Bush: “It’s Gonna Cost Whatever It Costs”
By on Sep 16th, 2005 at 4:50 pm
Bush: “It’s Gonna Cost Whatever It Costs”
Today’s New York Times praises President Bush being so “clear” about “what would be needed to bring back the Gulf Coast.”
More clarity from President Bush today:
Reporter: What will it cost?
Bush: Well, it’s gonna cost whatever it costs, and we’re gonna be wise about the money we spend. I mean, you’re ask– I, I, I — we haven’t totalled up all the bridges… and highways.
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Hey George, I just spoke to my young children – they my generation to pay for this – not theirs. Eliminate the tax cuts for the top 2% NOW.
September 16th, 2005 at 5:03 pmAh, but he ruled out tax increases:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/16/AR2005091601488.html
September 16th, 2005 at 5:12 pmHe’s right. It will costs whatever it costs… but like No Child Left Behind, he’s never actually going to fund it!
September 16th, 2005 at 5:17 pmI am certain that Halliburton knows, within thousands of dollars, exactly how much money they stand to gain from rebuilding. Why doesn’t Bush know how much it will cost?
September 16th, 2005 at 5:19 pmI wonder how many points my own IQ has dropped in the last four and a half years of watching this monkey. I wonder if historians and biologists will study the United States in the early 21st century and conclude that huge spike of “natural selection” occurred, with a new subspecies of humanoid that reaches puberty at about 45-50 years of age.
September 16th, 2005 at 5:23 pmHey, if it’s not written out for him he can’t talk — come to think of it, even when it’s written out for him, he can’t talk.
September 16th, 2005 at 5:24 pmThere is no way he could know anything substantive.
2008,2008!…cut programs that won’t effect 2008…so we can get another repubican in and let their grandchildren pay later. Right karl?
September 16th, 2005 at 5:26 pmWhat’s interesting is if you look at his words closely he’s not talking about the costs of rebuilding peoples houses and businesses, he’s only talking about the bridges, roads, water systems, and such. I think he called this in his speech “public infrastructure”. Private citizens are just SOL.
September 16th, 2005 at 5:50 pmBush did what he does best. Tell people what they want to hear and spend other people’s money.
September 16th, 2005 at 5:57 pmJennty,
September 16th, 2005 at 5:58 pmI think you’re right. Half of the displaced victims will remain in the red states where they were taken.
The infrastructure of N.O. will be developed commercially with the companies who are Bush-friendly getting the business.
The homeless will be left to fend for themselves.
Oh wait, I forgot — he said there would be a lottery.
Jennty
Remember, his beautiful mind has a real difficulty grasping two concepts at the same time. Give him credit for acknowledging that bridges & other “things” need attention. The human component is the hero contractors of Kellog, Brown, and Rove who need “wage help” for all that hard work ahead.
September 16th, 2005 at 6:03 pmAs predicted, President Bush confirmed today that he will not seek any tax increases to pay for the post-Katrina costs of rebuilding the Gulf States.
For the full story about Katrina and the Free Lunch President, see:
“Bush’s Katrina Cop Out”
September 16th, 2005 at 6:06 pmDon’t forget Bush is getting all those trailers, how kind of him…No the rich still get their tax cut’s and our defecit that china is holding the paper on is how high.? SOS diffrent day…..Blessings
September 16th, 2005 at 6:07 pmWould it be all right to marry if my boyfriend promises to change and control his temper?
Marriage is a serious decision. Above all, you need to seek God’s will. You would be wise to be cautious. Read our answer
http://www.billygraham.org/SpiritualHelp_Article_Index.asp?MajorTopicID=3&MinorTopicID=18
There are several warning flags that you need to heed. Certainly one warning flag is his past. How much do you really know about him and his previous relationships, not just from him, but from others who know him? A man who cannot control his temper (even when he is trying to make a good impression) should concern you greatly—no matter how many promises he makes about how he will change in the future.
http://www.billygraham.org/LFA_Article.asp?ArticleID=105
That talk had the stink of Karen Hughes all over it. Will America accept the con job again?
September 16th, 2005 at 6:08 pmSit back and watch how many times the government uses eminent domain in New Orleans. Lots of cheap land for developers to do with as they please.
As for the cost for the reconstruction, you can bet it will eventually fall back on the states (I live in Louisiana) most affected to foot the bill to the United States of Halliburton.
September 16th, 2005 at 6:14 pmI can’t believe that there are 40% of Americans out there who can’t see how much damage this guy is doing to our country.
Sure…just add the costs to the already huge deficit. Maybe if we ignore it, it will never need to be paid off!
September 16th, 2005 at 6:17 pm“Read my lips, no new taxes”…oppps that one has already been used.
September 16th, 2005 at 6:31 pmLike father like son.
Remember people many of the voting public do not even bother to vote, for many reasons but mostly they don’t think they make a diffrence. This point became true to me when I saw and heard what the electronic voter machine company said “we will get the vote for you Mr. President” and then watched for a second time they did indeed steal the election. The big reason why people rarely join together as they should is, unless they are personaly affected they simply turn away and continue on their treadmill. It has to be brought to their attention, visualy, in a big way. This is why we are in our present state. Add to that all the lies and sound bites that the media and the right wing spinners put out there and we have a big task to over come all this. Never mind we have the correct ideals, their extreme right wing ministers tell them what to think and vote..That’s how they vote against their own self intrests. War and relegion are big business….Blessings
September 16th, 2005 at 6:34 pmThat sums it up, Sharon.
September 16th, 2005 at 6:36 pmDitto Sharon
Let us hope that we are not all frogs in a warm bath with the stove on high.
September 16th, 2005 at 6:40 pm… poor assholes still believe bush is sincere …
William Hazlitt said it best:” The worst, inexcusable vice is hypocrisy. The repentance of a hypocrite is itself hypocrisy”.
And there is nothing more hypocrite than a religious asshole. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!
I have been searching for 30 years and nothing beats a robertson follower and at varying degrees YOU ALL ARE a bunch of following religious assholes!!
