Let's start with America’s pocketbook. The costs to rebuild the Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi are staggering. President Bush estimated the budget would top $200 billion. (Congress has already appropriated over $60 billion.) A proposed reconstruction program offered by the Louisiana congressional delegation would easily top $100 billion, with $50 billion in community development grants and $34 billion in coastal and levee maintenance and protection programs.
The American public is prepared to dig deep to pay those costs. 56% of those surveyed in a CBS/New York Times poll said they would pay more in taxes to fund the Katrina recovery. A whopping 73% of respondents claimed that rebuilding New Orleans was more important than cutting taxes.
Making matters worse is the absence of safeguards in Bush's address to protect against the cronyism, fraud, and corruption so endemic in his administration. President Bush's team has a proven track record of budgetary chaos and sweetheart deals when such massive rebuilding budgets are involved. $9 billion went missing during the reign of Paul Bremer’s Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. During the $12 billion Florida hurricane recovery process in election year 2004, the FEMA of George Bush and Michael Brown spent over $30 million on an untouched Miami-Dade County, and paid for hundreds of funerals despite a statewide death toll of roughly 100 people. Already, Bush and GOP friends Halliburton, Bechtel and firms represented by former FEMA Joe Allbaugh have received contracts for Katrina rebuilding, a development that does not augur well for American taxpayers. In sharp contrast with the President's lone mention of a team of inspectors general, the "Marshall Plan for the Gulf Coast" offered by Harry Reid and Senate Democrats rightly includes an "ethics watchdog" to prevent the kind of fraud that President Bush is inviting.
Perhaps most glaring in the Bush address, though, was the President’s refusal to take accountability for the calamitous response of his government to Katrina. While the President claimed "I want to know all the facts" and that "I am responsible for the problem and for the solution," no Bush administration official has been fired. None has been sacked, not even ex-FEMA head Michael Brown or his boss, Michael Chertoff, the DHS Secretary who waited two days until after Katrina hit to issue a memo naming Brown as the point man for the federal response. Typically, President Bush did not call for an independent commission. (As in the cases of 9/11 and Iraq WMD intelligence, rest assured he will quietly flip-flop later, limiting the scope and timing of the investigations, and then coopting credit for the findings.) As expected, Bush instead endorsed the defanged inquiries established by the GOP leadership in the House and Senate.
In a nutshell, Bush's recovery from Katrina is just what we've come to expect: almost unlimited – and unfunded - federal largesse, with no accountability for past mistakes or independent oversight for the future. Laissez les bons temps rouler, indeed.
—Perrspective
08:53 PM Permalink
Maybe, just maybe, the tax cuts for the rich will trickle down to all those people who were affected by Katrina, and then, by golly, it will really work out well for them!
>Maybe, just maybe, the tax cuts for the rich will trickle down to all those people who were affected by Katrina, and then, by golly, it will really work out well for them!
Yeah, because trickle down economics has proven to be so goddamn effective in the past!
I think you missed the most important part.
My analysis is at http://tinyurl.com/baev4 (click on URL)
Title: George Bush's real speech: Give me more money and power, with less accountability
Closing: So, watch the money. It very likely will end up mostly in the pockets of the already-wealthy.
But that's not my major concern. This is:
"It is now clear that a challenge on this scale requires greater federal authority and a broader role for the armed forces, the institution of our government most capable of massive logistical operations on a moment's notice."
The man has near-dictatorial powers. No necessary authority was denied him in responding to Katrina. He wants the power to use the armed forces as his personal law enforcement agent.
He wants to be king.
I think you missed the most important part.
My analysis is at http://tinyurl.com/baev4 (click on URL)
Title: George Bush's real speech: Give me more money and power, with less accountability
Closing: So, watch the money. It very likely will end up mostly in the pockets of the already-wealthy.
But that's not my major concern. This is:
"It is now clear that a challenge on this scale requires greater federal authority and a broader role for the armed forces, the institution of our government most capable of massive logistical operations on a moment's notice."
