Is anyone else amazed that an extra $18 m to the Arts gets so much press?

[papau]

edited to insert exact number of $18 m

Bush will propose an increase of $18 million for the coming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, after the GOP controlled Congress cut the Arts Budget from its peak of $176 m in 1993 - about where it stay under Clinton - under GOP control via the 1994 GOP controlled Congress vote the 1995 budget was cut to slightly less than $100 million. Under Bush we have a $500,000 rise in 2003, a $ 5 million rise in 04 to its current level of $121 million, and now a proposed increase of $18 million for the 05 Budget.

And the media wants us to think this a big deal, going against his base, proving he is a middle of the road compassionate conservative!

LOL

peace

:-)

[htuttle]

1. No kidding

The cost of a single Super Hornet Fighter for the Navy is $100,000,000.00. (20 of them cost $2 Billion).

:eyes:

[BayCityProgressive]

2. I hope this

F***ing moron keeps doing stupid shit like this! First he pisses off his base by passing his immigration plan to appear moderate. Now he is funding Space travel and commie art!! No one who dislikes Bush is goign to care about this pointless crap..it doesn;t help them get a new job or bring their kids back from Iraq. At the same time it pisses off his base. What a dumb move! He has painte dhimself into a radical Right corner and there is nothing he can do about it now!

[bowens43]

9. Commie art?

BTW no immigration bill has passed or for that matter is even before congress (where it will be defeated), that was smoke and mirrors, as is the space program. This is just another lame attempt to buy some moderate votes by hoodwinking those who don't know better , and you're right , it won't work. But hey, at least the funding for NEA will go up a Little. I have no problem with that.

Commie art, sarcasm, sorry I missed it........so much crap coming from the idiot that sometimes I feel that my head might explode.

[tom_paine]

3. Not amazed, boringly unsurprised is more like it

How many time have we seen Corproate TV Pravda act as Imperial Stooge, repeating Bushevik Lies and laundering them for them, placing inappropriate emphasis on non-stories while ignoring real ones, helping the Party-Loyal Bushevik Sub-Media in it's task of disseminating and laundering lies, as well as adhereing to the "script" the Party-Loyal Bushevik Sub-Media supplies.

In that context, you'd have to say I'm not amazed and not the least bit surprised.

After all, the Soviet media and Nazi media, as well as Ferdinand Marcos' media, used to cherry-pick minor stories to create a backdrop of compassion from Brutal Totalitarian Dictators.

I would expect nothing less from the Imperial media pimping for THEIR dictator, who only differs from the others I've mentioned in level fo violence used against his enemies (different countries, different customs).

[papau]

5. I agree - the $18 million amount MUST be included in media reports

unless this is just our "not right wing GOP controlled media" acting once again like it is.

[spanone]

4. election year - no ass will be left unkissed

[asjr]

7. Oh, wow

I wish we could get that on a bumper sticker. That would stop traffic.

[lcordero]

6. I hope that the average conservative out in the street is pissed

I hope that they regard it as spending going out of control.

15 million on Arts shows that his priorities are out of order when child poverty is on the rise, people are losing their jobs, people are going bankrupt just from medical expenses, along with with a major housing crisis that's out of control.

Hell, I'm offended that 15 million dollars is being spent on "Arts".

[LeahMira]

8. It's a sop...

And the media wants us to think this a big deal, going against his base, proving he is a middle of the road compassionate conservative!

I'm surprised, especially in light of Lynne Cheney's hostility to both the NEA and the NEH, but the amount he's allocating is hardly a drop in the bucket. Maybe the Republicans think that the voters will be impressed with the pitiful gesture. I'm certainly not.

[bowens43]

10. The more the media plays this up the better for us.

It won't convince anyone to vote for the idiot but it will drive some conservatives (maybe many conservatives) to the Constitution Party or some other extremist fringe party.

[BayCityProgressive]

11. I was being sarcastic

calling it commie art. Conservatives think all federal spending on things like that are communist. As for the immigration plan, I am aware it hasn't passed but the mere idea of Bush supporting it will turn people off.

[xxqqqzme]

12. not at all surprized

it's an election year & just like '00, rove/hughes want all 2 Blieve squatter is really a moderate @ heart - forget the non-mandate, rabid right agenda from the last THREE years...his underhanded appointment of pickering over the recess, his rabid, radical right judicial nominees, the gleeful, openly celebratory signing party of the 'partial birth abortion' ban, disregard of the Constitution and international law, 'global gag rule', trashing the environment, continual homage and deference 2 his corporate contributors 2 the point where corporations dictate policy......no, during '04, squatter will once again run left (considering how far right he is, running left doesn't even get him close 2 the center)so his puppet master can control from the Xtreme far right.

[denverbill]

13. I'm glad it's getting press.

There are a AWFUL lot of conservatives and even moderates that don't like spending on the NEA, and very few people that really care strongly enough to be pleased if it IS increased. Bush will piss off 100 times more voters than he'll win with this move.

Seriously, do you think any moderate or lefty is going to vote for Shrub because he fopped 17 million to the NEA when he's destroyed the budget, declared a preemptive war, and turned the entire world against us?

Conversely, this is just another nail in the conservative coffin for the freeper-types. Of all the spending conservatives consider 'waste' the NEA probably tops the list.

[Karenina]

14. Hmmm...

So I'm thinking, "what's the catch?" 12 mil already earmarked for the Leni Riefenstahl Stipendiummmmhmmmmm????

[Robbien]

15. The catch may be that he is earmarking the 12 mil

but then later quietly cuts the actual program funding. Its not like he has not done this a dozen times already.

[Bozita]

20. The money is for fabric to cover all of those topless statues

Quality drapery is expensive.

War is good.

Unclad female breasts are bad.

[arko]

16. Help

I'm confused about government spending on art. What makes this a good idea?

[NashVegas]

17. Not Necessarily Against His Base

The art this will be directed at is that what was done mostly by dead white guys. ie, promotion of Western Civilization, which Lynn Cheney will have no issues with. Think Shakespeare, Balanchine, Verdi. No Mapplethorpe, trust me.

Personally, I don't mind it. But I'm not stupid enough to see it as anything more than an election year ploy.

[ThomWV]

18. We Spend $1 Million per Minute In Iraq

So tell me where the prioritys are.

[Logansquare]

19. I was just at the Focus on the Family site

and they think its a "bad idea!" You know, money for the arts--probably just a bunch of homosexuals... I don't know, I couldn't stand reading the thing.

Bush courted these beasts (the Xtian Right) and now they'll turn on him for any tiny deviation from the PLAN. Guest workers, an extra buck for the arts, and they freak out.