After Opposing The Stimulus, Rep. Cao Now Working To ‘Channel’ Recovery Act Funds To New Orleans
After Opposing The Stimulus, Rep. Cao Now Working To ‘Channel’ Recovery Act Funds To New Orleans
Despite voting against the Economic Recovery Act, Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA) is now working to bring Recovery Act money into his district. Last week, the Times-Picayune reported that Cao has been meeting with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to apply to “use stimulus money for additional streetcar expansions and road repairs.” Cao boasted that he is now working to “channel” the money that he opposed to his district:
“Whenever I meet with the mayor it goes extremely well,” Cao said. “Our focus has always been and is today about the recovery issues of the 2nd District. We are trying to look at federal monies that the state has and channeling more of that money to the district.”
Earlier this year, Cao indicated that he would vote for the Economic Recovery Act. “I will vote for it because the 2nd Congressional District needs a stimulus package,” Cao told local reporters at the time. Of course, Cao ultimately joined every single other House Republican in opposing the Recovery Act.
A review of FEC records reveals that the Republican leadership has rewarded Cao for his willingness to tow the party line:
– After voting against the Recovery Act on January 28, House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner’s (R-OH) PAC gave Cao a check for $5,000 two days later. [FEC, accessed 8/3/09]
– Cao indicated that he was considering voting in favor of clean energy economy legislation Waxman-Markey. However when it came to the House floor for a vote on June 26, Cao voted against it. Four days later, Boehner handed Cao $2,000. [FEC, accessed 8/3/09]
The GOP’s arm-twisting of Cao has also included regular phone calls from Republican Whip Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA). On the day of the stimulus vote, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), the Republican deputy whip, “stood near Cao during the entire vote.”
The political game for Cao has become predictable: pretend to support progressive legislation, then vote with the right-wing against the bill. For the stimulus, the budget, and climate change legislation, Cao postured like a moderate, then bowed to pressure and voted as a conservative. At least with the stimulus, Cao’s work “channeling” the money for his district is an acknowledgment that he was wrong to vote against it.
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***
pay for play.
see how it works?
:|
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:29 pmThe GNOP: Having their cake (claiming to have bought the ingredients, baking and frosting it themselves) and eating it, too.
And no coverage of this ongoing hypocrisy by the media.
PEACE
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:30 pmtoo bad the corporate controlled right wing mainstream media won’t tell you about this
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:33 pmDoes this really come as a surprise to anyone?
More of the same, from the party of “No”.
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:37 pmRepublicans: Masters of working both sides of the street.
Until it caves in on them…what utter boobs.
Hey, didja hear the one about the Arizona state politicians planning to SELL THEIR SENATE AND HOUSE BUILDINGS, leasing them, and then buying them back when times get better? Is there no depths to which these idiots will not step in order to avoid paying ONE RED CENT OF TAXES?
Their ideology is strangling them. Give ‘em enough rope.
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:37 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Americans put COUNTRY FIRST
Republicans put Country Club First
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:38 pmLiberalLinebacker
so you’re just a pretend liberal, just like you’re a pretend American, that about it?
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:39 pmAfter reading comments about the MSM and not reporting this…I have to say, Cao is a LOCAL Louisiana story, not a national one. So I give them BARELY a pass on this.
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:39 pm“However when it came to the House floor for a vote on June 26, Cao voted against it. Four days later, Boehner handed Cao $2,000.”
OK, so Cao’s a whore.
“The GOP’s arm-twisting of Cao has also included regular phone calls from Republican Whip Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA). On the day of the stimulus vote, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), the Republican deputy whip, ’stood near Cao during the entire vote.’ ”
Or maybe he’s just a sex slave. Which is it?
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:40 pmCao is a GnOP whore.
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:40 pmRepublicans put Country Club First”
ha ha
Great line!
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:41 pmnot when it is federal tax money that Cao is lying about, that makes it a national story
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:41 pmLiberalLinebacker says:
I don’t care if you hate Cao’s politics. My comment is assinine.
___________
There… fixed it for ya.
You can thank me later!
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:41 pmEditor:
…the Republican leadership has rewarded Cao for his willingness to tow the party line…
Dang it, it’s TOE, not tow. Whaddya think is attached to the party line? A party barge?
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:42 pmOh come on, Fred… you know those right-wingers. Words have remarkably elastic definitions for them. They’ve tried to redfine “fascist” to claim it’s a liberal thing, so now that the word “conservative” is in the shitter, you gotta expect they’ll take “liberal” and try to make it mean “smaller government, lower taxes, preemptive wars and warrantless wiretapping”.
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:45 pmI disagree that this SHOULD be a national story, because there are plenty of OTHER Republican hypocrites besides Cao.
He may have said publicly that he would vote for it, or that he might have voted for it…but this is not a national story just because he was vocal where other Republicans were silent. He’s still a hypocrite, but…national story? Uh-uh.
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:46 pmralph the wonder llama says:
Oh come on, Fred…you know those right-wingers.
Spot on. And by linebacker, he means waterboy.
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:46 pmI recorded a song called Toe the Line about this same sort of thing, back on a previous solo album. Check it out here: http://www.reverbnation.com/tunepak/1701226
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:47 pm***
the tenth vote,
courtesy of me.
:)
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:48 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
He isn’t just a whore. He is a cheap whore. Boehner is the guy who once handed out tobacco industry bribes (oops, campaign contributions) on the House floor. If you are venal enough to vote against the interests of your entire district at least hold out for enough to buy one stinking television ad when you get crushed next year.
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:49 pmYou guys…let’s try, very hard, to be liberals, to be progressives, to actually look a little deeper at an issue or a story.
I have had a few disagreements with stories run here at TP. It’s pretty rare, but they are honest disagreements.
But so much of the time, in these comments, people just start piling on. But sometimes there ARE flaws in these posts, or at least room for thinking rather than reflexive reactions.
