CLOONEY ON WAR

George Clooney, well-known geopolitical strategist was on some German television show recently. The gist of his remarks were that wars couldn't be won anymore and that those who disagreed with the president were not unpatriotic. He expanded on the first theme by saying conquering Iraq wouldn't stop terrorism in the world. Unexceptional thinking George. But it does deprive terrorists of financial support, training facility locations, a safe haven within which to operate and the clandestine assistance of a sovereign state's power. That's a good start I'd say. As to disagreement equalling unpatriotic, I'd agree. It's more like equalling stupidity.

MORE FACTS

Spectrum loves facts; indisputable facts. Here are some for you to consider.

According to Thomas Sowell, who is black: "At the flagship University of Colorado campus at Boulder, where the average SAT score of black students is more than 200 points lower than that of white students, only 39% of black students graduated, compared to 72% of whites. At the University of Colorado at Denver, however, where the difference in SAT scores was only 30 points, half of all black students and 48 % of white students graduated within a six-year span."

Nationwide, only 40% of 8th grade white students passed the NAEP test for math. Black students? In New York, 8%; California, 6%; Arkansas, 2%. Where is Jesse? Attacking the NFL for having only 3 black coaches out of 32.

Black women are about three times more likely to have abortions than white women according to the Alan Guttmacher Institute. Since Roe v Wade, that's 12 million black babies unborn. In all, some 40 million abortions since Roe have decimated the native born population of the U.S. This has lent an authenticity to the business argument that we need those illegals to do certain work and to pay into social security as we haven't enough native Americans.

According to the Census Bureau, 65% of America's Mexican immigrants fail to finish high school versus 9.6% of natives.

According to Voter News Service, California's Hispanics voted 68 to 29 for Gore over Bush.

During the '90s, 2.2 million California residents moved to other states, more than moved into California from other states. Where did they go? Whiter states where hospitals and social services are not swamped with illegals and other indigents. Utah is now the anti-California; only 2.4% of its residents have failed to attend high school.

The U.N. Security Council is aa reflection of a time-warp, circa 1945. Russia is a member. Its economy, measured by GDP is $300 billion, smaller the Holland's. Japan's economy is $2.9 Trillion. Japan is not a member of the Security Council.

William Galston, once an assistant to president Clinton, says that poverty is not so related to race as some argue. He says to avoid poverty, do three things: finish high school; marry before having a child; have a child after the age of 20. 8% who do all three will be poor. Fail to do any one of them and you will be in the 79% who will be poor.

ORWELLIAN DISCOURSE

The President is frequently criticized for acting "unilaterally". A major U.S. Senator, Carl Levin, democrat of Michigan, has an interesting definition of unilateral.

Levin: "The way the word "unilateral" is used means without the authority specifically of the United Nations to use military force. That's the way the term "unilateral" is used, because the U.N. authority makes a big difference."

Interviewer: "Does that not give France and Germany a veto power over our foreign policy?"

Levin: " No, I don't think anyone can have a veto power over our foreign policy."

Senator, come on now. By your logic, if America acts with the support of every country in the world but, say, France, it would be acting "unilaterally".

IRONY

Baby boomers, including my own kids, scoffed at gas-guzzling Cadillacs, Lincolns and station wagons. Now, though, they defend to death their right to drive 8-miles-per-gallon SUVs.

STARVE THE BEAST

That's the only way to reduce government spending: give it less money. Here's a U.S. Senator talking. Notice whose money he thinks taxes are. "I can't see giving away any more of our revenues which we're doing in tax cuts." "Giving away", Senator? It isn't your money, it's ours.