posted on February 18, 2005 12:19:38 AM new
Time For Trickle Down Effects of Tax Cuts & War Profiteering
Bush knew he couldn't have both. He had to make some serious choices. Basically he had to decide whether to have tax cuts for the rich, and a bogus war on terror that provides endless defense contracts to benefit his family and cronies, in and out of the administration, or to provide adequate funding for government programs that benefit US citizens. For Bush that was easy. To hell with the citizens.
According to a secret memo revealed by the Washington Post, Bush has already warned most federal agencies to expect major spending cuts in 2006 if he is reelected. The memo, that was discovered on May 19, 2004, instructs federal agencies to use proposed cuts in calculating their future budgets. Under its formula, spending would face substantial cuts in areas like veteran benefits, homeland security, education, nutrition programs, homeownership, and scientific research.
What Bush Says verses What He Does
While campaigning all over the country, Bush bragged about his 2005 budget increases in funding for the exact same programs he targeted for funding cuts in 2006.
For example, on May 13, 2004, in remarks on Expanding Opportunities for American Students and Workers, he bragged about adding $1.7 billion for education, and said “Make no mistake about it; we're increasing the budgets at the federal level So we're raising that bar; we're providing extra money," when in fact, Bush knew full well that in 2006, he planned to cut $1.5 billion of that funding.
He also bragged about increasing funding for services provided to America's 26.7 Veteran's by $519 million in 2005. But here again, he forgot to mention that he already had plans to cut $910 million of that funding in 2006.
posted on February 18, 2005 12:44:13 AM new
Veterans' Benefits "hurtful" to National Security, says Pentagon
By Joel Wendland
The Wall Street Journal describes the pittance set aside for veteran’s benefits as "Congress’ generosity" as the Republican-controlled Congress and Bush Pentagon get set to slash billions more from Veterans Administration’s (VA) programs. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal (1-25-05), Pentagon official David Chu, in a mockery of the contribution of veterans, defended a new round of cuts by ironically describing funding for programs like veterans' education and job training, health care, pensions, VA housing and the like as "hurtful" to national security.
Despite Republican pretense that spending increases for the VA budget under the Bush administration have been large, new spending neither has matched inflation over the same period nor does it keep pace with growing need.
For example, as private sector health care costs skyrocket, veterans are more and more turning to the military’s health insurance program, Tricare. Retired service members account for half of the people covered by Tricare, whereas just five years ago they accounted for only 40 percent. The Bush administration wants to find ways to stem this tide – none of which have anything to do with keeping private sector insurance affordable. The slow rate of VA spending growth enforced by Bush and the congressional Republicans over the last four years won’t cover growing deferred benefits, such as education, housing, retirement, health care and so on, promised to current service members or that are supposed to be available for new enlistees.
Slow spending growth isn’t even the biggest immediate problem for vets. In the last two years, Bush ordered the closing of several VA hospitals in different parts of the country, pushing waiting lists for medical services for veterans as high as six months for about 230,000 vets. These closings followed in the wake of the congressional Republican’s concerted drive in 2003 to cut $15 billion from VA spending over the next ten years.
And, since his razor thin victory over Senator Kerry and his claim of "political capital" to rule as he sees fit, President Bush, according to an Associate Press story about a leaked White House Budget Office memo, plans to slash veterans' health care benefits by over $900 million and veteran’s housing programs by $50 million in 2005 alone. A Center for American Progress analysis says, "President Bush’s 2005 budget would increase prescription drug co-pays from $7 to $15 for many veterans. In 2002, the co-pay went from $2 to $7." This co-pay increase would have the biggest impact on "near-poor" veterans whose incomes are just high enough to require that they pay the new premium.
In fact the Republicans are so desperate to cut veterans' benefits they have started attacking fellow Republicans who want to preserve current benefit levels. The Wall Street Journal reports that "the House Republican leadership took the unusual step of stripping New Jersey Rep. Christopher Smith of his chairmanship of the Veterans Affairs Committee" for pushing "so aggressively for veterans benefits that he at times threatened to oppose their spending plans – and President Bush’s – unless more retiree benefits were included."
