[Kat]
Let's just start with the headline:
War bill helps Iraqis, may ignore Katrina victims
Let's get this straight. This is a WAR bill. Not a Hurricane Recovery bill. The Republicans and Democrats have been adding on tons of ear marks to these bills since the war began. Finally, the President, under pressure from the anti-pork folks decided that he wasn't going to sign this bill if it came along with all the usual trappings of pork, more pork and even more pork along with the usual attempts to set time lines for withdrawal or limits on US forces activities in Iraq.
If more money is required to assist the victims of Katrina, why doesn't someone in congress get that bill together and request it? If it's really needed and not already provided for under another bill or it just hasn't been dispersed yet, shouldn't we know about that and help get something done?
Why would anyone in congress try to hide it in the war funding bill and not say anything until it was on the brink of being cut?
I can answer that, I suppose. It makes three great big statements:
1) Spending money on war is bad. We should spend it at home.
2) Bush, Blue Dog Democrats who support the war are bad people kicking the homeless while they are down.
3) We need more money in New Orleans
I'm pretty sure the most important points were 1 and 2 because, if there was still something terribly wrong in New Orleans and the US Congress brought it before the American people, I'm hard pressed to see how it would be turned down.
By September 2005, Bush had requested over $110 Billion for relief and spending was on track to spend over $300 billion. There are untold government and private organizations that have spent hundreds of millions of dollars.
Is that enough? I'm not sure. I'd like to hear more about what is needed and what is being spent where. But the honest truth is, this isn't an "either/or" question.
Why can't the American people get a bill to fund our troops and a separate bill for additional Katrina relief? Aren't these two efforts the most important events in American history in the last decade?
Can you believe anyone would play politics with either of these issues?
Heh. I know. Stupid question.
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