Think Progress

Limbaugh: Black Katrina victims ‘whined and moaned’; white Iowa flood victims are ‘backbone of America.’»

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Rush Limbaugh blamed the victims for the humanitarian disaster in New Orleans, saying it was the result of “the welfare and entitlement thinking of government.” On Tuesday, he again denigrated the hurricane victims by comparing them to the Midwest flood survivors, who aren’t “a bunch of people raping people on the street.” He added that they, unlike people in New Orleans, are the “backbone of America”:

LIMBAUGH: I want to know. I look at Iowa, I look at Illinois—I want to see the murders. I want to see the looting. I want to see all the stuff that happened in New Orleans. I see devastation in Iowa and Illinois that dwarfs what happened in New Orleans. I see people working together. I see people trying to save their property…I don’t see a bunch of people running around waving guns at helicopters, I don’t see a bunch of people running shooting cops. I don’t see a bunch of people raping people on the street. I don’t see a bunch of people doing everything they can…whining and moaning—where’s FEMA, where’s BUSH. I see the heartland of America. When I look at Iowa and when I look at Illinois, I see the backbone of America.

Crooks and Liars’s John Amato, who has the audio, writes that Limbaugh’s comments show clear “disdain for poor blacks in the south who were victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.” The Wonk Room’s Brad Johnson has more.




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185 Responses to “Limbaugh: Black Katrina victims ‘whined and moaned’; white Iowa flood victims are ‘backbone of America.’”

  1. lefty Says:

    Nope, no bigotry here. And for his next feat, he will start talking about Obama and complain about being called racist.


  2. gitrdone Says:

    Geez LIEbaugh, how exactly can you compare a large city that was not given much warning to smalls towns who had plenty of warning? You can’t compare the two.

    Full of hot air as usual.


  3. hussein toasterhead Says:

    I don’t see Innovative Emergency Management holding the emergency plans for Iowa flooding, either. Or developers looking to ethnically-cleanse Iowa’s cities and turn low-income areas into condos.

    Details, details…


  4. Annie B. Says:

    When I read Rush Limbaugh’s remarks I picture a bigoted jackass continually braying about things he knows little about and cares less about.
    It’s shocking that he is paid so well to spout such thoughtless tripe.


  5. Hussein McCain Says:

    Rush forgot to add: “I don’t see a bunch of corpses floating in the floodwater.” Rush, I wish you’d take that half of your brain you keep tied behind your back and reunite it with the half you keep up your arse.


  6. larkohio Says:

    Rush is a lunatic.


  7. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    But that’s not racist… I mean, just because he judges people based on their skin color, that’s not racist, right?

    He’s a realist. Yeah, that’s it — a realist.

    Like when he said Donovan McNabb was the NFL’s MVP only because he was black. Rush was jes’ keepin’ it real, dawg.


  8. spearNmagicHelmet Says:

    entirely too many people walk around this country who aren’t held accountable for what they say. he’s the prime example of this.

    i can only hope his behavior is put under the same microscope that he likes to use on his opponents.


  9. SpoxLogic Says:

    Well, Rush. What say we go gather up 30,000, or so, of those people in the Midwest, cram them into a football arena, give them no privacy, small amounts of food and water and see how long they maintain their “backbone of America”?


  10. Omnipotency Says:

    Rush Limbaugh is one pompous jackass, but he does have a point no matter how “eloquently” he decides to put it.

    There is no reported crime happening in these areas unlike Katrina where people were looting within hours of the storm’s passing. This is fact. Regardless of race, socio-economic status, or any other factors, this is truth.


  11. joe cantwell Says:

    rogerse Says:

    here’s another button for you. you’ve really earned it this time.

    *


  12. Abu Ben Hussein Leporello Says:

    In both cases you have people struggling to survive. However New Orleans was an avoidable catastrophie. The shipping canal acted as a highway for storm-driven waters to flood the city. The levees were understrength. There was no overall co-ordination of emergency services, as was formerly provided by FEMA. These were just some of the shortcomings that occured before the storm hit. Add to this mess the fact that the surviviors of the storm were trapped, with almost no means of egress and receiving negligible outside aid and this becomes a million times worse than it needed it to be. How, in God’s name is this the fault of the people of New Orleans? Why does that man harp on the horror stories of New Orleans while joyfully ignoring the inspirational, human stories of people who put themselves in harms way and went above and beyond to help each other? Where’s the “Liberal Media’s” outrage that this microcephalic moron so vastly insults people who’s only crime was to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and who weren’t given the aid that they deserved and were so wrongly denied. Lord, who is responsible for this maniac still being on the air?!?!?!?!???
    Impeach Pelosi, Cheney and Bush and Save the Constitution!


  13. DRxJ Says:

    Wow.
    OxyContin breath is racist?
    Whoda thunkit?

    Of course, he drops his racist attitude when he makes a Viagra “visit” to brown colored boys in the Caribbean.


  14. DRxJ Says:

    rogerse(rogerdo),
    Celebrating the death of soldiers, and Katrina victims.


  15. scytherius Says:

    Ah. The great fat cowardly pill popping pig bigots along again. If you even think of voting Republican, this is the world for which you are considering voting. It’s dying, to be sure, but it sure as hell won’t go quietly into the night . . . but it WILL go.


  16. hussein toasterhead Says:

    Omnipotency Says:

    There is no reported crime happening in these areas unlike Katrina where people were looting within hours of the storm’s passing. This is fact. Regardless of race, socio-economic status, or any other factors, this is truth.

    June 19th, 2008 at 11:07 am
    ______

    You mean there are Blackwater mercenaries patrolling the streets of Cedar Rapids and preventing the Red Cross from getting in?

    News to me…


  17. SpoxLogic Says:

    for rogerse at #10.

    Nice post. However, what I came away with is not that Rush is correct. The increased voilence was not against the locals, but mostly amongst the displaced New Orleanians. “Once connections were re-established, the groups set up drug and prostitution rings and began settling scores, said Police Sergeant Brian Harris, a member of the Gang Murder Squad that Houston formed this year”
    So, even if they’d gone to Timbuktu, that city would’ve seen the same abnormal rise in voilence. Besides, you can’t comapare a farm community to a inner-city community. Life isn’t similar in both, and as much as I’d like to see an end to gang voilence, it is what it is. Unfortunately, too many people share Rush’s viewpoints on the plight of the poor, and so, nothing will be done that will genuinely alleviate the conditions in these poor neighborhoods.