The Wall Street Journal attributes the fact that the Republicans haven’t been able to cut more from the VA budget to the work of large veterans' lobby groups such as the Military Officers Association of America and other veterans groups like American Legion and Vietnam Veterans of America who have consistently blocked cuts and have pushed for expanded programs and spending. Veterans groups have called for expanded VA hospital usage, larger retiree, disability, and survivor benefits, equitable pay for service members and better access to health care and health insurance for retirees and survivors.
posted on February 18, 2005 05:38:54 AM new
Anyone who believed that Bush could add money to any program including education while we are running such a high deficit, was fooling themselves. We knew this would happen. It has to. He also wants to raise the SS tax on those making over $90,000 a year. I had to laugh at that one. He's now going to start to anger the people on the other end of the economic bar. Reagan did it his second term, what makes anyone think Bush would do anything different?
His proposed budget has angered even the people in his own party. Slashing education while touting how important it is, is enough to make even the staunchest Republican mad. I'm just going to sit back and wait for the "we told you so's" that will be coming at the end of this term!
Cheryl
"No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power." ~ P.J. O'Rourke
posted on February 18, 2005 07:25:51 AM new
Yup, anti-veteran is anti-American !
Support your troops ?
HOW can bush say he supports the troops by cutting veterans benefits....who voted this jerk in...?...must've been traitors!
posted on February 18, 2005 08:34:17 AM new
Typical of you crow to use outdated misleading information.
The REAL facts of the issue are:
------
Administration Seeks $70.8 Billion for VA in 2006
February 7, 2005
WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson announced today that President Bush will seek a record $70.8 billion in the fiscal year 2006 budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), with the overwhelming majority of these resources targeted for health care and disability compensation.
“This budget demonstrates the President’s ongoing commitment to provide the very best health care and benefits to those veterans who count on VA the most,” Nicholson said.
The FY ’06 budget proposal calls for $33.4 billion in discretionary funding -- mostly for health care -- and $37.4 billion in mandatory funding, mostly for compensation, pension and other benefit programs. This represents an increase of 2.7 percent over this year's discretionary budget.
FY ’06 Budget Highlights
This budget proposal guarantees that the department will be able to care for those veterans who count on VA the most.
* With this budget proposal, the President, working in partnership with Congress, will have increased health care funding for veterans by 47 percent since FY ’01.
* The budget ensures continuation of the Presidential priority where VA is working closely with the Department of Defense to ensure that service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and their families are provided timely, high-quality services.
* VA will be able to care for more than 5.2 million patients. With this budget, the department will be able to care for a record number of our high-priority patients, those veterans counting on us the most, including veterans of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
* The FY ’06 budget proposal includes $750 million for the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) program, bringing the total department investment to date to $2.15 billion. The FY ’06 proposal includes 28 new outpatient clinics, funding for design work for two new medical facilities in Biloxi, Miss., and Fayetteville, Ark., as well as additional funding for five other major construction projects in Las Vegas, Nev.; Cleveland, Ohio; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Gainesville, Fla., and Anchorage, Alaska.
* The FY ’06 budget request calls for a total investment of $2.2 billion in enhanced mental health services, which is $100 million above this year’s funding level. This budget proposal ensures a full continuum of care for veterans with mental health issues, to include comprehensive treatment for those veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.
* The FY ’06 budget calls for $1.2 billion for prosthetics and sensory aids, a $100 million increase over FY ’05.
* Funding for non-institutional long-term care would increase by more than 18 percent over FY ’05, with a total investment of $400 million in the President's proposed budget.
* Continuing the largest expansion of the national cemetery system since the Civil War, the FY ’06 budget proposal includes $90 million for construction projects, including funds for the purchase of land for six new national cemeteries in Bakersfield, Calif.; Birmingham, Ala.; Columbia-Greenville, S.C.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Sarasota, Fla.; and southeastern Pennsylvania; and expansion of the Fort Rosecrans Annex in Miramar, Calif. The budget also includes $32 million for new state cemetery grants.
FY ’06 Budget Highlights for the Veterans Health Administration
The Veterans Health Administration has received record budget increases over the last four years. With this budget proposal, the President, working in partnership with Congress, will have increased health care funding for veterans by more than 47 percent since FY ’01. The President’s FY ’06 budget proposal requests $30.7 billion for VA’s health care program.
With these resources, VA will be able to treat more than 5.2 million patients. In 2006, nearly 80 percent of veteran patients are expected to be high priority – those veterans who count on VA the most.
The President’s budget request also includes $750 million to continue the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) program designed to modernize VA's health care system. The FY ’06 proposal brings the total department investment to date to $2.15 billion. This historic transformation means that VA will be able to provide greater access to high-quality care closer to where most veterans live.
