new thread
Elliot Knofsky McCarthy, 17, is receiving the President's Volunteer Service Award
McCarthy, a senior at the New World School of the Arts, is active at school and gives back to his community through volunteering.
"It's a huge honor," McCarthy said. "It's only maybe once in a lifetime that someone gets to meet the president of the United States. It's not your everyday occurrence. And to be able to receive it for my work with others is such a tremendous honor."
Bush is in Florida to attend a Republican National Committee fundraiser in Pinellas Park near Tampa.
In Miami, he will present the volunteer award to McCarthy and meet with business leaders to speak about free trade policy.
Copyright 2007 by NBC6.net. All rights reserved.
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Who would really want to meet Bush?
Its good that he did not feel obliged to cut to meet 'the President'. To that extent I congratulate him.
A lot of people in New Orleans would like to. Probably in a dark alley.
Bill
Heh...nice one.
True, but once again an impression created by mass media and liberal slings and arrows with little basis in fact.
I worked in New Orleans for a year and a half after Katrina. I am from that area. The federal funds were made available early on; several billion dollars worth.
The State Government of Louisiana, led by the Governor herself, madam Kathleen Blanco, royally screwed up everything they touched and held up distribution of the available funds by over a year and a half haggling over how to put their name on the distribution program. Also, Louisiana is the only state that did not have and did not put into place regulations to guide insurance companies to insure that they fairly reimbursed their policyholders. I had to deal with both the state and the insurance companies, and because of it I am still owed over $50,000 in payments while the federal dollars are sitting there waiting to be distributed. Some of the money earmarked for Louisiana was actually diverted to Mississippi because it sat so long without being used. And the programs that finally got put into place (the Louisiana Recovery Act) went broke while only a small percentage of homeowners had been helped. And federal dollars are still sitting there waiting for the state to act.
Bush takes an awful lot of crap for things not his doing, and with no basis in fact. But why look at facts; you can't promote the hate mongering if you do.
Big George
Not too long after that disaster, me and some other guys sitting around the water cooler did a very basic calculation. We took the figure being estimated for the federal bailout, and divided it by the figure being estimated for displaced people. I don't recall the exact figure, but we were in universal agreement on two things: 1. It was a sum that any poor person from NO would never have dreamt of having saved up, and that they would gladly accept and be able to use to relocate just about anywhere, or even live on for a couple years if they were frugal. 2. Simply distributing this money to people who lost their homes, with the stipulation that they not rebuild destroyed houses below sea level was far too sensible a solution, and that most likely the money would be pissed away by beurocrats.
You live long enough in this country, some things are just sadly predictable.
If only the people that represent the news stations had lived in my living room (Baton Rouge) the story would have been viewed a bit differently.
But alas, why report facts when slander is much easier.......
peace
clayton
I'd like to meet him, sit down, have a talk, discuss the nation and the world, have discourse on philosophy and religion, shake his hand, hear his stories. He speaks from the heart and generally has a friendly demeanor about him.
Like him or not, he still would be an interesting person to talk to. I mean there have only been so many presidents so he is in a very exclusive group in terms of life experiences (especially since most of the past presidents are dead). Granted, we all still disagree with at least some part of his presidency and I know I'd like to debate the man behind the decisions. But even if that topic was off limits, he'd still be an interesting person to meet.
Cheney on the other hand...I am afraid he'd try to suck my blood or something...nah, he'd be interesting too but not as nice to talk to.
The people who invade my little town, and swamp the streets and lining the sidwalks hoping to get a glimpse of him in the SS limo, or exiting Air Force 1 at the helipad. The FEMA headquarters is here, and Bush was here for the National Firefighters Memorial. The Prez usually attends this yearly event, sometimes the Veep gets the job. Unfortunately this year, Bush had an entourage that hadn't protested at these events before. Rev Phelps of Westboro Baptist showed up with the usual picket signs declaring that God hates f@gs, soldiers, and everyone else. Along with signs that churches support (in their warped twisted view) sodomites, pedophiles, etc. Camp David is near here too. Often the Prez and the Veep dine at area establishments. There are more Bush sightings than I care to know about, and I have absolutely no intention of attending any of the public events where he speaks at, like the event at FEMA. Nor do I have any desire to meet either him or Cheney. Especially now that Phelps and his little hate crew are showing up. (sarcasm on) Happy, happy! Joy, joy! (sarcasm off)
Carol
Who *wouldn't* want to meet Bush, talk to him, and try to figure out what was going through his head when he did some of the things he's done. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to spend even just one hour talking to somebody with the power to make a difference, and try to sway that power in a more reasonable direction? For this very reason, I'm sure even the most extreme political oponent of the president would leap at the chance to spend some time with him.
