Punishing New England, Bush style

[TayTay]

It is no surprise that The Idiot King and his minions in the Congress are punishing New England in the 2006 budget. Nor is it new. These vindictive bastards know they didn't win a single NE state in the 2004 election. Therefore they can safely punish Senators and Reps from this region without fear. What have they got to lose anyway. Some in New England want their Dem Senators to capitualte to The Idiot, see this comment from Sen. Chris Dodd's home sstate fo Connecticut. From the NorwichBulletin, Norwich, CT. 4/29/05 http://www.norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050429/OPINION01/504290305/1014/NEWS01

Dodd should acquiesce on Bush choice

The Base Realignment and Closing list is due to be released two weeks from today. The fate of the Groton Submarine Base, that of Electric Boat -- and $2.5 billion of this state's annual economy -- are hanging in the balance. And recall that in the last two presidential elections, this "blue" state preferred Al Gore, then John Kerry, over George W. Bush.

So why is U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd antagonizing the Bush administration with his open hostility to the nomination of John Bolton to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations?

Most recently, on "Face the Nation" Sunday, Dodd was asked if he thought Bolton should withdraw from consideration. His reply: "I would hope he would. ... He should withdraw or the president ought to withdraw this nomination. ."

So far, Sen. Dodd has been a profile in courage for standing up to Bush on moral grounds. I intend to send him some e-mail love to show him that I appreciate his courageous stand against Bolton the Bastard.

[JI7]

1. i really hate the motherfucker

disgusting hateful uncaring bastard prick. i hate him and his entire family. i hate his stupid wife. i hate that asshole brother in Florida whose entire family are criminals just like he is. fuck them all.

[TayTay]

2. Punishing Massachusetts, Rethug style.

In 1972 Richard Nixon hoped to be the first President in history to win all of the States in his re-election bid. His hope was spoiled when Massachusetts voted for his opponent, George McGovern. Nixon took his revenge on Massachusetts by closing several military bases and federal offices in the Bay State, accelerating an economic downturn in the state that didn't abate until the years of the "Massachusetts Miracle."

The current occupant of the White House is even more inclined to revenge against rogue states that vote against him and his right wing agenda. There is only one military base left in MA. It is on the chopping block and will probably be closed so that a base in a so-called 'red state' can be kept open. Acid rain emissions threaten New England trees and lakes more so than other regions of the country. The emissions from mid-west factories drift into this region and release mercury and other pollutants into the New York/New England region at a higher and more damaging rate than in other parts of the country. The right wingers in power could care less. If it comes to a choice between fouling the environment and damaging the health of people in a region of the country that doesn't vote for Rethugs or making their corporate buddies pay more to cap their emissions, we know who will win.

I fully expect that Massachusetts and NewYork/New England will take a lot more hits from the thuggish * Admin. They carry a grudge and like inflicting revenge. Senators from this region who stand up to * and his thugs in Congress know what they are risking and they deserve a lot of kudos for standing up to these bastards anyway. But it comes with a deep and painful cost.

[rox63]

9. There are two bases in MA that I know of

There's Hanscom AFB (which I've heard is likely to get cut), and there's Otis AFB on the Cape. (which I hear is less likely to be cut)

And another bit of New England base-closing revenge is likely to hit the Portsmouth Naval shipyard, which straddles the Maine/New Hampshire border. Both states were claiming it was located in their jurisdiction, until the courts decided a couple of years back that it was officially in Maine. The locals are almost certain it's on the chopping block. I know quite a few people who will be affected by that one.

[TayTay]

3. Punishing Rhode Island, Bush style

In Feb of 2003 a horrific fire took the lives of 100 people at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, RI. Over 200 hundred aditional people were injured in this devastating fire, some had injuries that would impact them for the rest of their lives. Hundreds of children were left without one or both parents and the state of Rhode Island incurred huge costs in trying to take care of the injured and the children and families that were impacted by this fire.

The Republican Governor of Rhode Island appealed to FEMA for some federal disaster relief. (RI got $500,000 from the Feds.) He had been encouraged to do this by FEMA itself. The request was denied. Rhode Island is a heavily Democratic state, that * had no hope of carrying in 2004. * took his revenge on RI by denying it's most vulnerable citizens some financial relief in a time of great crisis. Contrast that with the federal money that was nearly instantly aproved for Florida last year, before some of the devastating storms had even hit that state. (Well, *'s brother if Gov there, and they wanted to carry the state in the election.)

http://www.eyewitnessnewstv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1246407&nav=F2DOFYEH

FEMA Denies Rhode Island's Appeal For Federal Aid For The Club Fire Tragedy

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ The Federal Emergency Management Agency has again denied Gov. Donald Carcieri's request for disaster relief in the wake of a deadly nightclub fire in West Warwick.