Cao is one Representative. If he’s the only GOP member of the House to say he MIGHT vote for the stimulus, but then not vote for it, in order to play both sides of the street…that’s what it is. But in my opinion, it’s NOT reason to make a headline anywhere except the liberal blogosphere. And only because we’re paying such close attention.
And you’ll see it on Maddow and Olbermann and the rest, too. But let’s not pile on to someone because they dare to disagree. The resulting comments start sounding like FreeRepublic instead of someplace I’d want to hang out.
Can you dig it?
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:51 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Jacktheliberal says:
What are you guys smoking? The only sane comment was made by LiberalLinebacker.
___________
Hmmm…
Tag team concern trolls this am. Might even be the same person under different names.
Why do I get the feeling this isn’t going to end well for jack and his friend?
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:52 pmconcern trolls are the funniest kind
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:53 pmYou’re funny. We point out cao’s hypocracy and you act like we are attacking the people of LA.
Are you a fake liberal too, like the “athelete” from above?
Take a class so you can learn to read for comprehension. It will help.
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:53 pmralph the wonder llama says:
so now that the word “conservative” is in the shitter, you gotta expect they’ll take “liberal” and try to make it mean “smaller government, lower taxes, preemptive wars and warrantless wiretapping”.
________________
Which two rightwing pundits were talking about reclaiming the word “progressive” recently? Kristol and who?
Like it’s going to make a difference…
***eyes roll…***
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:54 pmThis guy is in a democratic district. They only reason he’s in congress is because William Jefferson hid cash in his freezer. Cao will be gone in 2010.
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:55 pmIt says it’s been voted down and I don’t know how to read it after that happens.
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:55 pmJacktheliberal says:
Louisiana receives $1.78 back for every federal dollar paid, making it the 4th biggest welfare state. And that doesn’t include the money spent by FEMA or the Army Corp of Engineers. Don’t believe me? Check the list
“Fair share” is a term the GNOP likes to throw around, until it comes time to actually looking at which are the welfare states are, and which are the states support them.
PEACE
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:56 pmBut Tommy…I’m not a troll. And ‘concern troll’ just might be a term that gets tossed around a LITTLE TOO frequently, and sometimes wrongly.
Seriously! Don’t be so divisive! What is the use in it? Discuss it intelligently, for crissakes. It’s not hard, at least, FOR US…!
Heh, heh…
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:56 pmWell Daddy-O, if it smells Republicans, sounds Republican, and looks Republican, it’s probably retarded
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:58 pmWhy doesn’t anyone answer this? Are the people of Louisiana in fact partly contributing to the recovery act via their tax dollars?
If they are in fact tax paying Americans, then are they entitled to (as one gentleman puts it) “their fair share” of these redistributed tax dollars?
This is not about Cao. It is about the rights of the people in his state. You people are really good about voting comments down, but fail miserably at righteousness and fairness. This was not the best article I have seen at Think Progress.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:00 pmNothing JacktheLiberal said in his posts is trollish. It just DISAGREES on this very minor subject! Isn’t there room for that without throwing insults?
I mean, sure, Jack asked if you were all smoking crack. I just thought he was being funny, but maybe it threw you guys off.
We’re all on the same side. Why can’t we discuss this without being called trolls? Just because I have a small issue with TP’s editorializing of this story?
I mean…listen to what you’re saying with some new ears/eyes, okay? Seriously, why alienate your own allies?
Please?
Man, I hate this ‘voting down’ posts. It’s ridiculous! Let an ass make an ass of him or her self. Let their words NOT be taken away. They prove themselves.
But LiberalLinebacker and JacktheLiberal said nothing that was worthy of banning, as far as I could tell.
Sigh.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:00 pmTL is trying to spin this as an attack on the people of LA receiving money, while conveniently ignoring that it is all about the blatant hypocrisy of Cao
That is what exposes him as a concern troll. Real liberals have better reading comprehension skills.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:02 pmSpencer’s Mom, you make a valid point about Louisiana.
Please answer this. Should we cut back funding to Louisiana and other poorer states? A $1.78 to $1.00 tax redistribution hardly sounds fair and just.
What is your opinion on this matter? Should the ratio be 1 to 1 for all states?
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:03 pmNow apply your logic to health care. By the way, you are the only one that has included the citizens in the discussion.
We have been talking about the hypocrite cao who voted against the funds and now is taking credit locally.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:04 pmI guess the difference is, Tommy…how do you really know? I thought LiberalLinebacker and JacktheLiberal had valid points. As far as I could tell, the only thing about them that smelled Republican was the fact that they didn’t mirror TP’s story, and everybody else who jumped in line.
I don’t know about you…but I USE my brain. Sometimes people disagree on shit. And this story is very minor; it’s not like we’re talking about birther bullshit or whether we should invade Iraq.
When people jump the shit of what COULD be honest fellow libs, just because they disagree with a TP story…I gotta point it out. Excoriating a proven liar is one thing, but those two guys shouldn’t have been treated like that. They hadn’t crossed any lines, as far as I could tell.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:04 pmTrueLiberty @35 – the short answer is NO, the people of Louisiana are not contributing to the revenue spent on the recovery plan. See the link provided @31.
Louisiana already receives $1.78 for every dollar paid in taxes. In fact, there is only ONE “red state” that isn’t a welfare state and that is Texas, who gets $.94 for every dollar paid. Every other red state is a welfare state.
Facts are your friend, try using them.
PEACE
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:05 pmYou are entitled to your opinion. My opinion is that they are concern trolls, big time.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:06 pmRanting Tommy, I don’t know what a concern troll is and you make negative comments about Cao. However after losing his bid to knock down the bailout legislation, what was his proper course of action?
Should he have gotten on the house floor and said “We the people of Louisiana don’t want any of this money, but it’s all right to tax us for this legislation”?
Is that what he should have done for the people who live in Louisiana?