The man has near-dictatorial powers. No necessary authority was denied him in responding to Katrina. He wants the power to use the armed forces as his personal law enforcement agent.
He wants to be king.
Anyone dense enough to believe one word this man says,considering his past record,is hopelessly retarded.Bush is doing what he has done his entire life,he screws up big time then he uses someone else's money to pay his way out.This time instead of Poppy and his oil pals it's the American taxpayers and their children and grandchildren and their children and grandchildren.But the dumb sheep will fall dumbly in line and screw their own children and grandchildren in the name of love for Bush.
This is a Leader!Wow!Why I believe Goofus is a Puppet of Cheney
BUSH WAFFLE HOUSE
“I say what I mean and mean what I say”
“ Promises made-Promises kept”
“When I make up my mind it stays made up”
“I do not take cues from anyone”
“You can’t say one thing and do another”
“Trust me I’m a straight shooter”
“I’m the commander, I don’t need to explain, I do not need to explain why I say things”
“I need a WAR to be a successful president”
“A Leader never admits mistakes”
------------------------------------------------
1.Osama Bin Laden is my number one priority. (at least this week)
2. We need an Office of Strategic Influence (Next decade maybe)
3. I will follow the UN Resolution as long as it takes-10-27-02
10-31-02—The UN needs to act now
2-13-03—The UN needs to show courage (like I did during Vietnam.)
4. I am a strong believer in Fair Trade—(except steel and softwood lumber) (votes first)
Ed Crane—Co-Founder and President of The Cato Institute-“Everything this
Administration does is political”
5, We do not need for the Homeland Security Department to be a Cabinet position.
I made up my mind on it. Boston Globe—6-9-02 “Bush Flip Flop”
6. I will get Osama Bin Laden “Dead or Alive”—(go get em cowboy)—5-13-02-(“I don’t know where he is, I have no idea and I really don’t care.) (It’s not that important. It’s not out first priority”) (“I say what I mean”). (“When I make up my mind it stays made up”).
7. I will use the bully pulpit with OPEC. (Sic em bulldog my gas now 1.65 per gallon)
Supply went down and Prices went up and (“This is just the Free Market at Work”)
8. I will never apologize to the Chinese for “stealing our plane”. Please guys! Be nice.
Return our plane. “I regret it”
9. I mean what I say—“We can expect an attack”. Each month warning. When BOY?
10. Wash. Post-2-8-03—Bush seeking a promise from IRAN (Evil) for humanitarian help
in event a slaughter is done in Afghan. (Sounds like Reagan?)
11. NYT-1-23-03—Bush (Man of steel will) “rescinding” old policy and implementing a new policy that allows managed care organizations to limit and restrict coverage of emergency services for poor people on Medicaid. This was after criticizing HMO.s for refusal to allow treatment. If this is a Devout Christian I am Jesus Christ.
12. We will not negotiate with North Korea. Wash Post 1-16-03—Bush is now willing to consider agricultural and energy aid. (Hold on! This is EVIL of axis)
13.Individual investors who borrow money to buy dividend-paying stocks should be penalized. (Gosh! What did I say—I did not mean it) NYT 2-5-03
14. I mean what I say until yelling starts. Military pay increase of 2% then 4%.
Stars & Stripes-12-30-02—Bush asked Defense Dept. to lower the announced pay raise for the military from 3.7% to 2%. Finally got 4 in 2004 budget.
“I am tired of all the Lying and Deception”—Amen! Halleluiah! Then stop it Boy.
15.I mean what I say—I am the education president. Please. First budget increased by 1,5% which had averaged 5% increase per year over five years. (Sounds like Clinton was the educated educator to me.)
16.Wash Post-12-2-02—In June 2002 Bush promised 500 Million to fight mother-child transmission of Aids . In Aug he vetoed the first transfer of the 500 million. In 111 days since his promise 222,000 babies have been infected with Aids. (I wonder if Jesus Christ is tossing in his bed)
17.“Secretary O’Neill is doing a good job. The economy is improving. I have faith in him”. (Your faith lasts two weeks boy)
18.The Homeland Security Bio-Terrorism Bill is too expensive. I will veto it. An Ok is not a veto boy.