Yeah that is right even you with your fucking “good” god … you shithead dummy! You are the one that is the weakest link in the chain .. ready to forgive and forget … you stupid poor imbecile!!
Most of you look at bush and persuade yourself that you see a human being or else you would have to see a “be-deviled” being … can’t have a fight with the devil without implicating your useless asshole god but you are fucked TOTALLY because that fucker god of yours is nowhere in sight!!
Then all un-thinking assholes like you start the mantra: the forgiveness mantra. bush must be redeemable or else you yourself are fucked. Some deep thinking .. assholes!!
Vile piece of sub-human shit one and all!!
Now is the time we see the religious assholes starting to pray with bush … how vile!!
Remember the “professional” prayers praying their stupid prayers with clinton-the-shithead?
I told you to beware of the religious idiots who will gladly forgive bush, that hypocrite/liar.
There is nothing on Earth that is more vile and obscenely hypocrite than all of you religious assholes … I am finally TOTALLY disgusted …
There is no attenuating the negative effect of your fucking god by pointing that “your god” does not do this bad stuff or that bad stuff … some asshole will even say that it is not their god but satan doing all that crap … not even realizing that their fucking god is supposedly in charge of all … even of satan … ridiculously stupid!
Your fucking god is as full of shit as the filled up 10,000 gallons truck from the septic company …
And they keep saying that religion is the least of their problem … some insight.
There are 2 problems on Earth: religion and money!!
All else is emanating from it … human vileness is
supposedly redeemed by giving to the less fortunate .. where the fuck is that less fortunate coming from in the first place?
I am totally sickened NOW!!
September 16th, 2005 at 6:50 pm“It’s gonna cost whatever it costs.
September 16th, 2005 at 6:51 pmThe American people need to understand… me and my
administration, we’ll be long gone when the bill comes due.
Ya see, we function just like an externalizing
corporation. We destroy everyone and everything in our path to making as much profit for our organization as possible.
And when yer above the law, like us, well, there’s no sherriff to haul you down to the pokey!”
spending cuts, now let’s see where to begin.
September 16th, 2005 at 6:52 pmAirforce One: use piper cub.
vacations: none
play guitar: no
eat cake: no
partys for buddys: none
Rove: fired
Cars: bycycle
food: brown bag
it’s a start……
He forgot to mention that Haiburton was on a cost plus contract–whatever it costs plus all they can steal. When Bushco has gone and Cheney Clones have all the money the true Americans will rebuild! I want the first license plate from Leavenworth that says “Made in Kansas by DUHbya.” (Don’t tell me it has too many characters ’cause he won’t know the difference.)
“The first time I laughed out loud since Katrina.” C. J.
http://www.storytimedolls.net/mmff.html
September 16th, 2005 at 6:57 pmSharon, Marie, Citizen–Don’t despair, THIS time (’06 & ‘08), the voting public WILL remember, and the Repubs are in for a rude awakening!!! They finally have overplayed their hands. (Please, please God!!)
September 16th, 2005 at 6:57 pmDon’t forget..Close more bases in the USof A and finish building the one’s in Iraq. Will the last person leaving Iraq please start up president Bushes generator…..Blessings
September 16th, 2005 at 6:58 pmBush then went on to explain that he was going to eliminate the deficit using HFV accounting — Hypothetical Future Value — and an offshore shell country will be set up to buy our debt, thus keeping it off the books of the American taxpayer.
September 16th, 2005 at 7:00 pmPhil S
I share your wish, but go to bradblog and check out the Diebold employee who is talking.
http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00001838.htm
I’m not a conspiracy theory kind of guy but this is F**CKING FRIGHTENING!
September 16th, 2005 at 7:05 pmNow for something completely different. Just read this at AmericaBlog thought we could use a laugh.
Subject: New Element: “Governmentium.”A major research institution has recently announced the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science. The new element has been named “Governmentium”. Governmentium has one neutron, 12 assistant neutrons, 75 deputy neutrons, and 224 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of particles called peons.Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert. However, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A minute amount of Governmentium causes one reaction to take over four days to complete, when it would normally take less than a second.Governmentium has a normal shelf-life of 4 years; it does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places. In fact, Governmentium’s mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes. This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a certain quantity in concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as “Critical Morass.” When catalyzed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium — an element which radiates just as much energy as the Governmentium since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons.
MargaretSAA
September 16th, 2005 at 7:06 pm… of course it does not matter at what costs .. the bill is being picked up by the non-educated idiots of the future …
the greatest visionary nation on earth will have lasted the shortest … we were#1 … we were #1 … repeat after you: we were #1 …
September 16th, 2005 at 7:09 pm‘forming isodopes’ lol!
September 16th, 2005 at 7:12 pmNon-educated stem cell idiots to you Rolandc ;) Anything to protect the unborn debt ridden end of world cuties, my dear.
September 16th, 2005 at 7:13 pmVery good Citizen, we needed that….Blessings.P.S. How nice, absence of troll’s. They must be out getting their checks from the GOP.
September 16th, 2005 at 7:17 pmSchool is out sharon, they are feeding.
September 16th, 2005 at 7:20 pm#5
Citizen,
I would have used “senility” as opposed to “puberty” but can make a case for either
September 16th, 2005 at 7:30 pmI think it’s early Alzheimers. He seems to be in a daze lately, as though he doesn’t really know who or where he is. Or perhaps the talking heads have made him over too many times and the real George Bush has gotten lost in the remakes.
September 16th, 2005 at 7:34 pm“It’s gonna cost whatever it costs.” Isn’t that what they said about the war in Iraq? And the Medicare bill? HIDE AT ALL COSTS the true cost of an endevour, claim it can’t be estimated, deliberately low-ball the estimates, and then sock ‘em later with an astronomical bill. That’s standard BushCo procedure. We’ve seen this before!
September 16th, 2005 at 7:38 pmI don’t know if it is Alzheimer’s, Bubba’s, or Jack Daniel’s but he is getting his “vitamins” from somebody. He is not long for this world! Pun intended!
September 16th, 2005 at 7:40 pm#27 Citizen, I went there and read it — it is damn frightening!
