It turns out that the Medicare overhaul that was passed in 2003 is actually going to cost $720 billion and not the $400 billion that the Bush Administration had originally estimated.  But the President insisted today that the White House did not purposely low-ball Congress when it lobbied for its passing.  He added, "We look forward to working with Congress to make sure that the Medicare reforms that are in place are fully enacted, and the people can realize the benefits of them."  Ah yes, there truly is nothing like the benefit of a bankrupted treasury. 

It turns out that the initial projections were light because they included what it would have cost from 2004 to 2013, before it was actually in effect. The recent, higher projections are for the decade 2006-2015 and account for the benefit being "fully phased in," according to the White House.  That must be why the war is costing so much more than they originally said- they projected it only for 2003. You know, before it was fully phased in!

Some House Republicans are angry at the increase in the cost of the program and have said that they would not have supported it had they known the real cost. Welcome to the club, fellas.  Seriously, does this Administration really think anyone is buying their most recent after-the-fact cost adjustment?  The sad thing is the answer is no, and what's even worse is they don't care. 

But I'm sure they're telling the truth about Social Security.

Troy Sucked.  Brad Pitt was awful; Legolas was awful; the dialogue was awful; and the story was pathetic.  Eric Bana was kind of cool.  But honestly, calling Brad Pitt an 'actor' at this point is a stretch.

The only shred of it worth remarking on is a quote from Odysseus, played by Boromir (Sean Bean).  A secondary character in the movie, Odysseus is the title character in Homer's Odyssey, which along with The Illiad tells the story of the Trojan Wars in a far more convoluted, yet poetic manner than Troylet.  Alas, the quote of which I speaketh:

War is young men dying and old men talking. You know this. Ignore the politics.

The rest of the flick is typical hollywood garbage.  You're never invested in any of the characters, you have no idea who to root for, and the logistics of the battle scenes are patently unbelievable.  But, then there's that gem from Odysseus, which 2,000+ years later rings as true as ever.  Enough to redeem the movie, I think not.

Emmitt Smith, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, retired today after 15 seasons.  Over that time he won three Super Bowls and rushed for 18,355 yards and 164 touchdowns, also an NFL record.  He was the heart and soul of the Dallas Cowboys dynasty that dominated the NFL from 1992-1996.  Smith was a member of the famed "Triplets," who along with Quarterback Troy Aikman and Receiver Michael Irvin, came to Dallas and resurrected a fallen franchise.

As a lifelong, devoted Cowboys fan this is a bittersweet day.  I never could accept seeing Emmitt in the Arizona uniform; it was alien.  It was like if Derek Jeter finished his career with the Devil Rays.  But he wanted to keep playing after Dallas gave up on him and he earned that right. 

He earned it four weeks later when he took over Super Bowl XXVIII; on one drive carrying seven of eight plays and scoring a touchdown.  In that game he rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns, earning MVP honors.

And he earned it hundreds of other times that I won't list now for the sake of probably anyone except my brother who may be reading this.  Off the field he was a superstar as well, always carrying himself with the utmost class and professionalism.  So I was happy for him that he continued to be effective, even if for the lowly Cardinals.  But I have to admit that I am became emotional when I learned that he would retire as a Cowboy.  It just seems right.  Dallas is where his legacy was made.

President Bush said: "Tonight I propose a three-year initiative to help organizations keep young people out of gangs."

FACT: President Bush has proposed a 40 percent cut in federal juvenile crime prevention funds, which would effectively "pull the plug" on good local programs that reduce gang and youth violence.

FACT: President Bush has sponsored a 44 percent overall reduction in delinquency-fighting and anti-gang funds since 2002.

7:10: Considering I'm going to be watching this thing, I might as well live blog it! My killer 500Mhz laptop isn't being very cooperative however, and considering I might only be able to stand so much of this, there is a chance this effort could come to a screaching halt.  So stayed tuned!

8:50 - Countdown to SOTU with Oberman and Matthews, 10 minutes left. Lots of glad hadning going on. I see Number 2 (Cheney) and Scotty (Dennis Hastert) looking chippy.

8:58 - Wonkette has the opening remarks! I wish we had that sort of access. Of course, it's going to take about 20 minutes of applause before we even hear a peep.

9:04 - Hearing Matthews call Ashcroft a "lame duck" should have been satisfying, expect you then remember who is taking his place. BTW, this laptop is brutal. It takes about 5 seconds after I type something before it shows up on the screen.