(I mean what I say” but maybe I will not this time.)
19. I do not approve of an Independent Investigation of 9-11. (“I mean what I say” but—yelling is too loud).
20.I am against international money laundering controls. (9-11—“I changed my steel mind”) They may catch daddy.
21.We will have major social security changes. Wash Post. 11-11-01—Andrew Card on Meet the Press on 11-10-02 “I am not sure we will reform it” This was a Centerpiece of his campaign..
22.-12-30-02—We will not tolerate a North Korean nuclear arsenal. (Act nice guys if you want our $$$)
23.We do not hit civilian targets(in Afghan). There is no evidence. (Red Cross building not civilian—Veterans Hospital is military—Warlord Party heading to Kabul to celebrate was armed with .22 rifles—Wedding Party was violent and firing in the air at our planes 20,000 feet above them)
24.Wash Posr-11-15-02—“If you are not happy with the administration’s policy toward Iraq at any given moment just wait a week or two. A new policy, more to your liking, is bound to appear”.
A. Go it alone week
B. Let us wait for UN week
C. “Regime change” is goal
D. remove wmd is goal
E. Secretary of State is nor speaking for the president
F. Attorney General is not speaking for the administration.
G. I am sick and tired of this waffling and waiting.
25.Steel Tariff—I really did not mean that much. I angered some people. Reduce it.
(When I make up my mind it stays made up)
26.Carbon Dioxide is a power plant pollutant I will control.. (Oh! It will be too costly to my energy contributors so forget it suckers—cough cough)
27.Reuters-6-26-02—‘I have confidence in the Palestinians when they understand we are saying they must make the right decisions”—“I can assure you we will not be putting money into a society which is not transparent and which is corrupt”.
(Was he referring to his administration? Sounds like it—transparent—corrupt)
28.I am against human cloning in any form. (well, not quite “any”)
29.“I knew nothing about dangers of 9-11”. Eight months later. “I knew a damn bunch (but I was too busy on Vacation and looking for more to blame on that President who stomped my dad. Darn it is tough being dumb, inarticulate and following such a brain and great success)
30.“I am in excellent physical condition.” (Darn, staying up till midnight in Paris zapped all my energy—Boy—try conditioning your mind))
31.I am on top of everything. (Why did you say twice on TV—“I am not in control the Pentagon is running the War (Afghan)—You have a White House base—same as Al Qaeda. Only more secretive)
32.I will veto bill increasing benefits for disabled military retirees (Yep!He was war hero.. 6-20-02 in Wash Post. I do not change my mind. Until 2004 Budget).
33.-6-14-02—released 23,653 of ”cherry picked” Reagan papers after refusing to do it. “When I make up my mind it stays made up” Is this BOY real ?”
34.I mean what I say—‘I will provide 100 million to help preserve the Rain Forest”
35.Budgeted funds for his dad’s Crusader cannon then demanded that Congress kill the big sucker.
36. Airline Security is very important to me. Then, why did you fight so hard to keep guns out of cockpits?
37.Barred part-time Mexican and Canadian students from U.S. schools after 9-11. Then, after howls reversed his decision. “When I make up my mind”
38.Simon (candidate for Gov. of California). “He is a breath of fresh air.”
Bush sho hated that California Smog for he avoided Simon while in his presence.
39.“I will not engage in bailing out countries.” 30 billion to Brazil just a tip?
40.NY Times-Richard Stevenson-2-14-03—“Bush eases Ban on AIDS money to pro-abortion groups abroad.. What will he tell Falwell?