September 16th, 2005 at 7:51 pm#24, I want to be optimistic and say this is the beginning of the end of them — but I am just not there yet.
September 16th, 2005 at 7:52 pmSheri, Some people who also notice his behavior and mannerisms say it is the result of alcoholism or cocaine.
September 16th, 2005 at 7:54 pmCitizen,
Despite limited coverage in television and print, there were rampant reports of voting machine fraud in the last several elections. Machines that visually changed votes, voting machine tallies that mysteriously ‘changed’, and any number of other discrepencies that are most easily explained by the hacking ‘facilities’ built into diebold.
September 16th, 2005 at 8:02 pmI agree with #5. You have to wonder what the hell Bush thinks about all day. He simply never gives the slightest hint that he has any thought process of consequence.
September 16th, 2005 at 8:53 pmThe Turd Blossom is in love again according to Jeffie!
http://www.storytimedolls.net/mmff.html
September 17th, 2005 at 1:08 amI’m really, really tired of this. Just how does one go about starting an impeachment process? It needs to start. I believe there are many people out there who believe the same thing, but have no idea who to talk to about it or get involved. Since the man has taken office, every thought, every decision, every disaster has been worse than the previous. We’re heading straight for Armageddon, if someone doesn’t put on the brakes to this train. There’s an agenda here, and it’s Lord & Ladies vs. peons & serf. I, for one look terrible in rags. Plus, I’m highly allergic to slop and hay. Impeachment and criminal charges!!!
September 17th, 2005 at 1:34 amVote to declare War on Poverty! http://www.brucebraley.com/issues.asp
Vote Bruce Braley! http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/housevote/
September 17th, 2005 at 1:45 amThe Federal Reserve, the Bank of Canada, The Bank of England, and any other centralized bank that a government borrows from is PRIVATELY OWNED AND OPERATED. We are but sheep herded together to work our asses off to pay for their twisted agendas.
the banker’s of the late 1800’s and early 1930’s have a manifesto that they are to follow as well and still continues today.
http://www.mortgagefree4u.com/1890_manifesto.htm
http://www.themoneymasters.com
everyone must be told… read on and speak out!
September 17th, 2005 at 1:51 amVote to declare War on Poverty! Kill Republicans!
September 17th, 2005 at 6:03 amI heard George W. Bush say one time that he was an economist. Well, I looked into this. In Yale he took the two required courses in economics. Made a C- in one and a D in the other.
You know something? For over 150 years republican presidents have been trying an economic device they call “trickle down economics.” It has not worked in the past and will never work.
The theory is to give tax breaks to the rich people, they will spend the money the get from such breaks, and this will cause the economy to grow. The rich, who has 2 cars in the garage already, is unlikely to buy another car. The rich has two fridges in his hous, he dont need another one.
What the rich do with the tax cuts they get is to invest in the stock market. The market keeps inching up and the idiot president and the other rich folks think the economy is fine.
Bush had the labor depaartment and the treasury to fiddle the statistics so that it appeared as though unemployment was low. It is not. The unemployment rate is closer to 8% than it is to 4.9.
If Bush would merely rescind the tax breaks he has given the rich for the past 5 years, the tragedy of Katrina could be faced. Will he do it? NO.
President Clinton is right. Repeal the tax cuts for the rich. Bush keeps saying that this is raising taxes and will hurt the economy. Clinton did not cut taxes and look how great the economy was under his leadership.
The pukes trickle down theory of tax cuts has never worked, and never will.
September 17th, 2005 at 10:03 amHas anyone noted the differance in an interview with President Clinton and bush. Anyone who thinks a dummy can talk sense should listen to bush.
September 17th, 2005 at 11:57 am[...] Reports have mentioned $200 billion plus (all the way to $300B) for the reconstruction, but Bush isn’t so clear, spouting the usual ‘what ever it takes’ rhetoric. Just what I wanted to hear — especially with Rove running the crony capitalism show. [...]
September 17th, 2005 at 12:06 pmIdeology still trumps obvious needs. No tax cuts for the rich. The deficit will grow. He must have skipped his economics classes at Yale and Harvard. Speaking of which, King George is living proof of the metaphor… “its who you blow, not what you know”. That’s the only way this idiot got into those calibre of school, not academic ability.
Bill Clinton for President…again.
September 17th, 2005 at 12:26 pmI’ve noticed that now that Bush has used the term “take responsibility” for the first time this past week, Tim Russert and others can’t wait to resume their cheerleading duties for Bush. Bush is likely to use the phrase a lot-now that he has discovered that he can get off the hook easily with a one-liner that is pretty painless.
September 17th, 2005 at 12:43 pmBush may talk about taking responsibility, but he has yet to act responsibly about anything.
Bushie’s confession of failure wont help his cause. We will use his confession against him during the impeachment hearings.
votetoimpeach.org
September 17th, 2005 at 12:55 pmWelfare state policies produced the poverty and despair of pre-Katrina New Orleans. Free enterprise capitalist policies will give New Orleans a rebirth of success and prosperity. The most important policy is to harness the entrepreneurial energy of the people of New Orleans.
September 17th, 2005 at 1:14 pmHere here Blue State Red! We should give all of the land to the rich business owners, so that they can continue to rape the poor people of New Orleans.
You’re a moron.
September 17th, 2005 at 1:17 pmWelfare state policies produced the poverty and despair of pre-Katrina New Orleans. Free enterprise capitalist policies will give New Orleans a rebirth of success and prosperity. The most important policy is to harness the entrepreneurial energy of the people of New Orleans.
Comment by Blue State Red — September 17, 2005 @ 1:14 pm
Are you sure it wasn’t KGIII? King George III to you, moron. Maybe you think the revolution was a bad idea too?
September 17th, 2005 at 1:28 pmThe most important policy is to harness the entrepreneurial energy of the people of New Orleans.
He wants a job at the Heritage foundation. He’s qualified. Stupid, blind and driven by a failed ideology.
