Bush just blamed the bridge collapse on "Democrats in Congress"

[Botany]

Steph Miller just played his speech live. The man is without shame.

"They failed to pass the needed legislation and get it to my desk." rough quote

Impeach his ass NOW.

They haven't even gotten all of the bodies picked up and bush does this?

BTW Interstates are paid for w/ gas taxes.

[Dinger]

1. I want More

I want complete and total justice, whatever that means.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[npincus]

2. sorry, America ain't buying, Chimp-hole

[Vogon_Glory]

19. Are You Quite Sure of That?

Are you quite sure of that? There are still a lot of right-wing Koolaid(tm)-drinkers out there who might have decided that invading Eye-Raq was a mistake, but who still nod and bob their heads when Banana Republicans and anti-tax activists like Grover Norquist start railing about the perils of "big gummint."

I very much want to believe that you're right and I'm wrong. The trouble is that I fear that too much of the American electorate STILL hasn't wised up to Republican/"conservative" folly, and won't wise up until after several more bridge collapses and a Hurricane Katrina-disaster or three pounds the bitter consequences of voting for "conservatives" into their ADD and addled brains. I hate to say it, but I think that it's going to take a few hundred MORE deaths before the lesson works its way through the dense cranial bone structure of the remaining reachable voters.

:grr:

[lebkuchen]

3. I hope Norm Mineta will tell us why he quit a year ago July

"Because I want to" doesn't tell the whole story.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. No he di'nt!

[wryter2000]

51. My reaction exactly

My jaw bounced off my desk top.

If there's anyone in this country who believes that, shame on them.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Legislation for what? Your stupid GOP Congress passed a huge transportation bill a couple of years

ago, didn't it include anything for Interstate Highways?

[CottonBear]

6. See this thread about the Bush-GOP plan for transportation funding:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1495492

:grr:

[havocmom]

7. HE spent the money elsewhere, cut taxes and borrowed against our grandkid's future

and it's all the fault of DEMS in Congress???

Slap him, err, send him some pretzels.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

23. HI havocmom!

:hi:

[havocmom]

50. LOL Hi there! Are you the one to see for pretzels for the pResident?

:rofl:

[dickbearton]

76. Send Bush over the bridge.

[AX10]

8. CONSERVATIVES! CONSERVATIVES! CONSERVATIVES!

They are the one's who STOLE the people's money. The money that is needed for infrastructure repairs, the money that is needed for education, the money that is needed for healthcare! You, George W. Bush are to blame for that bridge collapsing!

[demigoddess]

71. Conservatives, Conservatives, Conservatives,

can't live with them, can't shoot them.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

9. Meh. Half of DU is blaming it on the Iraq war.

Stupid is stupid, regardless of political affiliation. They can go back and forth on this all day, and at the end of the day it's still the STATE's responsibility to maintain that bridge, and they likely failed to do so.

[Lex]

20. Federal Transportation money diverted to the Iraq War?

Most states get Federal Transportation money to supplement their road/bridge maintenance.

[Zookeeper]

21. Well, the governor of our state is a Rethug, with higher...

political aspirations. He's all about not raising taxes, at the expense of our roads, schools and the environment.

Pawlenty is a bizarre abberation in a state that has always prided itself on being community minded.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

29. Minnesota is run by a rabid tax-cutting Republican governor

who has been a big favorite of the Bushies and has often been mentioned as a VP possibility. If it was the state's fault, the blame can be dumped right in Pawlenty's lap, because he has consistently opposed any taxation for transportation infrastructure (or anything else, for that matter). Minnesota has deteriorated a lot under the administration of Timmy "The Tool" Pawlenty.

[EVDebs]

62. The veto of a transportation bill that might have fixed the bridge was by R-Gov Pawlenty

Minnesota Governor Vetoes Transportation Bill
http://www.planetizen.com/node/18910

"...Gov. Tim Pawlenty deep-sixed the bipartisan transportation bill. 'How dumb can they be?' he sneered of the lawmakers who dared approve a tax hike to fix the state's roads."

Here's more on this brilliant governor,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Pawlenty

[RaleighNCDUer]

46. And with unfunded federal mandates being imposed on the states,

the states have to take money from infrastructure to pay for them.

