bush's speach...

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by stripersnipr

Title I aid to local school districts. Increased by $1 billion, from $11.35 billion proposed for FY 2003 to $12.35 billion for FY 2004. Title I provides federal aid to disadvantaged schools and students, with significant flexibility for local school officials to decide how funds are spent. When the President’s FY 2003 request for Title I is enacted, federal Title I funding will have received a larger increase during the first two years of President George W. Bush’s administration than during the previous seven years combined under President Bill Clinton. The President’s FY 2004 Budget adds $1 billion on top of that for Title I.

Reading First. Increased by $75 million, from $1.075 billion proposed for FY 2003 to $1.150 billion for FY 2004. President Bush’s Reading First initiative, created by the No Child Left Behind Act, tripled federal funding for reading programs and awards grants to states and school districts that use proven reading instruction methods rooted in scientifically-based research. In his original NCLB blueprint, the President committed to providing $5 billion for Reading First over a 5-year period. The President’s FY 2004 Budget keeps the federal government on track toward meeting that goal.

Early Reading First. Increased by $25 million, or 33 percent. Early Reading First is the preschool component of the Reading First initiative.

Transition to Teaching. Increased by $10 million, from $39.4 million proposed for FY 2003 to $49.4 million for FY 2004.

Troops to Teachers. Increased by $5 million, from $20 million proposed for FY 2003 to $25 million for FY 2004.

State Assessments. Increased by $3 million, from $387 million proposed for FY 2003 to $390 million for FY 2004. Hundreds of millions of federal dollars have been provided to states annually to help them design and implement their annual statewide tests in reading and math in grades 3-8. The President’s FY 2004 Budget provides even more.

Charter School Grants. Increased by $20 million, from $200 million proposed for FY 2003 to $220 million for FY 2004. This program increases public school choice options by supporting the planning, development, and initial implementation of public charter schools across the nation.

Choice Incentive Fund. Increased by $25 million, from $50 million proposed for FY 2003 to $75 million for FY 2004. This proposed initiative would provide the parents of children who attend underachieving schools with expanded opportunities for transferring their children to a higher-performing public, charter, or private school.

And many of these programs (and others) have now been cur significantly or eliminated all together for 2005 and 2006 and proposed for 2007.

[Skitterpop]

Originally Posted by JohnR

And many of these programs (and others) have now been cur significantly or eliminated all together for 2005 and 2006 and proposed for 2007.

The Kings invisible clothes

[sokinwet]

What I find truly encouraging is that 4 years ago you would never find a negative word about GB on any fishing or hunting forum as sportsmen tend to be a conservative group. Perhaps people are finally seeing through the spin and hype to look at the substance.

[spence]

Originally Posted by sokinwet

What I find truly encouraging is that 4 years ago you would never find a negative word about GB on any fishing or hunting forum as sportsmen tend to be a conservative group. Perhaps people are finally seeing through the spin and hype to look at the substance.

That's because most genuine people are willing to accept that performance and honesty are simply more important than idiology in the end...

-spence

[mekcotuit]

Originally Posted by spence

That's because most genuine people are willing to accept that performance and honesty are simply more important than idiology in the end...

-spence

Spence ! - a new Bushie adjective = idiology:derived from idiot...

[spence]

Originally Posted by mekcotuit

Spence ! - a new Bushie adjective = idiology:derived from idiot...

Must have been a Froidian slip

-spence

[NaCl H2O]

Originally Posted by sokinwet

What I find truly encouraging is that 4 years ago you would never find a negative word about GB on any fishing or hunting forum as sportsmen tend to be a conservative group. Perhaps people are finally seeing through the spin and hype to look at the substance.

Are you one of the ones that have changed their opinion of the president over the period of his time in office, or have you always disliked him? I suspect the latter. Bush's detractors have always been there. After 6 years of unrelentless hammering by the press I can see why you and your ilk feel emboldened to speak out now.

[spence]

Originally Posted by NaCl H2O

After 6 years of unrelentless hammering by the press I can see why you and your ilk feel emboldened to speak out now.

Hmmmm...

From 2001-2003 the press was Bush's lapdog, simply restating Administration positions as fact...

Since they have reported on the Administrations massive policy blunders...and Bush's %$%$%$%$ does indeed stink.

I seem to remember Clinton being hammered as well, and most of it was due to fabricated scandals...some he certainly did deserve.

So what exactly is the problem again? The press laying down and taking it on the run up to Iraq? Because other than that they've been doing their job...I'd argue not enough!

