Caught On Film

[Chewbacca]

Is using an opponent's words and then subsequent contradictory actions against them dirty politics?


Well, here it is...Caught On Film.

[Timber Loftis]

Sorry, I'm not going to harp on anyone for cutting spending.

It is not inconsistent, you know, to say something is worth supporting yet cut funding for it. Supporting a program doesn't always mean just tossing gobs of money at it. That's why everything on that sight fell on deaf ears to me.

[Chewbacca]

I'll take these spending issues on a case by case basis. I will leave aside for now the 9 billion dollars or so a month spent on the perfectly avoidable and unneccessary Iraq invasion/occupation.

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First RespondersFirefighters, Police, Ambulance)

Bush Said:

“We're dealing with first-time responders to make sure they've got what's needed to be able to respond. “ – Bush, 3/27/2002

Bush Did:

Bush had been saying that he was proposing $3.5 billion in “new” money for first responders. However, his budget tried to cut more than $1 billion out of existing grants to local police/fire departments to fund this. Then, in August of 2002, Bush rejected $150 million for grants to state and local first responders. Bush’s decision prompted the President of the Firefighters Union to say, “President Bush, don't lionize our fallen brothers in one breath, and then stab us in the back by eliminating funding for our members to fight terrorism and stay safe.” The President of the Virginia firefighters association said, “The president has merely been using firefighters and their families for one big photo opportunity.”

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SeaPort Security:

Bush Said:

“We're working hard to make sure your job is easier, that the port is safer. The Customs Service is working with overseas ports and shippers to improve its knowledge of container shipments, assessing risk so that we have a better feel of who we ought to look at, what we ought to worry about.” – Bush, 6/24/02]

Bush Did:

The President’s 2003 and 2004 budget provides zero for port security grants. The GOP Congress has provided only $250 million for port security grants (35% less than authorized). Additionally, in August, the President vetoed all $39 million for the Container Security Initiative which he specifically touted.

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Border Security:

Bush Said:

“A secure and efficient border is key to our economic security.” – Bush, 9/9/02

Bush Did:

While Bush did hold a photo-op to sign legislation promising more INS/Border Patrol staff and facilities, his budget provided no additional money for this. Additionally, in August, Bush vetoed $6.25M for promised pay upgrades for Border Patrol agents. Additionally, he vetoed all $39 million for the Container Security Initiative. His 2004 Budget slashes total total “Border and Transportation Security” by $284 million.

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Veterans:

Bush Said:

“These men and women are still the best of America. They are prepared for every mission we give them, and they are worthy of the standards set for them by America's veterans. Our veterans from every era are the finest of citizens. We owe them the life we know today. They command the respect of the American people, and they have our everlasting gratitude.” – Bush, 11/11/02

Bush Did:

According to a letter sent to the President by the major veterans groups, Bush’s 2003 budget “falls $1.5 billion short” of adequately funding veterans care. [Independent Budget, 1/7/02].

Bush Said:

“Having been here and seeing the care that these troops get is comforting for me and Laura. We are -- should and must provide the best care for anybody who is willing to put their life in harm's way.” – Bush, 1/17/03

Bush Did:

Bush's visit came on the same day that the Administration announced it is immediately cutting off access to its health care system approximately 164,000 veterans [W. Post, 1/17/03].

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[ 03-18-2004, 12:11 AM: Message edited by: Chewbacca ]

[Timber Loftis]

Good recitation of the article there, Chewie. At first blush (I haven't done a side-by-side comparison of your post and the article, I admit), my earlier post still stands. I'd attack them one at a time (for instance, addressing the wonderful benefits veterans get in the medical care area and how they can be decreased without ending them), but I haven't the time now. Maybe later.

Currently, the Mad Poster calls. See you tomorrow.

[Chewbacca]

Yes T.L I reiterate the original link, to highlight select issues like security and Veteran's benifits. Liberal social spending issues aside, He has not put the money where his mouth is.

Also, Considering Bush has increased spending and increased the deficit, it is not like he is a rolemodel of fiscal responsiblity and small government. How he has spent money is as important as how he said he would and didn't.

Consider for example a hypothetical trade-off... ...Occupy Iraq or shore up homeland defense by properly funding first responders and insure that our seaports and borders have the best protection available.

[John D Harris]

In Washington there exsists this game: Calling things budget cuts when if fact they are not acctual cuts in the budget but cuts in the proposed INCREASEof the budget. ie: one side proposes an increase of $30 million the other side proposes an increase of $25 million and the side that proposes a $25 million increase is said to be guilty of cutting 20%. If anybody doubts this fact of life please explain how for years we've been told there were cuts in the education budget, yet the education budget has GROWN each and every year in my 42 of life.

Chewie what were the acctual original budgets of these programs? Then what was the acctual proposed budget? If the proposed budget is smaller then the acctual original budget then it can truely be considered a budget cut, if it is not smaller, it is not a budget cut.

EDIT: There's another game they like to play: A bill is proposed for "A" then when it goes through the process it gets "B", "C", "D", & "E" tacked on to it. "A" would not have passed anyways because it is stupid, but when it comes to election time the opposion says the President vetoed a bill on "C", or Senator "1" voted against "C". When if they pukes had proposed "C" seperately it would have passed. Both sides play this game it's been going on since I can remember and started paying attention to politics in 1968.

[ 03-18-2004, 10:18 AM: Message edited by: John D Harris ]

[Timber Loftis]

Consider for example a hypothetical trade-off... ...Occupy Iraq or shore up homeland defense by properly funding first responders and insure that our seaports and borders have the best protection available.

Oh, I'm with you on this one.

I'm just saying that among the hundreds of programs the gummint spends money on, a 6% cut here or a 3% cut there does not equal Bush going back on his statements.

See, here's this:

The GOP Congress has provided only $250 million for port security grants (35% less than authorized).

So, the complaint is that port security got only $250 million rather than $385 million? Well, excuse me for not shedding too many tears.

[Rokenn]

Talk about caught on film:
http://www.moveon.org/censure/caughtonvideo/

Poor Rummy [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[John D Harris]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: quote: The GOP Congress has provided only $250 million for port security grants (35% less than authorized).

So, the complaint is that port security got only $250 million rather than $385 million? Well, excuse me for not shedding too many tears. [/QUOTE]Preach it TL!

In the interest of intellectual honesty since I have said many, many times CONGRESS is the one that passes the budget and should get the blame or credit, TL remember our first disagreement about tax cuts and budgets of past years ? Does anyone else see the words The GOP Congress has provided You can't blame President Bush for Congress doing something/ yet give another President the credit for Congress doing something else. The President can only tell Congress "This is what I would Like". It is then up to Congress to give it to him or not.

[Timber Loftis]

Ouch! Foist by his own petard. [img]graemlins/petard.gif[/img]