  18. Dr. Hussein Matt Says:

    racist_rogers is busy petting his Obama sock puppet.


  19. Bob Says:

    He’s spent so much time in both places that he’s able to make a first-hand comparison, right? Well, they are both round and edible, but one is orange and the other is red.


  20. Dr. Hussein Matt Says:

    When 300,000+ acres are under water, how would someone loot anything? Jebus, are you reich-wingers really that stupid?


  21. DRxJ Says:

    Listen Oxy breath, and rogerse(rogerdo),
    I witnessed firsthand the displacement of New Orleans citizens during the aftermath of Katrina.
    I volunteered as a pharmacist at a military base for evacuees, that implemented an emergency pharmacy.
    Imagine, losing your home, your family, your friends, and ending up in Battle Creek, Mi.
    These where not rapists, nor looters, nor criminals.
    These where Americans, lost!
    I’ll never forget the elderly gentleman picking up his meds. He had tears in his eyes as he was so thankful for the volunteers. I put my arm around him, and just said “We care. We really care”. It was a touching moment that will never leave me, especially when idiots like rogerse(rogerdo) denigrate everything the victims went through.


  22. paleolib Says:

    I also want to hear oxycontin boy and the other wingers start talking about how the heartland of America needs to move out of the flood plain. Wonder if anyone has told Rushbo that Iowa and Illinois are both going blue this fall. Bet he wouldn’t be quite as sympathetic.


  23. DRxJ Says:

    rogerse(rogerdo)
    No need to refute when SpoxLogic already did at post #18.
    Mucking Foron!


  24. DRxJ Says:

    Let’s make this perfectly clear, rogerse(rogerdo), I normally don’t attack posters (that’s the pacifist in me), but there are times I will not hold back. Being degrading towards women is one. Celebrating the deaths of our brave men and women is another. Blaming the victims is another.
    So Mr. non debating ever name changing poster, you get no pass!
    Mucking Foron!


  25. shoeless Says:

    Omnipotency Says:

    There is no reported crime happening in these areas unlike Katrina where people were looting

    Not everyone was looting. Remember, at the time it was reported that black people were looting, while white people were “finding things”.

    Link: Looting vs. Finding


  26. Leftside Annie Says:

    Jebus. What an effin’ PIG.


  27. nitpicker Says:

    There might be a reason that no one in Iowa and Illinois–the people who, by the way, elected Barack Obama–is asking “where’s Fema, where’s Bush?” Because when it came to the midwest, FEMA was right on time. From a FEMA press release:

    Joint Federal Activities: FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the U.S. General Services Administration and the Defense Logistics Agency have worked together to provide

    3,222,000 liters of water - enough to provide for more than 465,000 people per day.

    213,120 meals ready-to-eat (MRE’s).

    12.8 million sand-bags bags - enough to reach from Washington, DC to San Francisco if laid side-by-side.

    46 generators.

    2,500 tarps.

    4,032 rolls of plastic sheeting - which would measure more than 50 miles long if laid end-to-end.

    23 Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (MDRCs).

    30 trucks deployed to help with debris removal.

    Another 108,000 liters of water, 50 generators and 7 MDRCs are currently on the way to impacted communities.

    But still…

    Cedar Rapids Mayor Kay Halloran will have a list ready for President Bush today when he visits her flood-ravaged city during a tour of the eastern Iowa disaster area.

    “For purposes of asking him things, you bet I will,” Halloran said…

    State Rep. Kraig Paulsen, representing devastated Linn County areas such as Palo, likened the extent of the damage to Hurricane Katrina and urged Bush to be resolute about delivering aid. “It’s hard to come up with words that reflect the true magnitude of what’s happened,” said Paulsen, a Hiawatha Republican.

    State Sen. Wally Horn of Cedar Rapids went a step further.

    “We want to see him say something deeper like, ‘We will have money for this,’” said Horn, a Cedar Rapids Democrat. “I want to hear how many million or billions we can have to get this going.”


  28. gitrdone Says:

    Lord, who is responsible for this maniac still being on the air?!?!?!?!???

    Simple minded people who live in a bubble and the corporate elite who feed them everyday.


  29. RUCerious Says:

    Rush who?


  30. DRxJ Says:

    I do have to be a bit critical to TP, though, because I don’t read where Limbaugh actually said “Black Katrina victims whined and moaned”.
    I do see where it’s implied, but not said.
    Of course, I can’t actually listen to the audio, so I could be wrong.
    Maybe the headline should just be changed to “Rush said: Katring victims…”


  31. shoeless Says:

    And what did FEMA provide for those black people at the Super Dome for the first five days after Katrina?

    Zero
    Nada
    Nothing
    Zip


  32. hussein toasterhead Says:

    rogerse Says:

    I’m sorry, but you didn’t actually refute #10.

    June 19th, 2008 at 11:25 am
    _____

    What part of your article needs to be refuted? Yes, it’s true - when New Orleans was ethnically cleansed, the people who had been working in the informal sector and engaged in criminal activity before the hurricane did not magically find new and legitimate sources of income when they were relocated to Houston. Poverty was endemic before the hurricane and it continues to be endemic after the hurricane. What’s your point?


  33. Hussein McCain Says:

    Omnipotency, I’m glad to hear that no crimes have been reported along the ol’ Mississip’ north of Louisiana. Wow, I guess for some people, floods are the ultimate crime stopper. For others it just works ‘em up into a criminal frenzy. It must be a good feeling for all those farmers, knowing that their drowning corn is safe from the looters.


  34. Alejandro Says:

    I see devastation in Iowa and Illinois that dwarfs what happened in New Orleans.

    Uh, in what way? The affected area had a population of about 2 million or so. Half of that was urban. The waters came into some places within minutes. FEMA and other federal agencies blocked local officials from doing their jobs. There were 140 mph winds followed by rapid flooding.

    This Iowa thing was more gradual. It affects mostly rural areas and small towns. Show me the pictures of Interstates backed up for 100 miles, then I might say it is somewhat similar.

    Katrina was orders of magnitude worse.