``This event, though tragic in nature, is not beyond the combined capabilities of the state and affected local communities, given the resources that have been made available from federal, state, local and voluntary entities,'' wrote Michael Brown, an agency undersecretary, in a letter dated Wednesday.

Carcieri, a Republican, last month appealed the agency's first denial directly to President Bush. He outlined more than $1 million in direct state and local expenses related to the Feb. 20 fire at The Station. The blaze claimed 99 lives and injured nearly 200 others.

In the March 25 appeal, Carcieri said, ``I have determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and the affected local communities.'' He cited long-term costs for uninsured medical expenses, lost incomes and mental health care for victims he said could exceed $100 million.

[TayTay]

4. Standing up to the thugs, despite the cost

Last fall there were a ton of stupid posts about Red States vs. Blue States and how dumb or vindictive or ingorant RedState voters were. I despised these posts and deeply deplore any self-righteous Dems who post them. There are courageous RedState Dems who risked a lot to hang out Kerry/Edwards signs in their communities where it might not have been popular. A lot of RedStaters were harrassed at their Churches and work places and had to put up with a lot of negatives comments (and in some cases, actions) because they backed the Kerry/Edwards ticket. I cannot applaud such courage enough. The RedStater Dems deserve deep thanks and appreciation for their courage.

My point in posting these 'Rethug Revenge on NE' things is to show that we will also pay a heavy price for backing Democrats, even though some of us live in Royal Blue States. The Rethugs couldn't even send federal disaster money to help orphaned kids in RI. Yet the RI people voted overwhelmingly for Kerry last fall. They will pay for it dearly. Massachusetts will pay for having the temerity to send out a Presidential candidate who openly questioned the actions of The Idiot King and his destructive ways. We will suffer from it in loss of money, jobs and federal committment to this area. I think Massachusetts would do it again in a heartbeat.

The next time you read a post from someone lamenting the fact that they live in a Red State, tell them the Rhode Island story. Tell them that opposing * has it's price and that price is very, very steep.

I cannot applaud my two Senators enough for standing up to * in this Congress. (I also applaud the other courageous Dems who are doing so.) There is a price for resistance to this Admin. I hope the complainers and purists remember that before they whine about someone not being 'Democratic' enough the next time. There is a price and we are paying it.

[whometense]

5. Bravo.

I'm sorry that the circumstances are such that your post was needed, but you make a great point, and one I don't remember seeing expressed anywhere else.

There's no free ride in the blue states. Hell, Massachusetts has paid by being publicly dissed by our own f***ing governor. And I think * may well outdo Nixon in sheer vindictiveness.

[TayTay]

6. The Rhode Island thing just grates on me.

How can Sen. Lincoln Chafee even think of voting for those Rethug bastards who denied money to those victims of that horrible fire in his state? What, in God's Holy Name, does he get for supporting those immoral bastards who denied children a little relief in a time of dire need?

Every time I see Chafee waffling about another * action, I see the faces of the people involved in that fire. And I wonder. And I think, Sen. Chafee, what the hell are you doing?

[TayTay]

7. Punishing Blue States: Your stories

New England isn't the only region of the country that the * Admin is trying to punish for it's voting patterns. California, Oregon, and Washington State are also targets of the vindictive thugs in power right now.

I don't live in those states, or other blue states like Illinois that will have threats from the Right Wing to conform or face economic retaliation. Anybody here have any stories to add?

And, while my Senator is currently criss-crossing the country trying to help kids without health care get some coverage, might I add, that I am very proud of him for doing this. Even with the price that we will have to pay for opposing The Idiot King and his minions. Go do your thing Seantor, help America. I still got your back.

[karynnj]

8. New Jersey is also on Bush's bad list

They cut NJ's homeland security dollars after the election and the legislation on Amtrak really hurts NJ. Many of our commuter trains use the same tunnel to go from NJ to NYC. The costs of these essential trains are likely to go up. NYC doesn't need more NJ cars! NJ already has the lowest ratio of money from the Federal government to money paid to the Federal government.

I really admire that Kerry not only has the strength to keep fighting the evil one, but to fight by offering proposals which give a positive, reasonable, sensible alternative. In a way though going outside Washington and seeing that crowds of people applaud his ideas may supply a break from the bitterness in DC. It must be hard working on amendments, losing most of them - and then having cynical Republicans who voted unanimously for some amendments remove them unilaterally from the bill. (Does this count as a flip flop for Frist)

Although it must annoy Bush, that Kerry keeps popping up with a beautiful smile on his face talking about actually doing things for people or with a serious demeanor eloquently describing how wrong everything Bush is doing is. It must annoy Bush that Kerry, after enduring everything thrown at him last year, still has more grace and class than Bush ever will.

