The next 2008 president

I think that Hillary Clinton should be our next president. She is a very strong leader with strict v alues. I think that it would be important for her to run for president. I think it is a strong possibility that she will win because she has so much fame already as well as experiences with politics. On the other hand She may not win because so many people have the mentality that a women should not be president. But I believe that there should be a change. I didnt really see any one else that stood out to me that has an over powering chance of winning or that is getting as much cov erage as she is.

The State of the Union Address article

The article seemed to me as if it didn't know what it was trying to say. It critized the speech, said it was a good speech whatever. To me, I am glad the speech was short. I hate all these speeches their are filled with promises, hopes, and dreams of at least one thing each american wants and yet in the end its tied with broken promises, a longer wait, lack of hope and ideas that were once dreams. Although I believe that this speech had great potential it was not quite what I had expected.
I was happy to hear that he mentioned Coreta Scott King and said as he pleased, like Mr. Thomas said making it a moral issure; but very dissapointed to not hear so much on the Hurricanes and its relief. He mentioned that he wanted thousands of more math and science teacher when we can not fairly pay the ones that we have. I know though same plan same speech just a little mixed up and a few sentaces added each year. I think that is what Carl Thomas was trying to say the whole paper.He states a few times "same thing every year" and "again" often. I also agree with Mr. Thomas saying that politicians are very selfish. They put their intrest ahead of ours just as Thomas said about the fiscal responsibility and doing for themselves.

Current Event

I can't believe that it has hit so close to home, it makes it really look like reality in public schools. I was horrified when I had heard that a 13 yr. old , a 15 yr. old and a 16 yr. old were arrested for plotting a school shooting. What are these children thinking. I am thankful to hear that it was caught in enough time but why? After the police searched the homes of these children shotguns and bomb making equipment were found. Thats CRAZY! ( i have a 13 yr. old brother i couldnt imagine) What I dont understand is that why after columbine are parents still having guns in a childs potential possesion. Why havent gun laws gotten more strict. The world is becoming so crazy and much more dangerous, people are thinking or new ways to kill each other each day. I heard that Albermarle Co. schools were going to start something like school violence awareness meetings. I believe that schools should have started that a long time ago. Kids should be warned and taught the signs of if one of their fellow classmates could be planning a school shooting. I mean I know that it could be really heard to tell but it never hurts to think about the "just-in-case" or the "what ifs?" and "maybes". Something has got to be done about teaching children to not want to go out and kill everything. I just think that parents need to become more aware and get involved with their child's life. I know kids roaming around the city and their parents dont know or care where they are at. That really hurts me. Parents please start teaching your children, Please start caring thats all I have to say. I have a little brother entering the 7th grade next year at Buford middle school and I am scared to death of what he is going to encounter. Cant stop the future! I talk to him now hoping and praying he doesnt have something in mind like those kids.

DeTaINEee'S

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IRAQ_TORTURE?SITE=VACHA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2005-11-15-19-29-59 (Daily Progress)

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IRAQ_TORTURE?SITE=VARIT&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2005-11-15-19-29-59 (Times Dispatch)

I can't believe that 173 soliders were found malnourished and evidence of being tortured. Granted that these people are "captives" they are also still human beings they have families and life outside this treachorous war. For soliders to be malnoursihed is ridicoulus and as al-jaafari, a shiite stated it needs to be made sure that a full investigation is to be done, and that the fullest punishment be served on people that did this to them. And I would have to agree with Bush this once at least saying that "we dont practice torture on anyone else therefore torture should not be practiced on us. Its disguisting and disturbing to know that the Times dispatch said that CNN quoted that some soliders were found with their skin peeling off. Can you imagine yourself, your husband, or your son in that kind of postion? Makes you think excatly what kind of training are these iraqi soliders being taught, and god forbid what type of discipline are they being trained with. All that is too be said it that it is very disturbing and someone or group needs to be punished on the highest level in regaurds to the torture. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE!

the election

I am excited that Kaine won the election i did alot of encouraging in my family to vote for him. I agree, that because Bush did do a speech with Kilgore that his turn out may not have been as high as it would have. I also think that Kaine may of won because Mark Warner worked with him alot and most Virginians believe that he was a good governor. Over all i am pretty satisfied with results except i wish craigh deeds won. and i am happy about the school boardd.

