Ok, first we have a Bush who deals with the rest of the world from a position of strength (Terrorists, Taliban, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, France, etc etc), cuts taxes, and looks out for the interests of this country.
Then there was the Prescription drug plan, the largest entitlement we have ever passed, in a time when we are in a deficit, at war, and all of the other major federal entitlement programs are in serious need of reform. Then we have Bush completely selling out the interests of this country to Mexico, and basically proposing exactly what Fox TOLD him to do-
And now this. Instead of cutting spending, we have a $1.5 billion dollar waste of money on the table that will have no practical results whatsoever.
And here I thought conservatives believed in limited government, responsible government, and minimal, effective spending of tax dollars. Yet here Bush is, spending money like a drunken Sacramento Socialist.
Can someone explain to me exactly what this latest proposal has to do with the duties of the Federal governement, why we should spend the money on it, and how the hell Bush plans to pay for it?
YOUR Out-Of-Context Quote of Whenever (thanks, MoeGates!): "I wish MY countrymen weren't so uptight about stuff like outdoor marajuana use and casual man-on-man anal love."(shrug)
So long as he keeps firing those bullets into his feet, I'm not gonna stop him. We'll be screwed, but so will he. At least we can preferably undo his damage.
DEAN's Nuggets of Wisdom:
"A-Train could wear a Vampirella outfit and I would toast a load to it."
Does anybody have any idea how this proposed program would work? The article says:
"The plan would provide at least $1.5 billion for training to help couples develop interpersonal skills that sustain "healthy marriages," the paper said."
That costs $1.5 billion?? This is all just a bunch of bullshit that illustrates how subservient the Republican party really is to the religious right. They aren't near as powerful as they would have you believe, and the Republicans should have dealt with them some time ago.
Bush is planning on spending 1.5 Billion dollars in an effort to say, "We really mean it on the gay-marriage thing" and hope that the religious conservatives will keep him in office.
I guess the economic conservatives just aren't worth that much.
-Jag
Added: I'm still not sure how economic conservatives could get behind Bush anyway, except for the little R next to his name. Do you really want a man who has run most of his business ventures into the ground running your economy?
(edited by Jaguar on 14.1.04 1538) "I'm going to go now and demand beer money from my representative. We simply must deal with the problem of my sobriety." - PalpatineW
Then we have Bush completely selling out the interests of this country to Mexico, and basically proposing exactly what Fox TOLD him to do
Oh, come now. Fox wasn't that happy with it.
You have to understand that Bush's primary goal, since he took office, was always re-election. Period. The illegal immigrants amnesty is a naked grab for the Hispanic vote, just as the prescription drug benefit was a naked grab for the senior vote and this marriage thing is a naked grab for the religious conservative vote.
The really impressive thing is that in most cases, these measures are usually designed to long-term screw the constituencies they're trying to appease. The prescription drug benefit will seriously hurt Medicare in the long run. The illegal immigrant amnesty creates a new class of "guest workers" with practically no workplace rights, so Wal-Mart and the like can hire below-minimum-wage-help and do as they please with them.
Seriously. It's genius. Get the popular vote while reinforcing your big business ties. Genius.
Originally posted by godkingThen we have Bush completely selling out the interests of this country to Mexico, and basically proposing exactly what Fox TOLD him to do
Oh, come now. Fox wasn't that happy with it.
You have to understand that Bush's primary goal, since he took office, was always re-election. Period. The illegal immigrants amnesty is a naked grab for the Hispanic vote, just as the prescription drug benefit was a naked grab for the senior vote and this marriage thing is a naked grab for the religious conservative vote.
The really impressive thing is that in most cases, these measures are usually designed to long-term screw the constituencies they're trying to appease. The prescription drug benefit will seriously hurt Medicare in the long run. The illegal immigrant amnesty creates a new class of "guest workers" with practically no workplace rights, so Wal-Mart and the like can hire below-minimum-wage-help and do as they please with them.
Seriously. It's genius. Get the popular vote while reinforcing your big business ties. Genius.
Every pols goal is to get re-elected. What I find interesting is Bush seems to be running to the left and except for Dean, the serious Dem's are running to the right. I really prefer non-compassionate conservatives. They do less damage. This appears to be social engineering only a Dem could love.
Originally posted by DrDirtEvery pols goal is to get re-elected. What I find interesting is Bush seems to be running to the left and except for Dean, the serious Dem's are running to the right. I really prefer non-compassionate conservatives. They do less damage. This appears to be social engineering only a Dem could love.
I don't totally agree with the Bush "running to the left". He's really trying to appear as though he's "compassionate" - but the reality is these initiatives have little substance to them, and I think, with the exception of the immigration policy, they just appear silly.
The immigration policy, on the other hand, has given Bush some half-hearted criticism from the right, which allows him to appear more liberal to appeal to those voters.
Originally posted by LeroyI don't totally agree with the Bush "running to the left". He's really trying to appear as though he's "compassionate" - but the reality is these initiatives have little substance to them, and I think, with the exception of the immigration policy, they just appear silly.
Sadly, the long-term effects won't matter, because most people can't seem to think in those terms any more. Which is disappointing, because these are some of the most transparent bait-and-switch tactics I've seen. It's like they're playing three card monty with all the cards facing up and people are STILL BETTING.
Kansas-born and deeply ashamed The last living La Parka Marka
"They that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Benjamin Franklin
Originally posted by MichromeI still think he's just bringing up the amnesty thing because he knows it'll never reach his desk.
I actually think that he wants this. Many large corporations rely on this pool of labor. They are cheap, work their asses off, and don't complain. Plus they do work most of us wouldn't do or wouldn't do as cheaply. They are not a security threat. They entered the country illegally, agreed. But as the fastest growing ethnic group in the country, Bush and the Reps want their vote as badly as the Dems.
If this is legitimate(and it comes from a reputatble source), this is a serious development. Be sure to read the part in Bold. * * * * * * * * * N Korea offers US pledge on weapons By Victor Mallet in Hong Kong Published: May 3 2004 21: