McCain’s Budget-Balancing Boasts Under Fire (and More!)

By Ccandysuzie

On Tuesday, the United States and Czech Republic signed the first part of the controversial missile defense system pact. Russia responded with a warning that if the US and Czech Republic go ahead with the system it will be forced to react with military means. The US maintains that the system is aimed at the Middle East, not Russia.If the US gets its’ way, by 2012 the shield will be operable—consisting of a tracking radar site in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in Poland.

In Other News:

Also on Tuesday, the White House officially apologized to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi after a major diplomatic screw-up. In the official press kit distributed to reporters accompanying the President to the G8 summit, Berlusconi was referred to as a man, “hated by many”, “known for governmental corruption and vice”, and as a “political dilettante (amateur)”.

Apparently the bio was taken directly from the Encyclopedia of World Biography. Berlusconi is one of Bush’s few friends in Western Europe and a key supporter of the Iraq war.

Presumptive Presidential candidate John McCain is coming under fire following his budget-balancing boast. Economists and fiscal experts have said that it is unlikely that McCain’s spending and tax cuts package will achieve this goal.

Part of his proposals is a one-year freeze in most domestic spending (education, scientific research, law enforcement, etc), “to allow for a comprehensive review”. It is unlikely that such a freeze will be passed through anything but a republican dominated Congress.

Moreover, McCain has already admitted that his ambitious goals require “rapid economic growth”—something which we’re not likely to see very soon.

McCain has also pledged to extend most of the Bush tax cuts which, according to many economists, will widen, not shrink the deficit.

In other McCain news, on Tuesday, the plain-spoken candidate reacted to a report of rising U.S. cigarette exports to Iran stating “Maybe that’s a way of killing ‘em”. Last year, when asked if there was a plan to attack Iran in the works, McCain responded, stating “You know that old Beach Boys song, Bomb Iran?” He then proceeded to serenade the crowd with his own rendition: “Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran.” Is it just me or does it seem like an Iran War will be inevitable if McCain takes the presidency?

And Now For Something Completely Different:

A group of civic-minded San Franciscans are petitioning the city for the erection of a tribute to President George W. Bush when he leaves office at the end of this year. Their idea? Naming a sewage plant after Bush. Organizer Brian McConell explains:

“It’s important to remember our leaders in the right historical context. In President Bush’s case, we think that we will be cleaning up a substantial mess for the next 10 or 20 years. The sewage treatment facility’s job is to clean up a mess, so we think it’s a fitting tribute.”

Needless to say, Republicans are not amused.

That’s the News!