Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Bring It On, and On, and On, and On...
Does the Bush campaign (and their NY Times hack Elizabeth "Bulimia" Bumiller) really want to talk about embarrassing cuts in defense spending? As Atrios reminds us, there have been some rather more recent episodes the GOP might not want re-aired:
Bring It On, indeed.
Contribute to Kerry.
posted by Blicero : 3/10/2004 02:03:00 AM
In his final budget request for the fiscal year 2003 submitted on Sept. 10 to the budget director, Mitchell E. Daniels Jr., the attorney general called for spending increases in 68 programs, none of which directly involved counterterrorism. Upgrading the F.B.I.'s computer system, one of the areas in which he sought an increase, is relevant to combating terrorism, though Mr. Ashcroft did not defend it on that ground.And this, from the Newsweek story about Bush's infamous "jut-jawed, disjointed discourse" following the BUSH KNEW revelations of May 2002:
But in his Sept. 10 submission to the budget office, Mr. Ashcroft did not endorse F.B.I. requests for $58 million for 149 new counterterrorism field agents, 200 intelligence analysts and 54 additional translators.
Mr. Ashcroft proposed cuts in 14 programs. One proposed $65 million cut was for a program that gives state and local counterterrorism grants for equipment, including radios and decontamination suits and training to localities for counterterrorism preparedness.
Bush was just getting warmed up. "Now you guys really got me going," he said. He threatened to block the entire defense bill if it contained money for the controversial and costly Crusader artillery system. "I mean it. I'll veto it," he said tersely, glancing at Sen. Don Nickles of Oklahoma, where Crusader would be built.Say what? President Bush blocking the Crusader artillery system--yes, that's right, the Crusader artillery system? After 9/11? How the hell are we supposed to fight a global war on terror without a proper Crusader artillery system?
Bring It On, indeed.
Contribute to Kerry.
posted by Blicero : 3/10/2004 02:03:00 AM