  35. Shayne Says:

    I’d love to see Limppig neck deep in floodwater … and abject poverty … oh … and make that on Martin Luther King Drive.


  36. margerine Says:

    @DRxJ: Yeah, I’m noticing this too.

    I suppose on some level it can be implied, but you know, there are white people in Louisiana and there are black people in the midwest.


  37. shoeless Says:

    Check out this little story.;)

    …and then you’ll meet Katrina


  38. Shayne Says:

    And to the idiot trolls, if you deprive people of drinking water, as was intentional done during Katrina and use Blackwater thugs to prevent people from fleeing to safety, they’re going to get a little angry and desperate. Morons.


  39. Shayne Says:

    If your poor and white under this administration you’re treated the same way they treat black people. This administration practice equal opportunity hate.


  40. DwH Says:

    Okay, I understand the need to monitor the rantings of these fools on the right, but honest to God, the only thing we are doing with this repetition of their spewings is to further their spread. I only ever read this crap when I come to ‘progressive’ sites. You are doing their work for them.

    Ignore the bastards behind the curtain for a while. We already know all that their pea brains are capable of, and it is all nauseating.


  41. helenahandbasket Says:

    rush is a sad little excuse for a human.


  42. gummitch Says:

    rogerse Says:

    hussein toasterhead Says:

    Poverty (and crime) was endemic before the hurricane and it continues to be endemic after the hurricane. What’s your point?

    Isn’t that the point?.

    Your point was that we have poor people without resources? Wow. I had no idea you were so compassionate.


  43. Kira Says:

    LOOTING? That is a complete mischaracterization of people trying to survive.

    Most of the “looting” incidents were groups of unarmed people including women and children taking necessities - items from stores that would be written off as a LOSS after being soaked in the polluted waters that flooded the town. Items like MILK and BREAD - FOOD that would have rotted in just a couple of days anyway.

    As for some real LOOTING - remember that a group of police officers did that very thing.

    By the way, having been stranded on rooftops for 5 days is enough to forgive almost anything.

    The bush-republican/Robertson-Falwell collusion in issuing derogatory and incorrect reports about what was happening in NOLA is truly sickening.

    How would the midwesterners react to Blackwater style Martial Law? What would they do if they were treated as criminals right from the beginning?

    The bush administration refused help for Katrina victims - offered from 25 nations - See Wiki entry

    This is why America hates these republicans.



  44. Zimzone Says:

    When I look at Iowa and when I look at Illinois, I see the backbone of America. -Druggie Limpblow

    When I look at you, I see a fat blob of shit with no backbone whatsoever. You run from the truth, hid from serving your Country, lie for a living and are the antithesis of everything American.

    PS: Iowa & Illinois are going Blue this election…suck on that!


  45. SpoxLogic Says:

    For Rogerse:

    Everything that Rush said happened from Katrina - happened. So, I am not saying that he is lying, just that he cannot compare the two disasters. This year, they’ve had days to prepare and the only thing they had to worry about is the water.
    During Katrina, there were 100+ mph winds, storm surges AND flooding. So even places not flooded, got destroyed. In the Midwest this year, the National Guard was able to come out and help sandbag; during Katrina those HURRICANE conditions didn’t allow for any such preparations. In fact, the atuhorities could only sit on there hands hundreds of miles away and wait for Katrina to do its thing.
    However, I still have to ask you, rogerse (and Rush), how well do you think folks would behave if they were picked up, separated from their faimlies, and crammed into a small space for days without much food, water, a place to take a dump, etc? What do you think would happen to that vaunted Midwest behavoir?

    It’s one thing to be fighting to save your home, but quite another to not have a home and feel displaced, hopeless, helpless and forgotten.


  46. SpoxLogic Says:

    One addition, since I just can’t resist the urge: I just got to ask Pastor Hagee (and et al) this question:

    You say that Katrina was God’s punishement for New Orleans because they were going to give a gay parade. So, why are the God fearing folk of the Midwest getting hammered so damn hard?
    Could it be that this is God’s punishemnt to them for electing Bush twice and having him turn America into a devil state?

    Inquiring minds want to know, oh great Pastor Hagee.


  47. Buckie Boy Says:

    And how does Limpballs know there wasn’t any looting? It’s a much wider area and you can guarantee that someone somewhere looted something.

    And where is Pastor Hagee on this? Is it because…Oh I see SpoxLogic already thought of this one.


  48. joe cantwell Says:

    jk, off your meds again?


  49. Zimzone Says:

    John Kerry…go blow Hagee


  50. DigDug Says:

    rogerse Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    http://www.bloomberg.com/ apps/ news?pid=10000103&sid=az6n8C6gsqf0&refer=us

    When New Orleans residents streamed into Houston six months ago to escape the floodwaters caused by Hurricane Katrina, they brought in gangs and the violence that goes with them.

    So… your point is that this happenned because they were black? I’m just looking for clarification on what your point is.


  51. shoeless Says:

    John Kerry Says:

    Sorry libs! There is NO distain for blacks in Rush’s comment

    I couldn’t figure out what “distain” meant, so I looked it up. Turns out, it really is a word.

    Dis`tain´
    v. t. 1. To tinge with a different color from the natural or proper one; to stain; to discolor;

    So, I guess you are saying that Limbaugh was not trying to change the color of black people in New Orleans.


  52. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    SpoxLogic Says:
    For Rogerse:

    Everything that Rush said happened from Katrina - happened. So, I am not saying that he is lying, just that he cannot compare the two disasters.

    That’s the heart of it. Katrina hit a densely-populated urban area with hurricane-force winds, rain AND massive flooding, cutting off evacuation routes within hours. Federal aid took several days to organize and arrive.

    The floods in Iowa have hit largely rural areas, taken days to develop to the point they’ve reached now, and evacuation is simple — move away from the river. The flood is the only source of damage, and the only losses have been property, not people trapped in attics or long-term care facilities. Federal aid was on site immediately.

    It’s very telling that the lesson drawn from this comparison by Rush is that the only difference is the way different types of victims reacted. Says a lot about how Rush views the world.


  53. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    Troll John Kerry, why all the hostility?

    We miss your regular clownish self.


  54. Max-1 Says:

    .

    Bigot Limbaugh = RACIST!

    .


