Why do Bush supporters ignore this kind of WASTEFUL federal spending?

Question

Conservative columnist George Will: "The transportation bill's cost, honestly calculated, exceeded the threshold that the president had said would trigger his first veto. (He is the first president in 176 years to serve a full term without vetoing anything. His father cast 44 vetoes. Ronald Reagan's eight-year total was 78.) In 1987 Reagan vetoed a transportation bill because it contained 152 earmarks—pork—costing $1.4 billion. The bill President Bush signed contained 6,371, costing $24 billion. The total cost of the bill—$286 billion—is more, in inflation-adjusted dollars, than the combined costs of the Marshall Plan and the interstate highway system."

Answer 1

Well, most of the pork was likely generated by his own party. Again, Bush is not a fiscal conservative and his supporters are blinded by their ideology. If a dem did the same thing, they'd be all over him.

to guy up above re: 9/11-- the transportion bill had nothing to do with 9/11 or terrorist and more to do with bridges to nowhere and other pork.

Answer 2

Goverment spending is out of control, but how you gonna cut the spending. Its not black, and white answer the biggest earmarkers in congress are outtimers running the committees for the last 30 years. Its scary when I see earmaks for Gamesboys for the Cuban-American at the expense of the taxpayer for $250,000 dollars, or the $40,000 for fireworks for a local celebration of some obsure group. Jeff Flake website will tell you the swindle of the week??? Bush spent the cash to buy off republicans to make sure they get reelected. Well, the republicans were never for small goverment as were democrats most times. Personally, the taxpayer is being dimed, and nickel by lobby groups we probadly could not look up online unless we were retired to track down the nasty earmarks that benefit a few, but dont benefit the rest of the country. Just want to see the independant goverment budget office figures to see where the money is spent? In all, find out republicans and democrats are both guilty oiling the earmark factory. Highway bill you mentioned was pork, they were getting 4 lane highway in Kentucky where you see in a day 20 drive on 2 land blacktop. Then you get that 250 million to a town in Alaska for 250 people where a ferry has done the job find for the last 50 years. In all, I dont belive raising taxes or lowering them will make a difference here becaus the goverment will loot other programs to get earmarks.

Answer 3

I think there are a lot of folks who support President Bush but don't care for that level of spending. The problem is, the Democrats scare the bejeezus out of them. With a choice of a liberal Republican and a liberal Democrat, what's a conservative to do?

Answer 4

He's making up for his brother Jeb, Florida's governor who vetoed more pork than a Louisiana pig Farmer. Maybe we do need another Bush in the White House. Jeb is a lot taller and his wife is Hispanic so he'd be sure to get that vote. He is a LOT more conservative than W.

Answer 5

Congress loves pork, they would override any veto dealing with this, especially a transportation bill. Besides it isnt wasteful most of it goes to projects that will legitimatley better our infrastructure, these are the kind of bills that I think arent actually wasteful.

Answer 6

Congress needs to get rid of pork-barrel spending (i.e. bridges to nowhere). The problem is when you have a house, senate and executive branch full of conservatives with no checks and balances.

Answer 7

Another reason to write your Reps and ask for oversight hearings which may lead to inditements. Although this story does not have direct illegal act connotations--it's something to be considered in the overall ineptness of this administration.

Answer 8

Some of his "pioneers" (big bux donors) are getting a pay back rake-off courtesy you and me. Down with Dictator Dumbya!!!

Answer 9

you have to spend money to make it. just eait and see the dems bill. i am sure social programs will see a sizable increase, especially if they win in '08.

Answer 10

that's what happens in an unbalanced government. At least they hate dems, so they pay attention to the spending bills put forward by them. But when republicans put forward spending bills, no problem, right?

Reps are disgusted with the incoming dems who aren't acting unilaterally...they see it as dissent, where I see it as voting their conscience, case by case, and I am sure am glad they don't 'agree' on everything!