41.-March 6—“We will call for a UN Security Council vote.” Geo. Bush
March 13—“There may be no vote” Colin Powell
NY TIMES-“Bush promises to adopt peace plan”. The Guardian-“Bush reversed his previous insistence that the Middle East Peace effort must wait till after Iraq SLAUGHTERAMA
42.NY TIMES--Edmund L. Andrwews-2-26-03—Less than a month after President Bush proposed a radical overhaul and expansion of individual retirement and savings account the White House has abandoned their idea. (“When I make up my mind it stays made up”) (“Promises made promises kept”) (“I say what I mean and mean what I say”)
-------------WHO IN HECK IS IN CHARGE IN THIS WAFFLE HOUSE?------------
43. NY Times-Patrick e. Tyler-5-17-03—“In reversal, plan for Iraqi self rule by June 1 put off indefinitely. “When I make up my mind(scorched?) it stays made up”? Sho!
44.BIG WAFFLE—Washington Post-8-19-03-Dana Milbank & Bradley Graham—
“Bush revises view on combat in Iraq”.---May I on USS Desertion he said-- “Combat Operations are over”.. Now—“Actually, Major military operations continue because we still have combat operations going on”. Is this boy of scorched brain or what?
45. TEACH FOR AMERICA PROGRAM ZAPPED BY BUSH. I am pissed off. Big time. In 2000 campaign Bush promised President Wendy Koop to expand it. His aides asked President Wendy Koop to quadruple it. . On July 11,2003 she got a letter “We regret to inform you your application was not selected for funding”. Gone. Zapped totally. Bush is one of sorriest not just worst in history. Read TIME—8-17-03. Joe Klein article headed “WHO KILLED TEACH FOR AMERICA”? Sorry, but I am so furious I have difficulty writing. I do not like to curse but xxxxxxx.
45.OBL not priority or is he?
A 9-13-01—“The most important thing is for us to find Osama Bin Laden. It is our number one priority and we will not rest until we find him”.
B. 9-17-01—I want justice. Wanted :Dead or alive.”
C 12-28-01—“Listen awhileago I said to the american people our objective is more than Bin Laden—Press pool in chapel on ranch
D. 3-13-02 “I am truly not that concerned about him.”The New American 4-8-02
E. 3-13-02—“I don’t know where Bin Laden is. I have no idea and I really don’t care. It’s not that important. It’s not our priority.” Wow!
46. Bush told bob Woodward in his book “Bush War” that “he didn’t feel that sense of urgency” about Al Qaeda prior to 9-11”. No claims had great sense of urgency.
47.Nov 2003 Bush made highly touted speech about spreading democracy in the entire Middle East. NYT reported he backed away after it was denounced by Egypt Mubarak and Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.
48. 2-2-04 Budget Director Bolton-“we will not need additional funds for 04.”
5-5-04 Bush “I am requesting that Congress establish a 25 Billion contingency reserve ”
49. 3-9-04 Press Secretary McClellan-“Condoleeza Rice will not testify before 9-11 commission it is matter of principle.” President Bush on 3-30-94 “Dr. Rice will testify.”
50. 3-19-02 Ari Fleischer-“Creating a Cabinet Office will not solve the problem.”
6-6-02 President Bush “Tonight I ask the Congress to join me in creating a single permanent department securing the homeland of America.”
51. NYT 1-29-04 “Bush resists outside investigation on WMD intelligence failure.”
2-6-04 Bush “Today, by executive order, I am creating an independent commission, to look at American intelligence capabilities.”
52. Wash Post-1-19-04-“Bush opposes extension of time for 9-11 commission.”
CNN-2-4-04---“Bush supports time extension for 9-11 commission.”
53.NYTimes 2-26-04-Bush limits testimony to one hour.”
Spokesman McClellan-3-10-04 “Bush sets no time limit for testimony.”
54.Larry King Live 2-15-00 Bush says Gay Marriage is a state issue.
2-24-04-Bush “Today I call upon the Congress to promptly pass, an amendment to our constitution defining andprot4cting marriage as a union of a man and woman as husband and wife.”
55. 3-6-03 Bush vows to have a UN vote no matter what 3-18-03-Wash Post-“Bush withdraws request for UN vote.”