[whometense]

10. Speaking of which,

did you see this article in today's Boston Globe?

GOP gives more power to federal government
States blocked on industry rules

By Susan Milligan, Globe Staff | May 1, 2005

WASHINGTON -- Despite having made a commitment to return power to the states, the Bush administration and the GOP- controlled Congress are using legislation and the legal system to quash state efforts to regulate industry, a trend state officials say is weakening hard-fought efforts to protect the health and safety of their constituents.


New and proposed federal rules or laws would overturn California's ban on a vaccine preservative some think contributes to autism, and would block any state's efforts to control small-engine emissions. New England would be thwarted in its efforts to control pollution wafting over from other states, while Massachusetts and California would not be able to keep unwanted liquefied natural gas terminals from their shores. A recent banking rule change severely limits the impact of state laws intended to protect consumers from shady banking practices.

More...

Can this be seen as vindictiveness?? I think so...

[TayTay]

11. It is a power grab, pure and simple.

There is nothing subtle or unassuming about the Rethug movement. They are seeking to force their view of what America should be like on the rest of us. This article, a must-read, is how they intend to make the Federal rules and regulations take effect over the various states, whether the states like it or not.

The Liquefied Natural Gas terminals are a big issue in Massachusetts. We don't want them, because they are big, blinking terrorist targets. (And accidents can happen.) The one in MA is planned too close to heavily populated areas. Sens Kerry and Kennedy have publicly opposed this, as has the whole political establishment of the state. (I believe California would oppose this on similar grounds.) The Rethugs want this stuff to go through and will use their majorities in Congress to force it through. (That these dangerous installations are in 'blue' states, is probably just an added bonus and a warning for the blue states not to try thwarting the REthug agenda or else.)

This might just be part of the over-reach though that people are seeing in the extremist right's agenda. They are doing what they came to power in the 80's and 90's vowing not to do; make unilateral federal decisions that the states have no veto power to stop. There is open revolt over the unfunded mandates in the NCLB act. 9 states, to date, have sued in federal court to overturn NCLB. I think this is the beginning of a movement to curtail some of the extremist positions of the right wingers. There have been a few hopeful threads in DU on how people are beginning to turn against * just for these dictatorial decisions he is making. (We are talking red state people, not just us blue staters.)

[whometense]

12. The cognitive dissonance

threatens to make my head explode.

Small government? States' rights? Yeah, right. The part that got to me the most was the "Clear Skies" part - about the Northeast being "the tailpipe of the nation" - but without any right to control the emissions that end up in the air we breathe.

[TayTay]

13. This is an emerging Democratic issue

Kerry, and other Dems, are so right for speaking out about this in a personal sense. How sad is it that fathers (or mothers) can't take their children fishing and eat the catch because the fish have too much mercury in them. This is environmentalism on a very personal basis. I believe that this kind of talk about how the environment's deterioration affects the quality of real people's lives helped give Montana a Dem governor last year.

Political movements are sometimes like rubber bands that can be stretched and stretched but not infinitely so. There is a point at which the rubber band either breaks or begins to retract and go back the other way. I think it is possible that we are seeing the beginning of a retraction in the country for the extremist right wing movement. Of course, that doesn't mean it will be easy. The election reform issue is critical because the right wingers will seek to retain power using any means necessary. It's going to get real interesting, as if it isn't already.

Has anyone else noticed that political interest is still way up in the country. Kos posted something last week that he thought he would have lots of time to tinker with the technicals of his web site after the election because interest would return to a more normal and lower level. That has not happened. If anything, interest has grown.I know the web is not real life, but I do detect a lot of people still paying very close attention to political issues. I don't think this is good for the Rethugs, I really don't. Extremism works best when people aren't paying attention. They get away with more bad stuff.

[whometense]

14. I've certainly noticed it.

I think it's partly because people just hate * more and more. Even if you leave crooked elections out of the picture, half the voters in this country were in a positive fever to get rid of him. It was a fever with no resolution. * gets worse and worse, politics get uglier and uglier. The rethug agenda is so in-your-face that it's like he's taunting us. And Kerry's fanning the flames by showing what a real leader does.

I think if Kerry'd gone away quietly, or * came out gentler (yeah, I know, that was likely...) But * has played it 100% wrong, and Kerry's played it 100% right. It often feels to me like the campaign never ended. Bullies must be faced down.