  55. gummitch Says:

    ralph the wonder llama Says:

    That’s the heart of it. Katrina hit a densely-populated urban area with hurricane-force winds, rain AND massive flooding, cutting off evacuation routes within hours. Federal aid took several days to organize and arrive.

    The floods in Iowa have hit largely rural areas, taken days to develop to the point they’ve reached now, and evacuation is simple — move away from the river. The flood is the only source of damage, and the only losses have been property, not people trapped in attics or long-term care facilities. Federal aid was on site immediately.

    It’s also not a population that is chronically impoverished and completely lacking in resources; not a population essentially devoid of the transportation necessary to effect an evacuation; and not a population battered by an incredible storm.


  56. the_dude_man Says:

    The truth hurts. If a majority of the people in New Orleans shown on TV were white this would not even be an issue. I love the double standard. Keeping alive the victim mentally for it the only way the Democratic can get a vote!! Sad!


  57. the_dude_man Says:

    The truth hurts. If a majority of the people in New Orleans shown on TV were white this would not even be an issue. I love the double standard. Keeping alive the victim mentally for it the only way the Democratic can get a vote!! Sad!


  58. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    rogerse Says:
    Funny that he didn’t make any actual reference to race..so tp just distracted from what he said, to what he supposedly implies.I guess it was easier.

    Ka-CHING!

    And another button for R-2’s collection.


  59. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    Daryll Says, June 19th, 2008 at 12:28 pm:

    Limbaugh is right. These are people (New Orleans) who refused to work, but wanted free beans and a pound of bacon from the government. They moved most of these so called “good standing citizens” to Houston, where crime has significantly increased since 2006.

    * * * * * *

    Daryll Says, June 18th, 2008 at 1:37 pm:

    Judge not!!!

    What gives, D?


  60. joe cantwell Says:

    rogerse Says:
    Funny that he didn’t make any actual reference to race..so tp just distracted from what he said, to what he supposedly implies.I guess it was easier.

    funny he doesn’t make any actual references to his drug addiction or his three failed marriages.

    or the pimple on his ass.

    funny.

    ;)


  61. barfly Says:

    The truth hurts. If a majority of the people in New Orleans shown on TV were white this would not even be an issue. I love the double standard. Keeping alive the victim mentally for it the only way the Democratic can get a vote!! Sad!

    The Whites got out because they could drive themselves. Poor blacks had to wait for buses. Way to showcase that loving Christian spirit!


  62. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    joe cantwell, keep doin’ what you’re doin’.


  63. shoeless Says:

    Daryll Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    Limbaugh is right. These are people (New Orleans) who refused to work, but wanted free beans and a pound of bacon from the government.

    If Jesus was there, would he have given them loaves and fishes, or would he just let them starve?


  64. joe cantwell Says:

    Daryll Says:
    Limbaugh is right. These are people (New Orleans) who refused to work, but wanted free beans and a pound of bacon from the government. They moved most of these so called “good standing citizens” to Houston, where crime has significantly increased since 2006.

    daryll, you’re throwing rocks.

    what does jesus say about people who throw rocks?

    why do you make the baby jesus cry?

    daryll?

    :)


  65. SpoxLogic Says:

    For teh due man at #64. Yes there would still be an issue, since he is still impugning the people of New Orleans. He would still be calling them murderers, rapists, etc, and I doubt those folks would like it.
    However, the fact is, that side by side, the visual plays to deeply held stereotypes. Be honest, when you think Katrina victims of N.O, what picture pops into your mind?
    And while you can conjecture that our reaction would be different had the N.O. folks been white, reality is what it is.
    If he’d wanted to match apples (McIntosh) to apples (Bosch), he could’ve compared the folks in the midwest to the folks in rural Mississippi during Katrina. They didn’t loot and showed great “backbone of America”, as well.

    So you see, he knows what he is doing.


  66. hussein toasterhead Says:

    Daryll Says:

    Limbaugh is right. These are people (New Orleans) who refused to work, but wanted free beans and a pound of bacon from the government. They moved most of these so called “good standing citizens” to Houston, where crime has significantly increased since 2006.

    June 19th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
    _______

    Your capacity for Christian charity and compassion never ceases to amaze me.


  67. SickupandFed Says:

    DRxJ Says:

    Listen Oxy breath, and rogerse(rogerdo),
    I witnessed firsthand the displacement of New Orleans citizens during the aftermath of Katrina.
    I volunteered as a pharmacist at a military base for evacuees, that implemented an emergency pharmacy.
    Imagine, losing your home, your family, your friends, and ending up in Battle Creek, Mi.
    These where not rapists, nor looters, nor criminals.
    These where Americans, lost!

    Bravo!

    A group from my city arrived in Biloxi before the chimp got there. Most have no idea what happened with that storm, and I hope they never have to find out.


  68. barfly Says:

    Limbaugh is right. These are people (New Orleans) who refused to work, but wanted free beans and a pound of bacon from the government.

    Twenty acres… and a mule! Danged uppity, if you ask me.


  69. DigDug Says:


    rogerse Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    “Funny that he didn’t make any actual reference to race..so tp just distracted from what he said, to what he supposedly implies.I guess it was easier.”

    Everyone knows that the people in the Superdome were predominantly black.

    http://www.s4.brown.edu/katrina/report.pdf
    “Images of poor and predominantly black people crowded into the Superdome and Convention Center supported the impression that Katrina had disproportionately affected poor,black neighborhoods.”

    “By race. Damaged areas were 45.8% black, compared to 26.4% in undamaged areas.”

    It’s pretty clear what his comment implies. And it is racist. And your efforts to defend him pretty clearly label you a racist as well.


  70. kasinca Says:

    Somebody take away his illegal perscriptions to drugs. The guy is embarrassing himself and all the morons who listen to him again.


  71. shoeless Says:

    rogerse Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    Funny that he didn’t make any actual reference to race..

    It’s even funnier that the people who admire Rush Limbaugh never get the meaning behind his thinly veiled inferences.


  72. barfly Says:

    Just doing what the good book reflects (thou shalt not lie).

    And what about “do unto others?”

    Do these rules cancel each other out when they conflict?

    I’m confused.


  73. shoeless Says:

    It’s not fair! I want my free government beans!