56. Columbia Journalism Review—Bush vetoed Patients Bill Of Rights as Governor but boasted how he got it passed. Now, flip flop to double straddle. He touted the Texas law as super duper.
When a challenge to the Texas Law went before Supreme Court Bush joined with two HMO’s in opposing the law. Could it be because the HMO’s are Pioneers in his campaign. Doesn’t this man have any honor or integrity?
57.Remove troops from Korea. A proposal by Cheney. Bush on 3-13-02 “There is no question we have obligations around the world, which we will keep. There is a major obligation for the 37,000 troops in South Korea. It is an obligation that is an important obligation. I know it is important and we will keep that obligation.
US Newswire-8-19-04.
58. Speech in Michigan 8-16-04—“We have got to use our resources wisely, like water
It starts with keeping the Great Lakes water in the Great Lakes Basin.. My position is clear : we are never going to allow diversion of Great Lakes water.”
Per Associated Press in July 2001 Bush said “I want to talk to Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien about piping Great Lakes water to the west and southwest. A lot of people don’t need the water, but when you head South and West, we do need it.”
AP 7-19-01—White House release 7-17-01 “remarks by the President in Roundtable interview with Foreign Press.
59. Cheney in Elko, Nevada 8-14-04 “Kerry recommended sensitivity for terrorists. No war was ever won by sensitivity”. Interview with Hugh Hewitt—8-12-04—“From the standpoint of the shrine (Najah), obviously it is a sensitive area, and we are very much aware of it’s sensitivity.” The Daily Howler-8-17-04
60. NYTimes-8-31-04---
April 13,2004—“Can you ever win the war on terror? Of course you can.”
July 19,2004----“I have a clear vision and a strategy to win the war on terror.”
August 30,2004—“I don’t think you can win the war on terror”
“I say what I Mean and Mean what I say”
“When I make up my mind it stays made up.”
IS THIS PERSON SANE?
61. March 5,2000—on CBS Face the Nation—Independent group attacking his opponent John McCain---Bush said: ‘That is what freedom of speech is all about. People have the right to do what they want to do, under the-under the First Amendment in America.
August 23,2004 Bush said: “the practice of independent groups to run smear ads is bad for the system. They should be banned.”
EXCELLENT LIST OF 172 WAFFLES AT WWW.COMPASSIONGATE.COM
clarence swinney
political historian
burlington nc
www.cwswinney@netzero.net
Confusing.
am puzzled as to why Bush makes so many trips to speak before his "choir".
He is selling? What? To Whom? Who will buy?
His customers already have bought everything he is selling.
Is it ego massage?
Is it Reagan like Photo-ops? No. Not many pics are published.
Is it Press? No. Not much print on them.
Why is he away from the White House what seems like 4 of 5 work days?
I am certain he gets on the nerves of Cheney and Rumsfeld. They are very intelligent. They are very experienced.They have been Inside the White House for 23 of past 35 years. They have worked with very intelligent people.
They cannot tolerate Incompetence.
Is it Cheney sending a Puppet away to keep him out of the loop.
Bush said in 1999 "I need a War to be a successful President" Cheney said "I need that Oil" in 1992 Report to Bush I.
Did Cheney say in 2000 "Halleluiah! I have my Puppet. I will get my Oil".
Perhaps a great story for a reporter. I feel it.
clarence swinney
political historian
burlington nc
www.cwswinney@netzero.net
Please call me a Tax & Spend Liberal. I am so very proud of Paying My Way.
TAX & SPEND LIBERAL WHO PAYS HIS WAY
From G. Washington to Reagan we ended with a 917 Billion Debt.
The next 12 years of Spend & Borrow Conservatism added on over 3,000 Billion.
Bush 2006 Budget—Five Year Forecast—Historical Tables—Pages 116-117 reveals that he will add on 3759 Billion.