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:06 pmDaddy-O, I give them the benefit of the doubt, for a while. But when they intentionally (or stupidly) misread the posts and attack the straw man they erected instead of the argument at hand, it gives them away.
Nobody here said the citizens of LA didn’t deserve the money. We simply pointed out the hypocrisy of Cao. The trolls ignored that to spin the argument.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:07 pmno, TL, he should have admitted he was wrong for voting against it.
in other words, he should not be a hypocrite
it’s pretty easy logic to follow, even for a right winger
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:08 pmRepublican = Hypocrite
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:10 pmOf course Cao will take credit locally, he is a hypocrite politician. However if he did not fight for his share of the money, that would him a traitor to the people of Louisiana.
Spencer’s Mom you didn’t answer my very simple question. Should the red welfare states (or blue ones for that matter) continue to be supported by the wealthier states?
I did not ask you if the people of Louisiana were receiving as much as they contributed and I am not asking you that now.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:11 pmAnd nobody likes to be scolded…so, believe it or not, I’ll understand if nobody will back me up.
It’s so easy to let the insults fly on the Internets Tubes, ain’t it? I’m sure as hell guilty. But this just bugged me.
You just can’t tell. Sure, somebody like TrueLiberty MIGHT be a troll, a concern troll, whatever. Then he hides his secret identity by posting an intelligent post like #38. I agree, that spencersmom made a great point. Incidentally, it didn’t have much to do with MY point about whether this story belongs in the national MSM.
Maybe TL is good at hiding his agenda. Maybe he just wants to stir it up. Maybe he wants us to be divided. Maybe he’s sitting in his pajamas. Maybe he’s a damned bot.
We just don’t know. But I know I don’t like the peer pressure I see here to vote down posts and pile on to people who have disagreements. And I don’t go through every post to find out who’s who. I could very well be dead wrong about LL, Jack and TL. Maybe they’re total neocons having fun.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:11 pmDiversionary issue.
The issue is that Republicans decry “government spending” but are the first in line with their hands out and the biggest recipients of the largess they condemn.
Why is that so difficult for concern trolls to understand?
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:12 pmTrueLiberty says:
I’m sure the blue states who provide the welfare support to the red states would appreciate getting their “fair share” returned to them.
However, if each state received back an equal amount paid, there would be no need to collect federal taxes. There would be no federal government, which is actually Norquist’s wet dream.
Of course, there would be no red states, either, because they’d all be bankrupt beggars.
PEACE
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:12 pmOK, the hypocrisy that TP is illustrating, shorter:
Cao says Yes.
Cao waffles.
Cao says No.
Boehner gives Cao a gold star.
Cao attempts to take credit for stimulus funding.
I don’t know how this degraded to an argument over whether LA deserves the $$. TP was once again highlighting the Republican M.O. of stonewalling and then trying to take credit for someone else’s successes.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:13 pmNot if he truly believed the Republican rhetoric that this stimulus bill will do nothing to help the economy and will saddle their grandchildren with debt.
If that were the case (instead of just being standard Republican operating procedure) then taking the money would make him a traitor to his principles.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:14 pmralph, most things are difficult for trolls (concern or not) to understand
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:14 pmSo guessing all them were for it before told to be against it.
Yes country first as long as its there country. But my country is the United States of America and the includes every one, and yes even theses dumb ones.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:15 pm35. TrueLiberty sez:…
If Spencer’s Mom is correct (@ 31), no, the good citizens of Louisiana are not net contributors, they’re net receivers. Sure, individually, most of them are probably paying their federal and state taxes, but the state receives more in federal dollars for various things than it receives from the state. Given the effects of Katrina, etc, I don’t find that immediately bothersome, and given the fact that there are a few other states that get more back from the federal kitty than the slush fund gets from those state’s citizens, it probably isn’t a big deal.
In fact, I live in one of those states; not the worst one though. I believe that Alaska is actually top of the list, but I’d have to go look at a couple of fact books to verify.
This is about Cao. He’s a minor league hypocrite, but he’s learning. On the other hand, the rePublicrites must really distrust him if they had the deputy whip standing next to him during the entire period that the floor poll was open.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:15 pmWhich is totally and deliberatly off topic and has nothing to do with the discussion that this thread addresses.
cao took money to vote against the bill and now he is out trying to take credit for the money being given to his constituants. He deserves to be called out on that, agreed?
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:15 pmIs he holding a package of bacon?
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:15 pmOh, and “TrueLiberty”…
Concern Troll:
In an argument (usually a political debate), a concern troll is someone who is on one side of the discussion, but pretends to be a supporter of the other side with “concerns”.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:15 pmFred you can read the click to read tag next to any voted down comment.
Spencer’s Mom, so your answer looks like it is no to TL’s question.
This place is very frustrating, if you don’t agree with every single article written people jump all over you.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:18 pm55. correction. clarification
…but the state receives more in federal dollars for various things than it receives from the state…
should be
…the state (of Louisiana) receives more in federal dollars for various things than the Federal government receives (in taxes)from (the citizens and business interests of) the state (of Louisiana)…
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:19 pmTrueLiberty says:
I did answer your question, but let me make it very, very simple so you can understand:
I believe in the importance, the necessity of having a federal government. I believe in the federal budget process that determines which states receive what amount of subsidy. I may not necessarily agree with the outcomes, but I’m not an economist, an actuary or an accountant, and I don’t play one on the internet.
But thank you for your concern.
PEACE
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:20 pmralph the wonder llama
very good pointing out of a concern troll
“done feed the trolls signs need to be put up. cause like wild animals once they get the free meal they just keep coming back.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:21 pmwrong
people jump on you if you use dishonest straw man tactics while ignoring the actual point of the article
try reading it again, more slowly, maybe with someone there to help explain things to you
it is 100% about the hypocrisy of Cao, nothing else
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:21 pm***
the troll(s) are working
from a memo.
