Democrats Target Bush On Blackout

ABC ^ | 8-15-03 | AP

[Ex-Dem]

Democrats Target Bush on Blackout, Bash Trend Toward Larger Power Grids

The Associated Press

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa Aug. 15 — The Democratic presidential contenders blamed President Bush Friday for the massive blackout in the northeastern United States, saying the White House's refusal to invest in the nation's infrastructure caused the problem.

"It underscores a blackout in this administration on energy policies," Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry said. "They have ignored the investment needs of our infrastructure in favor of a tax cut for the wealthy."

Northeastern cities from New York City across to Toledo, Ohio, were gripped by a massive blackout Thursday afternoon that left officials scrambling to restore power and searching for causes of the failure.

While no one has yet pinpointed a cause, Democrats were quick to bash Bush.

Missouri Rep. Richard Gephardt argued that the blackouts can be linked to flaws in Bush and the Republican party's energy policy. "These events illustrate how shortsighted the Bush administration and Republican-controlled Congress were in 2001 when they rejected modernization of our nation's power grid," Gephardt said.

Much of the criticism came during a labor forum featuring six of the Democratic presidential candidates. One of the candidates, the Rev. Al Sharpton, was forced to cancel because of jumbled air schedules after the blackout.

Florida Sen. Bob Graham said Bush called for new investment in electrical transmission systems but Republicans blocked a Democratic effort to do just that.

"Just two years ago, he and his allies in Congress blocked a Democratic proposal to invest $350 million in upgrading America's electrical grid system," Graham said. "The blackout is further evidence that America needs to invest in its infrastructure."

North Carolina Sen. John Edwards chose not to immediately attack Bush. "I think we need to find out what happened," Edwards said.

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean said the Bush administration, through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, tried to merge the New England's electrical grid with New York's when he still governor.

"I raised hell and told them they better get a lot of lawyers," he said in a telephone interview. "The president always sees bigger as being better and that's not true. What we really need to do is let local people take care of things. What we need is good, strong regional grids. We do not need huge mega-grids.

Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich said he has fought the big utilities since he was the mayor of Cleveland and resisted efforts to sell of the city's utilities.

"I stood to the Enrons of that day, and I'll stand up to the Enrons of this day," Kucinich said.

Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, speaking earlier at the state fair, said the blackouts, along with the latest virus attacks on the Internet, have Americans feeling less secure even though neither event has been linked to terrorism.

"Electricity is too important to the quality of life to all of the American people to allow it to become a gap in homeland security," Lieberman said.

[Ex-Dem]

Bill Richardson was practically gloating last night on MSNBC. Someone needs to point out that if the Clinton folks had fixed this in the first place instead of dropping the ball, this wouldn't have happened (same situation with 9-11).

[Diogenesis]

Please. It has been the Democrat's P. Zimmerman
who on the payroll of Biden and the US State Dept.
has attacked US researchers - civilian and military -
involved in alternative energy.

SHAME ON THESE "BENEDICT ARNOLDS".

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Didn't Clinton cut back on new energy plants being developed, or was that only in California?

Hillary is quick to cover her fat butt by blaming Bush. What State is she Senator of, again? I forget...

[Wild Irish Rogue]

If that's the case,then Bush should get credit for getting the power back on so fast.Ice storms and blizzards sometimes knock power out for days.Damn,he's good!

[faithincowboys]

What did the Clintonoids do after the massive blackouts in the Western US in 96? Nothing, they punted as usual. The audacity of the Left is truly astounding. What adolescents!

[OpusatFR]

Ok, so explain to me why the blackout that hit the west encompassing nine states during the Clinton regime was not Clinton's fault.

The dems don't seem to use any logic and the news media is way too stupid to ask the right questions. Guess that's why nobody watches.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

The DemonRats had 8 years to turn America into a liberal paradise on earth. There's no denying, liberalism hurt the country, not helped it.

The more they tout this story the better. They're shooting themselves in the foot. I want them to keep moaning about the Bush carrier landing, too.

[OpusatFR]

7:39 wow. I'm putting on my tinfoil hat! ( ;

[RLK]

It's unfortunate that we have demogogic low lives such as these in our government.

[winker]

Didn't I read somewhere a note about no PROFANITY? Surely I didn't miss that DID I? Fix this now!

[whereasandsoforth]

To me this says the democrats are darn glad the republicans are finally in charge of the USA. The democrats ran the country into the ground over the last fifty years and now they want someone to fix it back. It reminds my three-year-old granddaughter who takes the legs off her Barbie doll and brings it to me to put the legs back on.

[Kuksool]

The Dems must be auditioning to be comedians. And lame comedians they are.

[yankeedame]

I second the motion.

[PokeyJoe]

"Just two years ago, he and his allies in Congress blocked a Democratic proposal to invest $350 million in upgrading America's electrical grid system," Graham said. "The blackout is further evidence that America needs to invest in its infrastructure."

President Bush replies,

Just two years ago, the Extreme Left Wing Liberal Progressive Socialist Environuts populating the Democrat Party in Congress blocked a Republican proposal to invest 2.5 billion in upgrading American's electrical grid, building newer cleaner electric plants, and expanding domestic sources of energy, which would have reduced our dependence on foreign oil and brought additional reliability standards in a national energy strategy. This blackout is evidence of a blackout of ideas in the Democrat Party, a blackout of leadership in the Democrat party, and a blackout on the truth in the Democrat party. I call on Congress to pass my energy bill TODAY. The Democrat party is afraid of the future, and afraid of failure. Just today - Democrat party members of the Texas Senate are hiding out in New Mexico afriad of losing a vote because of a chance that they will lose power. If anything - Americans need a blackout on fear. I need brave people to work with me on my energy bill. Call your congressman today - and demand action!

Hooooaaah.

[FloridaBoy]

I think it's not the President to blame, it's the power companies. If, however someon wants to blame the President it should start with Johnson since he was prez when the first grid related blackout occured in the 60's, and then just blame them all since then. So what? What difference does it make. Does the infastructure need updated and fixed? Sure it does. The power companies should make the changes as that is what the "line charge" is for on our power bill.

[Koblenz]

Are the Democrats also blaming Jean Chretien and the failed policies of the Liberal Party?

[oyez]

The Democrats will not work to solve an issue. They would keep it open so the bash the Republican over the head with it. As is is all they do is obstruct, obstruct, obstruct. Getting back power is more important than anything.

[oprahstheantichrist]

"The audacity of the Left is truly astounding. What adolescents!"

Hey, you just insulted my fourteen year old!

[lonestar]

The Democrats are quick to blame because they never, ever take any responsibility for anything that goes wrong.