September 17th, 2005 at 1:30 pmSpudge #55 Sadly I believe that was the plan from the beginning, that’s why they waited and planed. Cheny working with Hella. Bush on vacation and all the rest of them. It’s a profit margin and oil base ideal. Now they will use their power to turn all the south into oil refineries and condos for the rich. Probably bus in the poor to work for them…Blessings
September 17th, 2005 at 1:31 pmB.S. is a blow job hater. Thats sick.
September 17th, 2005 at 1:31 pmAnd he’s no longer a Bush supporter. Bush said racism caused poverty, and is now enacting the largest Welfare state program since the New Deal.
September 17th, 2005 at 1:31 pmSharon, I hate to say it, but the evidence sure looks that way. How else could Haliburton get a no-bid contract to repair the damaged Naval bases so quickly? IS there no bidding for any government contracts anymore. Do all contracts just default to Haliburton?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/04/AR2005090401193_pf.html
It is just amazing!
September 17th, 2005 at 1:38 pmSpudge #62, in answer to the question it does appear so. I am learning so much from Ryan, Marie and others on this site. It is my opinion ( you know how that is, like butts, every one has one ) All our present Administration and their extended group are in bed together or another term they all have their hands up some ones dress. Extreme power grabs by Nazis running our country. My questions are, how many of our side are involved, who knew what and when, and if they did know about all the stuff I’m just learning about, why in the hell haven’t they done something to stop it.? All of it….Me thinks it is time to clean house big time….Blessings
September 17th, 2005 at 1:50 pmWhy was it necessary for Ted Koppel to inform us that the lighting for the facist’s presidential speech was being supplied by the White House? Like it was coming out of their personal pockets only. Koppel is a paradox. During his broadcast from New Orleans, immediately after the hurricane, he seemed to be sincere in his frustration of the spin that he was being fed by the executive branch. Now he seems to be migrating back to the position of Bush apologist that so many in the media have been, and are today. Everytime you think that the media actually might start telling the truth, they revert right back to the spin. It just all seems so hopeless.
September 17th, 2005 at 1:51 pmWelcome to the United States of America, Inc.
So the power was being supplied by the white house? Must have been a really long extention cord. :)
The power was supplied by generators. They brought them, used them and packed them right back up. I think that those cold hearted bastards could have left them behind for the people to use in the recovery and reconstruction in any of the three effected states.
September 17th, 2005 at 1:58 pmAt least CNN is reporting the arrest of Jeb Bush’s son.
September 17th, 2005 at 2:00 pmSpudgeBoy,
September 17th, 2005 at 2:11 pm#65, In retrospect, the White House extension cord comment was pretty funny. Thanks for the comic relief! Got a chance to smile for a minute. Now back to the anxiety.
Blue State Red, #54, I read your post on and rightwing plug for “free enterprise capitalist policies” being the mechanism for rebirth and success and prosperity. About time I had a knowledgable conservative here to back me up. Most of the rightwingers here don’t know their ass from a hole in the ground.
But correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t it true that those “capitalist polices” have only increased poverty levels in America while the huge, glutenous international corporations have had super-record profits under Bush? I mean, from being on the decline under Clinton to increasing every singe year since Bush took office. In 2004, there were 37 million in the US living in poverty (US CENSUS). I mean, talk about a bunch of lazy bums, huh? By the way, income levels were FLAT from 2003-2004.
As for “harnessing the entrepreneurial energy” of the people of New Orleans, I have a strong feeling that Halliburton and all of Cheney’s corporate company buddies will be harnessing all the energy (and money) for themselves. Beginning last week, Halliburton has been getting multi-million dollar (nobid) contracts to rebuild areas in the gulf.
Of course, I’m a rightwinger, like you. I’m just really, REALLY pissed right now after filling up the gas tank on my pickup today. Wiped that rightwing, smug, chickenshit smile right off my face, I tell you. How about you? I bet you aren’t so happy with those “capitalist policies” when you are forking over all that dough, too, huh?
September 17th, 2005 at 2:46 pmGeorge,
September 17th, 2005 at 2:59 pmWhat hurts is it isn’t going to cost your friends anything. As usual they are on the receiving end.
No strategy for Iraq; No strategy for Katrina.
Worst president ever.
September 17th, 2005 at 3:21 pmNot only will they suspend posse comitatus, but they will hire mercenaries as well.
September 17th, 2005 at 4:43 pmThis is getting too deep into fascism.
Plunger, are these guy’s mercenaries like Hallaburton has in Iraq.?..Blessings
September 17th, 2005 at 4:44 pmForgive, I just read all about it. It get’s worse by the hour.Blessings
September 17th, 2005 at 5:26 pmYes, I am biased against George W. Bush and it is pretty much true if he said the sun came up in the east, I would check. I have no respect for the man, nor those that share his inhumane approach to ruling a super-power.
I also believe one earns the respect one gets. Nearly two-thirds of his own nation does not now support him or his ideological way. His reputation and standing in the world community is even poorer, as demonstrated by the applause during the speech to the United Nations World Summit by Venezuelan President Mr. Hugo Chavez Frias labeling the United States a terrorist nation and calling for the removal of the United Nations from New York.
The national speech by Bush had little meaningful content. At least a week late, Bush used a great deal of well worn rhetoric to salvage what national face he could. Even the opening about speaking to us from New Orleans seemed weak and contrived. At least after 9/11 he got his shoes dirty as he got his photo-ops with firemen while standing on a rubble heap. I do thank the man for not asking us to believe he actually rolled his sleeves up to do real work in the streets.
There was nothing new in the speech. His proposals for the fix are more of the same ideological garbage that caused many of the problems in the first place.
It was nice that he pledged so much support for the Army Corps of Engineers. He pointedly ignored the fact that if he had supported their effort sufficiently before the storm New Orleans may never have flooded.
The catch phrase that most caught my attention was his call for a “Gulf Opportunity Zone.” It sounded much like the opportunity zones of his father’s years in the White House. He gave no details, but that is probably because he had yet to get the text of the proposal from the Heritage Foundation, whose proposal it really is.
The question is whether this is really the innovative solution that is necessary in the face of this national emergency or not. Not trusting Bush, or the conservatives for whom he fronts, for a second, I went right to the source to see what lays ahead for America. I found the answers in a commentary by the Heritage Foundation’s Stuart Butler, PhD.
What I found was the usual elitist, inhumane diatribe that characterizes this group of extremists and the Bush Administration. As usual, as much advantage will be taken of the suffering of others and will be cloaked in what spin doctors and mouthpieces like Scott McClellan will characterize as unprecedented relief efforts and charity. Any opposition to their plan will be spun as obstructionist, partisan opposition that is unforgivable.
There is, of course, the obligatory call for Congress to reorder priorities and spark creative approaches to rebuild. And there is the ideologically obligatory call to unlock private funds, opening the door to the usual benefit of the rich in the guise of helping the poor.
I agree that the damage to the Gulf Coast and New Orleans could exceed the cost of the Iraqi War. Since Bush policies have been to pay for his war of conquest by putting America hopelessly in debt, I too am concerned about doubling that national debt by doing what we need to do to fulfill the mission of government in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, that is to promote the general welfare and insure domestic tranquility.
The Heritage Foundation proposes, and will certainly be echoed by the ultra-conservative national leadership, calls for every dime of emergency spending to be offset by yet more spending cuts elsewhere, as we did for the 1994 Northridge earthquake and the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
Dr. Butler does not seem to make any allowances for the fact that the Katrina disaster encompasses an entire region and more than one major city. The Oklahoma City bombing, as terrible as it was, is insignificant in size compared to Katrina. Even the Northridge damage, which I witnessed myself, was a very small fraction of what we face now. Butler states we need creative approaches, yet his first points are just more of the same conservative ideology we hear everyday.
The details Butler proposes for his “Gulf Opportunity Zone†are revealing. He calls on Congress to remove what he calls tax and regulatory roadblocks to private redevelopment. He asks that capital gains taxes on all new investment be eliminated for the next five years. He also says that businesses should be allowed to fully write off their investments during that period as well.
On the surface this might sound good. As Butler says, and was echoed by Bush’s references to supporting “job creating entrepreneurship,†this would attract a “dramatic infusion of outside investment. The idea is that jobs would follow, the money would rebuild and all will be rosy.
Just as the Heritage Foundation first, and the Bush Administration second, warned about the political exploitation being attempted by Cuba and Venezuela when those two nations offered assistance in our time of need, I have to question this approach carefully.
We need to rebuild industry, but if environmental regulations are relaxed to expedite that rebuilding will we not be stuck with a great deal of polluting industry on the Gulf Coast for the near future? Will not these rebuilt industries serve to overcome the environmental progress made over the past few decades, progress that has been opposed consistently by the Bush conservatives? Does it make sense to rebuild a natural disaster, in part caused by a previous ecological disaster, with an even greater ecological disaster? Is this even cost effective, if you must think in the terms of money instead of human suffering?
What will be the profit enjoyed by corporations such as Halliburton and its subsidiary Kellogg, Brown and Root?
The elimination of taxes to these corporations is tantamount to giving them a windfall profit. Conservatives will, of course, say that is an incentive. I did notice that Kellogg, Brown and Root did not wait for incentives to be proposed before going to the head of the line in securing lucrative government contracts to rebuild New Orleans.
Tax incentives are just another way to categorize government spending of money it doesn’t have. By what method will these backhanded expenditures be accounted for to the American people? Will there be any accountability for the use of these funds? How will the Bush Administration protect the American people from profiteers at home, when they have not been able to protect American soldiers and the Iraqi people from the very same profiteers?
At the end of the day everything we do is about people. This government was created to serve the people and the thing that makes America so special is the government was created to serve all the people and not just an elite. Will the conservative plan fulfill this mandate?
I think not and the words of Stuart Butler reveal that there will be no real attempt. The attitudes supported by the concept of a “Gulf Opportunity Zone†are simply more of the same conservative ideology of helping the rich control the poor and the middle classes.
We have already seen how corporations, and the rich elite that run them, will benefit from being allowed to erect polluting industries and take home a bushel of extra profits from an already profitable landscape. Now let’s consider who will own those businesses. Who will control the employment reaped from the outside investments?
It is painfully obvious, the outsiders will. In this world of free trade, who are these outsiders?
Are they northerners that come south to reap reconstruction profits? That sounds like something directly out of the 1870’s. Are the Republican conservatives again leaving the south open to carpetbaggers and Yankee profiteers, as they did following the Civil War?
Are they Japanese or Chinese companies investing in America and thus having a greater say in the economic policies of our nation? What would happen if the Chinese controlled some key industries at the mouth of the Mississippi?
What about the people? Do Butler and the conservatives have the same respect for the common man? It appears to me, not surprisingly, they do not.
Right off the top, the suggestion that the emergency funding be funded totally by cuts in discretionary spending expose the fact that people come last. Discretionary spending is almost totally a direct benefit to people. He mentions the recent highway bill as something that could be rescinded in the face of Katrina. While I agree that there is more than a pound package of pork in the bill, much of the spending directly benefits the American people. If there is no funding of Amtrak, where is that transportation link that became so vital in the recent disaster? If roads are not passable, how does American product move to market from small farms and small business?
What about education? The school systems of the south have been brought to a stand still in answering the emergency because they were so under-funded before the hurricane. Bush says they could be forgiven their responsibilities under his misnamed “No-Child-Left-Behind†program, but if yet more federal funding of education is cut what happens to the school systems in the rest of the nation that depend on the already inadequate funding of this federal program? It seems like such action would be effectively eating the seed corn and inviting a disaster of another kind in the future.
Hey, I have an idea! We could bring the troops home from Iraq and let UN peacekeepers handle the rebuilding from this point. I guess the telling question would be is the money doing more good occupying Iraq and setting up a puppet government or would it serve America better to actually rebuild our own nation? I guess this one will not be answered until 2006 and 2008.
Bush and the Republicans will undoubtedly tout what they are doing for the common man. They will push how they have the opportunity to fight poverty and improve life for those that live in the places Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert suggested be bulldozed, as the people struggled to survive in the face of little federal response.
The Heritage Foundation suggests that vouchers should be initiated to aid families with education, so the families won’t be penalized if they have to have their children attend private schools. They suggest a voucher system so those who can no longer count on employment based health insurance can pay for their own health insurance.
