RK ARCHIVE - Why do these prominent Republicans and generals hate America?

Why do these prominent Republicans and generals hate America?

On Helping 9-11 Responders Suffering From Lung Problems

Senate Republicans killed a bid for nearly $2 billion to help sick 9/11 responders yesterday - blocking the measure without letting it come up for a vote. * * *
[Sen.] Clinton's amendment would have provided $5,800 a year for five years for each person sickened from Ground Zero exposure.

Republican Mayor Bloomberg:

said he "absolutely" endorsed Clinton's proposal. "This was a national attack on the country, and I think the federal government has a responsibility," he said. "We cannot handle this ourselves. We just don't have enough money." * * * "Clearly, people who worked on the site, or the closer they were, the more symptoms they have that are very troublesome," Bloomberg said.

CONFORMING DETAINEE PRACTICES TO GENEVA CONVENTION

John McCain:

McCain said the measure [Bush opposed] would protect agents from criminal and civil liability and, by not reinterpreting the meaning of the Geneva Conventions, uphold the nation's obligations. "To do any less risks our reputation, our moral standing and the lives of those Americans who risk everything to defend our country," the senator said.

"Weakening the Geneva protections is not only unnecessary, but would set an example to other countries, with less respect for basic human rights, that they could issue their own legislative 'reinterpretations,' " McCain said in a written statement. "This puts our military personnel and others directly at risk in this and future wars."

Colin Powell:

To the administration's dismay, Colin Powell, Bush's former secretary of state, has joined with the lawmakers. Powell said Bush's plan to redefine the Geneva Conventions would cause the world "to doubt the moral basis" of the fight against terror and "put our own troops at risk."

Maj. Gen. Scott C. Black, the Army's judge advocate general:

[Black] sent a new letter to McCain and other senators, saying "further redefinition" of the conventions "is unnecessary and could be seen as a weakening of our treaty obligations, rather than a reinforcement of the standards of treatment."

I think we know where George Allen will stand. He's getting ready to ride his pony this morning so he hasn't had time to analyze the issues in depth. But there's a 97% chance he'll just rubber stamp what the President wants.

Comments

Bush's War On Science at EPA kills 9-11 heros (Andrea Chamblee - 9/17/2006 12:58:59 AM)

You may have heard of Bush's War on Science. He suppressed scientific information from the experts at EPA and announced with EPS Chair Christine Todd Whitman that it was safe to work in the 9-11 site. It wasn't. The first worker died in January of this year of respiratory disease.

You'd think this criminal act that resulted in deaths of these people would merit an investigation by the Government Reform Committee, but Chairman Tom Davis is being a Good Republican and keeping the lid on it as long as he can.

The workers were vindicated by an Inspector General Report and a lawsuit. But they still need money to pay for their medical care and for college for their children, since they won't be around to write tuition checks. They want to be paid from the 9-11 fund.

Not even Nixon's EPA chief, William Ruckleshaus, was this crooked. Vote for Andy Hurst.

I Think We Both Could Go On and On (PM - 9/17/2006 7:27:08 AM)

Bush' attacks against science have been medieval in nature. And he distorts science for political gain over and over. Interestingly, popular science magazines picked up on this a long time ago -- I remember quite well the run up to 2004 where scientists were speaking out on the issue.

Too bad the Washington Post has such a poor science section, or we would have heard more about this.