Al Kar-En Hue-Ez

I am happy to say, I am no longer worried about terrorism or national security. The Bush administration's nomination of an experienced Islamist to an important diplomatic post, made me realize that we are so going to win this war on terror. Acknowledging that "The U.S. must do a better job of engaging the Muslim world," Condoleeza Rice announced the nomination of Al Kar-En Hue-Ez as Under Secretary of State for public Diplomacy. Thank Allah, the administration has nominated Hue-Ez to "Change Islamic perceptions about America." Hue-Ez agrees with Rice on the importance of engaging the Muslim World: "Clearly, in the world after September 11th, we must do a better job of engaging with the Muslim world." I can think of nobody more qualified that Hue-Ez, nee Karen Hughes, for this post. This former Bush aid, raised in Texas, has her finger on the “Muslim's World's" pulse, more than any real Muslim I know.

Bush's Social Security Plan: The Right Plan

I’ll admit it. I was skeptical about Bush's Social Security Plan. But, like many a non-believer, I was wrong. Below, Bush presents his straightforward, clear, accessible plan with great eloquence:

WOMAN IN AUDIENCE: I don't really understand. How is it the new [Social Security] plan is going to fix the problem?


PRESIDENT BUSH: "Because the -- all which is on the table begins to address the big cost drivers. For example, how benefits are calculated, for example, is on the table. Whether or not benefits rise based upon wage increases or price increases. There's a series of parts of the formula that are being considered. And when you couple that, those different cost drivers, affecting those -- changing those with personal accounts, the idea is to get what has been promised more likely to be -- or closer delivered to that has been promised. Does that make any sense to you? It's kind of muddled. Look, there's a series of things that cause the -- like, for example, benefits are calculated based upon the increase of wages, as opposed to the increase of prices. Some have suggested that we calculate -- the benefits will rise based upon inflation, as opposed to wage increases. There is a reform that would help solve the red if that were put into effect. In other words, how fast benefits grow, how fast the promised benefits grow, if those -- if that growth is affected, it will help on the red."

If that doesn't convince you, I don't know what will.

W is for Witty

In these times of insecurity and uncertainty, President Bush's sense of humor is unwavering. Below is an excerpt from the transcript of Bush's speech in Brussels

"And finally, this notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. Having said that, all options are on the table. (LAUGHTER)"

Although I wasn't able to make it to Brussels, this left me in stitches. Thank you, President Bush, for showing the terrorists that they will lose the war on terror, and the war on humor.

Pope Diet

Buon Apetito Father. Recovering from his recent tracheotomy Pope John Paul had a breakfast which has sparked the new fad "Pope diet." It consists of:

1) coffee with milk
2) yogurt
3) 10 small cookies.

Speaking of tracheotomies, I don't know about all of you, but I miss hearing the Pope's voice. Luckily we can read his voice in his new book Memory and Identity.

This is what God's rep said about the Holocaust and abortion:

"There is still, however a legal extermination of human beings who have been conceived but not yet born. And this time we are talking about an extermination which has been allowed by nothing less than democratically elected parliaments where one normally hears appeals for the civil progress of society and all humanity."

Some uptight people from Germany's Central Council of Jews called the Pope's comparison "unacceptable."� Before they get their yarmulkes in a bunch, let us take a moment to remember how great the Vatican was during the holocaust. It's nice to know that the Vatican is so vocal in its opposition to this holocaust, just as it was during the first holocaust.

But seriously folks, I should not be ripping on The Pope. He really inspires people and teaches them valuable lessons. Michell Garza, 25, a university student, who says she "put [her]self into to debt" to fly to Italy from Texas to see the Pope explains: "The pope is showing us how important it is to live until you die."

Get out of the Old (Europe) and into the Cold

While the Liberal Press gets its panties in a bunch about how much irrelevant countries like Russia, and Old school France and Germany disagree with American foreign policy, time and time again, history has shown us the direct correlation between the performance of the U.S. President and the Slovakian Prime Minister's opinion of the U.S. President.

The New York Times headline Amid a Lukewarm Europe, Bush finds a fan in Slovakia should come as no surprise. It turns out that Slovakia's Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda is a huge fan of President Bush: "I like Bush. You know why? Because he told me he doesn't like to write, but he likes to speak to people, and I am the same." That's not all that Dzurinda likes about W. The two men have a lot in common: "We share some experiences. He has two daughters: I have two daughters. The older is 20, the younger is 17. You can imagine." We certainly can Prime Minister Dzurinda, we certainly can.