Want to know about the new health plan the government has rigged up? This is what GWB told a lady who expressed confusion:

Verbatim Quote:

WOMAN IN AUDIENCE: 'I don't really understand. How is it the new plan going to fix the problem?'

PRESIDENT BUSH:

'Because the -- all which is on the table begins to address the big cost drivers. For example, how benefits are calculated, for example, is on the table. Whether or not benefits rise based upon wage increases or price increases. There's a series of parts of the formula that are being considered. And when you couple that, those different cost drivers, affecting those -- changing those with personal accounts, the idea is to get what has been promised more likely to be -- or closer delivered to that has been promised. Does that make any sense to you? It's kind of muddled. Look, there's a series of things that cause the -- like, for example, benefits are calculated based upon the increase of wages, as opposed to the increase of prices. Some have suggested that we calculate -- the benefits will rise based upon inflation, supposed to wage increases. There is a reform that would help solve the red if that were put into effect. In other words, how fast benefits grow, how fast the promised benefits grow, if those -- if that growth is affected, it will help on the red.'

That ought to get it. I think he has been hanging with his Dad recently.

On another note, Chaney has been hunting again. Ronnie informed me at 5:00 AM this morning that our VP had shot someone hunting. My first thought was, "Damn! I hope it was Scalia!" I do not think Ronnie knows who Scalia is, or even why I thought someone would take him down. But it was an Austin lawyer, and if he were hunting with Dick, well, he probably deserved it as well.



I spent yesterday with friends doing income tax and watching the best movie I have seen in several years. About three burials of an undocumented Mexican laborer on the border. Tough old Tommy Lee Jones, of San Saba and Harvard, turned in a great work of a film. Ah, the spirit of Peckenpah returns. I must write and think about it, one film I will definitely see again. "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada" is playing now only at the Angelika in Dallas, but it will be making some buzz, I feel sure. Must see again. Mel Estrada is killed and nobody seems interested, especially Dwight Yokum, the sheriff who should, except Tommy Lee, who has become friends with the Mojado. He takes on the task of returning the body to his chosen burial spot in Mexico, with the captive killer in tow for the hard labor, this hapless border guard with sexual hang-ups, played by Barry Pepper, to find the perhaps non-existant place.... Well, this tale could be out of one of Cormac McCarthy's Border novels. Jones, known only as Pete, takes on the job of Charon, in Greek myth and the killer becomes enlightened though great suffering and agony.... and Melquiades, looking and smelling worse and worse, is laid to rest finally at his chosen spot.... Beautiful film with all sorts of references from several Spaghetti Westerns. Filmed in Big Bend, Van Horn, and other quintessential West Texas locals, even a scene in the Monahan Sand Dunes.