Republican's slam 1st responders

speyfly · 04-04-2003, 08:13 PM

If you feel that this is wrong, tell your Senator.

GOP Tells Cops and Firefighters: You Owe America Another Sacrifice!

After hundreds of firefighters, police officers, and other first responders died in the attacks of September 11, it is almost impossible to imagine anyone suggesting that they owe America a further sacrifice.

But that's just what powerful Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Ted Stevens (R-AK) did when he said that firefighters, police officers, and other first responders should bear the cost of homeland security by working overtime without pay.
"I really feel strongly that we ought to find some way to convince the people that there ought to be some volunteerism at home," said Stevens. "I don't know why the people working for the cities and counties ought to be paid overtime when they're responding to matters of national security."

Stevens' suggestion that America's first responders owe their country further sacrifice comes on the heel of a threat he made when Democrats defeated a priority Bush measure that would have allowed drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve. Stevens told Senators they were "voting against me, and I will not forget."

Uglygreen · 04-04-2003, 08:19 PM

This just in - democrats fill Bushes War appropriations bill with pork.

90 million for a crop research center in Iowa.

10 million for crazy people in Texas.

1/2 million for Lampery eel eradication in Wisconsion.

Those are just the ones I remember... Maybe your thing was something similar and you took it out of context like usual?

UG

speyfly · 04-04-2003, 08:25 PM

Yes, you�re right UG. Both sides of the isle should be watched very closely. Oh forgot to mention that the GOP wants and is bringing ANWR back again.

Uglygreen · 04-04-2003, 08:29 PM

Ill agree (WOW) that they all suck, I just don't think giving public employees a blank check is a good idea at the federal level. It certainly wasnt in Oregon. Did you hear Mayor Katz today? Glad I dont live in Portland proper.

As much as John McCain annoys me sometimes he was saying all the right thing today on C-Span.

UG

pdxkevin · 04-05-2003, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by speyfly:
...Oh forgot to mention that the GOP wants and is bringing ANWR back again.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">You write that as if its a bad thing.

All in all, there really isn't much difference between either party anymore. Both need to be watched very carefully. Seems like each has a hand in the cookie jar while complaining that the other guy's hand being in the same jar. All the while hoping you don't see their own hand in the jar.

Snapset · 04-05-2003, 05:57 PM

Ted Stevens sholud contribute some of his earned pay to balancing the budget, rather than ask for people who are paid much less to give up their income. Some of these Republicans embarrass me somoetimes.

Stratocaster · 04-05-2003, 07:24 PM

Is there anything more polarizing than partisan politics? At the end of the day they are all the same, a few idealogical differences. To me its just an excuse for grown ups to act childish.(partisan politics)

Snapset · 04-05-2003, 10:11 PM

Lets see, Partisan Politics. In a 2-party system, I guess that partisan politics would be a big surprise, wouldn't they.

However, if a Republican criticizes a Republican, is that partisan?

Its not just Ted Stephens. It is when they fight against the minimum wage, when they fight to get tips included in the minimum wage, and then make a big deal about how a capital gains tax cut is good for everybody, that I have to occasionally blow off steam and ask, why do you want to constantly take it out on those who have the least to spare?

I'll tell you what. If the Republicans would stop taking greedy shots at the poor, the Democrats are so inept that the 'Publicans would have a lock on every western state but CA.

(Is there anybody I have not ticked off now??

Stratocaster · 04-06-2003, 07:38 PM

Lets see, i agree with one party on some things and the other party on other things.Does that make me a zebra? Is idealogue in either party set in stone, enough to disagree with an entire party or on an individual basis?

OceanBlue · 04-07-2003, 07:16 AM

Awwww Geez! That is just plain ridiculous! It is bad enough firefighters (& police officers) are sent into virtual war-zones without combat pay, they're supposed to forego what little they do get?!

My older brother is a Los Angeles City Firefighter (has been for over 20 years) and was sent into the heart of the riots in south central LA during the Rodney King riots. Firefighters went in where the police refused to. Unarmed firefighters... facing angry, armed citizens to battle the blazes there. While they were busy trying to protect lives and property, folks were shooting at them and setting blazes right before their eyes.

As for "other first responders" I don't know whom under that category would be paid by the government anyway. As a disaster worker, I would be "paid" similar to the way it works for Jury Duty and I would be covered insurance-wise under FEMA. But what "other first responders" is this guy referring to?

speyfly · 04-07-2003, 02:07 PM

fisherdan, I have posted my political stance before and I really hate to be redundant. If it were the Democrat's saying the same I would be all over them too. Both parties suck!

Hoosier Daddy · 04-07-2003, 11:04 PM

Shouldn't this thread be titled "Republican slams 1st responders...." or better yet "Stevens slams 1st responders...."?

Stratocaster · 04-07-2003, 11:13 PM

Stevens Marine?

Oh, Ted Stevens, my mistake.Im sure not all republicans feel this way.Speyfly, where is his quote that says they owe further sacrifice, as you say. Sounds like one guy to me. Also speyfly, im sure that im not the only one who wants to know "who are you", see post. :grin:

[ 04-07-2003, 01:17 PM: Message edited by: fisherdan ]

BonkBonkBonk · 04-08-2003, 09:09 PM

[quote]Originally posted by pdxkevin:

Quote:

All in all, there really isn't much difference between either party anymore

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">socialist party a, or socialist party b
pick your poison eh?

04-08-2003, 09:18 PM

If you don't like "Ted the Fed" move to Alaska and help get rid of him. I could never get anyone I knew to admit voting for him and the Democrats always ran a typical "Democrat Looser" against him (

can I post this with out getting edited or banned from IFISH?

). I always voted for the Alaska Independence Party candidate.

[ 04-08-2003, 10:19 PM: Message edited by: Keta ]

crabbait · 04-08-2003, 11:33 PM

Depends Keta, looser than what?