Water feud catches Bush in a bind

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

Water feud catches Bush in a bind By BEN EVANS, Associated Press Writer
Wed Oct 31, 3:20 AM ET



WASHINGTON - Presidents like to deliver good news in times of disaster. Yet three governors heading to Washington to lobby for water rights amid a potentially catastrophic drought are likely to put the Bush administration on the spot.

If the administration decides to bolster Georgia's drinking supply, Alabama and Florida may claim it's crippling their economies to satisfy uncontrolled growth around Atlanta. If it continues releasing water downstream to Alabama and Florida, Georgia could argue one of the nation's largest cities is being hung out to dry.

Making matters worse for President Bush: All three states have Republican governors whose reputations could rise or fall based on their handling of the crisis.

"It does put him into a bind," said Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga. "I think there's some give and take on everybody's part, and I think the president is the only one that can sit down with these three governors and say, 'Look guys, we got a problem ... we're all looking bad.'"



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071031/ap_on_go_pr_wh/southern_drought_politics

[Richardo]

1. Yeah, because as Chief Executives your top priority is not looking bad.

Do ANY of these people ever listen to themselves?

[Benhurst]

2. During the civil rights struggle, Atlanta was styled "the city too big to hate."

Some wit later on changed it to "the city too big."

Sadly it's no longer funny.

How many other of our cities are now victims of their poorly planned growth and "success"? Phoenix and Las Vegas come to mind, but I'm sure there are many others.

[dbackjon]

8. Please don't lump Phoenix and Las Vegas together in this

Arizona is LIGHT-YEARS ahead of Nevada in terms of wise-water usage. Govenor Babbitt hit the problem straight on twenty years ago.

While Arizona still has a ways to go with water conservation, it has made significant progress.

[Toots]

3. we're all looking bad.'"

Sometimes whether they like it or not the truth does get uttered by a Republican.

[tanyev]

4. If George Bush is their last hope, then all the people in those states are well and truly screwed.

[Lisa]

6. yep. A snap decision regarding a complex situation he knows nothing about ...

I'm sure that'll go well!

(Just when you think, "things couldn't get any worse!" -- here comes Dubya.)

[donsu]

5. if the draught continues there will be no water to fight over

smirk will probably let Fl. continue to suck water from Georgia

shouldn't they hurry up in deciding who gets the last of the water. isn't it less then a mo. supply by now.

[dbackjon]

7. Good thing all the National Guard Troops are in Iraq

Otherwise, we could have a civil war, ala the West :)

[rudy23]

9. Perfect! Time to privatize the water supply!

Dasani should have a great "in" to Atlanta. Atlanta, you're next in the great free market experiment of the 00's!

[vickitulsa]

10. So then the Dimson sez:

Aw shucks, fellas, ya'll ain't got no water problem. First, there ain't no sech thang as a 'draught' 'cause there ain't no sech thang as global warming! An' iffen there wuz, well, then yer gubmint here in DC -- which is, namely, ME -- would jest order up a brazillion of them there plastic bottles of water an' send 'em on down yer way where Ah'll have the National Guard that's left in all yer states empty 'em into the lakes an' rivers! Contract for the supply goes no-bid to Halliburton, natch!

An' we ALL WIN! *Stoopid grin*

[seafan]

11. I'll make a prediction that Bush will not decide favorably for Gov. Crist.

Crist stood Bush up in a visit to the FL panhandle just before the 2006 election.

Bush is a petty, vindictive sort.

[donsu]

12. true, but Disney needs water

nt