Bush Supporters' Aftermath Thread V

Democrats? We've already established that Pelosi and the DNC crowd aren't pushing in this direction. On the other hand, we've also established that Fein, Vigurie, Barr and other conservatives are. So there's some dishonesty or lack of clarity in your thinking here.


Again, your use of "in charge" is either dishonest or unclear. Your constitutional system, as designed by your founders, has balanced powers as a fundamental principle. Are you clear on why that principle is there and what it seeks to avoid?



Fine, but he doesn't make the claim or argument here which you earlier suggested... to paraphrase, that the danger of overly expanded executive power is the use of such power to harm one's political enemies. Obviously it might be used that way but that isn't what Fein (or those other conservatives mentioned) are pointing to.


How so? What institutional or legal impediments were put into place which achieved that which you claim?

George S Patton's New Speech on Iraq and the Modern World (youtube).

Excellent speech.

Here's another speech that doesn't have much credibility.

Bush surveys bridge, pledges aid By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 18 minutes ago



MINNEAPOLIS - President Bush pledged Saturday to cut red tape that could delay rebuilding a highway bridge that once arched over the Mississippi River but now lies crumbled in muddy water concealing some victims.

Bush, still dogged by his administration's sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina, toured the site of Wednesday's collapse, which sent dozens of cars sliding into the river from the Minneapolis span. At least five people died and about 100 others were injured.

"Our message to the Twin Cities is, we want to get this bridge rebuilt as quick as possible, that we understand this is a main artery of life here ?- that people count on this bridge and this highway system to get to work," Bush said as he stood next to the buckled spans, still littered with abandoned vehicles.

The biggest reconstruction project in the US that Bush promised to the nation when he spoke from Jackson Square in NO has still not happened.
How long ago was that again?

As the US infrastructure continues to deteriorate, we spend $2.7 billion every week in Iraq to kill.

Beneath devastated New Orleans, water system crumbles

By Becky Bohrer, Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS ?- Deep underground, an unseen crisis is threatening New Orleans' already troubled recovery.
The city's 3,200-mile system of water and sewer lines ?- old, leaky and in need of improvements long before Hurricane Katrina ?- was damaged by the torrent of pipe-corroding salt water.

The city Sewerage & Water Board says at least 50 million gallons of water a day are now being lost to leaks, or 2½ times pre-Katrina levels. S&WB officials also believe raw sewage is leaking out in places, though the extent of the problem is unclear.

The larger fear is that if some water pumps fail ?- whether because of a power outage, some other kind of mechanical trouble, or another Katrina-like storm ?- a drastic drop in pressure could allow raw sewage or other pollutants to back up into the water system through the leaks. And that could contaminate the drinking water in some neighborhoods for days or even weeks.

"We don't have the confidence now to say the system won't fail," S&WB spokesman Robert Jackson said. "We're basically holding it together by tap, by glue, by spit, whatever we can get a hold of."

Two years after Katrina, major breaks are being repaired. But the water system continues to leak, and sewer lines in some areas are dripping, too.

As the city's population continues to grow ?- it is estimated at 262,000, well below the 455,000 before Katrina ?- the stress on the system is expected to increase.

The city says the tap water is safe to drink, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says New Orleans' drinking supply meets federal standards.

But environmentalists are suing the federal government to obtain monitoring data and are calling for an independent study. And some skeptical residents are drinking bottled water.

Patricia Jones, a mother of two who is rebuilding her home in the hard-hit Lower Ninth Ward, said she is spending $80 a month on bottled water because she doesn't trust the city's assurances.

"It's not something I personally prefer to take a risk on," she said.

S&WB estimates that rebuilding and improving the water, sewer and drainage systems will cost $5.7 billion over 25 years ?- money the agency doesn't have.

We still have people in the US who supports Bush's stay the course in Iraq, but they don't want any tax increases - while our bridges, roads, schools, and hospitals do without..

The Rep governor of Minnesota, based on a no-new-taxes pledge, vetoed a bill to improve transportation facilities (including bridges). Without the veto, there was a remote possibility that the bridge collapse could have been avoided. This veto was in line with the something-for-nothing style of Republican government.

http://www.planetizen.com/node/18910

Actually, the republican form of government is to occupy another country, and spend 2.7 billion every week while our own country breaks down. No new taxes, but spend, spend, spend - for a war that gets worse for the Iraqis every day/month/year. That many are starving is of little consequence.

This thread used to go much faster in the good old "Shock and Awe" days.

I wonder who we can bomb next?

Would have been funnier with a better picture.

Cycloptichorn

Better?

Yes, though the way those Imageshack pics put the resolution at the bottom of every pic served is annoying...

Much funnier tho - I'm going to imagine advocate looking like that from now on.

Cycloptichorn

I agree. Here it is w/o the thumbnail banner:

Here's something I disagree with Bush on.

I don't think the country is in position for him to be taking as much time away from Washington as he has.

How is my post spam? Or are you spamming me because I think you are a small-minded nerd?

You mean, you think his presence in Washington is going to make things any better?

How?

Are you seriously telling me you can't figure that out on your own? Or are you just pretending to be thick-headed?

That's a fine rejoinder, McT.

Bush has taken a lot of time off. And it is certainly arguable that no recent president has had more critical reasons to be at work rather than being away from it.

But even though I really don't like this man as a person and particularly as a president, and even if I suspect that a fundamental factor in his holiday schedules arises out of his life of rich-brat priviledge and indolence, I'm sympathetic to the argument that "getting away from it all" is a psychological necessity, particularly for someone in a position such as his.

Here's another Bush "I sense his soul" event.


Bush hosts Sarkozy for 'heart-to-heart'

By BEN FELLER, Associated Press Writer
6 minutes ago



KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine - President Bush welcomed French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Saturday for a "heart-to-heart" talk on world issues and to repair relations with France.