For the last five years, the independent American Customer Satisfaction index found veterans were happier than most Americans with the health care they receive. In December, a study by the prestigious RAND Corporation reported that VA patients were also significantly more likely than non-VA patients to receive needed preventative care.
FY ’06 Budget Highlights for the Veterans Benefits Administration
The President’s budget proposal for FY ’06 will enable the Veterans Benefits Administration to maintain record increases in educational assistance and home loan programs.
Continuing the nation's long-standing commitment to provide educational benefits to veterans, service members and certain family members of veterans, the department will continue to offer veterans and service members educational assistance up to $1,004 per month – a record amount – for full-time education or training in an approved institution.
VA’s support to service members and veterans purchasing or improving homes through the home loan guaranty program will remain at record levels.
VA is now guarantying home loans with no down payment of nearly $360,000 for eligible veterans, up from the $240,000 maximum last year.
Vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits for service-disabled veterans will increase by $64 million in FY ’06, which is 11 percent more than FY ’05.
Men and women still on active duty will find it easier to access VA benefits when they near the end of their military service because of the enhancements in the FY ’06 budget proposal for VA programs that allow early application for disability claims and other benefits.
FY ’06 Budget Highlights for the National Cemetery Administration
Over the past four years, the President has committed to the largest expansion of the national cemetery system since the Civil War. To this end, the FY ’06 budget calls for $290 million, nearly $17 million, or 6.4 percent, more than the level for FY ’05.
The FY ’06 budget proposal calls for $90 million for construction projects, including funds for the purchase of land for six new national cemeteries in the areas of Bakersfield, Calif.; Birmingham, Ala.; Columbia-Greenville, S.C.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Sarasota, Fla.; and southeastern Pennsylvania.
The 2006 budget also includes funds for cemetery expansion and improvement at the Fort Rosecrans Annex in Miramar, Calif., and $32 million for the state cemetery grant program. The share of veterans living within 75 miles of a national or state veterans cemetery will increase to more than 82 percent in 2006, which means that about 1.7 million more veterans will have access to a burial option in 2006 than in 2004.
FY ’06 Budget Highlights for Legislative Proposals
The President’s 2006 budget includes legislative proposals that will further ensure VA is able to care for those veterans who count on it the most. The proposals include:
* ending all copayments for former prisoners of war;
* ending copayments for hospice care;
* authorizing VA to pay for emergency room care or urgent care for enrolled veterans in non-VA medical facilities;
* allowing more resources to be devoted to the homeless providers grant and per diem program;
* establishing a priority system for veterans receiving care in state veterans homes;
* increasing pharmacy copayments from $7 to $15 for a 30-day supply of drugs*; and
* establishing an annual enrollment fee of $250.*
* These proposals ask that non-disabled, higher income veterans (Priority 7 and 8 veterans) assume a small share of the cost of their health care, in line with amounts required of military retirees who have served at least 20 years in uniform or who were retired early due to service-related disabilities. Under no circumstances will a veteran make a copayment of any kind for the treatment of a service-connected condition.
posted on February 18, 2005 08:44:13 AM new
Sorry, bear, won't work....read the RECENT news...he's cutting benefits...it's all over town ...try non-conservative sources.....
Senators Question Adequacy of Bush Budget for Veterans New York Times story - "Senators of both parties said on Tuesday that President Bush's budget for veterans' health care would not provide enough money to maintain services at current levels, much less care for thousands of veterans streaming back to the United States from Iraq and Afghanistan. Five veterans groups, including the American Legion, denounced a proposal in Mr. Bush's budget that would double the co-payment charged to many veterans for prescription drugs and require some to pay a new fee of $250 a year for the privilege of using government health care. Senator Larry E. Craig, Republican of Idaho, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, said the Department of Veterans Affairs would need more than the $30.7 billion for medical care in Mr. Bush's budget just 'to maintain current levels of service' in 2006."
posted on February 18, 2005 10:08:43 AM newSorry, bear, won't work....read the RECENT news...he's cutting benefits...it's all over town ...try non-conservative sources....
How freaking recent do you want, read the article date 02/05/2005 on the VA (thats Veterans Affairs if you couldn't decipher VA) own web site.
Your posts are allegations without any verifiable sources and outdated info.
A word to the wise ain't necessary, it's the stupid ones that need the advice."