This is Gang who screamed—
CUT GOVERNMENT--BALANCE THE BUDGET—TAX CUTS PAY THEIR WAY
Swinney Fact Check-----
CUT GOVERNMENT---
Reagan yelled this more than any President.—His record—He INCREASED the size of government more than any predecessor.
He INCREASED spending by 80%
p.s. He increased California spending by 112%. This is a Conservative?
TAX CUTS PAY THEIR WAY.----
Reagan cut Income taxes by 750 Billion. He borrowed 1700 Billion to pay for it.
He increased Income Tax Revenues by 140 Billion. Wee bit short of 750 Billion.
Bush cut income taxes by 1700 Billion and will borrow 3759 Billion top pay for it.
Anyone care to wager it will not be 5,000 Billion?
Democrats use sensible fiscal polices which SPEND but TAX to Pay Their Way.
Republicans use selfish fiscal policies which SPEND but BORROW to let the kids pay for them.
Which party do you want handling your money?
Clarence swinney-political historian-burlington nc-www.cwswinney@netzero.net
Please spread this information to get Democrats using it.
Perhaps the most telling point in Bush's speech was the revelation that Karl Rove will be in charge of the "rebuilding" of New Orleans and the greater gulf coast. Now Rove has never claimed to be anything but a direct builder of the Republican party, so now the federal government's official policy will be to pour uncounted billions into the coffers of the party's contributors, so long as they continue to support that party!
When is it going to sink into the American Peoples heads that we HAVE been invaded. That the America we fought and died for and loved is no more. Taken over by a Corrupt, Cowardly, Greedy and Treasonous Cartel. Do you not realize that our own government has declared war on the American People, at least those that do not meet their tax bracket.
Disasters and calamity and no meaningful independant investigations. Sweetheart No Bid Deals with no oversight or accountability. Elections with rigged outcomes. Programs being run by completely incompetent, unqualified people who know only who their loyalty is too, namely the Bush Cartel.
A man running for the top spot in our supreme court who refuses to answer questions and all but taking the 5th yet being pushed ahead of more qualified people.
Wake up people we are watching history unfold like no other ever has here in the United (Divided) States of America. We no longer have meaningful news, in its stead we have the talking heads and spouters of hate and discord in the guise of religion given all the air time they need to preach their propaganda.
We have seen them quickly convict and lock up Martha Stewart but where is Ken Lay? Matter of fact, where is Osama Bin Laden, you know, the guy that was supposedly responsible for 9/11 but now according to Bush is no longer anything to worry about.
How about that big to do on an aircraft carrier complete with banner flying 'Mission Accomplished' the end of major conflict, how many lives ago was that?
Then we have Halliburton supplying gas, lodging and food to the troops at prices that are unbelieveable that is when they do get what has already been paid for, yet when they are caught with their hand in the cookie jar instead of being charged with the crime, they are rewarded with more no-bid contracts, and now they are right here on our soil doing the same thing and again with no oversight no being held accountable.
We have servicemen and women from the GulfCoast region trying to get leaves to come home to see what they can do to help their families, people with an interest in what is happening such as family, children, homes, jobs, businesses but they are told that they are needed more as cannon fodder for the Bush Cartel.
In their stead we get 350.00 a day mercenaries supposedly paid for by Homeland Insecurity. The same ones that stopped, held up or refused Aid from reaching disaster areas, hindered evacuation costing hundreds of people to perish and how many more to feed the gators. However Chertoff is still holding his position while "Good Job Brownie' with his doctored credentials was allowed to resign instead of going directly to jail for his actions.
Now, there will be NO INVESTIGATION into the Gulf Coast Disaster. Somehow that sounds only too familiar.