9:08 - Why Republicans have a blue finger is beyond me. Yes, it was a brilliant idea. But I wonder how much that really has to do with solidarity toward Iraqis and how much has to do with pro-Bush spectacle.. Bush looks very grown up right now, I'm not kidding.

9:15 - More claims that NCLB has raised scores. Just this morning, I had a conversation with a teacher in one of these "troubled schools." There is so many people breathing down her back, she says she can't do her job. And if she raises doubts about the student or their parents not carrying their load, SHE gets in trouble. Way to level accountability...

9:18 - Less dependant on foreign energy, sounds familar? Yes, he said it last year as well and we're even more dependant on it. Also, a few minutes ago he said he's going to cut 150 government programs that aren't working. Who decides if they aren't working?

9:20 - I happen to agree with his immigration reform. Strengthen the borders but give guest visas to workers. Make sure we KNOW who is getting in here by funneling them through the system. It has to happen. It might cut down on the amount of scares and threats we got like the one last week in Boston.

9:25 - Worker to retiree ratio decades ago, 16:1. Worker to retiree ratio now, 3:1. Worker to retiree ratio in the future, 2:1. So we jumped from 16 down to 3 and we can still maintain the system, right? Why is a decrease of 1 going to make a huge problem? More crap on SS. Ideas on the table, he says. "We have to move forward with honesty," he says. Good, then stop lying to us.

9:29 - Ding ding! First lie! You'll earn more than you could under the current system. Like we said this morning, thats based on rosy forecasts. Look Mr. President, we HAVE personal retirement accounts. It's called social security and it's mine and it works. What you want to do is put it in the hands of Wall Street. Thats not any more personal, but it IS private. You don't get to define this one.

9:32 - Christopher Reeves widow is in the crowd. Tainted stem cells anyone? Culture of life, unless you are already living!

9:34 - I don't know if its the blogging or the speech, but this seems to be going pretty fast and the applause seems to be kept under control. No citizen should be turned away from the opportunities of being an American...unless you are a homo.

9:39 - Talking about Homeland Security and first responders and the like, he is pretty serious, looks very grownup and is completely free of that trademark smile/smirk. This is the Bush I wish we saw more often. The word terrorism didn't even show up until 9:38. Its when he shifts to those half-baked domestic policies that the corner of his mouth gets unturned. Like Pinochio, it appears to be a B.S. detector.

9:43 - Woodrow Wilson just took over Bush's body. I actually like this Bush, if his actualy policy followed through to those lofty goals. 'We have no right, or intention to impose our government upon anyone else." That may or may not be true, but I don't see plausible that anyone is going to believe that if it comes out of Bush's mouth. I wish the Dems would stop looking around before they stood up. Grow a spine! If you like what he said, stand up. You don't need to always follow the crowd! Voters don't give a shit if you stand up or sit down at this point. Most people aren't even watching this thing.

9:46 - Joe Biden just got caught on camera clapping by himself. It was funny. I wish he would run for President. Class act, straight shooter, doesn't waffle.

9:50 - More Iraq promotion. Some nice stories from real Iraqis. That's nice and all, but what about the soldiers that died? OUR soldiers. One from MA, that died on a raid to find insurgents, electrocuted by high voltage lines as I understand. You think the 12K death benefit is going to cover that funeral?

9:54 - Whojhouse is drunk, I'm no lackey, just honest. Luckily Bush slowing down a bit, I can't keep up. Ordinary Iraqis are anxious to secure their country? Maybe they heard about of the 12K death benefit. Must be alot of money over there.

9:58 - Holy crap, he mentioned troops deaths and injuries?!?! Honestly a tear came to my eye when that soldiers family got up, I just can't be cynical here. Bush says we're going to take care of all the soldiers who have come home wounded. You fucking better.

10:01 - Fenlenium is slow, Whojhouse is drunk, and my friggin back hurts from leaning over to type. Why am I doing all the work? Bush ought to refrain from using FDR references after an inaugeration like that. Franklin Delano Romanowski is rolling in his grave.

10:02 - Thats it huh. It wasn't so bad. Now we get to look at all the Republican douchebags. Jennings just said that Bush kissed Lieberman. I wonder how the Christian Coalition feels about that? Shattering moments according to Terry Moran.

10:05 - I will say watching this on HDTV was fascinating. The clarity of Hastert's man boobs was awe inspiring. What's the deal with Cookie Roberts? Has anyone thought she's EVER had interesting analysis to give?

