Bush Is Said to Seek More Money for Arts [$15 million to $20 million for NEA]

New York Times ^ | January 29, 2004 | ROBERT PEAR

[MJY1288]

BTW, 471 Million in cuts to FAA, I forgot to post the link, Here ya go below

White House to Propose FAA Cuts

[Torie]

Thanks you make my point. God forbid that the Feds should lease the land which it owns to the highest bidder. That whould be so "unfair" and a "breach of trust."

[over3Owithabrain]

"GWB just goes along with big government. Doesn't try to persuade people its no government role."

Excellent point. Bush has been wonderful on a couple of really big things, and as such will get my vote barring something bizarre. But his legacy domestically will be one of swelling the government to new heights. It's amazing but sickening we now get treated to hearing all the Dem candidates talk about Bush's out of control deficits and boondoggle programs like Head Start.

[paul51]

There's your artwork. Where's my NEA grant?

We regret to inform you the art submitted does not qualify for our current funding criteria. We suggest you modify your submission to include at least one flying or hanging penis and/or a depiction of urination on a religious artifact of your choice. We look forward to your resubmission. Good luck!

[NutCrackerBoy]

I liked the Buck-Fifty for Marriage, and I like these twenty pennies for NEA. The Endowment will never again be spent on transgressive or political art - that's over.

This is a subliminal feel-good message to the Mushy Middle. This is a "W's Not a NAZI" message. He's wise and discriminating (in a good sense).

I don't think the spending spree will accelerate all through the campaign.

[F16Fighter]

"What you might miss, is that there is a political upside to Bush getting the red meat cultural warriors upset from time to time."

And the "upside" is what exactly?

Elitist country clubs RINOs like you thought you had it all figured in '00 too. Want to try for a popular vote this time and stop the GOP hemmorhaging any time soon??

[TomasUSMC]

I sincerely hope this decision is added to the long list of great things Bush is doing to prove he is a conservative.

Lets see, 15 billion for African Aids ( that assures him the black and homosexual vote)

Amnesty for 8 million mexicans ( that assures him of the mexican vote)

How much money for drugs for old folk ( gets the aarp minions)

And now Bush has got all those conservative family value arteeist on board.

This is again why we will not, can not vote for Bush. Our Allegiance is not to the party -
it is to the country!

This alliance we conservatives have should not be a problem for the President since his allegiance ought to be THE SAME.

[MJY1288]

Read the thread and you will see some of the same "True Conservatives" complaining about cutting the fat out of the FAA. that are here complaining. It's not about Conservatism, it's about complaining, they live for it

[Diddle E. Squat]

Thanks for the link. Looks to me like a wise move, the key fact in the story is the noting of how inefficient and mismanaged the FAA has been. Such a big cut will definitely attract attention, and while it may result in internal reforms, it may also be a means to make the problem visible and get a discussion going. My guess is that right now he didn't have the votes to get reform going, so the cuts are to raise visibility. Or it may simply be a matter of, with spending cuts coming to the fed budget, those that are efficient or making progress in that direction get rewarded, and those who are not, do not.

[Torie]

Oh gosh, now you are traducing my psephological skills too (if I am no good at that, than I am not much good at anything). How mean spirited! But keep socking it to me. You are doing fairly well at it, actually. But on this one, I will continue to be, well, me. I appreciate you don't like it. That is what the public square is all about.

[F16Fighter]

"The Mars mission is this president's Sudanese aspirin plant."

Lol, right -- OR a "Wag-The-Dog" two-step when the proverbial "sh*t" hit the fan about his Amnesty-For-Illegal-Invaders scheme.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Yep, spot on.

[Dave Olson]

Robert Heinlein once wrote, "A government supported artist is an incompetent whore." Government has no business funding art -- even art that I happen to like.

That being said, there are a couple of issues that are too important to risk losing them out of anger over money given to an artist. Specifically the war on terror and judicial appointments.

Can anyone imagine Wesley Clark having to deal with Kim Jung Il? Or John Kerry with Fidel Castro? Or Howard Dean possessing nuclear launch codes? How about a couple of retired conservative Supreme Court justices being replaced by a couple of Ruth Bader Ginsbergs? There's just too much at stake to toss away out of petulance and spite.

So although I oppose this shear wasting of good money, Bush will still get my vote.

[Sabertooth]

Oh the horror. 5 million "wasted." That amount is spent by the feds every five minutes, maybe less. But we love getting off on irrelevant symbolic issues don't we? On to Mars.

$5 million? Hey, I'm all for the plan.

This will turn my pet elephant into an income source.

[Map Kernow]

Freepers will get over it, except those that were on a final exit strategy anyway. Freepers that get fixated on this puppie are simply not in the game, politically. They are just ventilating, and probably most of those don't have much interest in "art" anyway. Art is for girlie men. OK, the issue is whether the government should subsidize it on the surface. But do you think that is really the source of the emotion over the spending of pennies? Of course not.

I'm glad you can be so prodigal with other people's money as to deem a few million dollars "pennies." Also admire the snobbery in your conviction that people concerned over spending on the NEA "probably don't have much interest in art anyway."

But I'd still be interested in knowing, Mr. Erudite: what precisely are the "pennies" that you consider "well spent" on the NEA? Share with us poor benighted uneducated Bible banging "red meaters" the NEA programs informed people like you consider worth funding. Won't you please, Sir Oracle?

[MJY1288]

Thanks, I have seen the hypocrisy from these guys from day one, it's the same 20 or 30 everyday, repeating the same claims over and over that "This is it, Bush has lost my vote", and I know for a fact that several of them never voted for him to begin with, it's just part of the mantra of the perpetual pouting pitchforkers: Complain about everything and contribute absolutely nothing

[Torie]

Oh my. You still post on matters not related to illegal aliens? Splendid. All the best.

[MJY1288]

LOL, low blow

[ForOurFuture]

Super Bowl picks Thread

Forgive the interruption. It needs the advertising, as it's hidden in General Interest (Chat). Besides, surely everyone can use a break from arguing over whether Bush is conservative enough, etc., etc.

[Sabertooth]

Oh my. You still post on matters not related to illegal aliens?

Yeah, but folks keep baiting me.