South Chicagoland Young Democrats: The Blog

Ice Cream’s Ben & Jerry Salute Flavor on “The Colbert Report”

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A few minutes ago George W. Bush finished giving his State of the Union address.? While it was not a good speech, I must say that it also was not a bad speech.? He glazed over the topic of Iraq, focusing instead on a new domestic policy.

President Bush emphasized healthcare reform,? immigaration reform,? alternative fuel sources, and renewal of the No Child Left Behind act.? ? On all of these issues, it seems that he has? chosen to? take a rather liberal stance, seemingly reaching out to the new Democratic majority and the majority of the American people.? On healthcare reform, he? proposed? tax cuts for people that pay for their own healthcare and also for? small? businesses that provide? healthcare for? employees.? His proposal for immigration reform, the most? liberal of the? ideas that he? put forth,? is an obvious reach? out the? Democratic party; most of the Republicans in attendance chose to remain seated.? He also addressed? Global warming for the first time in his presidency, emphasizing a reduction in the American? dependance on foreign oil and an increase in the regulations regarding? car exhaust.?

As previously stated, President? Bush deliberately failed to address the war in Iraq in much detail.? At a time when his approval? ratiings are at an all time low,? I am of the opinion that? this was an error.? By failing to address the most pressing issue in current American politics, he has opened the? door for speculation and insult from all sides.? What little he did say echoed the speech that he? gave a few weeks ago in which he addressed his? highly? unpopular new policy in Iraq.? This? new policy calls for an escalation of the number of troops? deployed? on the? ground as well as an increase in military funding.?

This leads into the? Democratic response delivered by Senator Webb? out of? Virginia.? Senator Webb, a Vietnam veteran and father of a marine who is currently? fighting in? Iraq, called the president out for? his resonsibility in the war.? The point that the Democrats stressed the most was a need? for a new? policy in the Iraq? war, one that would get our troops out of harms way and reduce the? Iraqi? dependance on American support.? ? Senator Webb began, however, with a call for the president to address the needs of an ever dwindling? American middle? class.? The? response emphasized the need for the president to address the loss of? American manufacturing? jobs to outside countries.? Overall, I? think that? the? Democratic response? tonight was a? good one.? President? Bush took steps in his speech to reach out? to the? Democratic majority, but he? fell short? on the most important issue, that of Iraq.? The? Democrats also? did a? good job selecting Senator Webb, a moderate and a veteran, to? deliver the response because? it shows the willingness of the party to? compromise and work? in a? bipartisan? way.?

Overall? I must say that President Bush did not screw up too bad tonight.? I do not support his? new policy in Iraq, but his obvious attempts to appeal to the new Democratic majority seemed, atleast at this point, to? be sincere.? ? In the weeks and months to come we will see if he truly stands behind the plan that he has? layed out tonight.?

From the brilliant mind of? Mike Kean,? your friendly Sargeant at Arms.? ?

Members Present: Marcella N, Callie P, Mike K, Kendal E, Cait P, Joe T, Whitney S, Nicole W, Jessica E?

?

1.? Met Whitney and discussed the Political Forum for Teens?

2.? Planned to attend P.F.T. on February 3^rd?

3.? Planned Springfield Trip

? ? ? ? ? 1.? Scheduled for March 2, 2007

? ? ? ? ? 2.? Need another chaperone?

? ? ? ? 3.? ? Need to make reservation

? ? ? ? 4.? Need permission slips?

4.? Planned to attend Rich East GSA at 3:30PM on January 16^th?

Next meeting this Thursday!! Two speakers are coming this Thursday to speak about the political forum for Teens!! This involves gaining awareness about issues from local politicians and city officials. Various major’s and even George Scully will be there on February 3. So do not miss this next meeting.

Nicole Williams

President

It has recently been reported that the central idea of President Bush’s new proposal for the war in Iraq will be an escalation of the number of troops deployed. He plans an increase of upwards of twenty thousand ground troops meaning that twenty thousand more Americans will be risking their lives for a needless pursuit. Adding to the foolishness of this idea, though, is his use of the word “sacrifice”.

For Bush to say that the American people must be willing to sacrifice for the war on terror is an insult to both us and the service men and women that have sacrificed everything for the war in Iraq. Sacrifice implies that we are suffering for a greater good, giving up what is important for a meaningful cause. What meaningful cause has there ever been or will there ever be in this war? More and more it seems that we are only fighting to protect the already spoiled reputation of one of the worst presidents in American history. Perhaps Bush could expound upon his call for sacrifice but asking that we do it to prevent him from looking like any bigger of an ass. But no, he would never do that.

The point of all of this is that we have already sacrficed. More than three thousand American troops have already paid the ultimnate sacrifice and countless more risk doing the same every single day. We have paid and we have paid dearly. Should that word ever escape his lips, I urge every American to stand, face Washington, and fly the bird while saying “Sacrifice this!”. As far as I am concerned, the only person in this country that has not sacrificed for the war on terror is Bush himself.

From the brilliant mind of Mike Kean, your friendly Sargeant at Arms.

How many people were surprised to hear that Saddam Hussein, the fallen dictator of Iraq had been executed?? This question sounds like a stupid one but I must ask because I was surprised.? I was not surprised to hear that? the? Iraqi court sentenced him to die, but rather? I was surprised to hear that he had been executed so quickly, only a few short days after his appeal failed.? I even might? go so? far as to say that Saddam was surprised? by his execution and the speed with which it was? carried out.? It really makes you think.