I don't know how it is up there, but around here we've been out of the red for barely 18 months, after years of a devastated state budget. I am certain that there are structurally unsound bridges all across the state, that we have not have time or finances to do anything about. All because of the billions going to Iraq.

[GOTV]

48. Then why did Bush blame the lack of legislation if the fed has no co-responsibility? n/t

[dickbearton]

77. Yes...

Are you talking about that Republican governor who cut the
funds.

[madinmaryland]

10. Well, it is Clinton's fault.

The Clenis strikes again!

:sarcasm:

[KitchenWitch]

70. No, it is the Clenis' spouse this time.

Get it straight!

:rofl:

[melody]

11. Because Bush knows everyone is aware it is his fault

They're heading out early to try to tie this quickly to Democrats. It just shows how desperate
the bastards are. The record is painfully clear and evident -- he slashed infrastructure funds --
he is responsible for Katrina and now this.

[spanone]

13. did he mention which party has been in charge for SIX YEARS???? guess not

[Sequoia]

14. We all know he would have vetoed it.

[Greylyn58]

15. Oooo, I feel a Special Comment

coming from Keith Olbermann if the Shrub did indeed say this.

The smack-down will be humongous! :evilgrin:

...and you are right, he truly is without shame!!! Bastard!!!

[npincus]

17. LOL- you're right.

Chimp put on his "Kick Me" sign again.

[Botany]

18. Did I ever tell you that you are my Fav EDV?

I am so mad that I can't see staight. Money for upkeep of Interstates comes from
gas taxes.

[Greylyn58]

39. Hey Bot

I'm right there with you. Someone on another thread said that Bush did indeed blame the Dem Congress for not putting a spending bill on his desk for approval.

And my response is: What would you have done with it? Who would you have given it to?

GOD, this monster makes me angrier than I have ever been at our government. How much more must we endure Oh Lord, before the people we voted into their offices in Washington, get off their collective asses and IMPEACH both Bush and Cheney out of office? I'm not sure I can take much more.

[wicket]

22. He said it, someone send it to KO!

:yourock:

[havocmom]

52. We could do that, to make sure he gets it...

but I have the distinct feeling one or of his two staff people keeps a pretty close eye on DU ;)

[wicket]

56. I have a feeling you are right

;)

[wryter2000]

54. Lord, hope KO says something about this

Someone has to point out how utterly absurd and dishonest that statement is.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. O M G

Every time I think I have heard him say the worst thing he will ever say, he surprises me with something like this.

[stirlingsliver]

24. What A Fucking Asshole!

Bush is a fucking asshole!

Here is this great tragedy in which several people lost their lives, and many more people were scared to death, and what does Bush do?

He fucking politicizes the event!

IMPEACHMENT. NOW!

[Mandate My Ass]

31. Once a shit stain, always a shit stain

the man is pure filth and there is nothing on this earth he wouldn't try to use to deflect attention away from his shameless douchebaggery.

[bklyncowgirl]

25. What an opportunist--that was one of the quickest turns I've ever seen

Shrub knew he'd get coverage if he was going to talk about the bridge collapse, and he did for a few minutes before doing an abrupt right turn and attacking Democrats for not passing spending bills.

So Mr. President, just how much did YOU have in there for repairing our nation's bridges and other deteriorating infrastructure and what did the Democrats want to spend?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Virginia Dare]

38. Straight from Rove's fingers to Bush's mouth...n/t

[LaraMN]

26. I think Minnesota should secede, now.

I'd rather his tainted hand not touch us further.

[northernsoul]

69. Maybe Canada will take us for a while?

We'll come back to the U.S. after January 20, 2009.

[Virginia Dare]

27. Wow, somebody toss that chimp a banana!...n/t

[kenny blankenship]

28. This is just like the levees in the drowning death of NOLA

The Republicans have trillions to spend on military adventures, shortchange people here at home.

[peacetalksforall]

32. Losing a part of I-35 puts a little damper on the Super Highway.

Make that the Super Drugs and Arms Highway. From the Pacific Ocean to Canada with stops along the way - now a missing piece that affects THEIR timetable?