- Bill Cosby
posted on February 18, 2005 01:39:18 PM new
“This budget demonstrates the President’s ongoing commitment to provide the very best health care and benefits to those veterans who count on VA the most,” Nicholson said.
“This budget demonstrates the President’s ongoing commitment to provide the very best health care and benefits to those veterans who count on VA the most,” Nicholson said.
NEW YORK – Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts are now showing up in the nation's homeless shelters.
While the numbers are still small, they're steadily rising, and raising alarms in both the homeless and veterans' communities. The concern is that these returning veterans - some of whom can't find jobs after leaving the military, others of whom are still struggling psychologically with the war - may be just the beginning of an influx of new veterans in need. Currently, there are 150,000 troops in Iraq and 16,000 in Afghanistan. More than 130,000 have already served and returned home.
So far, dozens of them, like Herold Noel, a married father of three, have found themselves sleeping on the streets, on friends' couches, or in their cars within weeks of returning home. Two years ago, Black Veterans for Social Justice (BVSJ) in the borough of Brooklyn, saw only a handful of recent returnees. Now the group is aiding more than 100 Iraq veterans, 30 of whom are homeless.
"It's horrible to put your life on the line and then come back home to nothing, that's what I came home to: nothing. I didn't know where to go or where to turn," says Mr. Noel. "I thought I was alone, but I found out there are a whole lot of other soldiers in the same situation. Now I want people to know what's really going on."
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- Bush will fix Social Security just like he has fixed Osama Bin Laden and Iraq. Bush can't be trusted to run this country and you want to trust him with your retirement?
posted on February 18, 2005 01:47:05 PM new
bear...yes, this is just like the left did during the election cycle. They were shouting from the rooftops that Bush had CUT veterans benefits...when in FACT [something they don't like to deal with - would rather ignore] President Bush had actually INCREASED their benefits by 27%.
You have to laugh....the left just goes from issue to issue trying to make this President look like he doesn't support our military.
It's just a repeat of last year.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Four More Years....YES!!!
posted on February 18, 2005 02:21:02 PM newPresident Bush had actually INCREASED their benefits by 27%.
Well Linda if that is the case then why are there so mnay veterans not getting the treatment/funds they need.
If he actually increased the pool of money by 27%, then the number of veterans that actually need support must have also increased by an amount larger than 27%.
Sounds like the right can not accept reality. We shall see what kind of support your son gets if he comes from Iraq wounded. Then we will see how the government doesn't support the people they are sending off to war.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- Bush will fix Social Security just like he has fixed Osama Bin Laden and Iraq. Bush can't be trusted to run this country and you want to trust him with your retirement?
posted on February 18, 2005 02:30:51 PM new
logansdad - You don't have a clue as to what goes on in the military. You babble on and on about something you know absolutely NOTHING about.
And you like factcheck....I've posted their link so many times on this subject I've probably worn it out.
I love how the anti-military left, the anti-war supporters, etc. are the first to attack a President for his funding polities for our Armed Forces, when THEY themselves, would eliminate them entirely if giving the chance.
how funny...and how misinformed you are.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Four More Years....YES!!!
posted on February 18, 2005 02:34:10 PM new
Senators Question Adequacy of Bush Budget for Veterans
ROBERT PEAR, New York Times
Posted 2005-02-16 22:13:00.0
Senators Question Adequacy of Bush Budget for Veterans
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 - Senators of both parties said on Tuesday that President Bush's budget for veterans' health care would not provide enough money to maintain services at current levels, much less care for thousands of veterans streaming back to the United States from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Five veterans groups, including the American Legion, denounced a proposal in Mr. Bush's budget that would double the co-payment charged to many veterans for prescription drugs and require some to pay a new fee of $250 a year for the privilege of using government health care.
Senator Larry E. Craig, Republican of Idaho, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, said the Department of Veterans Affairs would need more than the $30.7 billion for medical care in Mr. Bush's budget just "to maintain current levels of service" in 2006.
Mr. Craig said at a committee hearing that the White House was seeking an increase of less than one-half of 1 percent in the appropriation for veterans' medical care. He also noted that the administration wanted to save $606 million by restricting eligibility for nursing home care.
Senator Daniel K. Akaka of Hawaii, the senior Democrat on the committee, said a goal of the proposed fees and co-payments was to make it "prohibitively expensive" for some people to use V.A. clinics and hospitals, which are widely respected for quality of care. The new charges, Mr. Akaka said, would lead more than 192,000 people to drop out of the veterans health care system.
