SENATOR CHUCK HAGEL ASKED THE QUESTION THAT PRESIDENT BUSH NEEDS TO ANSWER WHEN HE SPEAKS TO US THURSDAY NIGHT!!!

Yesterday, a lot of Republicans and Democrats asked General David Petraeus some questions about Iraq which he (sometimes) answered and other elected officials gave mini speeches which General Petraeus gave short answers to or shrugged his shoulders.

Short (and admittedly sarcastic) Commentary:

A lot of valid points were made, but the General was in a difficult position. He was there to do the bidding of his masters and once everyone got up to leave, Bush administration officials left it to their professional spin merchants like Limbaugh, Hannity and other administration sycophants to continue to convince their "fans" that the lives we're losing and the money we're spending is necessary because....Well, because we (the spin merchants) know it's necessary. After all, you tune in to us (the spin merchants) because we're entertainers and you know we (the spin merchants) wouldn't spoil your "entertainment" by telling you something uncomfortable about our friends in the White House. Oh, we (the spin merchants) took issue with our friends on this illegal immigration business, but that's because we (the spin merchants) know that problem is a problem that you, our dear "fans" can see!!! The Iraq business is something you can't see and we (the spin merchants) are here to be the "eyes" for you, our "fans". And by the way, how's the Kool-Aid?

Tomorrow night, President Bush is scheduled to tell us what he plans to do now that General Petraeus has finished his tour of duty on Capitol Hill. It is hoped here that President Bush will address a question that was asked by Republican Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska yesterday when he said to General Petraeus, "Are we going to continue to invest American blood and treasure at the same rate we're doing now? For what? The President said, 'Let's buy time.' Buy time? For what?"

General Petraeus didn't answer that question. He's a military guy who's following orders. His boss says, "Go to Iraq!", the General goes to Iraq. No questions asked.

President Bush likes to call himself "The Decider" and he gives the impression he doesn't have any bosses. And therefore doesn't have to answer questions from people who don't know as much as he does.

And ya know what? I believe President Bush does know more than we do when it comes to this Iraq business. But because that's my money he's spending and spending and spending on this war in Iraq, I want to know why he's spending all of my money. In other words Mr. President, "For WHAT?!?"

And if President Bush doesn't answer that question with specifics tomorrow night, we can only hope that before he's finally out of the White House, he doesn't involve us in some other ill advised "Lone Ranger" enterprise.

Simple question, Mr. President. For WHAT?!?

AND ANOTHER POLL SAYS 33% OF AMERICANS STILL BELIEVE SADDAM WAS INVOLVED WITH 9/11?!?

Unbleeping believable! Wasn't it one of this country's best carnival operators who said, "Never underestimate...." You can complete that quote.

A QUOTE FROM HILLARY CLINTON:

Speaking of quotes, check this out; "We will finally have a president who doesn't mind pulling over and asking for directions." Hillary Clinton said that to David Letterman when she answered the question about what a female president would offer.

Shoot, I'll take that from a guy who isn't afraid to do that.

SHOWBIZ STUFF:

Network newscasts fall into the showbiz category, right? Another ratings record low for Katie Couric. She was in Iraq and Syria last week, but the viewers continued to leave her. She's had this job for only a year, but the wolves are howling. I don't think a year is enough time to know if something will work, but we live in a "we want results now" kind of society and it'll be interesting to see how much longer she's able to hold on.

Jon Stewart will host the Academy Awards next February. He also hosted it in 2006. This year's show was hosted by Ellen DeGeneres.

I liked the job that Ellen did and like most people in America, I wish that Billy Crystal would be the Academy Awards' host forever! Jon Stewart? To me, he's a smarmy dose of mediocrity.

Lindsay Lohan is in the news again. A busboy named Raymundo Ortego is suing her over an accident almost two years ago. Lohan's car collided with a van that Ortega was driving. The California Highway Patrol concluded that Ortega caused the accident by making an illegal U-turn, but he wants at least $200,000 in damages. There is no evidence that Lohan was intoxicated or anything, so one can't help but wonder why the judge didn't dismiss what appears to be an attempt to get money from a celebrity.

SMALL PRINT ALERT:

We all get solicitations from credit card companies and other folks who have one purpose in mind. Which is to relieve us of our money.

I looked at one such offer I recently received from an outfit called HSBC. You might have gotten one of these letters as well. Because I have great credit, they were offering to give me a loan of $3,501.10, no questions asked. It's a legitimate offer. If I stopped by one of their offices or gave them a call, the money would be mine. Here's where the SMALL PRINT ALERT comes in. After paying the loan off with payments taking 36 months, the amount of interest I would pay is $1,848.14. In other words, for giving me "$3,501.10, all I have to do is give them $5,349.24.

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: Two things that I didn't get to today. The talking to a tape before you can talk to a human being issue and what I think should be done to a 15-year old boy who raped and severely beat a 14-year old girl. Annnd...Anything else that makes me say "Whaaaat?!?"