$2 Million for a Presidential Yacht?

[Cheswick2.0]

$2 Million for a Presidential Yacht?
By Gov. Howard Dean, M.D.
This is one in a series of weekly syndicated columns written by Governor Howard Dean.
************************************************

Immediately after Election Day, President Bush promised that he would use his political capital to bring unity back to America. Less than a month later, he is about to sign a spending bill which voids all those nice words and promises. It is not what the President says that matters, it is what he does that counts.

These are a few things which the spending bill contains:

Pell grants will become unavailable for 85,000 students that were receiving them and another 1.2 million students will have their Pell Grant funding decreased. On the other hand, the bill appropriates $2 million to buy a presidential yacht.

Farmers lose over $400 million of soil conservation money. On the other hand, the bill funds the American Cotton Museum in Texas.

The President's commitment to education remains under funded by roughly $400 million from what the President promised in order to support local schools under "No Child Left Behind." On the other hand, the president has agreed to sign over $1 million for seafood marketing efforts in Alaska—home of Senate Appropriations Chairman Ted Stevens.

Even worse, the money for this bill does not exist. Every penny of these appropriations adds to the deficit. Why? Because two weeks ago, the Republicans passed and the President signed a bill authorizing nearly an additional $2 trillion dollars of borrowing, which our children and grandchildren will have to pay back—with interest. Two weeks before that, the President signed a bill giving $139 billion to big corporations like oil and tobacco companies and even Chinese manufacturers of ceiling fans.


<more> http://www.democracyforamerica.com/

[ComerPerro]

1. But, oddly enough, conservatives just don't care

Sick, sick, sick.

[Cheswick2.0]

2. There are few fiscal conservatives anymore

No one believes in a balanced budget anymore.

[illflem]

3. Is bush trying to ruin this nation on purpose or is he just stupid?

[Cheswick2.0]

4. he is trying to break us on purpose

if we go far enough into debt they can justify cutting social programs.

[Bertha Venation]

5. The U.S. President already has a yacht.

Like he has the use of the WH, the Pres has the use of the Presidential yacht, the Sequoia.

WTF -- is this appropriation for a NEW yacht?! Or for renovation?

IMO a Presidential yacht is unnecessary even though one already exists. But what the hell. It's there, let 'em use it. But don't let 'em buy a new one. Not even if Kerry had won.

[Cheswick2.0]

6. I think it is to buy the one he already uses

I don't know why that is necessary.

[Bertha Venation]

9. Here's a link and some commentary:

~snip~

There's a presidential yacht?

Well, there was. President Jimmy Carter sold it in one of his first actions, as he was worried the presidency was becoming too imperial.

That sentiment is apparently now old-fashioned.

Granted, the yacht, named the Sequoia, ought to be preserved for its historic worth, as it served eight presidents. But it's not even clear its present owners want to part with it, and it's also not clear the purpose of the $2 million appropriation is to make it a working presidential yacht again.

~snip~

If this legislation is designed to re-imperialize the presidency with a working yacht, in a way that's appropriate too. After all, it can sail on the sea of red ink this bunch is giving us.

~snip~

http://www.citizen-times.com/cache/article/editorial/71473.shtml

[Historic NY]

7. Actually this is the one Jimmy Carter sold because of non-use.

Why would anyone want it back is beyond me it would cost at least 2 mil. per yr to keep it fit for service and then some.

[Florida_Geek]

8. Mmm they spent 5 million upgrading the current one

http://www.sequoiayacht.com/rental/SequoiaRentalFacts.htm

But it is also for rent to the public.

Sounds like he wants a private one built by one of his bros Florida friends and with cost over runs will cost around 10 million.

Anybody want to bet.

[Red State Rebel]

16. It is currently owned by a private individual....

Some idiot in congress put that in the spending bill to try to buy it back.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/201355_pot27.html

[zbdent]

10. Why can't Bush just get by with the one he's already used?

The USS Abraham Lincoln?

[pscot]

11. The President needs a boat.

In many ways, Jimmy Carter was a nitwit. Everybody needs a boat. Even this pResident. Don't talk to me about Pell grants or Head Start. There are other ways to save a buck and $2 mil is spit-in-the-ocean.

[jmowreader]

17. He does, but I'd rather they bought a NEW one

They could buy a brand-new 100-foot Hatteras with only testing time on the meter for $7 million and they'd be starting out with new low-pollution engines, new plumbing, a hull that isn't capable of rotting out, it would be configured the way the Shrub likes it already, new electronics...and a new Hatteras has more room than the Sequoia.

On edit...rotting, not rusting; the Sequoia is wooden.

[xerox]

12. oh, ho, ho, ho

A pirates life for me!

[WI_DEM]

13. pretty outrageous.

Yes the president really needs a yatch.

[mtnsnake]

14. I wonder what the chimp wears when he's on it

Probably wears a white captain's hat at the very least. Or maybe he dresses up in the whole 9 yards and bosses everyone around.

[Red State Rebel]

15. Here is an article on it that has the FACTS of the situation....

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/201355_pot27.html

[MsAnthropy]

18. Will the klutz fall over the side or will he have people do that for him?

He's so scared of everything, somebody will have to walk him along the railings so he doesn't hurt himself.

[PurityOfEssence]

19. "Let them eat breadfruit, Mr. Christian"

I'll have a highball on the poopdeck forthwith.