  74. barfly Says:

    shoeless Says:

    It’s not fair! I want my free government beans!

    Ah, go eat your commodity cheese…


  75. shoeless Says:

    rogerse Says:

    you can’t try and put words in his mouth,

    Why do you listen to Rush Limbaugh when you don’t understand what he is getting at?

    Maybe you listen to Rush Limbaugh because you don’t understand what he is getting at?


  76. joe cantwell Says:

    Daryll Says:
    Just doing what the good book reflects (thou shalt not lie).

    daryll why do you help the romans hammer nails into the flesh of our lord?

    ask his forgiveness for the sake of your soul!

    “thou shalt not lie down with the goat and neither the sheep. thy comely dugs shall keepest thou clean”

    *


  77. Kira Says:

    DARYLL #62 says: Limbaugh is right. These are people (New Orleans) who refused to work, but wanted free beans and a pound of bacon from the government.

    Care to give a link that documents this accusation?


  78. barfly Says:

    Kira Says:

    Care to give a link that documents this accusation?

    Daryll says [running away]: Eeeyyiiee!!!


  79. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    rogerse Says:
    DigDug Says:

    you can’t try and put words in his mouth, you do that as a means of avoiding the issue you can’t rebute.

    Okay, R-2, let’s take a step back. Since Limpbaugh is a little indistinct in his meaning. Being a Rush aficionado, perhaps you can clear up for us what Rush wants to express.

    What is he saying about the difference between the two disasters?

    And, since the populations of the two affected areas are strikingly different from each other in racial terms, can you explain why Limpbaugh would fail to note that aspect of his argument?

    Because, you have to admit, it is not unreasonable to read racially-charged intent to Rush’s statements, in light of that circumstance.

    Especially since Rush lost his job on Monday Night Football for insisting that an NFL Most Valuable Player found success only because he was black.

    I mean, you can understand why we would make such an assumption, right? Given Rush’s history of racially insensitive remarks?

    Thanks for understanding.


  80. gummitch Says:

    Daryll Says:

    Jesus also said, “In order for man to eat, he must work”.

    Daryll, you’re lying again. Jesus never said anything of the kind.

    You’re quoting Paul, and taking him out of context. Please provide a Biblical reference in which Jesus says “in order for man to eat, he must work.”


  81. joe cantwell Says:

    daryll! daryll! daryll!

    you can’t avoid the roasty toasty fires of hell by hiding!

    beg for HIS forgiveness…

    or be damned forever!

    *

    that is if you care.

    *


  82. gummitch Says:

    Daryll Says:

    Not with my tax dollars. Do what Jesus says, GO TO WORK!

    Prove it, Daryll. Where did Jesus say that?


  83. barfly Says:

    Do what Jesus says, GO TO WORK!

    I’ll bet your boss would find that post highly ironic, considering where you’re posting from…


  84. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    Oh, good — Daryll’s still here.

    Coupla things, D:

    first, as I quoted above, earliuer in this thread you wrote some things that sounded, frankly, a little on the judgmental side.

    For instance, you said: These are people (New Orleans) who refused to work, but wanted free beans and a pound of bacon from the government. They moved most of these so called “good standing citizens” to Houston

    These words seem to contradict the forceful stand you took yesterday on that “gay” thread, where you posted: Judge not!!!

    Can you resolve this issue for me? I must not understand the concept of “judgment” as well as you do.

    The other thing was, also yesterday, you made this statement:

    Is it his fault that Jesus said homosexuality is wrong?

    Now, I’ve read the Bible a few times, and I don’t recall any scripture where Jesus mentioned homosexuality. Can you furnish me with the book, chapter and verse?

    Thanks ever so.


  85. Kira Says:

    Daryll has no links or references? Daryll misquotes the Bible?

    Daryll is irrelevant. A rumor monger. Maybe someone who got a job in the bush administration?


  86. shoeless Says:

    Daryll Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    Limbaugh is right. These are people (New Orleans) who refused to work, but wanted free beans

    What kind of beans do you think they want? Maybe black beans?


  87. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    Kira Says:
    Daryll has no links or references? Daryll misquotes the Bible?

    Daryll is irrelevant. A rumor monger. Maybe someone who got a job in the bush administration?

    Pssst — “Daryll” is just a character. The person playing Daryll clearly doesn’t believe all the crap he posts, he’s just playing a role in a performance art piece. If you pay attention, you’ll learn to appreciate what he contributes to this forum in entertainment value.


  88. Luis M Says:

    Heh. Limpball talking about back bones.


  89. barfly Says:

    Daryll, you’re lying again. Jesus never said anything of the kind.

    You’re quoting Paul, and taking him out of context.

    Uh, oh, Daryll…

    Daryll?

    Daryll:[Eeeyyiiee!!!]


  90. joe cantwell Says:

    ralph the wonder llama Says:

    Pssst — “Daryll” is just a character. The person playing Daryll clearly doesn’t believe all the crap he posts, he’s just playing a role in a performance art piece. If you pay attention, you’ll learn to appreciate what he contributes to this forum in entertainment value.

    and all this time i thought rogerse was the “mole troll”, thanks for the tip!


  91. the_dude_man Says:

    This just in!! Bush hates black people so much he is banning all 40’s, watermelon, and fired chicken!! before his term is up!


  92. shoeless Says:

    joe cantwell Says:

    and all this time i thought rogerse was the “mole troll”, thanks for the tip!

    No, I’m pretty sure roger’s dementia is real.


  93. joe cantwell Says:

    the_dude_man

    daryll

    rogerse

    the republican party

    in all it’s glory

    *


  94. joe cantwell Says:

    daryll, why dost thou hide?

    *


  95. hussein toasterhead Says:

    Daryll Says:

    Jesus also said, “In order for man to eat, he must work”.

    June 19th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
    _____

    So you’re suggesting that - in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, with levees broken, the water and electricity systems failed, no access to transportation, floodwaters rising, and all livelihoods utterly disrupted - all of the survivors of the hurricane should have gotten off their lazy asses and gotten jobs?


  96. Kira Says:

    You say Daryll posts unintentional satire?

    Interestingly, this “The person playing Daryll clearly doesn’t believe all the crap he posts, he’s just playing a role in a performance art piece” could be said of the entire bush administration.


