White House Is Trumpeting Programs It Tried to Cut

[CatWoman]

Like many of its predecessors, the Bush White House has used the machinery of government to promote the re-election of the president by awarding federal grants to strategically important states. But in a twist this election season, many administration officials are taking credit for spreading largess through programs that President Bush tried to eliminate or to cut sharply.

For example, Justice Department officials recently announced that they were awarding $47 million to scores of local law enforcement agencies for the hiring of police officers. Mr. Bush had just proposed cutting the budget for the program, known as Community Oriented Policing Services, by 87 percent, to $97 million next year, from $756 million.

The administration has been particularly energetic in publicizing health programs, even ones that had been scheduled for cuts or elimination.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/19/politics/campaign/19GRAN.html

[Bandit]

1. I am totally shocked they would do something like that

:shrug: Aren't you shocked as well?

[CatWoman]

3. SHOCKED!!!!! SHOCKED I TELLS YA

:D

[Fenris]

2. They would say, "We just made those programs more efficient."

Once again, the Republicans are "starving the beast" while continuing to profess a love for those programs and tout their commitment to them.

:hi: Midori!

[CatWoman]

4. Fenris!!!!

:hi:

:loveya:

[buddhamama]

5. i finally saw

a Bush commercial last night (what can i tell ya i don't watch a lot of tv)it's touting his commitment to Education. He started off with his record in TX. Now, i know for a fact that, he has undone his TX record with his overriding Federal Bills. And the funding for No Child Left Behind is in Cheney and freinds' back pocket.

[damnraddem]

6. Typical Bushista lies.

Typical Bushista tactic.

Will Americans see through this, now that the teflon appears to have rubbed off the Bushistas?

[PAMod]

7. We must be in "Wonderland"

Objectively speaking, it will be fascinating to see to what extent they get away with this.

Subjectively, I hope the people who have been scr*wed by this crew scream bloody murder.

[CBHagman]

8. Standard operating procedure from the Bush administration.

Bush has taken credit for programs he actually OPPOSED as governor of Texas. It's the same routine now -- do a photo op on reading and then cut or zero out literacy programs; do a photo op with the rescued Pennsylvania miners, but cut mine safety; etc.

What's more appalling is that some in the media not only let him get away with this, they give him credit in the first place. The Washington Post ran a story more or less giving Bush credit for the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. Alert readers wrote in to point out that not only didn't the clown think up the idea, he opposed the very notion of a Department of Homeland Security for months before caving.

Yet we hear SO MUCH about Bush's resolute stance, etc., etc. (As in Ann Gerhart's nasty little piece on Pickles in today's Post Style secction) All he really does is try to glorify himself. His words are empty, his actions damaging.

[Arbustosux]

9. But Kerry is a flip flopper!

such hypocracy

[Ilsa]

10. Phil Grandstanding Playbook

Or maybe it was called Phil Gramm-standing several years ago when Phil Gramm would vote against a program that was inevitably passed for Texas. Then hed show up for "Opening Day" or whatever, as if he had been for it.