The George W. Bush Response To The 9-11 Attacks
(or, What Response?)

Want to hear a fairy tale?  Want to hear a real whopper?  If so, just ask a Rightwing Liar to tell you how George W. Bush fearlessly led this nation in responding to the 9-11 attacks.  Listen to the tell you about how he stood firm, how he devised a response to insure that such a thing never happens again.  Just listen — don’t believe a word of it.

 Then, tell your Rightwing Liar friend the truth.  George W. Bush and the Republicans have thrown up roadblock after roadblock in the way of response to 9-11.    They have trashed every plan that would help us prevent another 9-11.  Look at the record. 

September 11, 2001.   No one needs to be reminded about what happened on this day. 

November 14, 2001.   Senate Democrats propose $15 billion for homeland security as part of an economic stimulus package.  The White House warns about “permanent spending on other projects that have nothing to do with stimulus.” 

December 4, 2001.   The Senate Appropriations Committee votes 29-0 for a bill that includes $13.1 billion for homeland security programs.  One day later, G. W. Bush threatens to veto the bill.

December 6, 2001.   Senate Republicans reduce homeland security funding in the Defense Appropriation bill by $4.6 billion.

 December 19, 2001.  Under further pressure from the White House, conferees reduce funds for homeland security by another $200 million.  This reduction comes by reducing funds for:  airport security, port security, nuclear facility security, and postal security. 

June 7, 2002.  The Senate, in a bipartisan vote of 71-22, passes a spending bill that includes $8.3 billion for homeland security.  The next day, G. W. Bush’s “senior advisers” recommend he veto this “excessive homeland security spending.”

 July 19, 2002.   Under pressure from the White House, homeland defense funding is reduced again.  Money comes out of:  food safety; cyber security; programs to coordinate police and fire radios; nuclear security; and airport security.

 August 13, 2002. President ?Bush decides not to spend the $2.5 billion emergency funding for homeland security.  He says his decision is based on “fiscal responsibility.”  No one notices that he just  called for a tax cut of the same size.

 January 16, 2003. The White House reacts to Democrat attempts to increase homeland security spending by issuing an announcement:  “The Administration strongly opposes amendments to add new extraneous spending to the package.”  The same day, Senate Republicans vote against additional funds, proposed by Democrats, for smallpox vaccinations among other things.

 January 23, 2003.  The Republican Senate cuts security programs in the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the FBI, INS, National Nuclear Security Administration, Transportation Security Administration, and Coast Guard.

 February 3, 2003.  G. W. Bush submits his 2004 budget to Congress.  It reduces the budget for homeland security programs by 1.9 percent.

 February 14, 2003.  Senate Democrats introduce their economic stimulus package.  It includes money to fund the smallpox vaccination program, to get police and fire radio systems to work together, and to protect public transportation.  Not a single Republican supports the proposal.

 March 21, 2003.   Republicans defeat four amendments aimed at increasing security.

 March 25, 2003. Republicans defeat another three amendments aimed at strengthening homeland security.

 April 2, 2003.   Senator Fritz Hollings of South Carolina offers and amendment to provide an additional $1 billion for port security programs.  Republicans reject the amendment by a vote of 47-52.

 April 3, 2003.   Republicans reject five amendments, including one to protect commercial aircraft from the threat of shoulder-fired missiles.

 June 2003.   In the House Appropriations Committee, Democrats propose increasing homeland security spending by $1 billion — to be paid for by cutting the tax break for 200,000 millionaires from $88,000 each to $83,000 each.  Republicans reject it.

 How does G. W. Bush explain his failure to fund homeland security?  Why, he smiles, turns on the charm and blames it on everyone else, especially on Congress.  

 But, wait.  Let’s listen to another voice.  A partisan member of Congress responded to Bush.  This man said that the Bush White House had been “factually inaccurate” in its attempts to blame Congress for the shameful failure to fully fund homeland security programs.    He said that Bush should “move on from this pointless and harmful debate.”  And who was this radical, anti-American nut who dared to criticize our “Top Gun” President?  Why, it was none other than the REPUBLICAN chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Bill Young.

 Now, tell me again how G. W. Bush and the Republicans are standing at the gate to guard us against the foe. 

Can you spell “B U L L S H I T”?