"scooter libby"

I think this whole scandal with Valerie Plame and "scooter Libby" is nothing but a big mess. I think that "scooter Libby" should be charged with the highest charge because he ruined Valerie Plames career as undercover. Who knows who will be looker for her or whatever else. She needs to change her name. If the secret was told because her husband Joe Wilson said his opinions about the war in Iraq, I think it was very messed up. I dont really understand the whole situation but whatever the full details are I think to many mess ups and mistakes are being made in the white house and i think its something other than just the told happenings going on. We need to deeper investigate the situations and get behind everything. I think too, that this scandal should not have been released untill the details were less murky. I hope everything works out for Valerie and Joe and that "scooter Libby" gets punishede along with Tim Russet.

Meirs, Harriet

It was really shocking to read these articles to see that we are supposed to choose a supreme court judge that we know nothing about other than her name is Harriet Miers, she went to the farm with bush, she plays tennis and a few minor other things. I can't belive that our prime candidate is a women who has never been a judge. I think its just stupidity, by voting for her we are voting for the unknown. Our biggest controversys are abortion and the death penalty neither of which we know her feelings on. Just like George will said "Meirs would not stand out amoung a list of a thousand lawyers"; if that is the case why don't we just randomly pick anyone else. Bush is doing nothing but asking for controversy and lowering his support.
From the article " The two knocks on Meirs" it states in there that in the early 1990's she was in an abortion group and the group bounced back and forth between neutral to pro-choice and back again. Whose to say that she is'nt going to do that in all her descions in court. It also said that she wanted to have more money to defend the death row prisioners. I dont know about anyone else but i dont want to give money to people that are probally on death row for raping and killing someone.
I guess personally from the little information that I do know about Harriet Meirs, She does'nt have my vote. But I'm not taking away all faith maybe she could be decent judge. Who knows what will happen, after all we basically dont know enough about her.

the kilgore kaine debate

On the sunday night debate involving Kilgore and Kaine I believe that Kilgore did nothing but beat around the bush about all the different topics and try to bash Kaine. Kaine attempted to answer most of the questions and did so excpept continuously brought up his christian faith. I think that both candidates are good canidates in that Kilgore is a perfect person for a repubican while kaine is alright for democratic but definatly more liberal. The only thing that I hated though was how all of kaines views are based on his religon, such as the death penalty and abortion because not every one is catholic . I think there should be some sort of exeption to the death penalty but i agree with the abortion. i think that kaine is right abortion it should not be worldwide or practiced like birth control but should be execption to women who are raped or incested and report it within a week. As far as the tax issue it was hard for me to really understand who wanted what and who would do what. It seemed like both of them said what everyone wanted to hear without saying nothing at all. I really liked how the vcu girl got attention at the debate, it was a very touchy situation with most people. Over all I think that the debate went well except i just dont like kilgore. I think that kaine should win because he can reach out to everyone including the young population which really needs to be done.

in response to the pledge of alegiance

i think that saying the whole phrase "under god" is alright in my opinion and i'm not at all the religous type. it doesnt bother me personally but i can most defnatly see how it would erk some. I think that it should be taken out it's not going to make the pledge of alegience any less patriotic, which is the whole reason that we have it and say it any ways so whats the big deal. i disagree with the whole sueing part though, not appropriate to be sueing for money just taken to court for the attention and for the appeal to get it taken out is okay in my book though.but i say if the majority says keep it in, just dont have it said in a public school where 100s of different religons are practiced. keep that in a minimum at a private, catholoic schoool. Or to solve everything although still it would be controversy is to do like lisa chua says uncapitalize god so that it can apply to everyone regaurdless of who their god is. But its like everything you cant please everyone, so for the few it bothers and the many it makes happy or doesnt bother i think that it needs to be dropped and not declared unconstitutional.

