Some thoughts on Bush’s state of the union.

It’s the economy stupid.

And under my plan, as soon as I have signed the bill, this extra money will start showing up in workers’ pay cheques.

Instead of gradually reducing the marriage penalty, we should do it now.

Instead of slowly raising the child credit to a thousand dollars, we should send the cheques to American families now.

Payroll taxes contribute to the bulk of federal revenue. Bush wants a costly war in Iraq. Why do I not see the payroll taxes not being cut but increased?

To boost investor confidence, and to help the nearly 10 million seniors who receive dividend income, I ask you to end the unfair double taxation of dividends.

Oh right, it’s the seniors who need capital gains cut. Riiight.

And that is a good benchmark for us: Federal spending should not rise any faster than the pay cheques of American families.

Ah compassionate conservativism! Exactly how many congressman were downsized last year to make a fitter, leaner government for the shareholders?

I feel your pain.

It only hurts when I laugh.

To improve our health care system, we must address one of the prime causes of higher costs - the constant threat that physicians and hospitals will be unfairly sued.

Because of excessive litigation, everybody pays more for health care - and many parts of America are losing fine doctors.

So out-of-control health care costs are directly the result of malpractice suits? PriceWaterhouseCoopers doesn’t think so (although they do cite it one of the factors).

Smog doesn’t kill people — I do.

I have sent you Clear Skies legislation that mandates a 70% cut in air pollution from power plants over the next 15 years.

The Kyoto plan was deemed harmful to business so instead Bush wants to give a tax break for compliance. The Sierra Club is unconvinced of the efficacy of Bush’s plan. (Of course, the Sierra Club is nothing but a pack of dirty hippies.) I hope you bought stock in bottled air.

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