  97. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    rogerse Says:
    #90 ralph the wonder llama Says:

    so if he wrote it in a book, you’d ignore it because of the nature of why you think he wrote it, and not nesssesarly that he’s innaccurate?.

    Please answer the question.

    Thank you.


  98. RUCerious Says:

    Crap! I missed the defecateondaryll opportunity this morning?


  99. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    Kira, you just blew my mind.


  100. joe cantwell Says:

    rogerse straight up dude,

    are you the “mole troll”?

    ;)


  101. shoeless Says:

    rogerse Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    #90 ralph the wonder llama Says:

    so if he wrote it in a book, you’d ignore it because of the nature of why you think he wrote it, and not nesssesarly that he’s innaccurate?.

    And if Limbaugh wrote a book, you and all the other wingnuts would happily read it without understanding what he was trying to say.


  102. Kira Says:

    By the way - Jesus never said one word about homosexuality. But, why let the facts get in the way of rightwing bigots’ whiny remarks?


  103. joe cantwell Says:

    or are you rev. hagee?

    *


  104. shoeless Says:

    joe cantwell Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    or are you rev. hagee?

    Joe, that made my think of a question. Was there a gay pride parade planned in Iowa this week?


  105. joe cantwell Says:

    rogerse Says:
    ralph the wonder llama Says:

    yeah, and will you answer, otherwise why should I bother.

    you’ve been here all morning, rog.

    does that bother you?

    *

    btw - are you the “mole troll”?

    *


  106. gummitch Says:

    rogerse Says:

    ralph the wonder llama Says:

    yeah, and will you answer, otherwise why should I bother.

    Shorter roger2: “I’ve got nothing.”


  107. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    ogerse Says:
    ralph the wonder llama Says:

    yeah, and will you answer, otherwise why should I bother.

    Why should you bother?

    Simple: Because you insist that there is no racial intent in Rush’s words, and that we are all mistaken if we assume as much.

    I’m willing to listen to your explanation, as a presumed Rush aficionado, of what Rush really meant.

    Thanks for your indulgence.


  108. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    shoeless Says:
    joe cantwell Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    or are you rev. hagee?

    Joe, that made my think of a question. Was there a gay pride parade planned in Iowa this week?

    Jon Stewart pointed out that the floods in iowa are clearly meant in retaliation for California allowing gay marriages this week.

    Apparently, God doesn’t have a Magellan.


  109. joe cantwell Says:

    shoe,

    i heard there was!

    jeff gannon, matt sanchez and larry craig were co-grand marshalls.

    and then god got mad.

    :)


  110. shoeless Says:

    But, I thought God only punishes black people when he gets mad at gays.


  111. shoeless Says:

    ralph the wonder llama Says:

    I’m willing to listen to your explanation, as a presumed Rush aficionado, of what Rush really meant.

    We’ve already deduced that roger has no idea what Rush was getting at. He only knows it wasn’t about black people.


  112. joe cantwell Says:

    rogerse Says:
    ralph the wonder llama Says:

    so you won’t even answer the question after I answer yours, no point then.I’m just gonna be like you.

    you’re angry.

    why?

    *


  113. RUCerious Says:

    This just in!! Bush hates black people so much he is banning all 40’s, watermelon, and fired chicken!! before his term is up!

    Speaking of FIRED CHICKEN ~ you’re fired, troll. Go find a bridge and crawl under it.


  114. shoeless Says:

    rogerse Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    ralph the wonder llama Says:

    so you won’t even answer the question after I answer yours, no point then.I’m just gonna be like you.

    This is quite a breakthrough! roger is going to quit being a tool of the fascists!

    Congratulations ralph! I thought he was a lost cause.


  115. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    rogerse Says:
    ralph the wonder llama Says:

    so you won’t even answer the question after I answer yours, no point then.I’m just gonna be like you.

    Sounds like you’re assuming that I won’t answer your question, even though I have not refused to, and that you’re using that assumption as an excuse to refuse to help enlighten us, even tough you came here complaining about how we were misinterpreting Rush’s words.

    You see, R-2, one thing that characterizes liberal minds is that they seek information and education, even if it challenges what they already know.

    Here’s your chance to challenge us with a reasoned, articulate explanation of what Rush meant and why it was not racial. I’m willing to listen.

    If you offer your thoughts, I will be glad to answer your question that you seem to think is the sticking point. How’s that?


  116. joe cantwell Says:

    rogerse, daryll, dude man,

    you know these guys?

    friends of yours?

    yes, no, maybe?

    ;)


  117. joe cantwell Says:

    rogerse Says:
    ralph the wonder llama Says:

    ok, so you can say he had racial implications in his message, regardless of the lack of direct racial reference….

    so what about the yes/no qustion?.

    a punctuation and spelling error?

    ok, you are angry.

    why?

    *


  118. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    rogerse Says:
    ralph the wonder llama Says:

    ok, so you can say he had racial implications in his message, regardless of the lack of direct racial reference….

    so what about the yes/no qustion?

    Let me get this straight… you’re now saying that you’re walking back from this statement:

    Funny that he didn’t make any actual reference to race..so tp just distracted from what he said, to what he supposedly implies.I guess it was easier.
    and that we and TP were justified in inferring a racial component to Rush’s words?

    Thank you.

    Now, your “yes/no” question was:

    so if he wrote it in a book, you’d ignore it because of the nature of why you think he wrote it, and not nesssesarly that he’s innaccurate?

    No. I would ignore it because I’ve seen his writings in the past that have leaned heavily on distortion, inaccuracies and outright falsehoods to support his points.


  119. DRxJ Says:

    Daryll Says:

    Just doing what the good book reflects (thou shalt not lie).

    Parodyll, you’re cute!
    So, we gonna “hook up”, or what??


  120. shoeless Says:

    OK boys and girls, today’s word is innuendo. roger, can you say “in·nu·en·do”?

    in·nu·en·do
    –noun, plural -dos, -does. 1. an indirect intimation about a person or thing, esp. of a disparaging or a derogatory nature.


  121. joe cantwell Says:

    rogerse Says:

    I never said his statements weren’t racist, just he never directly said anything to that effect.

    your sentence structure is faulty but at least you’re learning.

    remember, he that lieth down with a snorkel and a blow-up doll shall never enter the kingdom of heaven.

    good luck.

