Mike Luckovich for April 04, 2013

Bush claims to be bi-lingual; if true, we have to assume one of those languages isn’t English.

I funny liberal

This is what you draw to detract from the lunacy of Obama’s administration?

C- for Luckovich today. This was too easy/obvious.

I think we all agreeThe past is over.

This is still a dangerous world.It’s a world of madmenAnd uncertaintyAnd potential mental losses.

Rarely is the question askedIs our children learning?Will the highways of the InternetBecome more few?How many handsHave I shaked?

They misunderestimate me.I am a pitbull on the pant legOf opportunity.I know that the human beingAnd the fishCan coexist.

Families is where our nationFinds hopeWhere our wings take dream.

Put food on your family!

Knock down the tollbooth!Vulcanize Society!Make the pie higher!Make the pie higher!Major league.

These actual quotations were aesthetically arranged by Washington Post writer Richard Thompson in observance of National Poetry Month. -——————————————————————————————————————-

That’s the “poem” " Make the Pie Higher" by dubya.

Bush = Horrible – Saw his grades – not real good..

Obama = Horrible – Can’t see his grades. Wonder why?

Both these clowns make me nostalgic for Clinton..

There is a copy of “The Pet Goat.” The book he was holding upside down when he got the news about 9?11.

(cut & paste the link)

http://johnthewitness.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/polls_bushreading_0057_128876_answer_1_xlarge.jpeg

Writings of Mass Deception?

It might be noted that the Library is in the final construction phases, and is expected to open on May 1, 2013.

Yes, that is what G. W. Bush did. And his father, G. H. W. Bush. Things would have been very different if the hardworking, honest, thrifty, and business-minded Governor Dukakis had been elected.

“Books? What are books?” G.W. Bush

Tricia O: Mayday is appropriate.

Bill Clinton’s library is probably “adults only”

Perhaps they’ll hang some of his paintings in there. Saw some of them recently on-line, and can safely say that he is as good a painter as he was a president.’Nuff said?

The G.W. Library is filled with books like Aynd Rand, Shawn Hannity, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and of course Mann Coulter.

LIE-brary. It’s full of them.

Good post. While I agree with the 1st paragraph, the second unfairly perpetuates a faulty internet meme about wasteful, extravagant Congressional retirement compensation. Since many don’t take time for links (http://www.voicesfortroops.org/Learn_More/Learn_About_The_Issues/Fact_or_Fiction__Congressional_Benefits.html ) , I beg your tolerance for posting the content and thank the Military Officers Assoc. of America for their concern:

Fact or Fiction: Congressional Benefits

Approval ratings for Congress are at a historic low, and our members often ask us what sort of benefits legislators enjoy.

The following information isn’t presented to defend Congressional perks, but only to dispel some myths that perpetually float around the internet. If we’re to have credibility defending military programs, we need to have our facts right.

Fact or Fiction:

1) Members of Congress get full pensions for life after serving just one term.

Mostly Fiction. The Congressional retirement system is very similar to that of federal civilians. It’s true that a member of Congress can become eligible for retirement benefits after a minimum of 5 years of service if they’re age 62 or older, but only for a partial pension.

To qualify for a pension a member of Congress must meet one of the following service and age requirements:

5 years of service and age 6220 years of service and age 5025 years of service at any age

Like the military retirement system, Congressional retirement pay is calculated on a combination of their average high-three years of salary and a multiplier based on their length of service.

It’s also worth pointing out that members of Congress contribute to their own retirement and pay Social Security taxes. Once retired their Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) are sometimes held artificially below the Consumer Price Index (CPI) which measures inflation.

Since the Congressional retirement system was overhauled in 1984 (to be less generous) the average annual pension is roughly $40,000.

2) Members of Congress don’t pay for their healthcare.

Fiction. Members of Congress and their staffs are eligible for the same health insurance as federal civilians, and they pay the same premiums. They can enroll in any insurance program offered under the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP).

One of the most popular plans under FEHBP (the Blue Cross Blue Shield Standard plan) costs beneficiaries $430 a month for a family, and $185 a month for individual coverage.

Starting in 2014, members of Congress and their staffs will be required to participate in the health care exchanges created under national health care reform.

3) Legislators receive free health care at military facilities such as Walter Reed.

Fiction. Members of Congress can receive care at the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, but the cost of such care is billed to their federal insurance.

4) Congress votes themselves pay increases every year.

Mostly Fiction. The law authorizes Congress a raise every year unless legislators vote to stop it.

Congress voted to forgo a pay raise in 2010, 2011, and 2012. Congressional pay increases are capped lower than the military raise. While military raises are tied to the average American’s (the Employment Cost Index), congressional raises are capped one-half percentage point below that.

In 2012 members of Congress will collect a salary of $174,000 (Congressional leaders receive more).

Like the Republicans, the last two presidential elections (at least!)

Skeptic, I wish the two parties would mind, ie tend, to their own business. If they did, i know I would certainly have less about which to complain. As one who has received five form letters from legislators since January, I can tell you that it is unlikely they will get back to you in any significant way soon. I would like to know the other seven ideas you have. I would like to think that you and I have more than just the first one upon which to build.Respectfully,C.p.s.- I considered your reply meaning for me to mind MY own business, but I figured you to be too intelligent to have used the words “for the federal gov’t” were that the case. Besides, why does GC have a comment forum if ppl were to meant to mind their own business.Thank you Cal.Sincerely,C.

The library contains one item. A banner that reads “Mission Accomplished”.

There’s reason to think GW Bush had a learning disability. Some of his flubs are the kind you would expect from certain kinds of dyslexia; also, his mother got actively engaged with LD work.

Thank you SkepticKal, Seven of my own nine primary nine issues are listed under my GC profile. When I talk with people in lines and events, I find some of their issues are things I would cheerfully support. For instance, gun control is NOT in my top 9 of things the Federal gov’t needs to resolve, but as I’ve learned how legislators have hobbled the ATF it has entered into my top 20. A recent report informs us anonymous politicians slipped amendments into the most recent spending the bill – the bill that HAD to be approved – one protects gun existing gun laws : http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/14/us/politics/gop-senators-add-gun-protections-to-financing-bill.html?_r=0^the other prevents judges from ruling against genetically modified crops even if there seems to be cause. Even Fox news seems to dislike this one – http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/30/obama-signs-bill-that-protects-makers-genetically-engineered-crops-from-federal/^ Gov’t is broken and legislators and their enablers work harder to keep us ignorant/confused and divided against each other. One of our GC commentators, Bruce – i can’t recall the numbers behind his name, introduced me to zfacts.com In it is a wonderful definitition of Political common sense: “Sensible politics requires that two old-fashioned conservative principles be applied to an empathetic interpretation of the three long-recognized goals of government: protect the public, promote the general Welfare, and stabilize the economy. The two conservative principles are (1) don’t waste public funds, and (2) don’t discourage personal responsibility.”^The entire website has great comments. Bruce seems to be a moderate conservative and most of his comments set a good tone for debate. I recommend him and zfacts.com Thank you again for your considerate reply. I share your angst with our Federal gov’t. Some of the state gov’ts are scaring me too.Respectfully,& sincerely,C.

Must wonder, when Obama’s Presidential Library is finished, IF we will at that time, once he’s safely out of the WH, finally discover if he was indeed a genius, by showing his college records. Doubtful, as it’d show he’s either an idiot or a foreigner.