G.O.P. Sees Opportunities Arising From Storm

[Judi Lynn]

The Republican Agenda
G.O.P. Sees Opportunities Arising From Storm

By EDMUND L. ANDREWS
Published: September 10, 2005
HOUSTON, Sept. 9 - Republican leaders in Congress and some White House officials see opportunities in Hurricane Katrina to advance longstanding conservative goals like giving students vouchers to pay for private schools, paying churches to help with temporary housing and scaling back business regulation.

"There are about a thousand churches right here in Houston, and a lot of them are helping people with housing, but FEMA says they can't reimburse faith-based organizations," Representative Tom DeLay of Texas, the House majority leader, said, referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Mr. DeLay, who joined three of President Bush's top economic advisers on a tour of relief efforts near the Houston Astrodome, added that Congress should also allow students displaced by the hurricane to use vouchers to pay for tuition at private schools. Conservatives have championed school vouchers for decades.

Those are only some of the ideas being considered by Congressional leaders and White House officials that could serve the dual purpose of helping hurricane victims and pursuing broader social and economic changes that Republicans have long sought.
(snip/...)

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/10/politics/10policy.html
(Free registration required)

[AlamoDemoc]

1. Why don't they come out and say

"they are better off then they were before" Barbara Bush

On edit: the worst words you can hear is " we the government, we here to help you" Ronald Reagan

[Missy M]

2. The conservatives will stop at nothing to get their agenda pushed...

on this country. Using a tragedy to pursue social and economic changes is disturbing to say the least. Naturally the changes involve tax cuts to business, less wages to workers rebuilding the affected areas and what seems to be less environmental regulations. bush and the conservatives are only interested in money and religion and the rest be damned.

[AlamoDemoc]

4. precisely

"bush and the conservatives are only interested in money and religion and the rest be damned."

[meow2u3]

30. Money IS the GOP's religion

They worship at the Church of the Almighty Dollar--not the Church of the Almighty.

[ticapnews]

34. Put another way

"Supply-side economics is their religion and tax cuts are their Jesus." -- Bradley Whitford on Real Time with Bill Maher last week.

[ixion]

10. and their only interest in religion is how it can bring more money

and power. :grr:

[iamjoy]

13. Be Fair About Agendas

If the Democrats were smart, they'd be doing the same thing.

They would be using this tragedy to point out the importance of civil projects (levee building). They would be using it to point out the importance of FEMA and that security is not just a quai-military operation, but dealing with the human element as well in non-terrorism related disasters.

[Missy M]

29. What you say is quite different and is directly related to the tragedy...

giving school vouchers, money to religious organizations and other conservative goals is not related to the tragedy and strictly related to trying to push their social agenda on people who have lost everything. Everyone, including the Democrats is in agreement that levees should be fixed and FEMA should be prepared and ready for disasters.

[iamjoy]

33. Actually, Republicans Want FEMA Destroyed

to them, the only ntaional threat is terrorism. Local & state governments should deal with other disasters.

the sticky wicket here is, if we admit that this disaster called for a federal response, then they will twist that to mean we are admitting local & state authorities couldn't handle it.

[bluestateguy]

3. If the private charities are doing such a good job

then why do they need taxpayer money?

As for vouchers, I don't want my tax dollars being used to fund religious indoctrination, and in some cases, outright hatred. I will defend with my last dying breath the right of these schools to exist, but I don't have to fund their bigotry.

[AlamoDemoc]

5. you are making point there, however

Private institutions need government funding,,,and if you can't fund it through taxpayer's money, they are non-existance..... government can't fund projects without your money involved. Period.

[NJCher]

6. Just another way to steal

They'll set up farce corporations like the kind of educational curriculum company the bushes have in Florida. The victims will get .0009 of every dollar spent.




Cher

[AtomicKitten]

7. Katrina has given me the opportunity

to back over a Republican with my car.

[DBoon]

22. and the republican can use faith-based creationist medical treatment

to fix their injuries.

[no_hypocrisy]

8. With republican free-enterprise, entrepreneurial, capitalistic spirit out

there, they could come across a pile of shit and think, "Gee, there must be a pony nearby!"

[wellst0nev0ter]

9. Cris-a-tunity!

There wouldn't be a modern republican party unless there is some disaster to exploit.

[WCGreen]

11. An OpEd I wrote about Vouchers back in 1996.....

What if there was a state sponsored program that happened to be slightly progressive in nature? (Contrary to popular belief, there are still some Ohioans who don't go goose-stepping into the night with every attempt by radical Republicans to promote their version of social engineering.) Let's pretend this program was an education course taught to high school seniors designed to expose Ohio students to their future rights as workers when they enter the workforce here in Ohio.


We know this progressive program would be opposed by many of the conservative business interests who are major contributors to the Republican Party. Remember, these same groups pushed for radical tort reform, the gutting of workers compensation and the relaxation of regulations concerning the handling and disposal of highly toxic waste. And they backed it up with cash, lots of cash. We also know that labor, a "special interest" more attune with the philosophy of the democratic party than that of the GOP, would more than likely champion this as a breakthrough in public education.