As far as taxes are concerned, I love the way Butler puts his suggestion.
“The IRS can cut some slack for Americans who have lost everything. And just as it did for the victims of 9/11, Congress should let Katrina’s victims postpone payment of income taxes, waive penalties for early withdrawals from IRAs and 401(k) accounts and grant relief from death taxes.â€
This will, of course, be fed to Bush through Karl Rove and others. You already can recognize the Heritage Foundation’s fingerprints all over the Bush response proposal.
I’ll start with the death taxes. How many of those most in need will actually be helped by such a proposal? In other words, how many of those most in need will be inheriting an estate worth $1.5 million or more? They won’t, only the rich elite will.
Similarly, how many of the south’s most needy displaced have an IRA and or 401(k)? Yes, it might help the middle class in the short run; but will this really be of assistance in the long run?
Then there are those nasty little income taxes. Notice the difference in the suggestion that the income taxes of the middle class and the poorest class be POSTPONED, while the taxes of the corporations and the rich elite are to be FORGIVEN.
This “help†is not only a glaring inequity in favor of the usual elite recipients of conservative help; but it extends the recovery period for the middle and poorest classes dramatically, as they build their debt to the federal government. The scenario could eventually exist that everything some folks build in the wake of the hurricane could be taken by the very people that “helped†them build it, leaving them with nothing at a time when the nation is not looking so closely.
We have already seen that Kellogg, Brown and Root at the head of the line of contractors to receive no-bid contracts for the recovery money. Bush has already insured the profit structure for this step child of Vice-President Cheney’s infamous Halliburton Corp. by suspending the federal Davis-Bacon Act requirements that government contractors pay “prevailing wages†on federally funded projects.
The Heritage Foundation says, as does the Republican leadership, that to pay “prevailing wages†to working people will inflate costs. So, to save the profits of the Kellogg, Brown and Roots of the world, the very families that would most benefit from the living wage jobs will be short changed and forced to work for less than adequate money, sinking them deeper into a financial hole. Such actions may eliminate the unemployed poor, but it may very well expand the ranks of the working poor, further concentrating the wealth that is in the south to the upper one percent.
Butler argues that to require companies to pay a “prevailing wage†could prevent many local workers from getting jobs in the rebuilding of their own cities. I have to ask how? Will Americans from the north be brought south to work for prevailing wages, if the jobs don’t go to the residents? Will immigrant workers, willing to work for any wage, be brought in to take the place of those southern workers?
Friday, September 16th Bush proposed a $2.35 billion education package including vouchers. Of course, this is the time to help Americans, not play politics by opposing a system of vouchers that has been opposed consistently in different circumstances. Once again, in the name of helping America, the Bush conservative agenda is served.
Bush proposed to provide accounts of up to $5,000 for people who need extra help finding work. This proposal is based on a program he put forward in his first term that was rejected by Congress. This will indeed help, but it is limited to those who have used up their unemployment benefits and can only be used for job training or to pay for child care or transportation while they are looking for work. Yes, if they find work in the first 13 weeks they can keep the rest; but these people have not been simply laid off, they have lost everything. How do they manage for everyday expenses and for rebuilding their homes, as modest as they were?
Of course there are those that don’t agree with such assessments of the program.
“The idea of providing $5,000 to evacuees for job training, education and for childcare expenses during their job search is exactly the type of program that would be successful in employing the 7.5 million people unemployed every day in this country,” said Matt Fellowes, a senior research associate at the Brookings Institution.
Since this program was first shot down by congress during the first Bush administration, that time at the $3,000 per person level, it has not been reintroduced. Now, in the face of disaster, it is being touted as the savior of the American common man. Again the conservative agenda is served.
Then we come to the military. During Katrina one-third of the critically needed National Guard was in Iraq. Because a full 50% of Guard equipment was also in Iraq, that meant the National Guard protection for Americans living in the south was not only undermanned, but the personnel that was available was completely under equipped to meet the national emergency.
Obviously the answer is to change the deployment priorities of the military. Bush could decide to keep the National Guard home, to guard the nation and, if he must, send the regular military overseas.
Again the obvious is not the answer being pushed by conservatives. Bush wants the regular military to take what he describes as a “broader role†in responding to emergencies like Katrina. It is the President’s opinion, or at least Karl Rove’s and Dick Cheney’s opinion, that the military is the federal institution “most capable of massive logistical operations on a moment’s notice.â€
Currently in times of emergencies such as Katrina, the National Guard is under the control of the individual states and the federal response is directed through FEMA. Of course with the depletion of the National Guard and the impotence of FEMA the response was woefully wanting. Local law enforcement was overwhelmed in some areas, largely because their people were also victims of the disaster.
Is Bush suggesting that we allow regular troops move into ravaged areas of the nation and take over. This might sound like a decent idea on the surface, but one must think back to the misnamed Patriot Act and the battle over resending the Posse Comitatus Act, forbidding the military from acting in a police role inside U.S. borders. Remember the Bush people want to get rid of this annoying little technicality for the sake of anti-terrorist national security. Will they use the suffering of southern Americans to push this anti-American concept into existence? Will they take advantage of their current federal shortcoming to push this highly unpopular item on their extremist agenda?
Lawrence Di Rita, spokesman for Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, said Rumsfeld has made no recommendations to Bush. It is hard to tell what Rumsfeld does or doesn’t do, even when such an announcement has been made. Di Rita claims the question is whether more could be done in advance, while leaving a civilian agency like the Homeland Security Department in the lead role. Of course, we must remember the Department of Homeland Security’s job description includes the operations of the national police forces, the intelligent community and the implementation of the misnamed Patriot Act.
I suspect many other proposals will be made by the Bush Administration in the coming weeks. I also suspect that most of the proposals will be show pieces designed to bolster Bush’s battered image and any opposition to those proposals will be derided as inappropriate partisan politics that prove Democrats care little for Americans. I am certain all of these proposals will somehow serve to push the extreme conservative agenda and that most will be hollow promises, like so many Bush programs of the past.
