Democratic Talking Points

The Limbo King—How low can George go? According to the latest Newsweek poll, Bush's approval rating has sunk to 28%--his lowest number yet. You have to go all the way back to Jimmy Carter to find a president this unpopular. Carter also hit 28% in 1979. But, I've got faith in President Bush. I know he can move that limbo stick even lower and take his party with him into Limboland.

Calling the Wizard—It's time to place a 911 call to the Wizard of Oz for a brain. The April death toll for US troops in Iraq was not only the highest for any month in 2007, but it also was one of the highest tolls since the beginning of the Iraq war. In a speech last week to the Associated General Contractors of America, George "Dorothy" Bush argued that his troop increase is proving successful with a decrease in violence.

Health and Inhuman Services—Bush, with support from the Dept. of Health and Inhuman Services, has threatened to veto legislation that would legalize the reimportation of lower cost prescription drugs from Canada. The Bush administration is raising concerns about the threat such drugs might pose to health and safety. Is that the health and safety of Americans or American pharmaceutical companies?

Head Start?—Voting 365 to 48, the House has restored the core of the federal Head-Start program. The Bush administration tried to shift Head Start's traditional program which funded social services with a program that emphasized literacy. It was part of the Bush administration's "Let Them Eat Chalk" program.

Don't ask, Don't tell—Despite the threat of a Bush veto, the House approved legislation which would extend federal protection to gays who have been the victims of hate crimes. A reliable source reports that Bush said that he doesn't see what the big deal is all about: "Isn't that what the don't ask, don't tell philosophy is all about? Don't ask gays who's trying to kill 'em, and don't bother tellin' the police".