-spence

[sokinwet]

NACL H20 - I pride myself on being an independent thinker and don't jump on anyones bandwagon without thorough examination of positions. On one side I am a hunter and gun owner, I have lost job opportunities to affirmative action and I deplore the attitude that we should be appoligists for the past and advocates for every fringe group, which puts me at odd's with many in the Democratic party. On the other end of the spectrum I am an environmenalist and I see the republicans as anti environment; I work in the housing field and have seen the republican administration throw the middle class under the bus when it comes to it's housing policies; I am not a religious person and I see the republicans pandering to religious conservatives; I am a parent who has seen the administration slash college financial aid while pushing for corporate and capital gains tax reductions; I have seen billions go to Iraq while our own cities suffer; I have seen oil companies make record profits while I suffer to fill the tank in my boat; I have seen the administrative take unprecedented actions in their secrecy and refusal to participate in the checks and balances of government; I have seen the administration controlled by neo-cons who have used current events to push the doctrines of the PNAC. And you're right , I have never been a GB supporter and have never been afraid to speak my opinion for 55 years. I'll paraphrase Regan by asking you "Are you better off than you were 4 years ago? By the way is that your picture in your avatar?

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by sokinwet

NACL H20 - I pride myself on being an independent thinker and don't jump on anyones bandwagon without thorough examination of positions. On one side I am a hunter and gun owner, I have lost job opportunities to affirmative action and I deplore the attitude that we should be appoligists for the past and advocates for every fringe group, which puts me at odd's with many in the Democratic party. On the other end of the spectrum I am an environmenalist and I see the republicans as anti environment; I work in the housing field and have seen the republican administration throw the middle class under the bus when it comes to it's housing policies; I am not a religious person and I see the republicans pandering to religious conservatives; I am a parent who has seen the administration slash college financial aid while pushing for corporate and capital gains tax reductions; I have seen billions go to Iraq while our own cities suffer; I have seen oil companies make record profits while I suffer to fill the tank in my boat; I have seen the administrative take unprecedented actions in their secrecy and refusal to participate in the checks and balances of government; I have seen the administration controlled by neo-cons who have used current events to push the doctrines of the PNAC. And your right , I have never been a GB supporter and have never been afraid to speak my opinion for 55 years. I'll paraphrase Regan by asking you "Are you better off than you were 4 years ago? By the way is that your picture in your avatar?

good post

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by sokinwet

NACL H20 - I pride myself on being an independent thinker and don't jump on anyones bandwagon without thorough examination of positions. On one side I am a hunter and gun owner, I have lost job opportunities to affirmative action and I deplore the attitude that we should be appoligists for the past and advocates for every fringe group, which puts me at odd's with many in the Democratic party. On the other end of the spectrum I am an environmenalist and I see the republicans as anti environment; I work in the housing field and have seen the republican administration throw the middle class under the bus when it comes to it's housing policies; I am not a religious person and I see the republicans pandering to religious conservatives; I am a parent who has seen the administration slash college financial aid while pushing for corporate and capital gains tax reductions; I have seen billions go to Iraq while our own cities suffer; I have seen oil companies make record profits while I suffer to fill the tank in my boat; I have seen the administrative take unprecedented actions in their secrecy and refusal to participate in the checks and balances of government; I have seen the administration controlled by neo-cons who have used current events to push the doctrines of the PNAC. And you're right , I have never been a GB supporter and have never been afraid to speak my opinion for 55 years. I'll paraphrase Regan by asking you "Are you better off than you were 4 years ago? By the way is that your picture in your avatar?

I gotta Agree too....that is a great post

[NaCl H2O]

Originally Posted by sokinwet

I'll paraphrase Regan by asking you "Are you better off than you were 4 years ago? By the way is that your picture in your avatar?

Sokin... I wasn't debating the finer points of either political philosophy. I suspected that *most* of the folks posting anti-administration stuff haven't had their minds changed by this president's policies and have pretty much felt the same way about him and republicans all along. I could be wrong though. Carter put me off democrats for life. Am I better off?? Well I'm not dead and that's a pretty good start.

No, that's not my picture in the avatar. The show he was in was one of my favorites though. You're 55... yours too?

[RIJIMMY]

Originally Posted by sokinwet

NACL H20 - I pride myself on being an independent thinker and don't jump on anyones bandwagon without thorough examination of positions. On one side I am a hunter and gun owner, I have lost job opportunities to affirmative action and I deplore the attitude that we should be appoligists for the past and advocates for every fringe group, which puts me at odd's with many in the Democratic party. On the other end of the spectrum I am an environmenalist and I see the republicans as anti environment; I work in the housing field and have seen the republican administration throw the middle class under the bus when it comes to it's housing policies; I am not a religious person and I see the republicans pandering to religious conservatives; I am a parent who has seen the administration slash college financial aid while pushing for corporate and capital gains tax reductions; I have seen billions go to Iraq while our own cities suffer; I have seen oil companies make record profits while I suffer to fill the tank in my boat; I have seen the administrative take unprecedented actions in their secrecy and refusal to participate in the checks and balances of government; I have seen the administration controlled by neo-cons who have used current events to push the doctrines of the PNAC. And you're right , I have never been a GB supporter and have never been afraid to speak my opinion for 55 years. I'll paraphrase Regan by asking you "Are you better off than you were 4 years ago? By the way is that your picture in your avatar?