10:11 - Hardball - Pledge to AARP and call to a generation (Us, I assume who are going to get the most screwed by Bush's private accounts.) A guest on Hardball specifically called them "private." Nice, I like.

10:13 - Democratic Response! I like Harry Reid, but he's about as interesting as a Tom Daschle, I mean a brick. He probably"get's it" better than Daschle, but I'm not sure he can deliver any better. Uh oh, too many details. Plagued by details! Yawn. Great ideas, but in this political climate we need more of a manly man. Noone with a soft voice. He IS making so much sense though, so don't get me wrong.

10:19 - Maybe I'm just too self depracating but it seems to me that if I didn't know a thing about the SS debate, Bush's delivery on it might win me over more than Reid's. Luckily I DO look through the B.S. of private accounts.

10:20 - Pelosi looks pretty good on the HDTV! However, she blinks too much and her eyes are too wide at times. Deer in headlights...who just happens to have a better direction laid out for this country.

10:23 - Oddly enough Pelosi just mentioned 9/11. Did Bush? I don't recall, but that seems impossible, I probably just zoned out.

10:26 - I checked Andrew Sullivan for a second and he noted that Reid also sounded lame. Great ideas, but not telegenic. You know, people who have a problem with Dean for DNC ought to take a look at what transpired. That was some great message delivered in a less than inspiring way. We hear Dean is going to make DNC chair. His first task ought to change the post SOTU response name from The Democratic Response to The Opposition Response and get a louder person to deliver it. You want to sound like you are CONVINCED certain actions of the majority party are dead wrong. You don't want to sound just like you are upset about losing the general election.

10:36 - Orrin Hatch is a douche. Develop our own energy sources and do it in an environmentally safe way? Then he says we should drill in Alaska? Its nuts not to do so? Analysts say that wouldn't even put a dent in our energy dependence. He blames environmental extremists on our energy problems. My god. Why not just blame gays as well. Matthews makes a good point, Bush's call for energy independence was just lip service. I just wish Matthews would SAY that instead of implying it.

10:39 - Alright, this is it, I can't take these ego-inflated pundits anymore. I'm done. Family Guy Season 2 DVD, here I come. Goodnight.

On the day the wall came down
They threw the locks onto the ground
And with glasses high we raised a cry for freedom had arrived

On the day the wall came down
The ship of fools had finally run aground
Promises lit up the night like paper doves in flight

Now frontiers shift like desert sands
While nations wash their bloodied hands
Of loyalty, of history, in shades of grey

From Pink Floyd's "A Great Day for Freedom"

We disagree with President Bush, Alberto Gonzales and any analysis of the legal memos that suggest they, including Donald Rumsfeld, are without blame on this issue. We don't feel a legal explaination or analysis is needed to come to this conclusion, although others have made that case doing so. We have a gut feeling, an observation from the transcripts of the Senate confirmation hearings that shows Gonzales avoided most of the questions leveled on the subject, and the frustration that when something goes wrong under this administration's watch, the responsibility barely creeps up the totem pole.

The confirmation of Condoleezza Rice to the post of Secretary of State brings to light a major difference between Democrats and Republicans.  The fact that only thirteen Democrats voted against confirmation says one of two things: they are either as spineless as I have feared or they still have some respect for the political process.  

There was no question that Rice was going to be confirmed; simple math told us that.  So there would not have been much drawback for Democrats to get their 45 votes together to say to the country that this nomination was unacceptable; that this person who perpetuated myths that lead our country to war does not deserve to hold the position of top diplomat.  Instead, with a few exceptions, they chose not to embarrass the President and his nominee; a nominee they obviously felt qualified for the job.

It is hard for me to believe that Senate Republicans would have done the same had the circumstances been reversed.  They surely would have stood together in opposition, determined to embarrass both the nominee and the President.  That is what separates them from their opponents- they play to win at any cost while Democrats seem to let their collective conscience inhibit them from doing the same.  Seems nice guys do finish last.

After 9 hours of floor debate yesterday, where Teddy Kennedy led off an assault by Senate Democrats on the Bush Administration's run-up to war in Iraq and its faulty justifications, former National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice is expected to be confirmed for her new post as Secretary of State today.  While nearly every Republican who stood to speak scoffed at the thought of anyone daring to question Dr. Rice, even taking the time to belittle and taunt the opposition party, a handful of Democrats joined in stating their support for Dr. Rice's nomination as well.

