First Responders

Electrolite has a quote from an editorial by Paul Krugman about Bush and credibility - it make some interesting points, and also points out how even the President of Mexico has had to deal with Bush making a promise in exchange for political support and then failed to follow through on his end of the deal.

It also recounts how among the others Bush has welched on include the fire fighters, police, paramedics and other "First Responders" who were so highly praised (and more-than-deservedly so) in the wake of the 9/11 attacks:

New York's elected representatives stood side by side with him a few days after Sept. 11 in return for a promise of generous aid. A few months later, as they started to question the administration's commitment, the budget director, Mitch Daniels, accused them of "money-grubbing games." Firefighters and policemen applauded Mr. Bush's promise, more than a year ago, of $3.5 billion for "first responders"; so far, not a penny has been delivered.

It's no secret that I'm appauled by many of the things Bush has done (or is trying to do), but this is one I find to be among his most heinous. Even before 9/11, "first responders" were doing an exceptionally important job with inadequate resources.  In the wake of 9/11, we got a huge reminder just how much we depend on these people who are so willing to risk - and even lose - their own lives in order to save the lives of others.  But even more than just their heroism, their functionin society is a vital one.  I don't think it's really possible to quantify how many people's lives are affected by our rescue workers - and yet they often receive compensation far less than those who's primary purpose is to shuffle paper or "make money" for someone, are unable to obtain the best technology or equipment in order to do their jobs and have to deal with staffing shortages the other kinds of problems that go with being underfunded.

Then, in the wake of our nations worst disaster, in which the value of these "first responders" was so clearly proven, Bush, knowing that anything he said or did that would be seen as supportive for the police, fire and emergency medical teams (and thus would be good for his ratings), promised them $3.5 billion dollars -- then walked away and washed his hands of it.

A couple days ago, I was ranting about how there are many better uses for the $15 billion we're apparently going to pay Turkey to use their country as a launching zone for the Iraq war.  I guess we know where $3.5 billion of it is coming from.