From NYTimes.com: Clinton Spurns "Elite" Economists on Gas Tax

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Sunday dismissed the "elite opinion" of economists who criticized her gas tax proposal, using a term that has dogged rival Barack Obama in recent weeks.

"I'm not going to put my lot in with economists," Clinton said when asked to name an economist who backed her proposal.

Hillary is using the tried and true Bush tactic of ignoring and labeling people that disagree with you.  Bush calls you "unpatriotic".  Hillary calls you "elitist".

Unfortunately, there are no quick fixes for the economy, no matter what a politician promisies you.

From NYTimes.com: Estimates of Iraq War Cost Were Not Close to Ballpark

At the outset of the Iraq war, the Bush administration predicted that it would cost $50 billion to $60 billion to oust Saddam Hussein, restore order and install a new government.

Five years in, the Pentagon tags the cost of the Iraq war at roughly $600 billion and counting. Joseph E. Stiglitz, a Nobel Prize-winning economist and critic of the war, pegs the long-term cost at more than $4 trillion. The Congressional Budget Office and other analysts say that $1 trillion to $2 trillion is more realistic, depending on troop levels and on how long the American occupation continues.

This is Bush's legacy, sticking the American public with a quagmire and a bill for 2-4 trillion dollars for a war that were fought for false pretenses.  There's no connection between Al Qaeda and Iraq and Iraq didn't have weapons of mass destruction.  The war has diverted attention from fighting terrorists that roam Afghanistan and Pakistan.  Instead of creating a new breeding ground for terrorists, shouldn't we have been out in force looking for Bin Laden?

From Newsday.com

It seems like Bush believes that by avoiding the use of words like recession or torture, that somehow they aren't happening.  We aren't in a recession, but we are having a "tough time".  We're not torturing people, we're using "enhanced interrogation techniques".

From Foxnews.com: Hillary Had No Role in Irish Peace, Despite Bill's Claim

Recently, as only Hillary can do, she claimed that she was "deeply involved in the Irish peace process." Bill has also picked up the theme, citing her "independent" role in resolving the century-old conflict as "experience" with which to justify a White House run.

How odd that Hillary forgot to mention her pivotal role in Ireland just four years ago, when she wrote her $8 million memoir, Living History.

According to Hillary, while Bill met with the "various factions" of Irish politics, Hillary met with women leaders of the peace movement. Rather than discuss the difficulties of the peace process, Hillary focused on a teapot used by the women:

"They poured tea from ordinary stainless steel teapots, and when I remarked how well they kept the tea warm, Joyce insisted that I take a pot to remember them by. I used that dented teapot every day in our small family kitchen in the White House..."

Hillary seems determined to spin being the wife of the President as some kind of foreign policy credential.  As the article shows, Hillary doesn't even claim the accomplishments as "ours", but "Bill's", like she's just a bystander.  Being First Lady doesn't make you more qualified to be President.  Otherwise, why don't we just have Laura Bush takeover?

From CNN.com: Bush: We're in a slowdown

The president also repeated his objection to sitting down with leaders of countries such as Iran and Cuba, nations accused of abusing human rights and stifling democracy.

The move has been an issue between Democratic presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

"It is extremely counterproductive, sends chilling messages to our allies. ... It would be a mistake," Bush said. "Having your picture taken with someone like Raul (Castro) lends the status of our country to him." Castro, brother of Fidel, is the new president of Cuba.

Bush said he intends to meet with China's president during a trip to Beijing to see the summer Olympic Games, which begin in August.

The Bush administration has accused China, a major U.S. trade partner, of human rights abuses. Bush didn't elaborate on what issues he might bring up.

Hmmm.  Abusing human rights and stifling democracy.  China? Check and check!  And we're going to meet the President of China during the Olympics?  I'm not saying that I disagree with Bush about talking to China, that's how problems get resolved.  Foreign policy should be about dialog- even with people we don't like.  

From WLWT.com: McCain Rounds Out Presidential Primary Parade

McCain said Monday that to win the White House he must convince a war-weary country that U.S. policy in Iraq is succeeding. If he can't, "then I lose. I lose," the Republican said.
He quickly backed off that remark.

"Let me not put it that stark," McCain told reporters on his campaign bus. "Let me just put it this way: Americans will judge my candidacy first and foremost on how they believe I can lead the country both from our economy and for national security. Obviously, Iraq will play a role in their judgment of my ability to handle national security."

"If I may, I'd like to retract 'I'll lose.' But I don't think there's any doubt that how they judge Iraq will have a direct relation to their judgment of me, my support of the surge," McCain added. "Clearly, I am tied to it to a large degree."

McCain states his experience as his prime qualification for being President, but his strong support of the Iraq war calls into question his judgment.  Fighting a war in Iraq has not helped our national security and diverting troops from Afghanistan has actually set us back in capturing those who have started this war on terror.  How someone who supports Bush's policies and claims to be a superior candidate for national security is beyond me.

From NYTimes.com: Bush Urges Conservatives to Rally Behind 2008 Nominee

"Four more years," the audience chanted after Sen. Mitch McConnell, the minority leader, introduced him, and again during his speech. It was a striking contrast to the reception Mr. McCain received from the same audience the day before, when he was jeered and booed by some.

Four more years?  Talk about drinking some Kool Aid.  I think the one more year that Bush has is one year too many!  He's arguably going to go down as one of the worst presidents ever.  It's hard to claim the title of worst president, since you'd pretty much have to cause a civil war in the United States to get that.