UNDERMINING PEACE? Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Joseph Lieberman (Conn.), who is Jewish, is already throwing cold water on the Bush Administration’s new "road map" for peace between Israel and the Palestinians that both sides have already accepted-Israel with reservations. "I think this is too important to American security and regional security for us [Democratic candidates] to accept some kind of gag rule and I think we should say what we believe. . .," Lieberman said May 20 in an interview with AP. "The best thing about the road map is the destination. That is peace between a free and independent secure Israel and a free and independent secure Palestine. I don’t believe we’re going to get to that destination according to this road map."
COURTING FEMINISTS: Addressing Emily’s List May 20, Democratic presidential candidates tried to win, if not the hearts, at least the votes of female Democratic primary voters. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (Ohio) stepped up his stock rhetoric about weapons of mass destruction after talking about nurturing peace with "the arms of maternal love." "I know where weapons of mass destruction are," he said. "Joblessness is a weapon of mass destruction. Poverty is a weapon of mass destruction. . . . And when the government lies to the American people, that is a weapon of mass destruction." Though pro-abortion and pro-homosexual, Lieberman did bring up his campaign for decent values in entertainment, condemning a video game called "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" in which gratuitous violence, including against women, is rewarded. "As I watched it, I feared for my daughters. And I fear for yours," said Lieberman.
PROFITING IN CUBA: Though even liberals are condemning Communist dictator Fidel Castro’s crackdown on dissenters in Cuba, U.S. exports to the country continue as usual. "The value of U.S. exports for March, the most recent data available, totaled an estimated $18.2 million-about $17.5 million of it reported as agricultural products. . .," reported the Miami Herald on May 23. "The March figures were 121% higher than during the same period a year ago. Export figures for April, when harsh sentences were issued against 75 Cuban dissidents and three ferry hijackers were executed, are not yet available."
UNBORN PROTECTION: The Texas state house voted May 27 to approve, 100 to 1, the Prenatal Protection Act (SB 319), after Laci Peterson’s mother Sharon Rocha wrote a letter endorsing the bill. California prosecutors have charged Laci’s husband Scott with two counts of murder since she was pregnant with their unborn son at the time of the killing. "[I]f the same crime had occurred in Texas, only a single homicide charge would have been permitted. . .," wrote Rocha. "This bill is necessary to ensure that in the future, no mother who loses her baby in a criminal attack is later told by state authorities, ‘We are sorry, but nobody died in that crime.’" The bill will need to return to the state senate, which already approved an earlier version of it 27 to 4. Gov. Rick Perry (R.) supports the bill. Similar legislation, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act sponsored by Sen. Mike DeWine (R.-Ohio), is pending in Congress.
OSPREY STILL COMING: The Osprey V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft passed a Defense Acquisition Board annual review on May 20, clearing the way for the turbulent program to continue. The Marine Corps wants the Osprey, which can operate as both a helicopter and as an airplane, as one of its top priorities, but mechanical problems and test fraud have placed obstacles in the Corps’ way. Retiring Defense acquisitions head Pete Aldridge said May 23, "I’m at the point now where I believe we have demonstrated confidence in safety and reliability. I do not see any ‘show-stoppers’ in the way." The Pentagon plans full-scale production of the Osprey in 2005.
MORE NEEDED: House conservatives decided to back the compromise tax cut package that has passed Congress, but many were unhappy with its small size. "During these difficult economic days for millions of working families, now is the time for bold and decisive tax relief that will put America back to work. . .," said Rep. Mike Pence (R.-Ind.). "By failing to heed the President’s call for a tax cut of twice the size, Congress has settled for providing $100 billion in tax relief each of the next two years in the unrealistic hope that it will have a renewing effect on our ten-trillion-dollar annual economy."