Senator Patty Murray, Democrat of Washington, said, "Serving veterans is part of the cost of war, but there's not one dime for veterans" in the $81.9 billion request that Mr. Bush sent Congress on Monday to cover the costs of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Despite such criticism, the proposals for higher co-payments and the $250 enrollment fee are not necessarily dead. Congress rejected such ideas in the last two years, but in the current fiscal climate, Mr. Craig said, "I intend to consider these proposals afresh."
Representative Steve Buyer, Republican of Indiana, chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, indicated he was open to the ideas. Laura J. Zuckerman, a spokeswoman for Mr. Buyer, said he saw the proposals as a way to "bring balance, fairness and equity into the system."
The president's budget would save $293 million by reducing federal payments for state-run homes that provide veterans with long-term care. It would also save more than $100 million with a one-year hiatus in federal spending for construction and renovation of such homes.
Dennis M. Cullinan, legislative director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, told Congress that the federal programs for state veterans' homes dated to the Civil War.
"These cuts, at a time when demand for V.A. long-term care services is on the rise with a rapidly aging veteran population, are unconscionable and reprehensible," Mr. Cullinan said.
posted on February 18, 2005 02:40:28 PM new
And also for the very misinformed about how our US budget is handled....the President presents, offers, suggests the amounts he would like to be spent or cut from different programs. Many can't be cut....we have both discretionary and non-discretionary funding in the budget.
It will be this CONGRESS who makes the final decisions on what has been proposed by the President. I believe last year out of 60-65 recommendations to cut or increase items....they only agreed to 5. IF they agree to spend more on our soldiers...I'd fully support that too.
Just like when the anti-military people talk about the closing of VA hospitals. They forget to mention this President asks for more facilities to be build closer to where the soldiers actually LIVE...so they don't have to go so far for their treatments, like many do now. No...leaving out that info. makes it looks like he's not supporting the troops either, when in FACT he is/does.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Four More Years....YES!!!
posted on February 18, 2005 02:49:27 PM new
What Bear and especially Linda K does not tell you. The Bush White House talks real big about all the money they are going to spend for this program and that program. In reality this White House talks cheap using deceptive words. The programs don't get fully funded. Talk to teachers about Bush's famous "no child left behind" program. See what people that actually work as teachers say about the "no child left behind" program. Talk to several teachers and decide for yourself about no child left behind. Talk to people that work at the Vet Hospitals and the Veterans Administration. Talk to the people that guard our Borders and Ports see what they say about this White House. Don't listen to people like me or Linda K.
HEY MIDDLE CLASS GET FULLY INFORMED ABOUT WHAT THIS WHITE HOUSE IS DOING.
Once fully informed the only person you will need to trust and listen to is yourself
posted on February 18, 2005 02:51:34 PM new
The president's budget would save $293 million by reducing federal payments for state-run homes that provide veterans with long-term care. It would also save more than $100 million with a one-year hiatus in federal spending for construction and renovation of such homes.
posted on February 18, 2005 02:57:37 PM new
Oh yes....the democrat way was so much better. Send those troops off to war and then vote AGAINST funding them. [kerry/edwards]
Yep...that's what I'd call 'real' support.
-------
Yes, asking the teachers union about NCLB is like asking the NYT the same question. Guess why?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Four More Years....YES!!!
posted on February 18, 2005 04:45:42 PM new
Hey Crow, Its important to keep exposing Linda K and her selfish,self centered,greedy buddies. They are finding it increasingly hard to defend the actions of this White House. Hey middle Class America ya got a kid that wants to go to College? Watch real close at the Pell Grant program for college money. Its another program that this White House talked big about. Just watch what really happens to Pell Grants.
posted on February 18, 2005 04:58:35 PM newYou don't have a clue as to what goes on in the military. You babble on and on about something you know absolutely NOTHING about.
Just because you are supposedly a military mom does not make you an expert on this situation.
Bottom line Linda...if the government gave its veterans the care it needed, they would not be out on the street begging for money. They would also not be screaming to their congressmen asking the government to help them.
If the government continually under funds the VA, increasing the funds 27% will not solve the problem, if the problem needs 75% more funds to provide the veterans will the proper care and support.
Hey but why should the veterans get anything in the first place. You are the one that keeps saying people should not rely on the government to take care of them.
Your quote: If they run out of funds before they die...then they're going to have to depend on someone else to take them in.