I wasn’t going to jump in but…I have no self control. I’m a indepedndent conservative and defended and supported Bush that last 4 years or so. I was going to post that I have no faith in him and I’m very disappointed in his policies and ability to adapt to changing circumstances. He comes off as an idiot to me too. I am disheartened and pissed.

That said in response to the post above. Lets look at a few things that have happened (facts, not opinions) in the last 6 years.
1. the blow up of the largest stock market bubble in history (larger than the crash of the 30’s), crash of the dot coms
2. The largest attacks in history on American soil, killing more civilians than ever before, resulting in a disaster for the airline and travel industry as well as closing economic markets for days.
3. Scandal in some of Americas largest corporation, lowering confidence in the stock market and corp. americe. Who would have ever thought Arthur Anderson as an accounting firm would poof…disappear?
4. A new, smaller world, due to the information age, cell phones, digital cams, internet etc. More technology is available to the average person than NASA had 20 years ago. Who knew this would happen so fast, who knows what it will mean?

Taking all that in consideration,
The US economy is very strong, recovering from the market crash, recovering from the corporate scandal, recovering from terrorist attacks, and fear of terror. We have increased our security and put terrorists on the run. I am not saying its perfect, but it is progress. We have shaken the base of operations for terrorists globally. We had had NO terrorist attacks on US soil since 9/11.

I don’t give necessarlily give Bush credit for any of this, but earth shattering things have happened in 6 years that no one could foresee. Taken all that into consideration, I think we are all pretty well off.

[Skitterpop]

Originally Posted by NaCl H2O

Are you one of the ones that have changed their opinion of the president over the period of his time in office, or have you always disliked him? I suspect the latter. Bush's detractors have always been there. After 6 years of unrelentless hammering by the press I can see why you and your ilk feel emboldened to speak out now.

6 years of unrelentless hammering? Emboldened to speak out now?



Has anyone lost their jobs or public standings for speaking out? Our media is so curtailed. Life in a bubble eh?

[NaCl H2O]

Originally Posted by Skitterpop

Life in a bubble eh?

Not really. Press and the libs have been slowly crawling out from under their rocks as we put more time between us and 9/11.

[Skitterpop]

Originally Posted by NaCl H2O

Not really. Press and the libs have been slowly crawling out from under their rocks as we put more time between us and 9/11.

You bought the reality tv mega series?

Does`nt matter what party....libs or fascists

Anytime the machine senses there cometh a viable candidate the trash tv and twisted writings begins.... our entire system of politics is tainted and out of control.

I`m voting Amish for the only chance this planet has for recovery....but alas this will not happen.

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by JohnR

And many of these programs (and others) have now been cur significantly or eliminated all together for 2005 and 2006 and proposed for 2007.

thankyou

[stripersnipr]

Originally Posted by JohnR

And many of these programs (and others) have now been cur significantly or eliminated all together for 2005 and 2006 and proposed for 2007.

Correct. The total cuts amount to 5% over FY 04 spending. But this needs to be kept in perspective. The original post on the subject focused on the 5% cut with no mention of the initial 17% increase.

[spence]

Originally Posted by stripersnipr

Correct. The total cuts amount to 5% over FY 04 spending. But this needs to be kept in perspective. The original post on the subject focused on the 5% cut with no mention of the initial 17% increase.

Since when is throwing money at the problem the solution anyway?

This is a serious problem with the GOP today. They have a deep distrust in the government's ability to solve social problems (as many conservatives do) yet couldn't stop spending to save their lives...

The net result is worse effectiveness that costs the taxpayers more.

-spence

[stripersnipr]

Originally Posted by spence

Since when is throwing money at the problem the solution anyway?

This is a serious problem with the GOP today. They have a deep distrust in the government's ability to solve social problems (as many conservatives do) yet couldn't stop spending to save their lives...

The net result is worse effectiveness that costs the taxpayers more.

-spence

So I take it you are against additional funding for education?

[spence]

Originally Posted by stripersnipr

So I take it you are against additional funding for education?

I'm not against Federal funding in principal, although I believe only about 7% of school budgets on average comes from the Federal budget...and there's little return on the investment.

Schools today are struggling to meet NCLB requirements and can't focus on quality overall.

I think our entire system needs to be re-tooled to meet the needs of the Global economy.

I'd like to see the teachers union done away with, and higher education dramatically expanded...we need to get some business people in there to focus on improving operational effeciencies and quality of service...rather than trying to scale a non-scalable system.

-spence