burning the midday oil
Much to his chagrin, George Bush “worked” on President’s Day. He gassed up Air Force One for a taxpayer-financed PR tour of a few far-flung locations to highlight his plans to wean America off our addiction to Mideast oil. . . except that he didn’t say that. You see, since the State of the Union speech where he made the catchy promise, some influential friends with the initials O.P.E.C. complained to the President, and more than one cabinet-level official said that Bush didn’t mean his promise “literally.”
Instead, it’s now just an “addiction to oil” we all have to kick. So, Curious George got all golly gosh and gee wiz about cars you can plug in (imagine!) and other futuristic alternative fuel technologies he’s not actually supporting in his proposed budget.
Back on the switch grass trail today, Bush hit the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, CO. . . unfortunately for the President, his budget priorities hit them first. It seems the lab had to pink slip 32 workers (including eight researchers) just two weeks ago because of deep budget cuts. Bush’s advance team apparently hadn’t coordinated with the budget guys. . . or is it the Energy Department. . .or is it the White House Political Office. . . .
Anyway, have no fear, the shell game presidency is here. Over the weekend, the White House declared the layoffs a budgeting “mix up,” and transferred $5 million from another lab so that all of the workers could be rehired in time for the President’s photo op.
“I recognize that there has been some interesting, let me say, mixed signals when it comes to funding,” Bush said. “The issue, of course, is whether good intentions are met with actual dollars spent.”
No shit. In fact, the five mill reallocated to Colorado is purely cosmetic since the original cut was $28 million. “The $5 million stopped the bodies from going out the door, but it doesn't provide the money for the (renewable energy) programs," said Philip Clapp, president of the National Environmental Trust, in today’s Washington Post.
I’d also like to point out that the cut came two weeks ago—that would be a week after Bush made big promises about the alt fuels studied at this facility. That’s because, as I noted at the time of the SOTU, the one with the real oil problem is George Bush himself.
Instead, it’s now just an “addiction to oil” we all have to kick. So, Curious George got all golly gosh and gee wiz about cars you can plug in (imagine!) and other futuristic alternative fuel technologies he’s not actually supporting in his proposed budget.
Back on the switch grass trail today, Bush hit the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, CO. . . unfortunately for the President, his budget priorities hit them first. It seems the lab had to pink slip 32 workers (including eight researchers) just two weeks ago because of deep budget cuts. Bush’s advance team apparently hadn’t coordinated with the budget guys. . . or is it the Energy Department. . .or is it the White House Political Office. . . .
Anyway, have no fear, the shell game presidency is here. Over the weekend, the White House declared the layoffs a budgeting “mix up,” and transferred $5 million from another lab so that all of the workers could be rehired in time for the President’s photo op.
“I recognize that there has been some interesting, let me say, mixed signals when it comes to funding,” Bush said. “The issue, of course, is whether good intentions are met with actual dollars spent.”
No shit. In fact, the five mill reallocated to Colorado is purely cosmetic since the original cut was $28 million. “The $5 million stopped the bodies from going out the door, but it doesn't provide the money for the (renewable energy) programs," said Philip Clapp, president of the National Environmental Trust, in today’s Washington Post.
I’d also like to point out that the cut came two weeks ago—that would be a week after Bush made big promises about the alt fuels studied at this facility. That’s because, as I noted at the time of the SOTU, the one with the real oil problem is George Bush himself.
posted by guy2k at 4:50 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home