Notes About Washington 1/16

Bush came out against affirmative action with his legal brief against the University of Michigan's admission policy.

"Our Constitution makes it clear that people of all races must be treated equally under the law," he said. "Quota systems that use race to include or exclude people from higher education and the opportunities it offers are divisive, unfair and impossible to square with the Constitution."

Bush was very misleading. The University of Michigan does not have quotas, no hard percentage numbers they need to hit every year. However, you can get points towards your admission "score" for:

 "membership in an underrepresented minority group, socioeconomic disadvantage, attendance at a predominantly minority high school, athletics, or at the Provost's discretion."

You also get points for residency in the state and certain underrepresented counties, personal achievement, and academic achievement. Most universities also give points for legacies. A legacy is a person whose has family members that are alumni of the university applied to. For an example of legacy you need look no farther than the president himself. With average grades and a SAT score 200 points below their normal admission guidelines, Dubya manages to get himself into the prestigious Yale University.

Democrats responded:

Democrats and civil rights groups criticized Mr. Bush, with Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle calling the announcement "a watershed" event in the administration's record on civil rights.

"Once again today, the administration has said as clearly by their actions as anyone can, they will continue to side with those opposed to civil rights," the South Dakota Democrat [Daschle] said on the Senate floor.

Republicans responded to the Democrats response:

"Race baiting!"

That is what they always say, isn't it?

Funny how Bush gets into Harvard because of his parents, but doesn't want others to get into a good university because of their parents. Funny how he also wants to send kids to war, when he was a kid he deserted from the National Guard for a whole year, which is where he went to avoid Vietnam.

Listen up all you seniors who voted for Bush.

Federal budget director Mitchell E. Daniels Jr. told business leaders yesterday that no one should "hyperventilate" because the government has "returned to an era of deficits," but he warned of serious fiscal problems unless Medicare is reformed promptly.

You know what that means, don't you? Well, yes, tax cuts of course. It also means Bush will shortly be coming after your Medicare. Seniors are not a big corporation, so they don't get anything for free. Medicare is is heading for the chopping block. The federal budget director did not say we need to do away with tax cuts, cut back on loan guarantees to the airlines, or hold down military expenses. He said we need to reform Medicare. All the seniors who voted for Bush wave your hands in the air!

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Atrios points out two obvious things that the media has choosen to ignore.

It amazes me that the media has largely ignored the explicit symbolism of two things Bush has done this week. First he declared a Sanctity of Life day on the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. Second, he came out in opposition of affirmative action, playing the dishonest race-baiting "quota" game, on the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

If the media was liberal, they would be having a field day about this.

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And who do you trust?

Craig Patterson, a 45-year-old ironworker in St. Louis worried about dwindling construction jobs, summed it up for USA Today: "I trust Bush with my daughter, but I trust Clinton with my job."

Craig, why would you trust a drunken frat boy with your daughter? If I had to choose a boyfriend for my daughter, and the choices were a drunken frat boy with a "C" average, or a Rhodes Scholar, I would choose the Rhodes Scholar. Okay, I don't actually have a daughter, but if I did....... Just a thought.

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