On Sep 20, 2005, at 13:57, Jean Nathan wrote:
Was the news report that George Bush had announced that New Orleans will be rebuilt "whatever the cost" wrong?
Wasn't wrong. In fact, some of the phrases he used in that speech made me wonder if he actually knew which Gulf he was talking about :) But the money is not gonna come from selling his ranch or even donating his golf-clubs for a celebrity event, that's for certain. As Ruth had pointed out, it'll come from our pockets.
*If* it comes, which is somewhat doubtful, despite his pretty (and unprecedented: until now, he was the President of "the buck stops *there*" variety). His buddies in Congress and Senate have, all of a sudden, decided to be "fiscally responsible". In their interpretation, that means: "let's fix those tax-cuts for the rich permanently *first*, and we'll worry which social programs to cut to get the money for Katrina relief later".
Bush cannot get re-elected - he's on his second and last leg already - so he can say whatever he wants. But those guys will have to face voters accross the US, some of whom are already feeling the pinch for re-election. And some of them will be running for his replacement. So, some voices are already saying: "we can't put our grandchildren's future in hock for this". That those are the same voices which were - and remain - silent, when I'm asked to put my grandchildren's future in hock (to China, of all places) to subsidise the invasion of Iraq and the tax-cuts for the rich while the value of my money declines steadily is stil not being mentioned much, however... It's *selective* fiscal responsibility :)
I also understood some contracts had already been awarded to Haliburton, but (before I get shot down in flames) I could be wrong.
You are *not* wrong; some contracts *have* been awarded to Haliburton, on the same un-principles as before - without a bid. But, you see, there was no time for soliciting bids... And they already have the experience - both in "reconstruction" (as in Iraq), and in winning no-bid wars... :)
I suppose the vice-president gets only a subsistence pay - no overtime, no health benefits and no pension plan (like any Joe Schmoe) - and he had to give up the chairmanship of Haliburton when chosen for office, which turned out to be an 8 yr loss of high-bracket earnings... He'll need some sort of a retirement nest egg when his term is over; wouldn't do for an ex-vice-president to move into a mobile home somewhere in N.O. or Biloxi...
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