:)
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:23 pmJoseph Cao: The GOPs Walt Minnick*
*Walt Minnick may be frighteningly conservative for a Dem, but he serves a valuable purpose: to prevent wingnuts like Bill Sali, who complained about having to share his chamber of Congress with a…(gasp) MUSLIM. Better to have someone vote with the Dems 60% of the time then with the GOP 100% of the time. Cao is in a similar position. He realizes he won’t face a primary in 2010 and only won in 2008 due to the extremely dislikable nature of the incumbent. What I can’t figure out is why he’s been that supportive of the GOP while representing a district with a Cook value of +28D. The Dems would have to do something colossally stupid (like re-nominate Bill Jefferson or a political ally) to fail to retake the seat. Besides, with Melacon giving up his seat for a senate run, LA could concievably have an entirely GOP House delegation. Oh, the humanity…
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:23 pmWonder Llama I think it’s clear that TL was against both the Obama and Bush bailouts. I don’t see him pretend to be on the other side of the issue. He also stated that he did not like Cao for other reasons.
I suppose he is not a concern troll by your description. I am not really sure if I fit that category. I was definitely against the Bush bailout and I am uncertain about the latest Recovery Act. Also as much as I hate Bush, Congress was as responsible for that treasonous act. I am equally angry with the Repubs and Crats who voted yes for it.
I don’t think deficit spending should be considered a liberal value or part of the liberal platform. Maybe I am wrong, but it is perhaps an issue Republicans and Democrats can agree on. Of course they will fight about how to spend the money.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:25 pmVirtual Pebble says:
Virtual Pebble, it’s not a matter of if I’m correct, it’s a matter of if taxfoundation.org is correct. The link to the table referenced can be found here.
PEACE
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:25 pm* * *
“this place is frustrating.”
when a conservative gets
frustrated, they quit.
:|
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:26 pm***
“backup”
has changed his name.
:)
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:27 pmWould someone explain to me why those of us in blue states are subsidizing red states which do not even have state income tax.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:28 pmWhy should today be any different?
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:30 pmLiberalLinebacker, exactly what is about your political views that you would consider “liberal”?
I don’t see anything so far in your comments but boilerplate libertarianism.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:33 pm***
i see a lot of concern.
some of it being fed.
:0
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:36 pmHere you betray your true nature.
“Deficit spending” is not a “liberal value”. It can be seen at appropriate times as a tool to achieve liberal values.
Real liberals don’t embrace “deficit spending” as a good in and of itself. But we recognize that sometimes in a bad economy, government spending can act as ballast to prevent further wild swings, and sometimes that spending results in the government running a deficit.
Liberals are not like Dick Cheney Republicans, who believed that “Reagan proved deficits don’t matter”.
See the difference?
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:38 pmRalph, libertarians are only libertarian until they need something. Then they whine about not getting their “fair share”.
shoeless, not only does Alaska rank #3 on the list of welfare states, it has no state income or sales tax. But they do send out their annual socialist redistribution of wealth from taxes they impose on government-owned natural resources. And Princess Wasilla, after imposing windfall profits taxes, more than doubled the checks and still couldn’t keep her approval rating from plummeting.
PEACE
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:38 pmHe can’t understand what you are saying. Republicans live in a hypocrisy free zone.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:39 pmPublic Service Announcement:
“true liberty” is a pat phrase commonly used by christian conservatives and Libertarians etc.
See TrueLiberty’s comment on the Lou Dobbs thread and you will see a “Paultard” desperate for new friends because it’s so lonely being a minority (Libertarian)of a minority (Republican).
Add that to this thread’s strawman question about “Should the red welfare states (or blue ones for that matter) continue to be supported by the wealthier states?” and the inability to process spencersmom’s very clear, fact-based response.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:42 pmAllow me to offer some thoughts:
I have no problem with the wealthier states helping to support the less wealthy ones through government assistance and social programs. I think that makes a stronger nation.
What I object to, however, is the people of those less fortunate states who receive far more benefit from taxpayer-funded programs than their contributions would support, then condemning such programs for others as “socialism”.
It’s the hypocrisy, not the policy.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:42 pmWow, I guess you think I can’t read and you don’t get sarcasm any better than you do irony.
The first thing you said was that you would have voted against an obviously sucessful stimulus bill and then you think the only one you have crossed is TP?
Irony, look it up.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:45 pmThe dude must be thinking about his re-election bid.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:50 pmYet another typical politician. He can’t stand up to his own “values.”
Maybe I am a Libertarian and just don’t know it? LOL
I believe in the right to free speech, right to freedom of religion, I believe in the right to a speedy trial by a jury of your peers, I believe in freedom of press and the right to petition the government.
I hate the Patriot Act, the suspension of habeas corpus. I hate our war mongering and constant military involvement. I believe in equal rights for all people regardless of skin color or religious beliefs. I hated when Bush, Cheney wiretapped innocent private individuals using the NSA.
I don’t see what the big deal is about gay people getting married, as long as you don’t force religious clergy to perform ceremonies. I really don’t like the Federal Reserve and think the Federal Reserve Act should be repealed.
I don’t believe in spending more money than you have. I don’t see the need for a U.S. Department of Education if each state has its own or spending so much money on war.
I think we should cut back on all this FEMA, Homeland Security crap, The FBI was in place and should be enough to deal with the threats this country faces. I really don’t like that the media is mostly owned by large banking institutions and has been narrowed down to 5 major corporations. The flow of information is vital to Liberty and a monopoly on media can and is causing use to be constantly subject to propaganda.
I think we can use the money we save from above mentioned military/big brother tax cuts for National Health Care. My favorite President was John F. Kennedy. Any other questions?
Maybe I am a Libertarian? Honestly I have consistently voted Democrat since I came of voting age.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:52 pmAn example of the evils of “deficit spending”:
My small cabinetmaking business with gross annual sales of $120K went $64K into debt to buy 3 woodworking machines and a CAD system. Three years later we were grossing over $500K and hired two other workers at fair market wages.
