Bush supporters' aftermath thread

August 12, 2005, 8:13 a.m.
Keep Quiet And Listen!
The words of radical Islam speak for themselves.

Investigators probe community center loan to Air America Radio

By DAVID B. CARUSO
Associated Press Writer

August 12, 2005, 7:01 PM EDT


NEW YORK -- State and city officials are investigating how $875,000 from a community center in the Bronx wound up in the coffers of Air America, the liberal radio network.

A spokesman for Attorney General Eliot Spitzer said his office has opened a probe into the financial dealings of the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club, which runs programs for poor children and senior citizens and was funded largely by government grants and contracts.

The center and officials at Air America Radio have acknowledged that at about the time of the network's founding in early 2004, the club made a series of loans to a company called Progress Media, which was then Air America's parent company.

Both entitites have said the payments were arranged by Air America co-founder Evan Cohen, who, at the time, was also a development director at Gloria Wise.

Cohen's involvement with Air America was severed in May 2004 amid confusion surrounding the network's finances just a month after it went on the air. A new corporation, Piquant LLC, purchased the assets of Progress Media later that spring.

In June 2005, city agencies began canceling contracts with the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club while the city's Department of Investigation probed allegations that the club approved inappropriate transactions and falsified documents submitted to city agencies.

Department of Investigation spokeswoman Emily Gest said Friday that the probe is ongoing. Spitzer spokesman Brad Maione declined to comment on the attorney general's investigation into the club's activities, other than to confirm its existence.

Air America Radio said in a statement posted on its Web site that it had agreed to repay the $875,000, although it believed that the now-defunct Progress Media was legally responsible for the debt.

"If the allegations of mismanagement and corruption at Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club are true, it is absolutely disgraceful," the statement said.

The network's star, comedian and talk show host Al Franken, addressed the issue briefly on his show Monday. He called Cohen "a crook" and said the network's current managers had discovered the loans through forensic accounting.

"I don't know why they did it and I don't know where the money went. I don't know if it was used for operations, which I imagine it was," Franken said. "I think he was robbing Peter to pay Paul."

He added that he believed the station has a moral obligation to repay the money.

A spokeswoman for Gloria Wise said the center is in "continuing discussions" with Air America on a repayment schedule for the loans.

Attempts to locate Evan Cohen were not immediately successful.

[...]that the United States and Israel "are united in our objective to make sure that Iran does not have a weapon."

But, he said, if diplomacy fails "all options are on the table. The use of force is the last option for any President. You know, we've used force in the recent past to secure our country."

And when that mission of defeating the terrorists in Iraq is complete, our troops will come home to a proud and grateful nation.

Aug 15, 2005


Bush Rating Lower That Other Recent 2-Term Leaders

By WILL LESTER
The Associated Press


WASHINGTON - President Bush's standing with an American public anxious about Iraq and the nation's direction is lower than that of the last two presidents who won re-election - Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton - at this point in their second terms.
But solid backing from his base supporters has kept Bush from sinking to the depths of some of his predecessors.

``This president should be glad he's not running for re- election,'' said Karlyn Bowman, a public opinion analyst from the American Enterprise Institute. ``But the president is clearly holding his base. It's very important for him to keep the base support in terms of getting things done.''

Indeed, Republicans in Congress are starting to fret about the 2006 election. If Bush's approval ratings sink lower, more of them might be unwilling to go along with his major initiatives for fear of voter backlash.

Bush's job approval was 42 percent in the latest AP-Ipsos poll. His ratings on issues including Iraq and Social Security are at their lowest levels.

Reagan was at 57 percent at this stage of his presidency and Clinton was at 61 percent, according to Gallup polling.

The partisan divide for Bush is stark - 80 percent of Democrats disapprove of his performance, while nearly 90 percent of Republicans approve.

Charles Black, a veteran GOP strategist and close Bush ally, said Republicans are sticking with Bush for two reasons: personal affection and loyalty.

``Bush follows through on issues that are largely popular with the base, even when it's not popular with the general public to do so,'' Black said.

Bush might have a hard time raising his numbers because issues such as Iraq and gas prices are largely out of his control.

But Bush's efforts to put conservatives on the Supreme Court and overhaul the federal tax code are likely to please his conservative base.

I suppose, you suporters will soon change this Wink

Walter wrote:

I suppose, you suporters will soon change this Wink

Tell me Walter.....and I ask this of you because you are such a well qualified student of American culture, political preferences, and just overall expert on characteristics of any and all Americans.........why Bush or his supporters should be worried.

He is not running for re-election, and he is getting most of what he wants from Congress although there is much "heel dragging" from the usual obstructionists.

So please enlighten me Walter......why should we be worried? Please try to be original.......without using your vast array of "Google" resources.

Tell me Walter.....and I ask this of you because you are such a well qualified student of American culture, political preferences, and just overall expert on characteristics of any and all Americans.........why Bush or his supporters should be worried.

I suppose, you suporters will soon change this :wink:

I really thought that the original Bush supporters might soon be again following their original voting, especially, when noticing these polls.

I wonder how you can not only look over such a distance but how especially those, who actually have never met me know me best.

<But, then, I've always known Bush is a real man

I've relied on your posts and the words you use to form my opinion of you, and your motives. Was I wrong?

Walter Hinteler wrote:

I really thought that the original Bush supporters might soon be again following their original voting, especially, when noticing these polls.

Really? Is that what you thought, Walter? See, I thought your posting a story negative to Bush was done with glee, as if you were very pleased to be able to point out low polling numbers for Bush. Not that you were trying to motivate his base.

Must have you pegged wrong, huh?