When I was in the army, my platoon sergeant had a particular saying he liked to use whenever someone started a sentence with “I hope…” His gruff response was always:
“Hope in one hand, and then shit in the other. Tell me which one fills up first.”
At any rate, John Edwards promises that “Hope is on the way.” He better hope so, because according to his speech last night, he and Kerry are going to, if elected:
– Provide all Americans with the same health care provided to the Senate.
– Pay for that coverage with tax breaks.
– Create a new education system.
– Put the ‘best’ teachers in the subjects and places they are needed.
– Ensure the safety of 3 million school children daily.
– End the two economies.
– Strengthen and lift up families.
– Pay for college.
– Keep the Bush taxcuts in place for 98% of the people.
– Lift 35 million people out of poverty.
– Feed hungry children.
– Clothe cold children.
– Raise the minimum wage.
– Finish the job on Welfare Reform.
– Say no to anyone inpoverty in America.
– Lead strong alliances.
– Safeguard and secure our weapons of mass destruction.
– Strengthen our homeland security.
– Protect our ports.
– Protect our chemical plants.
– Support our firefighters, police officers, and EMT’s.
– Always use our military might to keep the American people safe.
– Win the war in Iraq because of the strength and courage of our own people.
– Take care of veterans.
– Strengthen the military.
– Double our Special Forces.
– Get NATO into Iraq.
– Get Syria and Iran out of Iraq.
– Forgive Iraqi Debt.
– Bring peace to the Mid-east, including Israel/Palestine.
– Bring the world together.
– Secure loose nukes in Russia.
– Close loopholes in the Nonproliferation Treaty.
A point by point fisking of the speech is unnecessary. One aspect of the speech is correct, though- there are ‘Two Americas.’
One who buys this shit, and one who sees right through it.
*** Update ***
The Reason folks are making fun of the laundry list, too.