Two new jobs! Banks earning money on the loan! Suppliers making more money due to increased sales volume! Better wages for me! More taxes for the Fed and State!
Oh the horrors of deficit spending!
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:53 pm***
“any other questions?”
where do you buy your ties?
. . .
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:58 pmActually, there is nothing wrong with Cao looking for money that he voted against.
I just wish that he would acknowledge that he was wrong, and admit that the stimulus money really does come in handy for his district for addressing some infrastructure projects and in the process, creates more jobs.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:59 pmI think he gets them at “bow ties R us”
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:04 pmThe Libertarian Party platform calls for the repeal of Civil Rights laws.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:04 pmOT
74. ralph the wonderllama sez:…
Actually, the cons and neocons started calling it deficit spending as a perjorative some time ago. May have even been long enough ago that it was just cons, cause the neos were still dirtying diapers and squalling (I know, I know, not much change there.) One of the correct terms, which does not have the derogatory freight, is counter-cyclical spending, where the government attempts to smooth out economic variation by spending more in bad times and taxing more in good; the policy and model for that is a little more complicated, but that’s the jist. Of course, it was also referred to as Keynesian economics until the rePublicrites turned Keynes into a dirty word among the themselves and the great ignorant unwashed. (We really need to spend more on education, lots more…)
67. Spencer’s Mom sez:… I apologize – that was just rhetorical. I didn’t think you’d pulled the number out of thin air. Personally, I prefer “The Economist” magazine’s “World Fact Book”; they don’t have a dog in anyone’s fight, that I know of – they’re pretty much straight up with their statistical data and inference therefrom.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:07 pmCao isn’t knuckling under to pressure from the GOP hierarchy. His vote is for sale.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:09 pmOkay, LiberalLinebacker, I’m willing to give you the benefit of the doubt at this point. You probably won’t see why so many of us quickly decided you were a concern troll, but it’s clear to me. Your first comment sounded awfully trollish, and your follow-ups didn’t do much to clear up any misconceptions. Take into account the fact that you don’t have a reputation established here yet, and it’s an understandable mistake, from my perspective.
I look forward to your further contributions here.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:10 pm****
fred,
i got your drift.
i don’t think anybody else did.
but i did.
:)
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:12 pmComon Ralph, he called TP yellow journalism.
Remember how long you defended cappy?
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:14 pmshoeless you ought to lay off liberallinebacker he was sincerely asking whether or not we thought of him as libertarian after he mentioned some of what he stands for. He was not claiming to be an expert on the Libertarian party platform.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:23 pmFred, I didn’t say I believed LiberalLinebacker; I said I’d give him the benefit of the doubt.
For now.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:23 pmlibertarians are republicans. What does “what he stands for” have to do with cao’s hypocricy?
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:26 pmSorry Ralph, I knew that. My tolerance for slimy charactors like him is wearing thin.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:27 pmIt sounds to me like liberallinebacker is a fiscally concerned Democrat. With the state of our economy and the devaluation of the US dollar, we ought to be concerned.
I think Ralph is right in cutting him some slack. And why is everybody beating on trueliberty? He didn’t say anything off base, maybe he is libertarian leaning, but he certainly doesn’t say anything Neocon-ish. He even said he didn’t like Cao.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:28 pmFred that was a conversation between Ralph and Linebacker, I believe that Linebacker was sincere in his political views and Ralph responded to him, using this blog as a means of communicating.
Libertarians are Republicans? Yeah and black is white.
They are polar opposites on many issues.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:31 pmMikeua26, I will take your “concern” into consideration.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:34 pmThat must be why there are so many non-white members in both political parties.
irony…
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:37 pmLibertarians are Republicans? Yeah and black is white.
They are polar opposites on many issues.
The ones who show up here sound just the same on many issues. Or at least they did, before Bush made republicanism a dirty word, and they decided that libertarian sounded better.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:39 pm5th estate, when you borrowed that money the lender did his due dilligence, to make sure your business was sound, you have enough of a backlog and that it was overall a sound investment for the bank. And if you fail the bank has to eat the loss, the private bank that loaned you the money and the bank’s shareholders get hurt.
The people will not bail you out if you fail. And of course they should not. 92% of the people were against the Bush bailouts and 75% of the people were for the auditing of the Federal Reserve. Yet look how Congress voted!
Your comparison is not a good one. Comparing your small business loan to the Bush bailouts…LOL
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:41 pmIs there anyway to write into a bill a clause that states that the funds will be split between those who vote for the bill ?
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:43 pmWell then how about this comparison. The left has never engaged in deficit spending until this time when we had to borrow money to get back to work. The right has always ingaged in deficit spending.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:44 pmI am a black man, just because I am a Black Democrat doesn’t mean that I automatically agree with every action Obama takes.
I think there are more latinos who are Republicans and more Blacks who are libertarians, if you evaluate the percentage of each minority group within those parties.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:45 pmIf you dare to look this up you will not report your findings here. you betcha.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:48 pmFred it is engaged not ingaged, and what you said is not entirely true. I also do not like to think of myself as left or right.
It is true that for years the Republicans have claimed to be financially responsible and then ran up the national debt. What George W. Bush did, in terms of running up our debt, should not be repeated by Obama.
I really don’t want the first Black President’s legacy to be the collapse of the economy and the US dollar.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:49 pmFolks who call themselves libertarians these days almost invariably vote Republican in a two-party race. Three years ago many of them would have called themselves Republican, until a steady stream of sex and corruption scandals, Bush administration incompetence and a collapsing laissez-faire economy brought their brand name into disrepute.
So they reinvented themselves as “Libertarians”. Occasionally we get a real one here, but most of the TPers who claim to be libertarians are just wingnuts who are embarrassed to be Republicans.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:49 pmFred you may be right, what is the actual stat? Of all the minorities within the Republican Party are most Latino, Black or Asian?