(originally printed on The Kicking Donkey)
September 17th, 2005 at 5:48 pmJoe,
The problem isn’t capitalism, it’s corporatism. When big corporations get exclusive access to government contracts, tax breaks, politicians and subversion of laws – the opportunity for entrepreneurs is reduced. The decrease in taxes on the wealthy and corporations also reduces their incentives to ‘take risks’ with smaller companies that may have innovative ideas.
Even ‘new’ companies like google and yahoo are ‘part of the system’ and were financed by the good old boy network of silicon valley financiers. The illusion of an open market is just that – an illusion…
September 17th, 2005 at 7:10 pmWith so many “geniuses” on the liberal side it cracks me up that you do such a good imitation of the Energizer Bunny. You just keep losing, and losing, and losing. If you’re so naturally and inevitably superior why are the majority of the Governors, Congressmen and Senators Republican? Learn to accept that you simply aren’t as bright as you think. Accept it and then present your ideas, some of which are good, in an adult manner. You may be surprised to find that many people listen if you stop insulting and belittling them. Don’t you realize how childish you sound saying things like “Dumbya is a moron” and “repugnicans are crooks”?
September 17th, 2005 at 7:20 pm“You just keep losing, and losing, and losing. If you’re so naturally and inevitably superior why are the majority of the Governors, Congressmen and Senators Republican?”
Because we play by the rules, whereas you believe cheating is actually winning… You don’t win, you steal – and you can’t steal, you lie, and when you can’t lie you kill…
But then as psychotic, selfish immoral delusional fascists, you and the nazis that came before you prefer to ‘win’ versus making sure everyone wins… The difference between me and you, is that I don’t want to silence your voice or your concerns, I just don’t want them to drown out reality in a see of insanity so that only your self indulgent and childish voice is all that’s heard. You as an infantile child however prefer to scream, cheat and steal until you get your way. Like all spoiled children, sometimes you do get your way, but you confuse that with winning. In fact in your world, everyone loses, even you, even though you’re too stupid and juvenile to realize it..
September 17th, 2005 at 9:00 pm“If you’re so naturally and inevitably superior why are the majority of the Governors, Congressmen and Senators Republican?”
You obviously missed the numerous stories yesterday from the diebold deep throat that explained this. The reason this is the case is called election fraud – and diebold has been complicitous in this act… And you are too stupid and naive (or too criminal) to either know or care… If you don’t believe it – press your REPUBLICAN congressmen for a required printed ballot from the electronic machines that can later be tallied – and see how many of them support it. None will, because it’s all that keeps them in their illegally obtained job…
So when you can’t win and are a big fat stupid loser (as you are), what do you do? You cheat so you feel better about being a loser (as you and your side did). Cheating doesn’t make you a winner, it makes you a crook.
So stupid crook – now you know how, too bad you’re too much of a wimp to ensure it doesn’t happen again. But that would require you actually being an authentic american who cares more about voting rights and democracy than the spam/scam promise that you too will be as wealthy as the bin ladens… You’re a dope on a rope…
September 17th, 2005 at 9:11 pmPhil #77, Thank you for the indepth review. Very good indeed..Blessings
September 17th, 2005 at 11:57 pmHey, Ref #79, thanks for jumping in here and helping out us rightwing guys. Your chiding the liberals here about name calling right after goading them with the “genius” reference was a good shot. Also, your “energy bunny” crack, then saying they needed to present their views in an “adult manner” was one the guys down at the bar will get a howl out of!
Now correct me if I’m wrong, but you trying to take the high road and mentioning how “childish” it is to say “Dumby is a moron” and “repugnicans are crooks” is a so silly? I mean, I’m on the “right” side here and evidently you overlook the “insulting and belittling” and filthy and foul-mouthed trash posted by those on our superior, more intellectual rightwing cohorts. As for “insulting and belittling,”have you ever heard or read any of Ann Coulters stuff? or Limbaugh? or Hannity? Some of the liberals here would call you just another pompoused-assed, demagogue asshole, but not me, cause I’m on your side. But I am going to go piss off a beer, now, and maybe take a Bush while I’m at it.
September 18th, 2005 at 10:16 amHank – Many of the posters give the impression they think of themselves as geniuses. Didn’t realize it would be considered an insult. Also, I never said that the far right doesn’t have people who spout garbage and sound like idiots. They certainly do. The left is here so I was addressing them. I address the right on their sites.
Ryan – Pure fantasy. Besides, even if I pretend I believe that are you saying Diebold managed to rig the elections everywhere liberals lost? Not just for President in Ohio? Really, there is no way to have an adult discussion with someone who believes that every election they lose was rigged.
Funny how the left is sure I’m a jack-booted Nazi, the right is certain I’m a Commie pinko and neither has a clue what they are yapping about. Just because someone disagrees with you or tells you to grow up does not make them evil. When you learn that you may have a chance to be heard.
September 18th, 2005 at 3:16 pm“Ryan – Pure fantasy. Besides, even if I pretend I believe that are you saying Diebold managed to rig the elections everywhere liberals lost?”
Pure fantasy – that’s the world you live in – that’s accurate at least.
Actually it’s only 40 states where diebold and triad changed the election. In some states like arizona, the republicans won without significant voter fraud. They did it the old fashion way, with lies, smears and the assistance of the press…
September 18th, 2005 at 6:03 pm“Funny how the left is sure I’m a jack-booted Nazi, the right is certain I’m a Commie pinko and neither has a clue what they are yapping about.”
Actually I think MrWrong/IRI is a jack booted nazi, I just think you’re a stupid yap that’s been duped and conned by them…
September 18th, 2005 at 6:04 pm” there is no way to have an adult discussion with someone who believes that every election they lose was rigged.”
If that were what was happening here, I’d say you’re right. The reality is that there are significant pockets of republicans that truly do win elections, and there are republican stronghold states. Some states have greater or less voter fraud than others. Your desire to portray me or anyone else who discusses voter fraud as ‘left wing loonies’, is similar to how right wingers wish to portray you as a commie I would imagine. You like to think you’re different from them, but clearly that’s also delusional…
September 18th, 2005 at 6:06 pmOnly 40 states? That means they rigged it for Democrats to win in about 10? You can never regain any credibility. Next.
