I know that to most of the readers of this site, this kind of paradox is nothing new or startling given the politics of the U.S. today… but I just had to take a moment to vent my frustration.

TODAY IN THE NEWS:

Former President Jimmy Carter gets into a shouting match with Sudanese security services when they wouldn't let him meet with Darfur refugees from the ongoing conflict. Yeah, the guy that the current regime has labeled as disrespectful is the one sticking up for the rights of those in a whole other part of the world.

Meanwhile… President Bush vetoes a bill that would supply an estimated 4 million U.S. children with access to medical care. The State Children's Health Insurance Program is a joint state-federal effort that subsidizes health coverage for 6.6 million people, mostly children, from families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford their own private coverage. The cost of this additional spending was to be covered by raising the federal cigarette tax by 61 cents to $1 per pack.

(note: The Senate approved the bill with enough votes to override the veto, but the margin in the House fell short of the required number.)