At NAC on Tuesday: Photos: No torture for a downtown bridge.----
Readers know where to go for coverage of yesterday’s visit by George W. Bush to New Albany, so those in need of the recap, consult the usual Courier and Tribune sources.
Meanwhile, the presidential visit was a surreal exercise in boarded tight window art at taxpayer expense, a massive logistics boondoggle at taxpayer expense, a transparent campaign rally for Mike Sodrel at taxpayer expense, a celebration of petro-imperialism overseas at taxpayer expense, and worst of all, a striking example of One Southern Indiana’s fawning and obsequious approval of outrages ranging from Constitutional erosion to institutionalized torture … and, yes, also at taxpayer expense.
With all these examples of tax revenue gone horribly awry, you’d have thought that the slumlord lobby would have been out in full force to protest. How incredibly strange that they weren’t.
How do you account for that? Truly, irony must be dead hereabouts.
Here are two of yesterday’s comments, lifted here to the marquee.
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Mr. G wrote:
Add the link to Bob Hill's column in (Tuesday’s) Courier-Journal. It pretty accurately represents all the questions attendees were asking about this "event".
(Here is Hill's column)
Where is ISI's head in conceiving of this as useful or representative of our region's aspirations or needs?
It's entertaining to look at the enlarged photo of the Secret Service guys and imagine some captions: "Where will he have us going next?" "Is this what we have to do to find a 'friendly' audience?" "Small enough town equals dignitaries willing to appear enthusiastic." "Do these people know he's just vetoed spending for human services, education and job retraining?"
None of, not one, of the SS agents looks like he's having a good time and it's not because they think a sniper is going to jump up on the roof of The Fair Store building.
Also puzzling was ISI's press release claiming sponsors for today's visit was ISI, the chamber of commerce and local economic development groups--as if they were separate entities and not those who merged to create ISI.
Who's drunk the Kool Aid and who’s zooming who?
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NAC’s Bluegill agreed:
Exactly, mr g.
I'm very sorry I couldn't make it today. Thank you for your sign, Roger.
Hopefully, Develop New Albany, who recently signed on as a 1SI member, and Mayor-elect England, who mentioned them repeatedly while campaigning, will have the wherewithal to speak out against such an egregious abuse of development dollars and the public trust.
The entire event amounted to nothing but partisan politics on behalf of a man and his minions who've consistently implemented policies of and advocated for (usually in that order since they had to be caught first) Constitutional destruction and the torture, maiming, and killing of hundreds of thousands.
1SI should be ashamed. It will be interesting to see what the heavy hitters on their board have to say about today's embarrassment.
1SI Chair Kerry Stemler even announced "They love you" from the stage during the introduction.
5 comments:
I would like anyone from 1SI to tell me what they learned from the President's speach yesterday that would lead to economic benefits for Southern Indiana. I don't care if it was former President Clinton, to be non partisan about it. Actually, any "former" President would have more freedom to teach than any sitting President. Does anyone really expect a sitting President to say anything other than "the under pinnings of our economy are strong?"
They could have spent much less in tax dollars and brought in a true economist to speak. A true community development expert. A top notch CEO.
Anyone, that attended this event, care to tell us what they actually learned that will benefit us?
*sorry to be off topic*
Tonight at the ESNA meeting there will be nominations for the 2008 officers. If you're a member please try and attend!
yes, iamhoosier, good question what did we all learn from bush yesterday?
Don't get me wrong, I've no problem with the President stopping in for lunch and a chat...but other than Fuzzy Zoeller, did anyone actually get to speak with him? And we know Fuzzy told jokes, he didn't talk about education spending priorities. Yeah, anybody pick up any real information at the speech? Or was it just one more campaign stop?
Still perplexed, I asked the Managing Editor and faculty advisor of The Horizon at IUS to seek an interview with the Chancellor. According to the C-J, she was one of the 15 who got to have lunch with the Prez and might shed some light or perspective on why it happened, what it was all supposed to be about, and how did one get invited.
Aside from getting to poke a figurative thumb in the eye of Louisville's economic development crowd ("We, the Sunnyside, got him to come here several times already this year. Nyah, Nyah," maybe not realizing Mitch McConnell doesn't want his picture to be taken with the Prez these days) I still see it as pandering to host a hot air event at the cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Shocking that Mr. Carmony (sp?), the supposed honoree referenced in the 1SI press release, got barely one minute of recognition and 'personal time' with Bush on the concrete of Standiford Field's flight apron before everyone left for lunch at Sam's.
As stated last time W was "in town", would not waste my time viewing someone who I have zero respect for and includes protesting.
A fellow worker's wife was in the photo opt at Sam's and stated to the president shrub; "Your a lot shorter than I thought you were".
That citizens is priceless.
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