By FITSNews || We’ve offered our thoughts on the administration of former U.S. President George W. Bush on multiple occasions – both during and after his failed presidency (and it was a failed presidency, people).
In fact, we recently expressed our views on the matter in a note to our democratic readers (well, commenters), many of whom continue to illogically infer some “love of Bush” (ewww) from our outspoken opposition to the policies of Barack Obama.
Anyway, a recent syndicated column from national political activist Howard Rich includes a perfect example of the “Bush legacy.”
From Townhall.com:
Bush and his cronies loved pork barrel spending, too. In 2005 – over the strenuous objections of taxpayer advocates – he signed a massive $286 billion transportation bill that included 6,371 pet projects inserted by Republican and Democratic lawmakers. The bill was a pork-fest that dwarfed previous Democratic transportation boondoggles.
Why did a Republican President sign such a monstrosity?
“The president has to work with the Congress,” a Bush spokesman said at the time.
In case anyone forgot, Republicans controlled both the U.S. House and Senate in 2005.
That, in a nutshell, was the problem with “Republican” rule – it really wasn’t any different from Democratic rule when you got right down to it.
Think about it – in 2005, the U.S. taxpayers had a “Republican” President, a “Republican” House and a “Republican” Senate – and they still took it squarely up the ass.
Now?
We have a bunch of asses running the country as a result.
WEB EXTRA
Missing Bush? Why Republican Revisionism Won’t Sell (by Howard Rich)
By Ynotfirst February 21, 2010 at 4:08 pm
there are two sides to each quarter. heads spends no differently than tails people.
Same quarter.
By BIN News Editorial Staff February 21, 2010 at 4:34 pm
The only reason anyone listens to Howie the Voucher Clown in Chief is his money. If he had political sense he’d run for President and fix the mess the Republicrats have gotten us into. But Howie has no political sense.
Just wacko political rhetoric. Just like sic(k) willie. Only Howie is better funded. sic(k) willie is broke.
We all know that Howie the Voucher Clown in Chief has been buying the SC Legislature one official at a time to push his pork barrel voucher scam down our throats. And he’s trying the same thing in other states.
And he keeps failing and failing and failing.
The pork barrel voucher scam keeps failing for a lot of reasons.
First, it would only leave those who need help the most even further behind.
But voucher clowns don’t care.
And responsible Legislators know that.
Second, it ignores the poverty and the social ills that come along with it. Would the voucher scam include free and reduced meals for kids who can’t afford to eat at the voucher scam schools? No way.
Third, the voucher scam ignores the ancient, paint peeling, moldy, leaky, drafty, bug infested and broken down schools than many of our school districts can’t afford to fix or replace.
Check out the Corridor of Shame:
http://www.corridorofshame.com/
And, the voucher scam does nothing to address the shameful “minimally adequate” standard that our Legislature allows to fester in SC.
http://www.goodbyeminimallyadequate.com/
BIN News Editorial Staff
Flair and Balanced
By devil's due February 21, 2010 at 5:14 pm
I disagree with Mr. Rich on term limits (we have term limits already – they are called ELECTIONS) but I support his position on school choice and I second his opinion on Bush 43. George Dubya was no fiscal conservative and the sooner Republicans realize this the better off they will be.
By Liz February 21, 2010 at 5:54 pm
term limits are much more “democratic” than the incumbency machine that feeds entitlements and pork to voters in order to hold on to office (both in DC and Columbia).
that is just third world style wealth re-distribution.
Mr. Rich is DEAD ON.
By No Way! February 21, 2010 at 7:52 pm
He will be viewed as many times over more successful than our current disaster of a president! I did not see a second attack on this country during his years as leader of this country.
By Mike at the beach February 21, 2010 at 9:22 pm
BIN,
So many misstatements, so little time…
Debating you is impossible (and would represent more mental pain than I can stand), so I’ll just run down a quick list of “uhhhhhh, what?” items from your 973rd inane post to this blog you profess to hate so much. Yet, here you are (again).
Let’s do the obvious first- despite your obsessive fixation, Rich’s article wasn’t about the vouchers you irrationally fear.
Vouchers as “pork?” Back to civics class for you…pork is gov’t spending- vouchers go to taxPAYERS.
“Responsible legislators?” Really? Enough said.
Vouchers not only don’t “ignore the poverty and social ills,” they directly address the problem by providing parents who could in no other way possibly afford to escape these crappy schools.
Old, cruddy buildings? Separate issue, but here goes…how about ask these duplicative, wasteful school districts to combine, cut the ridiculous administrative costs which eat the majority of every dollar we send in, and build minimalist (non-Taj Mahal-ish) facilities for the interim. The beauty of vouchers is that, once they fix themselves, the money follows the kids back in. Free markets are powerful things if allowed to work without the gov’t picking the winners (or trying to). Just do some research in regard to our education spending levels over the past ten years, both in the aggregate and per-pupil. If you understand the numbers and stay even a tad fair minded, you’ll be sick.
Easy (partial) fix: Eliminate the US Department of Education as we know it and convert it to a small agency tasked with passing federal grant funds back to the states. Ditto our silly SC Department of Education (which really just serves as a teacher/educrat union and lobbying group, and should be a cabinet appointment), which would simply manage state-mandated and centralized issues and distribute funding.
Finally, as for your two brilliant online references you cite at the end- not exactly unbiased sources, but neither has much to do with the voucher debate anyway.
Normal readers- sorry for the rant…
By BIN News Editorial Staff February 22, 2010 at 7:37 pm
Mikeee at the beach,
Are you at the beach seeing Mandeee the manatee? It’s hard to tell one of you voucher clowns from another these days. You guys all seem to write the same tired old voucher scam rhetoric over and over.
Our Funding Editor initially thought about calling you an “ignorant slut,” but she reserves that time honored quote from SNL to describe sic(k) willie because she knows it fits him so well and annoys him so very much. She loves that.
But she thought about extending the phrase to you because you seem to be a sic(k) willie clone. And you totally missed our point.
Yes, the voucher scam is “pork barrel.” The voucher scam would leave those who need help the most even further behind.
You said eliminate US and State oversight of education.
Right. Like telling the SEC to get off of Enron’s back so free market can take care of things.
M@r@ns of the world. Sleepover at sic(k) willie’s house the next time Howie the Voucher Clown in Chief is in S.C. Mikeee will be there.
Bonus questions: How does the voucher scam address poverty?
No answer from Mikeee is expected. There is no answer.
Mikeee has no clue. All Mikeee has is some of Howie’s voucher scam money.
That’s why vouchers are a scam.
And why Mikeee is just a voucher clown.
By Mike at the beach February 23, 2010 at 12:06 am
Here’s a reply for you- you’re obviously incapable of anything other than repeating “voucher clown” over and over and over while you try to think of something clever to write. We’re still waiting.
Maybe you’re right about staying on our current path in regard to education oversight. It’s been working gangbusters thus far. The smart money is willing to try just about anything at this point, but then no one’s ever accused you of being smart money I’m sure…
Weird, repetitive ad hominem attacks are all you have, so keep ‘em coming.