KATrInaS sILveR LinINg

The new and improved New Orleans can begin to look something like this:while the old New Orleans we can keep in the back of our heads like this:
I think we should definatly choose picture #1!!
In response to David Brooks, "katrina's silver lining" i agree with him. Poverty grows on poverty, it will only continue to get bigger if you let it stay that way. Yes, New Orleans is a "nice" place, but it's filled with the unemployed, starved, uneducated, and the general low-class population. I think that no one can say it better than Brooks himslef "but after the tragedy comes the opportunity." I'm not saying make everyone move out, but purpose the plan to all, and offer it telling them the opimistic outcome it could give them, their kids and the future of America. If they say "wow, thats a great idea" lets move them out, put them in a better place and give them that opportunity to do all these things. The people that want to say in New Orleans, let them stay and with this money they're getting, build better buildings, provide better education, provide jobs, update the place and let it be known that Hurricane Katrina on the bright side can bring a new and improved New Orleans. An old wise tale goes with this its that: "with the bad comes the new". So I agree there could'nt be a better idea than this. Only can Bush do it?

What else could we say when the people of New Orleans were shooting at the helicopters of help and resque sqads, they didn't really know any better. This is the place they grew up in. This is their everything of a bunch of nothing to us. This is their culture and how they grew up, is it really their fault or is it ours(America's) for letting these slums get so bad. If we want to bad mouth these people so much for doing this lets fix it up and give them a reason not to.

GovERnMenT RESponSe to HuRRicAne KATRINA!!!!!!

My opinion about the governments efforts to hep people are not the best. I think that the government did pretty much what we could have, but i think that FEMA was not prepared and that they could have done more. FEMA is especially made for diasters and now that something like this has happened they are walking around with their heads up their butt not knowing what to do really. I think that the most blame should be put on them if anyone is pointing fingers at anyone. They need to make more of an effort to get people out, salvage what they can, and save who they can. The biggest problem is too many people are dying. even though it is a natural diaster that many people should not have not. more consideration should be put in with animals, families and the point that everything is gone. Something more needs to be done, although im not sure what

DiViDeD ThEy StAnD--Ny TiMeS

My opinion about the article that was written by David Brooks was that I agree with Galbraith.Mainly I think that he is right about Iraq's constitution that we are helping them try to create; we are not trying to separate them for they are already separated.
They are 3 different cultures just as they have always been, therefore they shouldn't be separated. I mean I don't think that we should involve ourselves so much because they are who they are, but only be there to keep out the violence(they definitely don't need anymore of that .)
We shouldn't create their government just give them advice. We American's in ourselves have a hard enough time trying to improve,fix, and work with our government (why go and be someone else's government for them too.)
It is just important that Iraq needs to set up a system, because they need some sort of stability need to come to acceptance like Gerecht said that they are different and have different opinions etc... So we can't expect their government to be the same as ours or perfect in our eyes. It is what works for them.

10 yr. old girl killed by a bus in culpepper, va

http://www.dailyprogress.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CDP/MGArticle/CDP_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031784662437&path=

I think that it is terrible that a girl so young was killed on the second day, of school on her first year, at the culpepper middle school.She had just moved into the neighborhood. Her name was Emily Nicole.

It is hard to believe that the bus driver has yet to have any charges filed against her.(Although it would be a very controversial punishment since the girl did trip and fall trying to catch the bus; unless the lady was charged with unvoluntary manslaughter.)

The bus driver who had been a driver for culpepper schools for about 20+ years was in total shock and had to be taken to the hospital for emotial distress. (i could'nt imagine being in her place.)