Good morning . . .
President George W. Bush held a rare prime-time news conference Thursday night to highlight his plans for Social Security and energy.
The President outlined his plan for Social Security which continues to include private savings accounts and a proposal to "limit" benefits to higher earning taxpayers. The income level for reduced benefits was $90,000. This reporter believes that is too low. Like all of the proposals in the Bush plan, everything is "on the table" for negotiation.
The questioning during the press conference was wide-ranging and included topics from Iraq to North Korea to judicial nominees to John Bolton.
On Bolton the President continues to support his nominee and said that he thinks that Bolton is the "right man" to push for reform at the Untied Nations.
There was one aspect of the coverage of the press conference that deserves comment and scrutiny.
I watched the press conference in Fox News Channel, it generally supplies the best and most balanced coverage. When the president said, "This is the last question," I turned to NBC to catch the beginning of 'The Apprentice." To my surprise, I did not see the President answering the last question. What I saw was Brian WIlliams and Tim Russert analyzing the press conference. The analysis came BEFORE the press conference was over.
In my view this is insulting to the President and demonstrates that CBS is not the only network with a liberal bias.
Highlights of Bush's Press Conference - Yahoo! News
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Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) is doing his best to avoid a vote on Senate rules changes that would ban filibusters for judicial nominees.
Thursday, Frist proposed ending the practice of blocking nominees in committee - something Democrats say Republicans did during the Clinton administration. Frist proposed a limit of 100 hours of debate for each appointee to an appellate court including the Supreme Court. Democrats would lose the ability to block appeals court candidates.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) rejected the proposal.
The Senate begins another vacation until May 9. It is likely the vote on the rules change will come shortly after they return.
Senate Democrats reject GOP proposal - Yahoo! News
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Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) thinks it will take a "miracle" for Democrats to win back the Senate. For once I agree with the Obstructionist-in-Chief.
"After listening to Senator Reid's political spin about judicial nominees for the last several weeks, it is good to hear him come back to reality -- if even for a brief moment," said Brian Nick, spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. "Senator Reid can do the math: A Democratic Party, plus no ideas, plus obstruction, plus over-the-top partisan rhetoric equals continued minority."
Later a spokesperson for Reid said that the Nevada senator believes in miracles.
'Miracle' needed to win back Senate - The Washington Times: Nation/Politics - April 29, 2005
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The Florida Supreme Court rejected an appeal from radio commentator Rush Limbaugh over prosecution seizure of his medical records in an investigation into whether he illegally purchased painkillers.
The 4-3 decision did not explain the court's reasoning.
Limbaugh's attorney says the seizure of the records was part of a politically motivated "fishing expedition" by Palm Beach County District Attorney Barry Krischer.
Prosecutors went after the records after learning Limbaugh had received 2,000 painkillers, prescribed by four doctors within 6 months.
In October 2003, Limbaugh admitted his was addicted to painkillers and spend 5 weeks in rehab before resuming his daily talk show duties.
In an interesting turn, the Florida ACLU is backing Limbaugh's claim of an invasion of privacy. Usually the ACLU is only interested in liberal causes.
Newsday.com: Florida Supreme Court refuses to hear Rush Limbaugh appeal
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More later.
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