    *


  122. bitblt Says:


    Kira Says:

    By the way - Jesus never said one word about homosexuality. But, why let the facts get in the way of rightwing bigots’ whiny remarks?
    June 19th, 2008 at 1:23 pm

    And exactly which fact is it that should be getting in the way?

    Do you mean to say that since Christ never said one word about homosexuality the Lord was Ok with this practice?

    If this is what you’re saying this is an assertion that really cannot be supported. If you mean to say that the Bible does not record that Jesus said anything about homosexuality, then this is an assertion that can be support.

    But the Bible is clear that not all of the Lord’s words or actions are record. The end of the book of John notes that if everything Christ had done or had said had been written the books would fill the world. Of course, metaphorically speaking, the things the Lord did and said do fill the world.

    So saying that Christ never spoke about homosexuality is a little presumptuous.

    However, the Lord does mention the sexual sin of adultery in Matthew 5. In this chapter He condemns this sin and sets a very high standard of sexual purity.

    In the New Testament he doesn’t mention incest, pedophilia, or bestiality, but the Old Testament does condemn all these sexual sins along with homosexuality. There are other sins about which the Lord does not speak.

    Since the Lord doesn’t mention the above perversions are we to assume that He was Ok with them as well as with homosexuality – if this is the fact to which you alluded?

    Christ does speak of the ideal sexual behavior in Matthew 19 were He quotes from Genesis. Christ says that the Creator intended that a man and a woman would be “one flesh” in marriage. This is a sexual relationship that exists only between a man and a woman.

    Seems to bit that these remarks in Matthew 19 should be more than adequate for Christians to understand the Lord’s attitude toward sexual expression.


  123. Uosdwis Says:

    From last night’s Daily Show: “George Bush doesn’t care about white people!”


  124. gummitch Says:

    Crazy bitblt scribbled:

    In the New Testament he doesn’t mention incest, pedophilia, or bestiality, but the Old Testament does condemn all these sexual sins along with homosexuality. There are other sins about which the Lord does not speak.

    Uh, but . . . if he doesn’t speak of them, how can they be sins?

    The Old Testament defines everything from what you can wear to what you can eat to how to wear your hair, but there are sins that got left out? God forgot to mention them?


  125. DRxJ Says:

    DRxJ thinks that “little bit” is some sort of homosexual craving bible thumper, as this thread has nothing to do with the subject.
    But, DRxJ thinks “little bit” may be over compensating for some inferiority complex.
    And DRxJ thinks “little bit” should stick to the topic of thread.
    DRxJ really wants to know “little bit’s” take on the MidWest being the backbone of America, and New Orleans the implied armpit.
    Actually, no, DRxJ doesn’t want to further the agony of “little bits” posts.


  126. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    rogerse Says:
    ralph the wonder llama Says:

    I never said his statements weren’t racist, just he never directly said anything to that effect.

    I’m going to have to call bullsh!t on this one, R-2.

    Again, here’s what you said:

    Funny that he didn’t make any actual reference to race..so tp just distracted from what he said, to what he supposedly implies.I guess it was easier.

    Now, perhaps I made an assumption that I shouldn’t have made, and figured where you wrote “distracted” you meant “extracted” (since otherwise it makes no sense) but the phrase “supposedly implies” clearly indicates a disputation of TP’s premise, does it not?

    We all know that in casual conversation such as on this forum, we very seldom mean exactly what we say and nothing more, right? Part of communication is decoding subtext and implications of a message, in whatever medium it is delivered.

    Of course, this can be taken too far, and frequently is, but to claim that your statement, “Funny that he didn’t make any actual reference to race..so tp just distracted from what he said, to what he supposedly implies.I guess it was easier.” is not meaning to defend Rush against charges of racism is patently absurd.


  127. Saint Augustine Says:

    One of the trolls said

    They moved most of these so called “good standing citizens” to Houston, where crime has significantly increased since 2006.

    Well what look what happened to the crimes in D.C. after Bush moved there from Texas. Unfortunately for Texas Bush will be coming back.


  128. Keith Says:

    The Limbaugh supporters here have the idea that if you are poor, it is due to you being lazy or Democratic policies. But, looking at the facts shows the opposite. Everytime a Dem comes to office, the job growth rate improves and everytime a Repub comes to office, it worsens. Same for poverty and unemployment statistics. Can the trolls explain this? Why would someone become lazier under Repubs than under Dems? Answer is: “they don’t”—it’s just that liberal policies are better than conservative policies.


  129. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    bitblt Says:

    Kira Says:

    By the way - Jesus never said one word about homosexuality. But, why let the facts get in the way of rightwing bigots’ whiny remarks?
    June 19th, 2008 at 1:23 pm

    And exactly which fact is it that should be getting in the way?

    Do you mean to say that since Christ never said one word about homosexuality the Lord was Ok with this practice?

    ralph thinks bitblt deliberately misrepresents the meaning of Kira’s post. Kira was responding to posts that highlighted Daryll’s faulty citation of biblical verses that do not exist.

    ralph, for instance, quoted a post of Daryll’s from yesterday in which he asserted that ” Jesus said homosexuality is wrong”.

    Daryll has been unwilling to cite book, chapter and verse to support this asumption, and Kira respnded to the is failure of Daryll’s.

    Now bitblt would like to extrapolate a theological/philosophical position on behalf of Kira that Kira’s post does not support.

    ralph believes that bitblt MAY be simply reading too much into a single post, but ralph suspects that bitblt has followed the thread and is dishonestly framing it.


  130. Saint Augustine Says:

    I’ll bet dipbit has a dildo that it uses when posting here.

    Hey bit, sit on it and rotate.


  131. AMcG773 Says:

    FEMA has been in Iowa from day one. And psst, there are black people in Iowa!


  132. shoeless Says:

    bitblt Says:

    But the Bible is clear that not all of the Lord’s words or actions are record.

    Is that why people like you and Darryl feel free to just make up the rest?


  133. Fred Says:

    Fred thinks bitit is a social pariah. The trolls here don’t dare speak such absurdity in general public. They must hide behind the anonomity of the internet or be in a group of like minded bigots to speak their minds.


  134. Zimzone Says:

    bitblt, (is that a small sandwich or something?), likes to make shit up as it goes, apparently.

