The CalPundit has found an interesting modern day Rorschach test:
What to think? If you believe that Bush is sincere, this makes perfect sense. Maybe we really can’t ramp up spending that fast without wasting a lot of it.
But if he’s not, then it’s just a cynical effort to get public credit for being compassionate without having to follow through on it.
Which is it?
It is funny that so much of modern politics boils down to things like this. Go read to find out what Kevin is taling about.
Dean
Hmmm.
Okay, if intentions are so important:
Who gave a fig more about African AIDS issues:
Clinton, who made the first trip by a US Prez to Africa, but provided next to nothing by way of monies (and that’s what appeared in his requests, so it’s not like the nasty GOP shut it down)?
Or Dubya, who made the second trip by a US Prez to Africa, pledged $15 billion in NEW money (so this isn’t a repackaging of previous aid), which will wind up going there, if the bills go through, even AFTER (potentially) he’s President?
I believe it was once said, “By your actions shall ye know them.” Apparently, now, it’s more important to get at what is in their hearts and minds?
Barney Gumble
Funny how the bulk of the spending comes after the next election-just like it’s funny the Prescription Drug Plan doesn’t take effect until 2006.
Also, we’ll have to see if this becomes a slush fund to reward those dictators we like and punish those that don’t.
“Clinton, who made the first trip by a US Prez to Africa…”
I’m pretty sure Teddy Roosevelt went to Africa, but it was after he was out of office. Don’t know about sitting Presidents tho’.
John Cole
Barney- did you even read the Calpundit post? That is why it isa rorschach test, because the bulk of the spending comes in the out years.
mj
Why the rush to pronounce one way or the other? It’s not like a year is an excessively long time. I seem to recall Bush being castigated for the over a year long “rush to war”. Now all of a sudden a year is too long to wait.
What I found interesting was the comments.
Steve Malynn
John, this whole AIDS thing has always bugged me. I’m a monoganmous hetero, even when single I was pretty tame. I could see immediately that AIDS was spread regularly by one certain specific act. It’s the old “He-Haw” joke: Doctor, Doctor, it hurts every time i stick my [finger] in here – Stop putting your [finger] there. (Pre-Aids, Eddy Murphy had a similar joke about Herpes.)
Pre anti-biotic, STD’s were controlled by isolation of those ill and public approbation, as much as by condoms. Anti-biotics made promescuity less life threatening. AIDS returned seriousness to chastity (defined as abstinence and fidelity). Uganda has learned and has reduced the problem that way, more than any drug treatment.
Yet this proven solution is being mocked. And the Bush emphasis on this solution, in addition to drug treatment, is being disparaged as a political move.
Thats crap. The left is in denial of their complicity in the spread of AIDS in the US, and they are obstructing what works, for pure partisan political gain.