[Virginia Dare]

33. It seems the mighty Mississippi is a tad pissed...

:scared:

[DemoTex]

35. The Mississippi is drowning Norquist's wet dream.

New Orleans (MSY) - 2005
Minneapolis (MSP) - 2007

[Virginia Dare]

37. I hope the New Madrid fault doesn't get into the act..

or worse yet, the Yellowstone caldera :scared:

[Bryn]

36. I hope Nancy Pelosi will put impeachment back on the table

and QUIT saying how lovely Bush is, how so patriotic Bush is.

WAKE UP, NANCY! Your "lovely" and "patriotic" Bush is blaming *YOU* since you're a democrat and in charge of Democratic Party.

[mnhtnbb]

40. Why is everybody surprised that Bush has no empathy and wants to blame Dems?

This is the way narcissists react.

[ashling]

41. But I thought it was

Bill Clinton's fault :sarcasm:

[glitch]

42. Tasteless fool. nt

[JPZenger]

43. Faulty "non-redundant" design

Based upon what I heard on the news today, it appears that the bridge had a "non-redundant design" that had no margin for error. The main part of the bridge sat on 4 piers in a rectangle. If one pier failed, the bridge fell over.

[Canuckistanian]

44. UN-believable

Is there ANYTHING bad that he doesn't try to pin on Democrats?

5th rec for you.

[Contrary1]

45. Anybody have a link to the transcript handy?

I want to be the first to post it on the local Re:puke: board.

[onenote]

53. here it is, but I wouldn't rush to post it if I were you

The outrage it is generating here in DU is not warranted by what it says.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/08/20070802-2.html

[Nye Bevan]

59. I read that transcript

and I don't see where chimpy blames the Democrats for the bridge collapsing.

Am I missing something?

:shrug:

[onenote]

61. You're not missing anything other than the manufactured outrage

that has sadly become all too common on this board. Critical thinking is becoming rarer and rarer and blind acceptance of any statement, even those that could be checked out in 30 seconds

[Bluebear]

84. "manufactured outrage" - sounds trendy.

[Contrary1]

66. Not in so many words:

"We spent a fair amount of time talking about the fact that how disappointed we are that Congress hasn't sent any spending bills to my desk."

Just enough.

Thanks for the link!

[sandnsea]

74. Are you really that thick??

You don't understand what the reference to the spending bills means? He's planting in people's minds that the reason MN didn't have the money to fix the bridge is because Democrats didn't pass spending bills. It's a LIE, of couse, but wake up man, that's WHAT THEY DO.

[myrna minx]

75. It's easier to condescend and to be self appointed

Cassandra of critical thought on DU. :eyes:

[KAZ]

83. Spot on S&S. And yes, Johnny is really that thick. n/t

[bridgit]

47. When republicans speak in these terms they are very much aware in advance...

of the rest of us that the policies they harbor have contributed to a collapse of not just this one bridge, tragic as it plainly is; but a collapse of the entire civilized world, and this is simply damage control on their part.

It's not time to impeach, it is time to throw them and their entire donor, fan & no-bid crony base into the prisons of this country.

March into the WH and place g.w. bush under arrest. Confine him till his criminal trial. It is time for g.w. bush to experience what it is to have his freedom & liberties suspended imo.

[valerief]

49. Funny how the bridge collapse conveniently overshadowed

in the nooz Bush's blocking of Rove testimony.

Funny how those things happen.

[Ganja Ninja]

55. President's Highway Funding Below Congressional Budgets

President's Highway Funding Level Well Below Those in Congressional Budgets --

For the federal-aid highway program, both the House and Senate Republican budgets were well above the President's budget. The President's budget provides $189.5 billion over the next six years, $17.6 billion less than the House Republican budget and $66.2 billion less than the Senate-passed budget. The President's funding levels are much lower because the Administration does not assume any increase in the federal excise tax on motor fuels or the use of general funds for highway aid.3 The Administration claims that its budget provides the maximum amount possible for the federal highway program within those constraints.


Federal Highway and Transit Aid, 2004-2009
(Budget authority in billions of dollars)
Federal-aid highways* Mass Transit
President's budget (CBO re-estimate) 189.5 45.7
House-passed 207.1 43.1
Senate-passed 255.7 56.5
Conference agreement 231.1 49.1

http://www.house.gov/budget_democrats/congressional_budgets/fy2004/conf_summary/transpo.htm

[Liberal In Texas]

57. Well, he does live in "Backwards Land" doesn't he?

War = Peace
Lies = Truth
Repression = Freedom

etc. etc.