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:50 pmI don’t know many Libertarians, I can’t comment or pass such judgement as you can Ralph.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:51 pmWell, the economy collapsed under George W. Bush. Obama is just struggling to install a floor to the damage.
Obama is actually striving to do what FDR did when he inherited a two-year-old depression; use deficit spending as a temporary measure to inject capital into the economy and create jobs.
Deficit spending is not a universal evil. If employed strategically, it can be a very effective economic tool. Keynesian theory dictates that a government build up a surplus in a strong economy (like Clinton did) and going into debt to support a bad economy. The problem is that Bush the Younger decided that he wanted to spend the money in his piggybank on pizza for his friends, instead of saving for the future. So when we were faced with this crisis, there was nothing in the piggybank to draw on.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:55 pmI know a few in person, and their libertarian leanings don’t extend to legalized drug use or sexual practices or euthanasia, for instance. They pretty much align with the Republican platform on taxes and “small government” but when true libertarianism is supposed to diverge, they somehow find reasons to not support the more liberal positions that their doctrine is supposed to embrace.
And on TP, it’s a cliché that “libertarian” is code for “embarrassed Bush supporter”.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:59 pmPlease see my spelling at 103. You try to correct me but you can’t even get that right.
Then you claim that what I say is not true.
Who are the deficit spenders? Are you really going to try to claim that it is the democrats? Really?
Think raygun when you mention deficits. Think Hoover.
Think about where we are now and put that in relation to the end of every republican president in history. They always leave our country in a financial disaster. It’s by design.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:59 pmMike, you don’t need to know many Libertarians to understand the Party platform. I didn’t really know much about it until someone here just said I may be Libertarian and not Democratic. I just spent the last hour reading about their beliefs.
It is a fairly sound platform but is heavy on the limitation of Central Government and the limitation of taxation powers which are Unconstitutional. It is not at all like the Neocon movement within the Republican Party. The libertarians are anti-war and have many principles which are Jeffersonian. I may not wholly agree with them. If this can be the party which rises to compete with the Democratic Party, it is probably not a bad thing. We really could use 3 or even 4 major parties.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:01 pm#76 shoeless
“…Republicans live in a hypocrisy free zone.”
That was a good one!
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:03 pmI don’t know many true “liberals” who are convinced that taxation powers are Unconstitutional.
Just sayin’.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:03 pmFred you must really like picking on people. I read what Mike wrote and the only guy I heard him blame for raising the national debt was George W. You seem to like to argue even when there isn’t an argument to be found.
To Mike: The guys in Congress are also responsible, why do we always blame only the President?
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:05 pmRalph it is my undestanding that some taxes are Unconstitutional when the Federal government does it and Constitutional when the state does it. The limitation of Federal powers by article X seems to be a key element in the Libertarian platform.
The Republicans have given us, big-brother government run wild. I really hope this Democratic administration can tone things down a bit. We need to undo the freedom stealing legislation that the Neocons set in place.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:08 pmFor Ralph;
I don’t buy Keynesian theory, that is very Nixonian. I am more of an Austrian school of economics man. Keynesian economics is at the heart of Republican economic failure.
For LiberalLinebacker;
Where did you play ball? And thanks for sticking up for me.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:15 pmLiberalLB
I suppose you are right and we shouldn’t always throw the President under bus without tossing Congress down there too.
What is good about this information age is that we can see how Reps and Senators vote on each issue. We can tell the lambs from the goats.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:17 pmJust people who say they are a black democrat but don’t like Obama.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:18 pmHi Mike,
I played at Iowa State. No problem covering your back, these chat rooms can get vicious and we are supposed to be on the same side.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:21 pmFred,
All I read is that he said just because he is a black man who happens to be a Democrat, it doesn’t mean he agrees with every single thing Obama does. He even expressed concern about the legacy Obama leaves in another comment.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:22 pmTrue Liberty thinks he’s not a right-winger, and he’s right to the extent that he’s not a movement conservative. He likes Ron Paul.
But he uses the same pernicious ‘it’s my money’ trope that the Republicans use to wreck this country.
True, it’s not your money, any more than it’s ure money fter you buy a car with it. You pay taxes as a function of your living in this country. This country is also a democracy and you have a say in its governance. But that’s NOT the same thing.
For just one example, if the majority of people disagree with you, then sorry, you ddon’t get your way on how that money is spent. If you buy a share of stock in a company, you have no say in how that money is spent either. You can vote on a very specific range of issues, and you can also get out-voted.
The people of Louisiana do get a say of how their Louisiana taxes get spent–but on a national issue–no, they get outvoted.
There are all sorts of good reasons why this money should be taken and spent–like the economy as a whole is shrinking, and big systematic things need too be done to get jobs back–things that individual action can’t accomplish.
But let’s get to the core. It’s NOT your money. The government printed it, the government maintains the system that gives these ugly green rectangles stability as a medium of exchange; the government gan print more rectangles and change its value. Take away the government–or tasake away the functions of the government that maintains the stability of the exchange mechanism–and it becomes a bunch of crumbling leaves. and that’s one–ONE– of the reasons there are taxes.
You do not have a right to determine how your taxes are spent over the decision of the majority. You don’t have the right to kiss the waitress if you buy breakfast.
It’s one ofthe things you learn when you grow up.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:28 pmLook, GOP, if you guys didn’t like the stimulus originally but later applaud stimulus funds for your constituents, then just admit it: “I was wrong.” Oh, what’s that? You get a Fonzi “ruh ruh ruh” reaction to trying to say it? Oh well, enjoy your mediocrity in Congress.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:33 pmFair enough; that’s your understanding.
All I’m saying is I can’t think of a single liberal, self-identified or otherwise, who believes that some taxes are Unconstitutional when the Federal government does it.
That’s not a typically “liberal” position. It IS, however, a fairly standard libertarian position.
You see my confusion regarding your political identification.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:35 pmWow read #123, “It is not your money….” Whose money is it? Is it the governments money?