While we are engaging in fantasy, let's take it one step further. Let's suppose the Democrats control both houses of the legislature as well as the governor's mansion. (Yes Virginia, I know it's a stretch, but there once was another party representing a whole different approach to government down in Columbus. They were called Democrats.)


What do you suppose would be the reaction if this program came in 40% over budget, proved to be ineffective and would potentially cost the taxpayers of Ohio cost overruns approaching 20% next fiscal year? Why the Daily Morning Monolith here in Cleveland would shudder and quake and more than likely run large banner headlines about waste in government, abuse of power and the capture of our public schools by "special interest groups". I would even wager a few dollars that editorials would be flying off the Underwood of anti-education columnist Kevin O'Brien chastising the "educrats" who are deviously plotting to control the minds of our students.


That is why the reports in the Plain Dealer about the problems facing the Voucher program, outlined above in our "fictional" accounting of the labor education program, seem to be a bit disengenous. The news about the lack of any discernible difference between performance in voucher funded parochial schools and the Cleveland Public Schools first trickled out in the March 30, 1998, issue of US News and World Report (received the week of March 25). Days after, the Akron Beacon Journal ran an article that was picked-up by the Public Broadcasting stations and finally, the Daily Morning Monolith.


Where was the outrage? Where was Kevin O'Brien? But O'Brien, an avowed home schooler who never met a government program he didn't hate especially if it involves education and especially if it veers ever so slightly from his Neanderthal version of education firmly stuck in the readin' ritin' and 'rithmatic brand of schoolin' our great grandfathers enjoyed, has been strangely silent on the cost over runs surrounding the controversial Cleveland educational voucher program.


And where is the Ohio GOP? The self proclaimed watchdogs of the public purse have hit the mute button. If the Voucher Program had fallen under the Democratic umbrella of issues, the Republicans would be all over the cost overruns and dismal performance levels faster than Ken Starr can spread an innuendo. Perhaps the main reason the Republicans remain silent is the amount of cash Akron's favorite benevolent industrialist, David Brennan, has shoveled at the Ohio GOP. He contributed enough cash to generic Republican Campaign Committees, $ 142,500 during the 1995-96 campaign season, to cover the cost of a State House seat. We'll call that the Brennan chair and we'll put it off to the right of the Speaker in the new gilded House Chamber. He'll have a special endowment, just like they do at the Universities.


Brennan also contributed $ 25,000 to the campaign of Kenneth Blackwell (the no 1 GOP publicity hound who is now auditioning for a role in the new movie, Silence of the Elephants), $ 10,000 each to both Betty Montgomery and Bob Taft, $ 7,500 to conservative state Representative Edward Kasputis and thousands of dollars to other Republican Candidates. (All this was done before the new campaign laws kicked in. The GOP really took advantage of rakin' in the cash before the contribution limits deadline hit. Isn't that the type of behavior that stretches the fine line between ethical and unethical behavior Mr. Book of Virtues?)


Brennan has a personal stake in the Cleveland Voucher program since he is bankrolling not only the GOP but the Hope Academy chain of Voucher Schools. One has to wonder if Brennan wasn't such a cash cow for the Republican Party if the hue and cry of cost over runs wouldn't be more forthcoming. Probably not. The grown-up GOP'sters in Washington all look the other way when ideology trumps the so-called fiscal responsibility of the Wall Street wing of the party. The guess is that Voucher excesses and lack of accountability will be swept under the rug by party apologists and the "mainstream" press that desperately wants to dismantle the Public Education system here in Cleveland.

[In_The_Wind]

20. Your words ... W C Green, from years ago still hold true today!

[NJCher]

27. very well written

And it stands the test of time, doesn't it? You could change a few items and simply re-submit this.




Cher

[cap]

12. the churches have proven that they cant do this on a mass scale

who are they kidding.

Those poor people will get screwed again and again by this administration. We are on the verge of sliding into a recession. It reminds me of Hoover's actions before the Great Depression.

It will be a long 2 years. I hope we win in 06 and slow down this nonsense.

[54anickel]

15. Churches looking for reimbursement from the government? These

"churches" are unclear on the entire concept of Christianity. You don't "give of yourself" looking to be f'ing reimbursed.

Just more corruption of true Christian values by the false "profits". They and their "faith-based" initiative are simply attempting to turn these KKKristian tax-exempt corporations into huge profit centers - another benefactor of the move to privatize the roles and responsibilities of government.

[DBoon]

23. When churches start getting this sort of money

they will find partisan political interests suddenly dictating how they will be run.

The churches will be in the back pocket of a single-party state.

These ministers better get used to getting their talking points from the RNC

[iamjoy]

14. Is This The Real Conspiracy?

Many people feel the government is incompetent and that is why the initial response to Hurricane Katrina was so lousy. But help was here in Florida the day after Hurricane Charley. Oh, that was an election year. So, I've seen posts that the government wanted the people to die, or didn't care if they died because it wasn't an election year. I think this goes too far.

