is the time for diplomacy.” Among the stops on her European tour: Paris.
This was the same country during Bush’s first term that she said should be “punished” for its opposition to the war in Iraq, along with Germany, whom she said should be “ignored,” and Russia – oddly enough – “forgiven.”
Russia’s human rights violations aside, the U.S. has now objected to the election of Cuba and Zimbabwe by their respective continents to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights.
While it is ironic that such two chronic human rights abusers would be put in charge of monitoring human rights in other countries, one must wonder why similar objections haven’t been raised against Russia. Perhaps it is because they have been forgiven.
Fiscal exertion
President Bush’s recent $2.7 trillion budget request to Congress may sound large, but it includes cuts to nearly 150 government programs, including healthcare, education and Amtrak.
The problem is not a new one in government: guns or butter, and right now guns are winning out. No doubt we must keep our commitments in the war on terror, but it is sad to see the most vulnerable in our society – children and seniors – the victim of government avarice.
Add to that the plan to privatize Social Security for younger workers, and the president’s desire to keep his tax cuts permanent, and you can almost hear the butter melting away.
Crisco, anyone?
Chairman of the board
Now that all the other candidates have bowed out of the race, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean is poised to become the next chairman of the Democratic National Committee in a mini-rerun of the 2004 presidential primaries.
Republicans and critics are rubbing their hands with glee: another liberal northerner! But Dean’s moderate record as governor, fundraising power and idealist strategy may serve the Democrats well in the long run.