Hmmm…What happened to government by the people and for the people?
It wouldn’t be so bad if the government actually printed the money, the Federal Reserve (a private bank) printed the money and then charges you and me interest on this money
And We are a Democracy? No sir, We are a Constitutional Republic, this nation has never been a Democracy.
No one here is suggesting Anarchy, just sound economic principles, remember the people elect officials to carry out their wishes, when the government does what it wants regardless of what the people want you have a very bad condition
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:39 pm…and who said a vote can’t be bought…
…give enough to a Republic Fascist Party Member and they would vote to kill their mother.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:40 pmI’m not on the same side as either of you.
LiberalLinebacker started posting by calling TP yellow journalism and mikey stated that democrats are deficit spenders.
I just don’t think you football players are up to speed for a discussion here.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:41 pm“Keynesian economics is at the heart of Republican economic failure”???? Where did you get that?
If one were to put a label on “Republican economic failure” one could hardly do better than “Supply-side economics”. This is the direct opposite of Keynesian “Demand-side” economics.
You sound a little like my conservative/libertarian friend who has made a serious case to me that Kennedy was really conservative (because he cut taxes) and Nixon was really liberal (because he signed the EPA). Not that you would make such an argument, but it’s just a similar kind of “up is really down” argument that you seem to be making.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:42 pmSee what I mean Ralph. Maybe if they had actually went to class they could have learned how to learn.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:44 pmRalph, maybe Linebacker can hold many Democratic values dear, but still reach out and embrace a concept that is not within the party line? Does this make him not a Democrat? I know many people who always vote Democrat and are against abortion.
Most people from my church fit into this category.
Does a person need to believe in every single tenet of liberalism to be a liberal? Shouldn’t Republicans, Democrats and Libertarians alike seek to protect the integrity of the Constitution? Soldiers and Presidents of this nation swear an oath to defend the Constitution, which is the foundation of our freedom.
Why in the world did that guy say I didn’t like Obama? I voted for him and I am happy with much of what he has done, but disappointed slightly in some areas.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:47 pmsee bush admin.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:47 pmRalph you are heading down a path where you will outmatched. I am a professor of Economics.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:48 pmGood point Fred, the Bush administration was a prime example of this
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:49 pmIt’s been nice but I have to run. Talk to you all tomorrow. Take care linebacker. I played ball at Syracuse, played safety.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:50 pmhey dumbbasss, you imply that someone is pro-abortion. Your true right wing colors cannot be hidden when you speak.
I know lots of republicans that draw social security too. You got a point?
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:51 pmSure. But we weren’t talking about him being a Democrat. We were talking about him being a liberal. They’re not the same thing, exactly.
Linebacker objected to being called a libertarian. I’m pointing out that we had good reason for our suspicions. We are just getting to know Linebacker, and you too. I’ve seen a lot of folks show up here pretending to be something they’re not, and they’re usually unmasked pretty easily.
I don’t think you or Linebacker are posing, and I hope you both stick around and contribute, despite the rough play you’ll face. But I’m still trying to get a handle on where both of you are coming from. We can only get that from the comments we post.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:52 pmsoccer is a man’s game…
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:53 pmThen please educate me. How is Keynesian economics the heart of Republican economic failure?
Where do the Supply-siders fit in? How do you see Nixonian economic policy as relevant to our situation thirty-five years after his resignation? How does Keynesian support for government participation in the economy get traced back to Bush administration deregulation?
By the way, we’ve also had folks here claim that they were professors of various disciplines. Some have backed up their claims with solid performances. Many have been exposed as frauds.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:57 pmEven if true, I will remind you that bush had economists too. You will have to do better than this.
Next you will be telling us that you voted for Obama.
August 3rd, 2009 at 4:02 pmHi Ralph,
I understand what you are saying. I have certain beliefs and I vote Democratic, but you are trying to figure out if I am liberal or not. I will always answer honestly and believe me I am not trying to stir up trouble here. You can feel free to ask me any question and I will answer with my heart. If I don’t fit in here, I will leave you alone. I really don’t want to upset anyone here.
Fred, at #131 the Professor said he voted for Obama. I wouldn’t be hard on him. I think the point he’s trying to make is to avoid stereotyping, such as all Democrats are anti-Abortion. You wouldn’t want to alienate this entire man’s congregation and have them suddenly start voting Republican, when they currently vote Democrat.
Hey Professor, were you a free safety or a strong safety?
August 3rd, 2009 at 4:17 pmoops!! I meant all Democrats are pro-abortion
August 3rd, 2009 at 4:18 pmIt’s the government’s money. We use it.
And the government is of the people, by the people, and for the people–it’s not the same as the people.
And Jesus H-for haploid Xhrist, if I read ‘this country is not a democracy, it’s a republic” once more…
Democracy means ‘rule by the people’. It’s not contradictory to republic. Neither of them are technical terms, no matter what Mr. Durfee in the 5th grade may have said. It’s perfectly possible for a country to be both a democracy and a republic.
It’s possible to have a non-democratic republic–government by representatives that are not democratically elected. The Holy Roman empire, for example. And it’s possible to have a democracy that’s not a republic, if it’s small enough.(Switzerland, the usual 5th grade examle, has representatives. And it’s completely possible for a government to be both.
It’s one of the best examples of pseudo-knowledge that makes people smug. Kind of like split infinitives.
And ‘The People’ voted Barack Obama in as president. They gave the Democrats sizeable majorities in both the house and Senate.
But the libertarian argument is that The People don’t have the right to take the fringe minority’s money away. Any of it. Taxation, democratically voted on and democratically supported, is still wrong, somehow.
August 3rd, 2009 at 4:31 pmMikeua26 says:
“5th estate, when you borrowed that money the lender did his due dilligence, to make sure your business was sound, you have enough of a backlog”
No ‘backlog’, the loan was based on past performance and projected productivity–a business plan. .
