Bush cuts money for decontamination research

[cjbuchanan]

WASHINGTON - President Bush asked Congress to eliminate an $8.2 million research program on how to decontaminate buildings attacked by toxins — the same day a poison-laced letter shuttered Senate offices.

Critics said Thursday they were surprised by Bush's request, included in his 2005 budget proposal. Its release coincided with the discovery of the poison ricin in Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's office on Monday.

"It is a stunning example of the budget choices this administration has made, where tax cuts for elites are more important than public health or adequate homeland security," said Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D.

Daschle's office was the target of an anthrax-laced letter in October 2001 when he held Frist's job.

more at: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/ricin_bush

[aquart]

1. Well, yeah.

George is astoundingly politically tone deaf.

Or simply arrogant.

[Whoa_Nelly]

2. He's a ROVEr puppet

Have to wonder who REALLy writes the * plans.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

3. Bush sucked at gaining support abroad...

Why should he be any better at winning friends on Capitol Hill?

[Virginian]

4. Did he use logic, "World is safer place"?

Did he use the logic that the world is a safer place now that Saddam is not in power?

After he took his Cipro and while he was hiding from everyone on Sept 11, did he happen to stop off in New Jersey to mail some letters?

[TXvote]

5. Getting Naked Is a Problem

I had to wonder when they decontaminated Frist's staff how they felt about getting naked for the contained showers involved in the process. This usually involves a few techs in haz mat suits scrubbing you down. Turns out in drills that this was problematic for the citizen volunteers. That and the fact they had to leave behind all their personal belongings until they were "cleared". FYI: In a dirty bomb scenario, you lose your personal belongings permanently.