In a bizarre show of freshman malarkey, newly sworn-in Democratic Senator Ken Salazar of Colorado (having defeated brewing scion Pete Coors), stood to offer his endorsement of Dr. Rice, further stating that she having been educated in Denver, she would certainly "speak with the honesty and candor" that those from the West are known for.  Ummm ... Whaaaaa?  Dude, these terms are for like, 6 years, you don't have to start pandering to your home state for like, 10 more months or something.

Apparently unaware of a pesky little clause in the Constitution which allows for the Senate to "advise and consent" the President on his Cabinet nominations, Republican Senator George Allen of Virginia accused Democrats of "whining and carping."  Yessir, a WHOLE DAY to debate the nomination of this country's leading diplomat who, after the last four years, has quite a load of work cut out for her, and is the same Dr. who invoked images of mushroom clouds to scare Americans into supporting the Iraq war, is certainly just schoolyard sniping, no doubt.

For his part, my personal least favorite Senator of all, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, did not fail to disappoint.  Comparing the pure moral clarity of WWII to the current undeclared war in Iraq, Sen. McConnell was sure that if "there had been as many cameras on Omaha Beach on D-Day as there are in this room right now, General Eisenhower would certainly have been fired."  O-kaay.

Two encouraging signs from all this (for those of us in the opposition):

• Barbara Boxer - the junior California Senator has proven herself as a strong advocate for progressive priorities recently.  She grilled Dr. Rice in committee hearings, and aside from John Kerry, was the only Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee to vote against her nomination.
• Ted Kennedy - ole Scotchy is back!  Rumor has it, his wife has helped him (via Atkins) lose weight AND cut back on the sauce.  Aides say he reversed a lifelong trend and actually LOST weight on the campaign trail, stumping for Kerry.  The weight loss and this second-term President have reinvigorated the salty old bastard, it seems. 

CNN - 'Rice confirmation expected Wednesday'

UPDATE:  Reuters - 'Rice confirmed as Secretary of State' by a vote of 85-13

The White House announced today that the budget deficit will hit a record $475 billion in fiscal 2005, driven by a request for an additional $80 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The news got worse as administration officials admitted that the government's long-term fiscal health has continued to get worse.  In a side note, employers should look for those administration officials' names on monster.com tomorrow morning.

I have no problem that the White House needs more money to help arm the troops in the Middle East.  I have no problem that it is increasing our deficit.  I do have a problem with the myriad of tax cuts that caused the deficit in the first place, but that's for another day.

But my biggest problem is that this Administration blatantly misrepresented the cost of this endeavor two years ago to help sell it and marginalized those who tried to bring the true costs to light.  And yet they had the gall to spend their entire campaign calling John Kerry a flip-flopper.  Maybe this instance wasn't flip-flopping, but it sure as hell was lying.

The Bush Administration has time and again either pulled a bait-and-switch or outright lied to further their agenda, both domestically and especially abroad.  Their allies in Congress and on talk radio have surely been accomplices to these crimes.  But what sickens me is that the so called "liberal media" has let them get away with it.  I hope they realize that they are as much to blame as the lying liars themselves.  Just as with the Democrats, maybe when the media grows a spine and does their jobs we'll finally get some accountability in the White House.  Once again, we're not holding our breath.

Lest anyone continue to cling to the notion that FOXNEWS is impartial, or even, real journalism, this clip from Inauguration Day coverage should dispel those rumors of professionalism at Bloward TV.

It's a lovely little catfight which features Vanity Fair Editor Judy Bachrach - GASP! dare she? questioning the value of the inaugural party prayer service for the troops! -  and the FoxNewsBunny seemingly arguing to keep her job.  You can almost sense her producer standing off stage miming hanging noose gestures.  Ack!

Last week FCC Chairman Michael Powell announced that within the next few weeks he will resign his post.  His resignation is an opportunity for President Bush to move away from his nepotistic nature and towards an approach where loyalties to the Administration take a back seat to ability and competence. 

In his four years as FCC Chair, Powell has either grossly misunderstood his role or blatantly disregarded it.  In the arena of "indecency," where he most made his mark, Powell was quick to regulate what went over our airwaves.  However he was not such a fan of regulation when it came to matters of media ownership and concentration- a hallmark of the chair's responsibility.

Once again the President has a choice.  He can move toward middle ground by appointing a more moderate commissioner who understands the importance of media concentration and who is willing to make tough decisions.  Or he could continue with his tendency to hire and appoint those who have sworn allegiance not to the interests of the country, but to his Administration's agenda.  While we hope the President will choose the former, we're not holding our breath.