Thursday, February 02, 2006

 

QUOTES, LIES, AND DAMNED LIES

BEST QUOTE OF THE WEEK: I'm one of those who talked about a vast right wing conspiracy. It seems clear to me now that instead, we've had a vast right wing kleptocracy - REP. Barney Frank, D-MA on lobbying reform.

from the AND HE SAID THAT WITH A STRAIGHT FACE DEPT: The Republican Party has been and continues to be the party of reform. Rep. David Dryer, R-CA, on lobbying reform.

LIES
In his STATE OF THE UNION speech, President Forked Tongue said: Keeping America competitive requires affordable energy. Here we have a serious problem: America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world.

The best way to break this addiction is through technology. Since 2001, we have spent nearly 10 billion dollars to develop cleaner, cheaper, more reliable alternative energy sources -- and we are on the threshold of incredible advances. So tonight, I announce the Advanced Energy Initiative -- a 22-percent increase in clean-energy research at the Department of Energy, to push for breakthroughs in two vital areas. To change how we power our homes and offices, we will invest more in zero-emission coal-fired plants; revolutionary solar and wind technologies; and clean, safe nuclear energy.

However, from today's NY Times:
The Energy Department will begin laying off researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in the next week or two because of cuts to its budget.

A veteran researcher said the staff had been told that the cuts would be concentrated among researchers in wind and biomass, which includes ethanol. Those are two of the technologies that Mr. Bush cited on Tuesday night as holding the promise to replace part of the nation's oil imports.

The budget for the laboratory, which is just west of Denver, was cut by nearly 15 percent, to $174 million from $202 million, requiring the layoff of about 40 staff members out of a total of 930, said a spokesman, George Douglas. The cut is for the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1.

BIGGER LIES
From the STATE OF THE UNION: Breakthroughs on this and other new technologies will help us reach another great goal: to replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025.

from today's NY Times: One day after President Bush vowed to reduce America's dependence on Middle East oil by cutting imports from there 75 percent by 2025, his energy secretary and national economic adviser said Wednesday that the president didn't mean it literally..... Bush vowed to fund research into better batteries for hybrid vehicles and more production of the alternative fuel ethanol, setting a lofty goal of replacing "more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025."

He pledged to "move beyond a petroleum-based economy and make our dependence on Middle Eastern oil a thing of the past."

Not exactly, though, it turns out.

"This was purely an example," Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said.

He said the broad goal was to displace foreign oil imports, from anywhere, with domestic alternatives. He acknowledged that oil is a freely traded commodity bought and sold globally by private firms. Consequently, it would be very difficult to reduce imports from any single region, especially the most oil-rich region on Earth.

DAMNED LIES
In his STATE OF THE UNION speach, the President promised broad new education initiatives. Meanwhile, he is about to sign into law a bill that cuts $12.7 billion from student aid programs.

REPUBLICAN SEX: FUCKING GRANDMA AND CHILDREN
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the $29 billion in reductions to Medicaid/Medicare just passed by Congress will force removal from the rolls or cuts in benefits to 13 million of America's poor and seniors.

Comments:
In his STATE OF THE UNION speach, the President promised broad new education initiatives. Meanwhile, he is about to sign into law a bill that cuts $12.7 billion from student aid programs.

Of all the bad things to do, this is actually probably the worst that you mentioned. Why? Because college loans are one of the best investments out there.

Look at it this way. People who go to college make more money than those who don't. And people who make more money pay more taxes. So, isn't it in Uncle Sam's best interest to try to get as many people as possible through college?
 
wondering - that is so true. so how is it that congress becme a welfare program for idiots?

zs - the government does what is best for congressmen and their elite allies. The 1% of americans who now own 60% of all corporate wealth in this country. You ony have to look at the prescription drug fiasco to see that.

if it did what was best for the government, i.e the people, we would have universal health coverage, because that is much less expensive to administer, not to mention has better health consequences for the general populace.

but that would cost the elite 1% who own congress. So it ain't gonna happen, at least until after the guillotine stats to sing!
 
The sad thing is that most people aren't going to pick up on these things and will just smile and nod...

Zombie: I have seen the full effects of cutting aid programs to needy students. The college I work at serves more low-income students than many others in the area. State and federal cuts have increase burdens on these students, many of whom already have jobs...

My question is: Who's doing the lobbying for lobbying reform? ;)
 
GWB, you beat me to the punch. I've been looking over the budget cuts and tax breaks and preparing a furious rant. Did you also catch The Daily Show? I just caught the tail end of it, but when the Republicans met to discuss ethics and reform and they took a vote, they had to throw it out because there were more ballots in the box than people present to vote. C'mon guys, honesty in politics can't be that hard!
 
My dear, favorite Mark Spurrier, as it just so happens, I am going out to see that Celtic rock band again tonight with my friend MC. I will certainly drink a Guinness or two and at least one Black and Tan or Half and Half in your honor!

So glad to know you my kind friend!
 
Someone said that you can judge a society by the way they treat the elderly and children. Every budget cut lately has been aimed at these two groups!
 
Whenever GWB (the other one) opens his mouth, I pretend it's Opposite Day. Everything he says has to be reversed if you want to know its true meaning.
 
Look up Micheal C. Ruppert and have a squizz at his website... a friend just sent us his DVD and it blew my socks off...if I had been wearing any it would have. Ok. Its too bloody hot here for socks.
 
Al Gore nailed it. "It is love of power for it's own sake that is the original sin of this presidencey."

Bush is a typical substance abuser, and addicted to power. Drunk with power.
 
The bad management of our country will become more obvious in the next 25 years too. By that time if things don't change here we will be worse than the middle east in fear mongering tactics.
 
I wonder why they cut student loans? I'm repaying mine with around 7% interest rate (on an original amount of about 50K). Multiply me by how many students - they aren't making enough money off of us? That's a better return than a lot of other things. As far as cutting aid to seniors, that is something that's near and dear to my heart. My grandma is a senior and my parents aren't far off - we're about to have the largest number of seniors ever. If people who are of working age can't get decent jobs to pay into the system(because of lack of education), then what will happen? /shudder
 
Laura - Zombie: I have seen the full effects of cutting aid programs to needy students. The college I work at serves more low-income students than many others in the area. State and federal cuts have increase burdens on these students, many of whom already have jobs...

I think we discussed this on your blog as well. I was one of those working class kids who got in right before they cut all the loans. That's why I never finished my Master's. They cut me off.
 
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