BUDGET INCREASE FOR THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT OF THE ARTS

The Drudge Report ^ | 01-28-2004 | Matt Drudge

[Captain Peter Blood]

BUSH TO SEEK BIG BUDGET INCREASE FOR NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS... Laura Bush plans to announce the request -- for the largest increase in two decades -- on Thursday... Developing...

[Johnny_Cipher]

Damn, I'm depressed. First the recipe I found that was absolutely positively guaranteed to make the same Sesame Chicken that I get from the local Chinese food emporium came a cropper when I tried it tonight. And now somebody tells me that my President is going to put Oscar the Grouch in a gold-plated trash can. Sucks to be me.

[luckydevi]

Are you serious?

Why should government be in the business of promoting art.

Isn't it great spending other people's money

[GeronL]

94 was great but Newt refused to bend on gov shutdown

Clinton is the one who shut down the executive branch... Newt had no such power

[WOSG]

That's the Gotcha ... we had fairly dedicated conservatives back in 1995 or so, but they didnt have the votes. I'd say you could get maybe 180-190 votes to kill.

Too many squishy GOP moderates who'll keep it around, servicing and funding the Left.

[Pubbie]

I think Perry said he would take that money from other agencies and not raise taxes.

And the Democrats saying it will take a tax hike always say that no matter if there is a surplus.

[yonif]

there are a lot of programs that could be completely eliminated like HUD, Department of Education, PBS and on and on.

Of course. But there will never be a president willing to do it, in my opinion. The more years go by, the chance for that and the cut of goverment size is close to zero. Both parties will not do it.

[futureceo31]

Just mentioned my dismay with the funding increases on georgewbush.com. More people should go there and send messages to the relection campaign. I am sure it will get noticed sooner or later. Better sooner than later ...

[Scenic Sounds]

I see nothing wrong with government funding for arts, provided there is a commission established to ensure that the works of art funded celebrate liberal and conservative themes equally. For every Maplethorpe atrocity, there should be funding for someone who plans a painted mural showing how important to America the development of the breech loading rifle has been.

It's not a lot of money, and properly administered, it could result in some solid improvement to conservative life.

Good post!!!

I'm having trouble believing the hysteria about this particular budget item. When I think of all the things our Federal Government does, I have trouble seeing how this can rank so high in importance among people.

At least something tangible usually results from this program.

[gatorbait]

The way this President is acting in the last month, makes you wonder if he's nipping at the bottle again. I understand your disappointment, but is this sort of remark really necessary?

It is if one is a complete Bush hater, laden with true conservative principles.

[futureceo31]

and then blamed evil Newt for it. Great strategy and the media went right along with that BS!!!

[yonif]

we just need more GOP senators.

More GOP senators would mean GOP candidates beating leftwing senators....and how do you think they will be able to beat those leftwingers? By having to adopt policies to get leftist constituents to vote for them...

[rwfromkansas]

True, but it is a pointless increase. Increase the arts. WHY???? WHY????? Especially in a time of war!

[COEXERJ145]

Our local symphony orchestra receives money from the NEA and without it they couldn't exist. Almost all the members are amateurs who do it because they enjoy it. No one is paid for playing in the orchestra except when they do performances that are being paid for by a third party.

While there should defiantly be more oversight of the NEA and where it spends its money, the idea is not a bad thing. The idiots deciding where the money goes is the big problem.

[The Old Hoosier]

No, you just don't understand. For years, the NEA has represented everything conservatives hate. This is a slap in the face, that's what it is. I have never even contemplated voting third party, but now I and many others here may just do so.

[jpsb]

We lost our best defender of the Constitution when we lost Newt. I could not believe how the GOP just hung him out and left him to Rats. Your turn is comming GOP, I am looking forwards to watching the Rats pick you to pieces in the next election and don't expect any help from the conservatives you disrepect over and over and over again.

[GeronL]

FedGov gies $1Billion for illegal immigrant health-care

Have we had enough yet??

[4CJ]

Isn't Taylor the guy that CongressmanBillyBob is running against?

Yep. Representative Charles H. Taylor represents North Carolina's 11^th District. Or does, until Congressman BillyBob is elected.

Additionally, the Constitution states that Congress is '[t]o promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries'

Get rid of the NEA.

[futureceo31]

And where are you going to go after conservatives get their turn in the next elections?

[TheConservator]

This translates as--

Bush to Conservatives: F&%k You!

[The Old Hoosier]

The idiots deciding where the money goes is the big problem.

And the only way to solve that problem is to abolish it. We won't always have Republican presidents--something Bush always seems to forget.