Of course, most people who get to meet a president only get a handshake and a greeting and that's what we're really talking about here. It's usually considered an honor. I don't know how many people have turned down the honor, and what, if any impact that had as a statement of protest.
I know exactly what was going through his mind. "How can I loot the treasury for myself and my buddies and get to screw over those who have ever said unkind things about me"
It is so simple, for every 100 people born there are a rare few who will break their back doing good for others, many who will try to ensure that their own backs don't get too hurt, and those who will gladly break the backs of others and laugh as it happens.
It is no secret which category Bush and his buddies are in, they prove it every day. I have no desire to be anywhere near any of the monsters in power. They are beyond the grasp of empathy or reason. One of my biggest regrets is that, like me, they have figured out that there is no Christian Hell awaiting them, so they can mouth the Christian Right's words but they know there will be no accounting. And I know it to so I don't even get the satisfaction that their will be any justice in the end.
As Bush and his buddies would be burning in it. To see a true Republican look no further than Ron Paul. As he is the only true Conservative in his party. Sadly Obama and Clinton are not better Choices for the American people. People like Hillary Clinton have actually demanded bush to be Tougher on Iran, like he isn't being tough on Iran in the first place.
Ron Paul is one of the few in politics that will break his own back for his country.
There is no hell? Damn. And here I thought the Devil had called Jerry Falwell home.
Bill
I have no desire to be anywhere near any of the monsters in power. They are beyond the grasp of empathy or reason. One of my biggest regrets is that, like me, they have figured out that there is no Christian Hell awaiting them, so they can mouth the Christian Right's words but they know there will be no accounting.
Chris, this is exactly the kind of unsubstantiated bullshit that serves no purpose than to inflame others.
It becomes overly transparent when you have to resort to calling names and spouting untruths because you have no facts to support your comments.
I'm impressed that you know Bush well enough to know his true thoughts. Not only have you insulted conservatives, you mock the Christian faith and use your ignorance of both to demean them.
I guess I expect a little more from intelligent people no matter what their political leanings.
George
I am enraged and inflamed, and it wasn't easy for the world of politics and the current affairs of other nations to shake me out of my typical self interested worldview. I have all my life heard of the monsters of history and the monsters who ruled in foreign empires. But I in my foolish naivete thought that the United States was better than that, that we were growing up and had moved beyond our own nightmare history of genocide and racial subjegation. I had no idea that we were still capable of the things I used to only associate with third world dictators and our supposed ideological enemies. Apparently the leaders of the US could be every bit as heinous as our "enemies" are.
Curiousity about politics after a lifetime of political apathy unfortunately led me out of my contented ignorance. Researching deeper and deeper into the affairs of the current administration was at once so abhorrent and disgusting but also compelling to see just what they really had been doing while many people looked away.
I never would have believed it would come to this but I can entirely understand why much of the world loathes the United States so, and it saddens me beyond belief that I have to agree with them.
I cannot lie about my feelings on this to protect others' feelings on this. If I am afraid to take a stand on issues this important, what is the point then? This is no game nor acadmic debate, this is about global survival.
I will simply repeat what I said in my previous post:
It becomes overly transparent when you have to resort to calling names and spouting untruths because you have no facts to support your comments.
Is this a political view site or a longhair site? Kudos to the long haired kid for meeting the President and getting recognized for his efforts.
Well it could be worse and you meet Mr Brown!
John.B
Copyright 2007 by NBC6.net. All rights reserved.
that bit is ironic in this redistribution
I know it certainly is and the power of cut and paste! Is anyone going to let NBC know lol!
Still it could be worse you could get an award from the infamous Ron Paul (perhaps the USA housewives favourite personality)!
Cheers,
John.B
As someone not living within America, but having followed what EACH of the candidates has said, in both parties, I think Ron Paul (though he'll never come to power), is the only one that actually has the ability to save America from the very serious economic and constitutional crisis you're in. Not one of the other candidates seriously addresses the fact that within two years you're probably going to have the national ID, or that federal government has continuously breached your constitution in the name of security, and I'm not even going to bother quoting Benjamin Franklin here.