[Norquist Nemesis]

58. Sounds like a little "partisan political theatre" heh???

If nothing else, it's going to solidify that his 24/7 political hardball lends credence to the USA firings for purely partisan political reasons. Anyone who was formerly full support but wavering is going to be sickened about him using the tragedy for political sport.

[Raejeanowl]

82. You Would Hope, Huh?

Just when I think the ethical behavior couldn't get any more reprehensible, he sinks to a new low. The deceased, the injured, and their families will be so comforted to know that they've now become trivialized into props for the President's little sleight-of-hand show. Don't look at the WH legal obstructions....look over here instead, look at what I say was caused the incompetence of Congress!

[Contrary1]

60. Looks like the funding was decided long before the Democrats took over:

Aug. 10, 2005:

"...And that's why I'm proud to be here to sign this transportation bill, because our economy depends on us having the most efficient, reliable transportation system in the world. If we want people working in America, we've got to make sure our highways and roads are modern. We've got to bring up this transportation system into the 21st century. I mean, you can't expect your farmers to be able to get goods to market if we don't have a good road system. You can't expect to get these Caterpillar products all around the United States if we don't have a good road system.

This road system that we have is going to be modernized through the Transportation Equity Act. It provides more than $286 billion over six years to upgrade our nation's network of roads and bridges and mass transit systems. The Transportation Act will finance needed road improvements, and will ease traffic congestion in communities all across this country."

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050810-1.html

[Penndems]

63. I GASPED when I heard that bastard utter that accusation

Whining, finger-pointing, lying and playing the political blame game while Minnesota and the entire nation are mourning.

Lower than low!

[EVDebs]

65. Bush just elected Al Franken

This is similar to FDR's knowing he was just elected prez after Hoover allowed the military to attack the Bonus Army Marchers in '32 in DC's Anacostia 'Hooverville' encampment.

[Penndems]

67. Yes he did, EVD - you hit the nail on the head

Looking forward to seeing Senator Al Franken in D.C. next year. ;)

[ronnykmarshall]

64. I heard it on Stephanie Miller's show....

she and the mooks were going ballistic over it.

[JPZenger]

68. We need more $200 million bridges to Nowhere, Alaska

During the last highway bill, Senator Stevens (R-Insane) pushed for $200 million of Federal tax money for a highway bridge connecting to an island populated by 50 people. It would have been nice if that tax money had gone to replacing deficient bridges that are very heavily travelled.

[BreweryYardRat]

72. That FUCKING SHITHEAD!

Hope the ghosts of the dead come haunt his ass for that little stunt.

[mzmolly]

73. That SOB.

Truly disgusting.

[SammyWinstonJack]

78. Well, there's a shocker, NOT! He never misses an opportunity to pass blame, EVER!

Harry Truman would be appalled! The trillion he has passed on to his contractor bidness buds for his illegal war on Iraq, could have shored up the levies in NO, could have repaired our crumbling infrastructure and could have been used for alternative energy. But that wouldn't have made him and his corrupt bidness buds richer, now would it? Happy now, Freepers? Do you feel safer? Crumbling infrastructure and tainted food and whatever else your great leader has taken a pass on, in order to make us "safe". Yeah, he rocks! :rofl: You are idiots! He screwed you and thanks to you, us, nine ways from Sunday.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

79. He knows he's going to take a hit over this and he's trying to get out in front

of the controversy by flinging a little of his own monkey-poo. If the Democrats in Congress are worth anything at this point, they'll launch yet another investigation into a major Bush scandal about his failure to fund our homeland infrastructure the way ChimpCo previously failed to keep the New Orleans levees in a proper state of repair.

[Perry Logan]

80. He's blaming the Democrats in Congress? More than the folks at DU do?

[WinkyDink]

81. He just totally stumbled and mumbled his way through saying the nation is praying

for the victims.

[lonestarnot]

85. Why that sorry obstructionist no good motherfucker. I'm glad I didn't hear it.

Big Screen would have paid!