If that is your true feelings, then if the veterans do not get enough assistance from the government, then they are on their own? I hardly doubt you would be saying this if your son came home from Iraq injured and needed rehabilitation for 5 years.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- Bush will fix Social Security just like he has fixed Osama Bin Laden and Iraq. Bush can't be trusted to run this country and you want to trust him with your retirement?
posted on February 18, 2005 05:00:36 PM newSend those troops off to war and then vote AGAINST funding them.
Just like Bush sent the troops into Iraq without the proper equipment to do their jobs. That is why soldiers had to search dumps for parts so they could use as shields on their vehicles.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- Bush will fix Social Security just like he has fixed Osama Bin Laden and Iraq. Bush can't be trusted to run this country and you want to trust him with your retirement?
posted on February 18, 2005 05:00:47 PM new
Good one , Logan, """Hey but why should the veterans get anything in the first place. You are the one that keeps saying people should not rely on the government to take care of them.
Your quote: If they run out of funds before they die...then they're going to have to depend on someone else to take them in.
If that is your true feelings, then if the veterans do not get enough assistance from the government, then they are on their own? I hardly doubt you would be saying this if your son came home from Iraq injured and needed rehabilitation for 5 years. """"
posted on February 18, 2005 05:53:48 PM new
Right Linda, these poor misinformed democRATS just keep spouting their own brand of news reguardless of the true facts,
No wonder they & their savior kerry lost the election.
A word to the wise ain't necessary, it's the stupid ones that need the advice."
- Bill Cosby
posted on February 18, 2005 07:42:03 PM newJust like Bush sent the troops into Iraq without the proper equipment to do their jobs. That is why soldiers had to search dumps for parts so they could use as shields on their vehicles.
You are wrong their logansdad, Bush is not the one it was the congress that voted against the armour and Kerry and Edwards voted against it.
posted on February 18, 2005 09:21:55 PM new
Hey Libra63, talking about the Vets and this White Houses money cuts to the Vets. How about the recent deception this White House is trying to pull on the American people. This White House is asking for Billions of dollars more for the Iraq war and Pentagon but is not adding that money to this years White House budget. This White House has the greatest national debt in history now they are trying to be deceitful about telling the American people what the real White House budget is and what the real national debt will be. I already can see and read how its getting harder and harder for people to defend this White House. Oh well, you and millions more like you are beginning to understand what you got duped into voting for.
Libra,like Linda k, every time you get backed into the corner you talk about the past and make false statements. The military got the money asked for. This White House sent our troops into battle without the proper Armour. You really need to get in the present and watch along with the other middle class American people what this White House is really doing not what they are saying. There is a big difference between what they say and what they are doing.
Iraq, now 1487 dead American Troops with over 10,000 Wounded American Troops plus Billions more of U.S. Dollars being spent with no end in sight and still no Ben Laden.
posted on February 19, 2005 06:59:54 AM newYou are wrong their logansdad, Bush is not the one it was the congress that voted against the armour and Kerry and Edwards voted against it.
Bush has the veto power. Bush is the commander in chief. The buck stops with Bush not with Congress. Rumsfeld, said you go to war with the troops and equipment you have not the troops and equipment you wish you had. This is BS. You go to war the number of troops and the proper equipment that you need to win the war. Bush rushed into this war and did not plan properly. Bush lied to the American people in 2001 when the war began. There were people on Bush's staff that said the cost of the Iraq war was going to be a lot more than what Bush had originally estimated. Those people ended up getting fired. Three years later those people were more accurate than Bush's original costs.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- Bush will fix Social Security just like he has fixed Osama Bin Laden and Iraq. Bush can't be trusted to run this country and you want to trust him with your retirement?
posted on February 19, 2005 11:10:16 AM newIts important to keep exposing Linda K and her selfish,self centered,greedy buddies. They are finding it increasingly hard to defend the actions of this White House.
Ugh....speak for yourself bigpeepa. I'm not having any trouble. The thing is we don't have to "defend" their actions....we're in control of the WH, and Congress. [Think about why that is ]
You on the other hand can do nothing but continue to complain....usually about something you have no knowledge of and only present half the story....to try and make people believe this President, who has given our military RECORD amounts of money to both the troops AND the forces themselves, look like he doesn't support them. NO ONE except another 'Bush' hater is going to believe that nonsense because they can easily see the 'figures' for themselves and will see you have no clue on this subject.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Four More Years....YES!!!
