Let's hope that few if any other Republicans agree with the Republican representative from Tennessee, Marsha Blackburn. If Katrina was not an emergency what in the world would be?
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Rep. Blackburn: "We're Not Going To Cry 'Emergency' Every Time We Have A Katrina"
- Thread starter Crabtownboy
- Start date
I'm surmising that he was saying, "we must be careful in circumventing 'pay as you go rules'."
But that's some really stupid wording, if so.
There is this general attitude among elected officials of, "I need to say something that will get publicized all the time." The need these guys have for keeping their face (or words) in the news, IMO, stems from one or more of the following...
- Almost pathological need for approval.
- The self-centered thinking of, "I really do know best for these millions of people.
- The desire for re-election, and it's close tie with publicity...especially free publicity.
- The expanded role of government. There aren't many subjects in which government isn't trying to play a role...and thus, there are opportunities to quote.
- The fractious condition of our country. 40% of the voting public in your neck of the woods will dislike you, simply because of the consonantal suffix attached to your name. So...at all opportunities, you must get "the base" excited. (sometimes, these folks badly misread what "the base" wants to hear from them)
Then, you end up with things like this, or "police acted stupidly" nonsense...
Can we come up with an amendment to the Constitution that allows any member of Congress to speak once a day? That might help silliness such as this.
You are ignoring the context.
He is saying that if we are on a "paygo" system then there should not be exceptions under the guise of an "emergency".
The budget should already include funds for emergencies.
"Emergencies" should not be excuses for busting the budget because politicians can always find an "emergency" - if not then they create one.
So you think PAYGO should not be enforced? What's the point of having it if you don't enforce it?
Actually I believe a pay as you go program is a great idea. However, I do not expect the politicians to follow such a program. They never have before. Now a balanced budget amendment might well force them to be more responsible in their appropriations. I do not expect to live long enough to see that happen.
Set asides for emergencies should be made ahead of the emergency IMHO and those made without breaking the budget.
Duplicate post .... sorry.
So what is your complaint, because that sounds exactly like what Blackburn said: PAYGO has to be enforced. It can't be set aside.
Her implying that the aftermath of Katrina is the problem. It indicates an attitude that has been preached and associated with the Republicans ... primarily that the average person counts for little, but corporate profits are what is important. If Katrina was not an emergency then what in the world is an emergency?
If I may...
...Blackburn's quote gave CTB a chance to malign Republicans. It really had little to do with PAYGO.
Yes...but it was one in which the response was monumentally botched on all levels. We hear a great deal about Federal. But state and local were at least as bad, if not worse.
I'm trying to remember a disaster in which governmental response was stellar. The best they seem to do is "adequate."
So think you think the aftermath of Katrina wasn't a problem? It was a huge problem. Multiplied millions of dollars were wasted in the name of "emergency." Regardless of where you place the blame, it seems hard to deny that the aftermath of Katrina was a huge problem and a huge waste of money.
But I suppose at some point I should cease to be amazed by what people think (when they think).
Hurricane Charlie in 2004. It was handled well prior to landing even though it took and unexpected turn and in the after math. The result was that there were few deaths and no one was left stranded. Louisiana needs to come to Florida and learn how to handle their emergency affairs.
My point is that Katrina and the aftermath was a huge problem, an emergency ... and yes totally mishandled and lots of money wasted. Let's hope some lessons were learned and this is not repeatedin the fugure.
For anyone, especially a member of Congress to suggest otherwise is, to be polite, not wise.
I didn't see anyone suggest otherwise. You seem to be making something up. I think the point from what you quoted is that everything can't be reclassified as an emergency in order to circumvent PAYGO. It sounds to me like your UP was a point in search of a quote, and you didn't bother to find a quote that actually made your point. As you can tell from the article you cite, even the author admits that Blackburn supported the emergency spending in Katrina. So his post seems very unethical and you repeating it here isn't much better. You (and he) seem to be trying to get some political gain out of something that totally misses the point of what was said.
Robert Snow
New Member
Doesn't both sides do that here?
Robert Snow
New Member
No. I'm as pure as the driven snow, Mr. Snow.
As am I! :laugh: