How's This For Hypocrisy In Action?

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How's This For Hypocrisy In Action?
Tweet Topic Started: Feb 14 2006, 10:05 AM (177 Views)
Colo_Crawdad	Feb 14 2006, 10:05 AM Post #1
Lowell Posts: 1,808 Group: Members Member #15 Joined: June 21, 2004	Quote: Just seven days after the president uttered those words about the United States being "addicted to oil" and announced another "Advanced Energy Initiative," 31 employees of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado were laid off because of budget cuts. Plug pulled on renewable energy gurus BTW, it was announced in prior editions of the Denver Post that President Bush might appear in Golden this month to promote his commitment to renewable energy with a photo-op at the NREL.
	"WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY AND HE IS US." --- Pogo


Photobitstream	Feb 14 2006, 10:12 AM Post #2
Darron - Austin, TX Posts: 1,025 Group: Members Member #229 Joined: December 15, 2005	Standard Operating Procedure for this administration. Clearcutting = Healthy Forests Initiative Disabling air pollution laws = Clear Skies Initiative Gutting water pollution regulations = Clean Water Act Yet people continue to believe whatever Bush tells them.
	"Their chief weapon, however, was their capacity to astonish. Nobody else could believe, until it was much too late, just how heartless and greedy they actually were." Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions


cmoehle	Feb 14 2006, 10:23 AM Post #3
Chris - San Antonio TX Posts: 36,959 Group: Members Member #1 Joined: June 6, 2004	#1, "Plug pulled on renewable energy gurus" is misleading. According to the lab's announcement, of the gurus, "eight were research staff and 24 worked in support positions." Budget Shortfall Forces Renewable Energy Laboratory to Lay Off 32 Staff #2, why is Bush blamed when it was Congress who made the budget? "the vast amount of Congressionally directed projects, or earmarks ... reduced the budget available to the Department of Energy for funding renewable energy and energy efficiency research at the Laboratory, leaving $28 million less in operating funds for NREL for fiscal year 2006." Budget Cuts Force Layoffs at DOE's NREL
	Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order. --Barry Goldwater


Photobitstream	Feb 14 2006, 12:51 PM Post #4
Darron - Austin, TX Posts: 1,025 Group: Members Member #229 Joined: December 15, 2005	Why was Bush blamed? Does the phrase "The buck stops here" ring a bell. Geez. Every time something goes right, the president grabs the glory. When things go wrong, blame Congress. Guess what. The president proposes the budget, and it ultimately responsible. Next you'll blame Congress for giving tax breaks to oil companies.
	"Their chief weapon, however, was their capacity to astonish. Nobody else could believe, until it was much too late, just how heartless and greedy they actually were." Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions


cmoehle	Feb 15 2006, 06:52 AM Post #5
Chris - San Antonio TX Posts: 36,959 Group: Members Member #1 Joined: June 6, 2004	The phrase rings a bell but is pretty much hollow. Actually, from my point of view, when things go right it's because the government got out of the way and let people and the economy do what's right, and when things go wrong, it's because the government once again mucked things up. That would be thentire government, not just one man who happens for a time to be Prez. This story is blown out of proportion just like the Cheney thing.
	Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order. --Barry Goldwater


Photobitstream	Feb 15 2006, 07:10 AM Post #6
Darron - Austin, TX Posts: 1,025 Group: Members Member #229 Joined: December 15, 2005	OK. I forgot the president is no longer a leader.
	"Their chief weapon, however, was their capacity to astonish. Nobody else could believe, until it was much too late, just how heartless and greedy they actually were." Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions


Stoney	Feb 15 2006, 07:24 AM Post #7
Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,771 Group: Members Member #216 Joined: October 22, 2005	Quote: Next you'll blame Congress for giving tax breaks to oil companies. Isn't that how it works? Congress proposes and passes legislation and the president signs it? It takes both and both are controled by republicans, if that's an accurate description of their politics. And I wish it was only oil companies receiving corporate welfare. Actually, I wish it were none.
	The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way. Henry David Thoreau


Photobitstream	Feb 15 2006, 07:42 AM Post #8
Darron - Austin, TX Posts: 1,025 Group: Members Member #229 Joined: December 15, 2005	Stoney, have you not been paying attention the last five years? What is one of the first things that happened when BushCo took over the White House? Dick Cheney held secret meeting with the oil companies. As for Congress proposing and passing legislation, that explanation may wash in a high school civics class, but in the real world of Washington politics the White House yields tremendous influence, especially when one party controls all three branches of government. Or do you think it is a coincidence that these tax breaks to wealthy corporations came after Bush was elected?
	"Their chief weapon, however, was their capacity to astonish. Nobody else could believe, until it was much too late, just how heartless and greedy they actually were." Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions


cmoehle	Feb 15 2006, 08:10 AM Post #9
Chris - San Antonio TX Posts: 36,959 Group: Members Member #1 Joined: June 6, 2004	Insults are rarely persuasive, Darron. Of course a president yields influence, even more when one party controls White House and Congress, just not absolute control as your exaggerated argument would have it. If you think so explain Bush's failure to push Social Security reform, immigration reform, spending cuts, and a slew of other policies he advocates but Congress ignores. Tax breaks to wealthy corporations? Corporations do not pay taxes. And everyone got a tax break, meager as it was.
	Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order. --Barry Goldwater


Stoney	Feb 15 2006, 12:25 PM Post #10
Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,771 Group: Members Member #216 Joined: October 22, 2005	As I've said before, we seem to be as adept at the political rhetoric as those who represent us. If we use exaggeration to condemn those for doing the same, how much better is our argument? Personally, I think both parties are enjoying our use of their tactics to divide us. It seems to me that exaggeration is not necessary to condemn much of what has been done, and a fair evaluation is much more persuasive. Exaggeration allows a defense of what would otherwise might be indefensible.
	The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way. Henry David Thoreau


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