I? am? not going to touch on the morality or the justification? of the death penalty in? this case.? I personally am against the? death penalty in all cases,? but Saddam Hussein was an? undeniably? evil man who committed an uncountable number of atrocities against his fellow human beings.? I? do, however, want to? address the speed with which he was executed.? By having carried? out the sentencing so quickly, both? America and? the? current Iraqi government came out looking? bad.? What? does it say about the credibility of either? that Saddam’s execution was so rushed?? ? Around the world people are now saying that the US had a? hand in the sentencing and wanted it? carried out as? quickly as possible so as to prevent any interference.? This makes the US look? spiteful and domineering and it makes the Iraqi government look weak, both to its own people and to the world.? I really do not think that either of these impressions will be beneficial.?

I may? be wrong in my conclusions.? ? Perhaps? I am? reading too far? into this.? It is undeniable, however, that a few days ago, half of the world’s population simultaneously raised an eyebrow upon learning that Saddam was executed already.? ? I feel that this is undeniable and maybe someone should have thought about this before hand.

From the brilliant mind of Mike Kean, your friendly Sargeant at Arms.? ? ? ? ? ? ?

? ?

He was an unwanted, unloved child with very little joy in his childhood. Listening to it almost makes you feel bad for that young boy. Then you remember that it’s Saddam Hussein, the man who mercilessly murdered his own people and committed horrible atrocities. That’s when you want to shoot him in the head.

I wish I could’ve been the one who pulled that lever and let that bastard hang. Excuse my language; I actually had to sit for a moment to come up with the most appropriate title for the guy.

As happy as I am that justice has been done, I can’t cheer, curse his actions under my breath with a smile, or celebrate in some other way. Basically, this was the point of our war. Thousands of American citizens died for justice to be served. Should thousands more have to die because of this?

Our Iraqi “to-do” list, as far as I know it, is done. We’ve taken Hussein out power, instated a new government, which? with good guidance should grow into a stable, working one, and helped to right some of Hussein’s wrongs. Yet President Bush still wants more troops sent to Iraq? With what purpose?

How will Iraq ever become an independent nation if we never let them build themselves up a little? How will they ever ease sectarian violence if American troops are always lurking, ready to attack, and to be attacked?

There are many wounds dug deep into this country. They are wounds that only Iraq can heal. As a high school girl, I can only relate this metaphorically to high school relationships. As much as you love your best friend for trying and no matter how good their intentions are, they can’t get you over a breakup. It’s something you have to do yourself.

All I ask of our President is this: get us the hell out of Dodge. It’s done, it’s time to pack up and head home. Slowly, let’s give more authority to Iraq and get our guys back. At this point, whatever your reasons are now, it’s not worth it and it’s making me sick to my stomach.

Cait Phipps, 1st Vice Prez

Take the night off.? There is no meeting on Thursday, January 4, 2007.

We’ll see each other again on Thursday, January 11, 2007, at 7 p.m., Borders, Matteson, IL.

I would like to begin this post with an apology for not having written one in so long.? I have been very busy with school work and college applications.? I hope to return to my post a day schedule soon.

With that said, I have? something that I would? like to say.? Conservatives make? me angry.? I respect the views of all people,? but? I? have really begun? to wonder whether some of these? people ever really? think about the things that come out of their mouths.? ? We can all agree that the? three most common things that? are? brought up by your standard conservative are as follows: abortion, homosexuality, and welfare.? The first two are redundant because they? are issues that will never go away.? The last, however, really shows how? little some people think before they speak and? I would like? to comment on it.

What? does your everyday upper class conservative usually say about the people on welfare?? ? “They are lazy.? ? Why should I have to give them the money that? I work hard for?”? I always? laugh when? I hear this? because how hard does your average CEO really work, or the stock brokers that make millions of dollars by risking other? people’s money.? How hard do they really work?? Now think about the average welfare recipient.? How hard do they work, slaving at minimum wage jobs, making not even enough to feed their families.? Who really works harder, the CEO or the cook at Burger King?? Responsible people think about these things before they speak, but then again, how many conservatives are responsible.? Furthermore,? how many of them are actually human beings?? A real human being shows compassion for their fellow man.? A real human being cares whether someone else is going hungry while they have more than enough to get by.? Human beings think about these things but Conservatives do not.? What? does that say about? conservatives??

I know that this post is? filled with a lot of rhetorical questions but how can one not think about these things during the holiday season, the season of giving.? It is one thing to? look out for? your? own well being,? no one can ever begrudge a person that.? When it? comes? down to whether or not you can afford the fifty thousand dollar sports car or help a? needy family, however,? the choice should be easy.? That is why? I get so angry at? conservatives.?

This post? may ramble on a lot but? I hope that? everyone gets what? I am trying to say.

From the? brilliant mind of Mike Kean, your friendly? Sargeant at? Arms.? ? ? ?

Join us tonight, December 21, 2006, for our Holiday Party at Borders in Matteson.? The fun starts at 7 p.m., and it’s just an informal evening of fun for all.? Alumni members and elected officials have also been invited, and it would be great to see everyone!