“And if you fail the bank has to eat the loss, the private bank that loaned you the money and the bank’s shareholders get hurt.”
The INTEREST on the LOan gats paid on a regular SCHEDULE. so the BANK starts getting a return on the loan straight away.
If the business fails the BANK gets paid FIRST of whatever VALUE is LEFT.
Tough shit if they GAMBLED and then lost.
“Your comparison is not a good one. Comparing your small business loan to the Bush bailouts…LOL”
I didn‘t compare my business loan to the Bush Bailouts—They are indeed incomparable, because my loan demanded regular repayment and a return, the Bush bailouts didn’t require any of that. My business was growing, not collapsing. I wasn;t getting a BAIL OUT, I was GOING INTO DEBT TO INVEST IN MY BUSINESS TO MAKE MORE MONEY IN THE FUTURE! WHICH MY BUSINESS DID.
THAT IS an example of “DEFICIT SPENDING”!
So spare me your lectures on business (and mine in particular) and instead attend to your own deficit in simple comprehension.
August 3rd, 2009 at 4:38 pm5th estate you were a little misleading in your origianl post. Semantics aside, the loans honest businessmen seek are not what ills this nation. The evil of the Federal Reserve is no laughing matter, nor is the escalating national debt that has left us bankrupt.
I understand what you are saying, but just because Mike is saying things very simply doesn’t mean his ideas are not correct.
August 3rd, 2009 at 4:51 pmNo professor of economics uses LOL.
August 3rd, 2009 at 4:53 pmpbeeg, Dude lighten up
Democracy usually means majority rule, but the post-modern definition can imply the type of government we have. Taxation which is unconstitutional and is not according to the wishes of the overwhelming majority, is in fact wrong. When government officials ignore the people, 90 plus percent who were against the Bush bailouts could hardly be called the fringe, then what? You basically have an Oligarchy, a form of dictatorial government. We have witnessed this firsthand with the Bushman.
Do you want to live under the thumb of a totalitarian regime or in a Constitutional Republic? Screw your Democracy, when the majority rules without a Constitution to defend the unalienable rights of the minority, people will always be oppressed. The majority will abuse the minority and rebellion will occur, which will lead to Anarchy, followed by Oligarchy to restore order. Then the vicious cycle begins all over.
Lose the word Democracy and educate your neighbors about the fact that this is a Constitutional Republic. To call it a Democracy is to do a great disservice to those who fought and died for our Liberty.
Hats off to our founding fathers! The true champions of Liberty.
P.S. The entire basis of this nation’s money supply was never ratified. The Federal Reserve act was never legally passed.
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:03 pmWatch Aaron Russo’s film From Freedom To Fascism.
pbeeg you are a snob, no economics professor uses LOL, oh yes that is in the handbook of Economics professors…I think LMAO, B4, CYA are also verbotten.
You probably think he also always wears a Harris tweed and smokes a pipe and has a big dog.
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:06 pmFred,
W’s economists were all Keynesian, Federal Reserve a–kissing goons. It is not a Democratic or Liberal view to promote Fiat money. Where are you guys coming from? Did something change overnight. I didn’t get the memo that said all Liberals must now suck up the elitist banker scum that destroyed our economy.
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:26 pmI hope the dems can get a good candidate to run against Cao. He really shouldn’t be representing that district.
August 3rd, 2009 at 6:08 pmOkay, folks, it looks like we’re all playing a little bit nicer after this long thread. Good for you all.
I have something to say about the ‘evils’ of ‘fiat money’. Yes, I’ve seen the crude animated videos that illustrate how our money is created out of thin air. Yes, I know that this frustrates some people and shocks a helluva lot of others. My question is this:
You got a better idea? Bring back silver money? Gold? Forget it.
I’m not enraged by the METHOD we use to pay each other for our labor and reward capital risk. I’m more enraged by the Federal Reserve’s decisions to bail out the companies that should have just gone belly up. $5 billion of Goldman’s profits went to BONUSES this year so far–over 50% of the profits’ total! Line them up against the wall, baby!
But I’m NOT enraged by the fact that these bailouts are helping our economy back to ‘normal’. People will be able to pay mortgages and grocery bills that much faster than if we switched back to a gold system, folks. It’s a pipe dream. If you want gold…buy it. Because if twenty dollars is declared the equal of an ounce of gold, nobody’s going to pay you $50K a year IN GOLD to push papers in middle management, folks. It’s ALL RELATIVE.
This ‘fiat’ money talk is nonsense. I went and bought myself some junk silver pre-1964 coins. I like to jingle them in my pocket; they just have a different sound. But it’s not enough of a nice difference to justify running the world’s best economy into the ground because somebody is STILL shocked that our money is only backed by a government guarantee.
Our government’s guarantee is one of the best, still, believe it or not. And when Democrats are running things, they run SMOOTHLY–as long as no one is buying 80s-era supply side snake oil. It’s AMAZING how long that myth has lasted!
August 3rd, 2009 at 7:56 pmI can’t remember the name of the movie offhand, but I saw a movie with Val Kilmer and Sharon Stone the other night that was set in New Orleans after the flood. It showed images of the flooded city that made me weep. Everyone from New Orleans who is still stranded elsewhere in the country should get a ticket back, and a voucher for housing. The government failed these people miserably.
Since it was the broken levees on lake Pontchartrain that flooded the cities, and the “rescue” was horrendous, I see this as a social failure. We, as a nation, owe these people. Any citizens of New Orleans who want to return should have it made Big Easy for them.
It has the fifth largest port in the world, and a very rich history and culture. It needs to be restored and the people of New Orleans should be compensated for all that unnecessary death and suffering.
George W. Bush and “Brownie” should be paying through the nose continuously until every living citizen of New Orleans is on their feet and thriving.
And the true stories of their bravery and camaraderie need to be told. The entire city was maligned with lies and distortions by the MSM.
August 4th, 2009 at 3:18 am