# GeeDubya's big speech. Be Wrong Now! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 7, 2003, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geedubyas-big-speech-be-wrong-now/200019 "2003-09-07T01:01:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geedubyas-big-speech-be-wrong-now/200019/121 "2003-09-08T15:20:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by UnuMondo \* > Few presidents have bent over backwards to ensure separation of powers remains as efficient as possible, but this particular bit makes me wonder if Bush thinks of Congress as a sort of rubber stamp: Based on their conduct since the 2002 elections, and also based on the Rove-induced choice of Frist as majority leader, he’s certainly entitled to that attitude. **Sam Stone** : > [@](#): > > Let’s keep it in perspective. $86 billion is about 4% of the federal budget, and about .08% of GDP. > > Yes, it’s damned expensive, but it’s not going to destroy the economy. It’s about what the Department of Education spends, and I’m not sure that has benefitted anyone, ever. Easy to talk about how “little” money it is _when it isn’t yours_, ain’t it? But I’m sure you’re all over the PM to pony up your country’s share of money and troops, aren’t you? The crack about the Dept of Education would have fit better in a thread devoted to it, as well. Yes, let’s “keep it in perspective”. [As Sen. Graham pointed out](http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/09/07/bush.reax/index.html), “$87 billion is more than the federal government will spend on education this year, twice as much as the federal government will spend on our roads, bridges, highways and public transit systems.” Note also that this is just one year’s worth of appropriations, with no estimates or requests beyond that although we all damn well know better. Bush did not, however, discuss just where the money is going to come from, if the “allies” quite understandably refuse to “put past differences aside”, as he put it. How much more of a tax cut does he propose to pay this bill? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geedubyas-big-speech-be-wrong-now/200019/122 "2003-09-08T16:13:05Z")
> [@](#): > > OK so let’s say there is one thing going for Bush in his plans that Israel didn’t have. Something more than just killing people and calling it a day, it’s the idea of taking Iraq and turning it into a Democracy. He’s not really turning Iraq into a democracy, he’s trying to turn it into a “democracy,” meaning a US controlled, puppet government. He doesn’t actually even have the right to force any particular form of government on Iraq. If they want a Shi’ite theocracy with an Ayatollah who the fuck is Shrub to tell them that they can’t? Forcing other countries to submit to democracy is no different than forcing them to submit to communism. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geedubyas-big-speech-be-wrong-now/200019/123 "2003-09-08T16:44:07Z")
[http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/09/07/bush.reax/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/09/07/bush.reax/index.html) Just read this CNN article on the reactions. > [@](#): > > Sen. John Kyl, R-Arizona, said Congress has no choice but to appropriate the money. > > “The question is, do we dare risk failure in this war on terrorism? There isn’t anything more threatening to American citizens than the terrorists, and it’s going to take what it takes, whatever that number is,” Kyl said on the same CNN program. “Defeat is not an option here. Pulling out is not an option.” I’d say drunk driving is more “threatening” > [@](#): > > Joe Biden > > “I think the American people are ready to sacrifice to win, and I think if we went back to the American people and said, ‘Look, the very wealthiest among us, we’re going to postpone your tax cut a year or two to pay for this,’ I think they would embrace it,” he said. I’m dirt broke and I still think that is fucked up. > [@](#): > > • Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, issued a statement to say she was willing to work with Bush to get the money he wants for U.S. efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. But she said other countries must begin contributing to the effort. “I do not think the American taxpayer should be alone in support of this war and will work to ensure we have partners in this effort,” she said. Yes the German and French taxpayers should support it too, WTF? Btw how can anyone vote against the 87 billion? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geedubyas-big-speech-be-wrong-now/200019/124 "2003-09-08T17:16:24Z")
The arrogance in demanding that other countries pay for this mess is fucking mind-boggling. It’s especially obnoxious that the Bushistas seem to expect those other UN countries to come in and perform the menial administrative duties of illegally occupying another country while US troops just go looking for Saddam so Bush can get his trophy without actually doing any work or paying any political price for the fiasco that he started. The fact that he actually expects those other countries to submit to US authority shows balls beyond reckoning. The UN has a moral obligation to remove Bush from having any authority in Iraq. US troops should be relegated to the mundane, administrative duties and UN forces should only send a few people to go look for Saddam. The US should not be allowed any part in the hunt for Saddam or [Heh] WMDs, because this administration clearly cannot be trusted not to lie and fabricate evidence. Whatever the UN does, it is absolutely crucial that they assume all authotrity in Iraq and US forces need to be placed _under_ that authority. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geedubyas-big-speech-be-wrong-now/200019.md?page=6)