What's worse than all of this, is the fact that you currently have an outstanding public debt of 11 trillion dollars, a lot of which you owe to countries such as China, and this increases every year by about 1 trillion. The EU has a policy to sanction any nation that exceeds their annual public debt by more than 3%. America is looking at more like 60+%. Eventually, someone is going to have to pay. Most likely the next generation.
It's only a shame that most people look at Ron Paul and see him as just another Republican, not even realising that he's more anti-war than Clinton or Obama.
To see what i'm talking about, click on the link below to go to an interview of ROn Paul 20 years ago. He says the same as he does now, he didn't flip or flop, and what's even more amazing, is that he's almost predicting the current situation.
Ron Paul interview from 1987
I saw an interview with Ron Paul the other night on PBS. My immediate thought was, "my God! This man makes too much sense to get elected."
Please don't say Ron Paul has no chance. The more people say that the more true it becomes. He is getting way more support than any other minority candidate in history. Some people are accusing him of spamming, which he isn't. Instead of making ignorant comments about Ron Paul, maybe you should hear some of his speeches.
And see why Americans like me will be voting for him, instead of Obama and Clinton. I changed my party so I could vote for him in the Republican primary.
I sure hope he has a chance! Like you, I'd vote Republican even he gets nominated.
I don't doubt that he has a chance if he gets to the point where it's him against one of the democrats. The problem is that the republican party probably won't nominate him. Not the least because most of your media simply ignores his presence.
To the Republican party, Ron Paul sounds like a democrat, a pacifist. In reality he is a constitutionalist, but these have become so rare in the last few decades that we no longer recognize them for what they are.
To Republicans, Ron Paul sounds like a Libertarian (which he is). He only runs on the Republican ticket so he can actually be heard.
Ron Paul is not for the war in the MiddleEast, but he IS for a strong military to protect our freedoms (as are all Libertarians).
Absolutely, he wants a strong military, that will operate DEFENSIVELY around american borders, such as the one between the US and Mexico. Imagine if all those troops...no scrap that, if a QUARTER of those troops were patrolling that border, instead of leaving it undermanned and fighting wars thousands of miles away in countries that had until 2003 no link to terrorism (remember, Sadam maintained a very tight grip on any would-be terrorists, now that he's gone, see what's happening?).
Nor did the whole Domino Theory, which was used to war monger the american people into the vietnam, korean, and other wars, ever prove to be true. In less time and with no lives lost, the Americans have made peace with Vietnam through commerce. Something that a crude military could never have done.
America has more than 700 bases in over 130 countries out of the 193 recognized by the UN. That's almost 70% of the WORLD that has american bases. Do you have any idea how much more expensive that is than to simply maintain border patrols and a good defensive capability? About 600 billion a year more expensive. If this were to be stopped, two thirds of your yearly budget deficit increase would be prevented.
It is historically proven that superpowers that bully smaller nations into submission through military force, and who continuously fund minority rebel groups to overthrow the current regime (1953 Iran coup d'etat), in the end have the whole word turn against them. And in an era of globalisation, before even that, comes the genuine hatred of Americans amongst the whole world. You're a democracy, and as much as most of you may now say that you protest Bush's actions regarding trying to police the world, the fact is that you continuously put presidents like these into power, and so the 1.5 billion muslims, 600 million europeans, 1.3 billion chinese, etc. don't hate the american leaders, they hate the american people. Trust me, i live in Europe and anti-American sentiments are so bad these people probably hate America more than Al Qaida.
Besides, the middle east has always been the graveyard of civilzations. Countless times have empires tried to domesticate the middle east. The Persian Empire, Alexander the Great, the Roman Empire, the Crusades, the British Empire, etc. And now, despite this history of failure to conquer the middle east, America still tries in vain. Tries to impose a democracy upon a people who prefer poverty and a strong dictator to any form of occupation, especially by Christians, who they have had enough of for the past 1000 years thanks to the madness and bloodlust of the Papacy and their crusades.
People really DON'T learn from history.
P.S. Sorry for the rant. I just finished reading a book about Alexanders' Afghan campaign, to put more of this into perspective. You'll be happy to know, Afghanistan hasn't changed in 2500 years.
.
Who's Ron Paul?
He has the most hits on his Youtube site of any person running for President. Google his name and look him up. He speaks for himself.
Who said anything about Ron Paul? I posted an article about a highschool kid with long hair getting an award from Bush.
are you sure you reponded to the right post?
Yeah, Kenneth probably posted to the wrong thread. I guess we should kick him off the Hyperboard for that. [wink]
Bill