Maybe, the real conspiracy behind the lousy federal response is to demonstrate why a federal response is no good. Grover Norquist talks of "starving the beast." That is what we are seeing with Hurricane Katrina recovery. In the days immediately following Katrina, private enterprise succeeded where government failed. Wal-Mart had trucks in devastated parts of Mississippi the day after the storm distributing water, ice, etc. Marriott got tired of waiting for the feds to do something and sent in a bus to rescue their employees and guests in New Orleans. The Republicans will have their little investigation and either pin it on local & state officials (Democrats) and/or use it to highlight private response (corporations, churches, etc) and how "successful" it was, thus, no need for additional federal funding is needed.

[fasttense]

16. Time for the republican controlled congress, presidency and judiciary

to suspend child labor laws, start workhouses and begin debtor's prisons.

[tanyev]

17. Hijacking Catastrophe.

They did it on 9/11, they'll do it again.

[Jamastiene]

18. Vultures. They are. Looks like they'd work them into public education

and give them their own homes again so they can feel like loved human beings again.

[ElectroPrincess]

19. Mr. DeLay, et. al. are living in an alternate universe ...

The people are not buying their B.S. - religious or political. Most people in the USA KNOW that the media is corrupt in favor of the Executive Branch.

I can't wait until their "little world" falls in revealing the true disdain for these ghouls.

Remember the media are whores to Business, not The Bush Administration, in particular. These Neo-Cons are tanking American Investors not related to the War Machine.

My point: The Media will turn on this Executive Branch in the near future, BushCo. is bad for American Business efforts abroad. When it does, let's vote out the DINOs and watch their buds on the Republican side of the aisle go "belly up." As it should be ;).

[AlCzervik]

21. FBEMA-Fatih based emergency money agency

[basherbrian]

24. "opportunity"

Our friends at the White House are just looking out for their best interests as always. Helping poor people and saving lives? Not a consideration. An efficient evacuation and renovation of New Orleans? That's exactly what we're getting.

If they did the right thing and helped people on the first day, it's a big loser for Neocons. It's simple enough to drop pallets of food and water for everyone. It was not a problem in Afghanistan. But if needs were actually met, people would have either squatted in NO or evacuated somewhere nearby, many wanting to return ASAP. This would make things too difficult.

Instead the plan was to withold relief until the MSM started screaming bloody murder. This works out nicely for the Repugs. After a heaping helping of third world-style neglect, people become much more willing to travel to far away cities. Scattered around the country, these Americans are now less likely to get together for race riots and protests. New Orleans is safe, soggy and ripe for new investment. All they had to do is sit back and do nothing for a few days. Haliburton can now do the work they love. And of course, "We're ALL at fault".

Mass murder? The MSM can spin this away nicely. The whole story divides the country red and blue and the finger-pointing begins. I'm sure New Orleans will become lovely place for nice white folks soon enough.

[Jade Fox]

25. Good luck fools....

The idea the the Katrina fallout will do anything to help the GOP is just
wishful thinking.

Yes, they may get a few of their agenda items pushed through, but that
will be chickenfeed next to the long-term damage that's been done.

[IndianaGreen]

26. These people will never stop until they either get us all killed, or...

we kill them before they kill us.

Religion is one of the forms of spiritual oppression which everywhere weighs down heavily upon the masses of the people, over burdened by their perpetual work for others, by want and isolation. Impotence of the exploited classes in their struggle against the exploiters just as inevitably gives rise to the belief in a better life after death as impotence of the savage in his battle with nature gives rise to belief in gods, devils, miracles, and the like. Those who toil and live in want all their lives are taught by religion to be submissive and patient while here on earth, and to take comfort in the hope of a heavenly reward. But those who live by the labour of others are taught by religion to practise charity while on earth, thus offering them a very cheap way of justifying their entire existence as exploiters and selling them at a moderate price tickets to well-being in heaven. Religion is opium for the people. Religion is a sort of spiritual booze, in which the slaves of capital drown their human image, their demand for a life more or less worthy of man.

Socialism and Religion (1905)

V. I. Lenin

http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1905/dec/03.htm

[moondust]

28. "My Precious"

human disaster.


Ghouls.

[VegasWolf]

31. See this warm hot dog! You can have it! All you have to do is listen

to this 45 minute presentation about how Jesus can CHANGE your life!

[Francine Frensky]

32. YES!!! Katrina shows how the republicans philosophy REALLY works:

1. Small government = inadequate response in emergency

2. Guns in the hands of people + depleted police force = chaos in the streets

3. Ignore global warming = stronger hurricanes

4. Rebuild Iraq and ignore our own infrastructure = avoidable tragedy at home

5. national guard "fighting them over there" = can't help in own state (can't help own families!)

6. cut funds for Army Core of Engineers = infrastructure failures

7. Provide no government safety nets = poor people suffer and die