Nuff said..for now
Robert D. Daily
According to public opinion polls the vast majority of Americans support the creation of an independent commission, yet a motion to create just such a commission was just voted down in the Senate along strict party lines. This is not surprising as even a superficial examination of the events leading up to the Katrina disaster points to criminal negligence on the part of the current congressional leadership. Though responsibility for failures of execution rightly lies with the executive branch it was the actions and inactions of the legislative branch that set the table for those failures. It was congress that passed the budgets that chronically under funded the Army Corp of Engineers levy projects in New Orleans. It was congress that passed the homeland security bill that deconstructed FEMA and placed it within the DHS bureaucracy. And finally it was congress that approved the incompetent appointees President Bush nominated to head those agencies. The majority, therefore, has no interest in an objective review of the mistakes that lead to the deaths of thousands of American citizens, but such a review is indisputably a vital necessity.
Following the tragic events of 9/11 there was a similar demand for investigation and accountability from the public, and a similar effort on the part of congressional Republicans to whitewash the political and institutional failures that preceded those events. That effort to avoid accountability ultimately failed but it took a year of campaigning by the families of the victims of 9/11 to eventually force the Republican leadership to do their duty. It then took another year for the commission to complete its exhaustive work. Their recommendations were then passed on to the congress, which, under the leadership of the Republican majority, chose instead to enact tax cuts and bankruptcy reform. Now, thanks to Katrina, the cost of those delays due to Republican obstructionism can be measured in thousands of lives.
The simple, undeniable truth is that another such catastrophe could occur at anytime and would likely strike without warning. The hurricane season is not over, and tsunami, earthquakes, and terrorist attacks could hit our nation at any moment. Can we reasonably expect the people and institutions that failed us so abysmally in the face of Katrina, a disaster they saw coming three days in advance, to protect us from those dangers which would come upon us unawares? Clearly we cannot, and yet we must, for until those people are replaced and institutions reformed we have nothing else. Time, clearly, is critical. Even as you read these words thousands of lives hang in the balance and the obstructionism of the Republican leadership cannot be allowed to continue to put our lives at risk.
This moral failure on the part of the majority makes it vital that the minority step forward and do all they can to force the congressional leadership to do their duty. In our democracy a minority has few real options to confront those in power. It seems at times that all they have is vocal dissent, yet, thanks to the structure of our republic and the rules of the Senate vocal dissent can at times be enough. To put it plainly what our nation needs is an old fashioned filibuster. Until the current leaders of our government are willing to perform the most fundamental task of government and act to protect the lives of our citizens they should not be permitted to advance any portion of their political agenda. The minority must prevent the passage of any and all legislation that is not strictly necessary for the security and well being of the American people and block all nominations even those to the Supreme Court.
This may seem like an extreme measure, but the situation we face is itself extreme. Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, have already died due the unwillingness of the Republican leadership to do its duty to the American people. And thousands more stand to die if they cannot be compelled to finally act in the national interest instead of pursuing a narrow partisan agenda. Those moderates and centrists in the Democratic party who would normally council compromise must be made to understand that to allow the leadership any opportunity to evade responsibility for their role in these tragic events would be a betrayal of the American people. Now more than ever this nation needs real leadership and the refusal of the Republican majority to show that leadership has made it essential that the Democratic minority step forward to fill the void.
According to public opinion polls the vast majority of Americans support the creation of an independent commission, yet a motion to create just such a commission was just voted down in the Senate along strict party lines. This is not surprising as even a superficial examination of the events leading up to the Katrina disaster points to criminal negligence on the part of the current congressional leadership. Though responsibility for failures of execution rightly lies with the executive branch it was the actions and inactions of the legislative branch that set the table for those failures. It was congress that passed the budgets that chronically under funded the Army Corp of Engineers levy projects in New Orleans. It was congress that passed the homeland security bill that deconstructed FEMA and placed it within the DHS bureaucracy. And finally it was congress that approved the incompetent appointees President Bush nominated to head those agencies. The majority, therefore, has no interest in an objective review of the mistakes that lead to the deaths of thousands of American citizens, but such a review is indisputably a vital necessity.
