WP: Katrina's Cost May Test GOP Harmony

[Pirate Smile]

Katrina's Cost May Test GOP Harmony
Some Want Bush To Give Details on How U.S. Will Pay

By Shailagh Murray and Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, September 21, 2005; Page A01

Congressional Republicans from across the ideological spectrum yesterday rejected the White House's open-wallet approach to rebuilding the Gulf Coast, a sign that the lockstep GOP discipline that George W. Bush has enjoyed for most of his presidency is eroding on Capitol Hill.

Trying to allay mounting concerns, White House budget director Joshua B. Bolten met with Republican senators for an hour after their regular Tuesday lunch. Senators emerged to say they were annoyed by the lack of concrete ideas for paying the Hurricane Katrina bill.

Very entertaining," Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said sarcastically as he left the session. "I haven't heard any specifics from the administration."


Bush allies such as Sen. Rick Santorum have seen ratings fall. (Bradley C Bower - AP)

-snip-
The pushback on Katrina aid, which the White House is also confronting among House Republicans, represents the loudest and most widespread dissent Bush has faced from his own party since it took full control of Congress in 2002. As polls show the president's approval numbers falling, there is growing concern among lawmakers that GOP margins in Congress could shrink next year, and even rank-and-file Republicans are complaining that Bush is shirking the difficult budget decisions that must accompany the rebuilding bonanza.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/20/AR2005092001704.html

[UpInArms]

1. Republicans are complaining that Bush is shirking

.....

:rofl:

They are just now noticing????

:rofl:

[doc03]

2. None of these Republicans ever worried about

paying for the war in Iraq. Now when it comes to rebuilding a major city in the US they suddenly want to find a way to cut something to pay for it. How about getting the fuck out of Iraq and doing away with the Bush tax giveaway to the rich? I used to like McCain and even switched parties to vote for him in the primaries back in 2000, he makes me sick now.

[faithnotgreed]

3. tell it doc

[Nay]

7. Yeah, what doc said.

They don't give a shit about the citizens -- we're just a big drain on the treasury. They want to be able to parcel $$$ out to their buddies, not to us measly citizens.

[Gunit_Sangh]

4. They'll figure out a way

to prevent their wealthy campaign contributors from paying extra taxes and save the GOP pork projects. They'll find a way to stick it to the poor and elderly.

Although it did shock me to hear frist on the news last night saying something about our children and grand-children being stuck with the tab.

[GOPAgainstGW]

5. Republican Internal Cannabalization-New Buzzwords around DC!

Many leading Repubs and major money supporters are tired of Bush and tired of the story.

[GOPAgainstGW]

6. See This Thread Re: Tom DeLay Related Recent Indictments

FEC Sues Major Pro-GOP Group Over Fundraising

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1791913&mesg_id=1793024

More Info and Updates:
Texas Democratic Party
http://www.txdemocrats.org/

[pinniped]

8. WTF? We can have it all. 100 billion dollars for NASA,...

tax-cuts for the mega-rich, tax-cuts for the mega-rich corporations, tax-cuts for the oil and petroleum industry, Iraq war, Iran war, Syrian war, North Korean war, Cuban war, Venezuelan war, halve the deficit in 2009,...did I miss anything????

Oh ya, Afghanistan war.

[OKNancy]

9. kick

[sabra]

10. GOP revolt brews over bill for Katrina

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002509224_katcong21.html


GOP revolt brews over bill for Katrina

WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans yesterday rejected the White House's open-wallet approach to rebuilding the Gulf Coast, a sign that the lockstep GOP discipline President Bush has enjoyed for most of his two terms is eroding on Capitol Hill.

Trying to allay mounting concerns, White House budget director Joshua Bolten met with Republican senators for an hour after their regular Tuesday lunch yesterday. Senators said they were annoyed by the lack of concrete ideas for paying the Hurricane Katrina bill.

"Very entertaining," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said sarcastically as he left the session. "I haven't heard any specifics from the administration."

"At least give us some idea" of how to cover the cost, said Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., who faces re-election in 2006. "We owe that to the American taxpayer."

[Betsy Ross]

11. Could even the repugs have learned from Iraq?

Seems like they might now understand that giving * carte blanche may not be such a good idea, especially if you are a fiscal conservative.

'"At least give us some idea" of how to cover the cost'

could also mean, just give us some idea of which of your cronies is going to be getting all the money.

[merwin]

12. They understand their polls are low and they need to look good

for the 2006 elections

[The Backlash Cometh]

13. otherwise, it's all going to Halliburton.

Kerry withheld a "yes" vote from Bush for the same reason that these Republicans are now doing.

Funny how circular life is.

[ozymandius]

14. So what "open wallet" policy would they approve?

Iraq war? Halliburton and Bechtel for both domestic and foreign infrastructure projects? A bridge to nowhere in Alaska? More Pentagon boondoggles?

[Ian David]

15. Sukath, his eyes uncovered!