Bush Report Card On His "Best" Issue: Homeland Security

[Wafture]

WASHINGTON, March 10 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Following is a release from the Democratic National Committee:

HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE REPORT: ADMINISTRATION GETS BARELY PASSING GRADES ON SECURITY


PORT SECURITY: C-minus / D-plus

BARRIERS TO PROGRESS: Consistent underfunding by the Bush Administration continues to limit DHS's progress on port security. The budget eliminates dedicated funds for port security, forcing ports to compete with rail, mass transit and other critical infrastructure for funding. The budget also fails to increase funding from the previous year for cargo security programs and underfunds container inspection technology.


EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE: D

BARRIERS TO PROGRESS: The President's budget cuts $612 million from first responder grants and training programs. The budget cuts funding levels for programs designed to assist state and local law enforcement agencies by more than $1 billion compared to FY 2006, the Firefighters Grant Program was cut by 50 percent, and the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, which trains first responders, was cut by 66 percent.

More:

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=62178

[Erika]

1. See the poll at www.cnn.com concerning port safety

The vote shows the majority of viewers would rather have the U.S. mafia running the ports than they would Arab companies.

Maybe the mafia has the money and knows how to provide proper security.

W's Homeland Security is a joke. Only 6% of cargo checked? No effective border enforcement.

[Sydnie]

3. well, it didn't take them long to say that is what has happened either

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2161259

[Wafture]

6. The mafia did run the ports in the 1940s

On the Waterfront: Time to Give Ports Back to the Mafia

Deanne Stillman

In World War II, the feds handed security for the port of New York over to Lucky Luciano. So what if they had to spring him from the joint in exchange for protection? The plan worked -- German U-boats never landed at Battery Park and if they tried -- well, fuhgeddaboutit. Now is not the time to break with tradition. Let's keep homeland security in la famiglia.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deanne-stillman/on-the-waterfront-time-_b_16065.html

[gordianot]

2. Democrats ability to respond to Republican outrages: "nevermind"

[Beelzebud]

4. What does it take to get an F for Emergency Response?

Do you have to actively nuke a city to get an F?

[Nite Owl]

5. What are people thinking

that's way too high a grade for both.

[Wafture]

7. The grades must have been inflated

People have been bailing out Bush all his life. I guess this is another case of such. They're trying to boost his self-esteem. I've heard about teachers doing that. The hope is the child will respond positively.

I'm no psychologist. Just a lay person's opinion.

:)