NEW POLL SAYS ONLY 5% OF AMERICANS TRUST THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO RESOLVE THE WAR!!!

The results of a new New York Times/CBS News Poll states that only 5 percent of Americans said they most trusted the Bush administration to resolve the war in Iraq. 21 percent said they most trusted Congress and 68 percent of Americans most trusted military commanders.

Most Americans said they didn't think that Iraq would ever become a stable democracy and a large majority of Americans feel that the Iraqi government wasn't doing all it could do to bring stability.

The question I have is, we needed a poll to tell us this?!?

General David Petraeus will appear on Capitol Hill today and he will come across as being a very honorable man if he would publicly state that Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with the attacks on 9/11. I say this, because in this same new poll, 33 percent of all Americans still believe that Saddam Hussein was involved in the attacks on 9/11. I hope that someone on Capitol Hill is brave enough to ask General Petraeus about Osama bin Laden and why we didn't focus on him before getting involved in Iraq. His answer to that question would tell us if he's a warrior or that he's a politician telling the message his boss has told him to tell.

AND THEN THERE'S THE ECONOMY:

You read the same stories that I do. What happening to your economic situation is the same thing that's happening to most other people in this country. If you're lucky enough to have a job, because of cutbacks, you're working more hours for less money. But you don't talk about it, because you feel it's embarrassing.

Teamsters President James P. Hoffa says that President Bush has "sucker punched" American workers and threatened national security by opening the nation's southern border to Mexican truckers. According to Hoffa, this past Thursday the Transportation Department granted permission to Transportes Olympic, an outfit in a suburb of Monterrey, Mexico, to haul cargo anywhere in the United States as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Gang, I was doing talk shows in the early 90's that were devoted to trying to tell people what a bad deal NAFTA was for American workers. I wasn't the only one saying this, but there weren't many of us. The full impact of something like this takes time. And all of this bad economic news is the result of NAFTA, all the outsourcing and the all around screwing of the American worker while big American corporations pay slave wages to workers in other countries. And then slapping us (the workers) in the face by giving tax cuts to the rich owners of these American corporations who have benefitted greatly from the screwing of American workers.

SHOWBIZ STUFF:

Britney, Britney, Britney.

Britney Spears "performed" at the MTV Music Awards in Las Vegas last night. While badly lip-synching a new song and appearing to be half asleep or about to pass out, she was guilty of a most unforgiveable sin, career wise. She forgot to look in the mirror. Or if she did look in the mirror and said, "Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?", the mirror lied to her.

Britney Spears tried to sing and walk through her dance moves while wearing very little clothing. Once upon a time, a decision to do that would have had men of all ages drooling and women making decisions to begin sweat inducing workouts.

But Britney ain't a "babe" anymore. At the young age of 25, she ought to be able to pull this kind of act off by taking most of her clothes off and then we wouldn't notice how bad her "dancing" and "singing" has become. But Britney Spears, an absolute goddess (looks wise) before she got married, now needs someone she'll listen to who will tell her, "Britney, you look better with your clothes on!"

AND THEN THERE'S RUSSELL CROWE:

Actor Russell Crowe went through a recent period where he was becoming known more for being a "bad boy" than being the fine actor that he is.

Welcome back, Mr. Crowe! I saw "3:10 to Yuma" Friday afternoon and I liked it. A lot! Russell Crowe plays Ben Wade, the bad guy that the good guys are trying to get on a train that will take him to prison. Crowe looks like he's having a great time being in this film and while watching, it's hard to not have a good time with him. Christian Bale is very good as Dan Evans, a rancher who becomes part of the crew trying to get the Wade character onto that train. Logan Lerman does a fine job playing Bale's son and Peter Fonda is good as a Pinkerton agent. There are a couple of points in the film (especially the ending) when you have throw logic out the window, but because this film is so darn much fun to watch, it's easy to forgive the logic thing. But here's something I won't forgive. The Academy if a Best Supporting Oscar nomination isn't given to Ben Foster, who plays Charlie Prince, Ben Wade's number one associate. Foster plays the smooth as silk horrible human being as well as I've seen anyone play that kind of role in a long time. "3:10 to Yuma", a western that has you saying, "Welcome back, cowboys! We've missed you!"

"TELL ME YOU LOVE ME":

There was a lot of talk about HBO's new show, "Tell Me You Love Me" that premiered last night. And the vast majority of the talk was about all the full frontal nudity and other things you're not used to seeing on (even) cable television.

I saw last night's episode. Yeah, there's nuditiy. There's also a hand job, something I've never seen in a "mainstream" production. But ya know what? That scene fit! It really did.

"Tell Me You Love Me" is (mainly) about three couples who have complicated relationships. There's a fourth (older) couple, but last night's focus was on the three younger couples. Gang, as we know, all relationships are complicated. I know that all of my relationships have been complicated.

I believed everything I was watching on "Tell Me You Love Me". If the writing is like this for the whole season, "Tell Me You Love Me" will be an Emmy awards magnet.

EDITOR'S NOTE: IF YOU READ THIS BEFORE PICTURES HAVE BEEN ADDED, COME BACK! PICTURES WILL BE UP SOON!

A new blog is written every morning, Monday through Friday and is posted between 7 and 7:15, Pacific Time. Sometimes earlier. Questions and comments can be sent to scottstjames@sbcglobal.net. I do write back.

TOMORROW: Are you sick of trying to call someone while having to go through a long recorded procedure before you can speak to a human being? We'll discuss that....I'll tell you about a guaranteed loan that you need to be wary of because of interest you'll pay, a number you won't see until you get the magnifying glass out to read the fine print...And anything else that makes me say, "Whaaaat?!?"