September 18th, 2005 at 6:20 pmAnd this is from the guy who claims to want to have a ‘real conversation’. I could actually (re)point you to the states, analysis and breakdown, but just like your creationist and flatlander friends it’s clear you prefer to believe a delusion than to look at ‘math’ or ’science’ which can’t be ‘trusted’…
Your claim to be ‘centrist’ is clearly a ruse to allow you to disrupt the flow of conversation without appearing confrontation. Your answers are clearly those of yet another right wing slug who prefers to burrow under the crap, than to face the light.
Or did you not know that every attempt by democrats to force a printed ballot to accompany the electronic one has been thwarted by the republicans? What do they have to lose by this voter protection? Why are they so in lock-step in preventing it? Because the leadership knows it’s the only reason they won an election that by all polling results showed 3 million votes up for Kerry, and yet ironically he lost by that amount. Kind of like the votes were just ’switched’.
There were THOUSANDS of voter fraud complaints registered, and the problems with Diebold are in fact registered with CERT, along with all of the other internet security issues. And yet, these machines were not secured – anyone want to guess why? And because of the lame architecture of the diebold machine, no auditing occurs, and an admin can simply change the final tallies with no auditing or no system prevention of this act. If you don’t believe this kind of ‘power’ would be tempting to a desperate election commissioner tasked by the GOP to win the election – period, then you clearly know nothing of human nature…
September 18th, 2005 at 6:27 pmTheRef,
Wow, your complete lack of reason and logic would almost leave one speechless. See several of those states are republican states, and that’s why they didn’t get pressured for new voting machines. I never said that those 10 states went for Kerry, in fact some went for Bush and reasonably so based on their voting demographics. All 10 however had exit polling numbers that matched voting tallies, whereas the states that use the newer voting and tally machines don’t match, and they all were skewed republican…
So actually your premise is not only nonsense, but it shows what a stupid partisan hack you are. I want the vote to be fair, and the press to be something other than a tool of right wing propaganda, and if the republicans win, then they/you win. However, using propaganda smears through a corporate press, and rigging voting machines to vote your way isn’t win, it’s stealing. Something you and your entire party seem quite comfortable with. And this makes you an unamerican traitor to american values!
September 19th, 2005 at 3:51 pm“How nice, absence of troll’s. They must be out getting their checks from the GOP.”
Comment by Sharon Cox — September 16, 2005 @ 7:17 pm
Sharon – until we show up this place is a yawwwwwnnn!!
September 19th, 2005 at 9:31 pmAlot of us work – unlike certain segments of the entitlement groups. Save your blessings – if these folks believed in Satan – they would swear it was Bushco. (Psst! I think it’s Soros!)
#41 Ryan, A little hallucinating goes a long way with you. You gullible “idiotis” – who is DIEB- throat?? I’ll bet it’s Brad (who’s busy begging for donations so he can “keep blogging” without working!!)
September 19th, 2005 at 9:36 pmMarie, Sharon and Plugger – re: those Mercenaries from Halliburton – I don’t want to alarm you but they know where you live, they know if you pick up the phone – on top of that the “black helicopters” report back to Mr. Big – that’s the secret facist code word for our “Leader”. When you go pick up your mail – try to understand – we try to seal it back up. (Sharon call your cousin “up north” – the one who can read.) (Marie, Susan says you’re right as always – and no, your conspiracy theory is not far fetched – why else did your beloved Dennis Kucinich lose – especially when the party is so solidly behind progressive policies!) (Plugger, no correspondence for you – you’re not very popular.)
September 19th, 2005 at 9:43 pmIdiotis (aka Ryan) “Because we play by the rules, whereas you believe cheating is actually winning… You don’t win, you steal – and you can’t steal, you lie, and when you can’t lie you kill…” When you stuff ballot boxes, hop in bed with the mob, try to change the rules for chads??? You’re delusional!!
September 19th, 2005 at 9:49 pmMightAHole is here to spread her jewish wisdom of why we must all be israelis… And how israel is the only pure nation even though they attacked their neighbors in 1969 and she didn’t even know this!
As for the ‘election rigging’, see you don’t even criticize election rigging – maybe you’re used to those things being from israel? Anyway, I don’t condone it from either party. If a democrat does it, I want it prevented in the future – but I also want republicans held to the same standard. You clearly are just another immoral bitch masquerading as someone who thinks they’re smart, when in fact they’re just whiney and annoying.
You confuse our unwillingness to tolerate your lies, with you ’spicing’ up the place. Do everyone a favor and while you’re patting yourself on the back, shove it in your mouth and stop lying for the first time in your miserable life…
September 20th, 2005 at 1:50 amAnd goddess of idiocy, conspiracy ‘theories’ don’t have proof. There’s conclusive proof, and idiots like you who prefer to be duped so you can protect your israel and in your greedy black hearts hoping to get rich on the back of the working poor.
See if you ‘work’ as you say, then your taxes aren’t the target of ‘liberal’ values – but whoever you work for probably is…
September 20th, 2005 at 1:53 am“1 Ryan, A little hallucinating goes a long way with you. You gullible “idiotis†– who is DIEB- throat?? I’ll bet it’s Brad (who’s busy begging for donations so he can “keep blogging†without working!!)”
Why is it that a jewish republican would knock someone for asking for pay for their work? Are you a communist republican – or do you have a problem with free enterprise. As for the DIEB throat – actually what brad posted was consistent with actual CERT alerts which are official security alerts for software flaws. The fact that in law school you learned nothing about computers other than how to type and be an annoying bitch – don’t call concrete information from others a hallucinating. The only hallucination is that republican values are good for america – and you seem to be quite high…
September 20th, 2005 at 2:26 amI can’t get over how insincere this man is. I saw the video of this event tonight, and his compulsive blinking while he was ‘lying’ about taking responsibility was so forced and so impersonal. He’s such a heartless bastard – but he is a republican so it would seem he has all the proper prerequisites…
September 20th, 2005 at 4:04 am