Following the tragic events of 9/11 there was a similar demand for investigation and accountability from the public, and a similar effort on the part of congressional Republicans to whitewash the political and institutional failures that preceded those events. That effort to avoid accountability ultimately failed but it took a year of campaigning by the families of the victims of 9/11 to eventually force the Republican leadership to do their duty. It then took another year for the commission to complete its exhaustive work. Their recommendations were then passed on to the congress, which, under the leadership of the Republican majority, chose instead to enact tax cuts and bankruptcy reform. Now, thanks to Katrina, the cost of those delays due to Republican obstructionism can be measured in thousands of lives.
The simple, undeniable truth is that another such catastrophe could occur at anytime and would likely strike without warning. The hurricane season is not over, and tsunami, earthquakes, and terrorist attacks could hit our nation at any moment. Can we reasonably expect the people and institutions that failed us so abysmally in the face of Katrina, a disaster they saw coming three days in advance, to protect us from those dangers which would come upon us unawares? Clearly we cannot, and yet we must, for until those people are replaced and institutions reformed we have nothing else. Time, clearly, is critical. Even as you read these words thousands of lives hang in the balance and the obstructionism of the Republican leadership cannot be allowed to continue to put our lives at risk.
This moral failure on the part of the majority makes it vital that the minority step forward and do all they can to force the congressional leadership to do their duty. In our democracy a minority has few real options to confront those in power. It seems at times that all they have is vocal dissent, yet, thanks to the structure of our republic and the rules of the Senate vocal dissent can at times be enough. To put it plainly what our nation needs is an old fashioned filibuster. Until the current leaders of our government are willing to perform the most fundamental task of government and act to protect the lives of our citizens they should not be permitted to advance any portion of their political agenda. The minority must prevent the passage of any and all legislation that is not strictly necessary for the security and well being of the American people and block all nominations even those to the Supreme Court.
This may seem like an extreme measure, but the situation we face is itself extreme. Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, have already died due the unwillingness of the Republican leadership to do its duty to the American people. And thousands more stand to die if they cannot be compelled to finally act in the national interest instead of pursuing a narrow partisan agenda. Those moderates and centrists in the Democratic party who would normally council compromise must be made to understand that to allow the leadership any opportunity to evade responsibility for their role in these tragic events would be a betrayal of the American people. Now more than ever this nation needs real leadership and the refusal of the Republican majority to show that leadership has made it essential that the Democratic minority step forward to fill the void.
Blocking legislation and appointees is hardly extreme, Theo.
For example, the Republicans unjustly and dishonestly blocked Lyndon Johnson's nominee for the court Abe Fortas, but the Republic survived. In retrospect, how pale were Fortas's sins; Rehnquist perjured himself to gain the Chief Justice position, as did Thomas. Roberts may have bought the seat with a judicial decision and O'Connor clearly should have recused in Bush v. Gore.
There is no requirement that the Supreme Court have nine justices. I've even suggested that we hold a die-off by not nominating or approving anyone for the court and see which side has the longevity; winner gets the country.
Of course, before then, someone on the Republican side might get the smart idea that it's the wealthy of this nation who benefit the most from the illusion of fairness and progress that we once had. Take that away, and they are ruling a an America not much different than a very large and nuclear-capable Syria.
Liberalism came into being because it was a far more effective means of keeping the powerful in control than the autocratic forms the right prefers. It's too bad that it was so poor at at keeping the crackpots out of power.
Do the Republicn that voted for him think their not going to suffer like everyone else and thier grandchilen suffer So many sheep following the leader wake up up middle class and poor Republican your not getting a big tax break.like the supper rich .The price of things how long is the money going to last you? Just asking.
In 2000 America was ripped off by George Bush, and we did nothing about it. We all know how things went for the next 4 years. 1000's died on 9\11. Finding and prosecuting those responsible was only a priority as long as the photo-ops were good. A war we can't win against a country that was no threat to us. A record breaking budget surpluss turned into record breaking budget deficit. The list of idiocy goes on and on. Then in 2004 America was stupid enough to let it happen again. And it just gets worse and worse.
When will we ever learn? Do your bit for America and the world. Vote Intelligently in 2008!