    The Bible was not written by God, by god. It’s all man made, right down to the last word. In fact, it’s men repeating fantasies & writing their personal belief in the name of God.

    BTW, did God make little sandwiches?


  135. Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    rogerse Says:
    DRxJ Says:
    nope, he didn’t say how the post was wrong either.

    This idiot troll is never going to realize that it is not up to us to prove him wrong, it’s up to him to prove he is right. So how about we just ignore him.


  136. shoeless Says:

    Now Bilbo, roger went off to rehab, and is now attempting to reform himself. Here is what he said earlier to ralph:

    rogerse Says:

    I’m just gonna be like you [ralph].

    I know it’s improbable that he can achieve such a dramatic transformation, but we should give him a chance to try.


  137. ucsbclassics53 Says:

    Daryll, as Think Progress’ spokesperson for God, I expected more compassion from you. After all, you claim to be a Man of God, a Man of Jesus and yet you show the disdain REPUBLICANS have for the poor and marginalized. I am shocked (not really) that such a great Christian like yourself would be professing such contempt when Jesus said what we did for the least of us we do unto him.


  138. ucsbclassics53 Says:

    rogerse Says:

    ralph the wonder llama Says:

    ok, so you can say he had racial implications in his message, regardless of the lack of direct racial reference….

    so what about the yes/no qustion?.

    He doesn’t need to explicitly mention race, just like how the Playboy ad did not explicitly mention that Harold Ford Jr. would have sex with white women, but it was implied…His previous comments pertaining to the situation is cause enough for us to believe the disdain he has for the Katrina victims…and to believe that he is not underneath playing the race card, you know the black = crime card…


  139. SpoxLogic Says:

    To all. God could give a rat’s a$$ about whether or not you choose to bump uglies with John or Jane. He’s omni-everything, and as such is omni-bisexual. He’s also omni-good AND omni-evil, thereby making him God and Devil at the same time (heh-heh, just trying to live up to my screenname)
    It is MAN, that is passing down all of these rules, under the guise of it coming from God. Once you realize that God really doesn’t give a hoot about all your hang-ups, you may find life a whole lot simpler to live.


  140. Shayne Says:

    Jesus also said, “In order for man to eat, he must work”. - Dumbyll

    What happens when this administration and its co-conspirators are all in prison and you’re out of your patronage job? It’s obvious you are too out of it to ever qualify for a real job. You’ll probably be reduced to turning tricks with men and you’ll no doubt be much happier you repressed psychopath.


  141. ucsbclassics53 Says:

    People like John Kerry on this board swallow hook and sinker the myths the liberal media put out to slander the people of NOLA…Those urban legends could not be substantiated but since the narrative fits the worldview of Rush and his Dittoheads, they accept it without question…without acknowledging the possibility that they are unfounded…

    Rush Limbaugh has lowered the political discourse of this country to new lows where now racism IS acceptable to spout out because he claims that they are “justified by reality.” Because he is able to poison the discourse with his lies and his reliance on myths, he then proves the prejudices that many of his listening audience has. Thus, his Dittoheads can say, “I’m not racist, because Rush says so, it must be the truth.”


  142. Shayne Says:

    Kira Says:

    You say Daryll posts unintentional satire?

    Interestingly, this “The person playing Daryll clearly doesn’t believe all the crap he posts, he’s just playing a role in a performance art piece” could be said of the entire bush administration.

    Kira, you are one fast learner. Bravo!


  143. Shayne Says:

    rogerse Says:

    ralph the wonder llama Says:

    yeah, and will you answer, otherwise why should I bother.

    Do you think rogerse was sticking his tongue out when he typed his “I know you are but what am I?”

    Why are rethugs all such children (no offense meant to actual children).


  144. Keith Says:

    African-Americans have been subjugated for hundreds of years. It’s not surprising that they overall would be poorer and commit more crimes. Heck, Rush Limbaugh cannot stop committing crimes and he earns over $25,000,000 per year.


  145. Kira Says:

    Daryll Says: Jesus also said, “In order for man to eat, he must work”.

    Gummitch is correct in saying this comes from one of Paul’s letters specifically to the Thessalonian Christians.

    2 Thessalonians 3:1-15

    The warning against idleness is for those Thessalonian Christians expecting the imminent return of Jesus, who have stopped concerning themselves with day-to-day living.

    Quote: We did not eat anyone’s food without paying for it. In fact we toiled and laboured night and day to avoid being the slightest expense to any of you. This was not because we had no right to ask our necessities of you, but because we wanted to set you an example.

    So - this is not a commandment given by Jesus to people suffering the devastation brought by hurricane Katrina or other disasters or even the population at large.

    This was Paul talking to his church members in Thessalonia.

    Period.


  146. Kira Says:

    Sorry I left out daryll’s money quote:

    10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
    11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

    So, daryll - are you one of the disorderly busybodies?


  147. ucsbclassics53 Says:

    They falsely attribute, “Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day.” Teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime” to Jesus too…


  148. shoeless Says:

    Kira,

    Daryll is constantly attributing Paul’s quotes to Jesus. All of us have tried time and again to inform poor Daryll that Paul was not Jesus, to no avail.

    It’s too bad Paul isn’t around to set Daryll straight.


  149. Kira Says:

    …Giving Faux Christians a “thumping” whenever possible :)


  150. Kira Says:

    I know, it’s like trying to debate with a fencepost.


  151. Gregor Samsa Says:

    It’s too bad Paul isn’t around to set Daryll straight.
    ~shoeless

    Given Darryll’s obsession with everything relating to “the gays”, this sentence can be interpreted in more than one way ;-)


  152. Kira Says:

    One more thing about NOLA & Katrina Victims:
    War Bill helps Iraqis Ignores Katrina Victims

    I firmly believe we owe the Iraqis for what the abject horror this malevolent administration unleashed on them & their land. I also firmly believe we should take care of the victims of Katrina.

    Hey - the administration helped out creepy old Trent Lott when he lost his house to Katrina. As if he couldn’t afford to pull himself up by his own stained bootstraps.

    From the article:

    Congress’ plan to spend $212 billion to finance the war in Iraq. In the massive spending bill, $350 million is set aside to help Iraqi refugees while just