Monday, May 28, 2007

And the Check is in the Mail

The Iraq funding bill compromise between the Democrats and Bush has $1Billion less for Homeland Security.

From Newsday:
Rep. Steve Isreal says
"What's going on is the Bush administration has a reckless disregard for the homeland security needs of New York... The president did not ask for a single penny for homeland security ... it was the Democrats who sent him a bill that had adequate levels for homeland security. He vetoed our bill. And he has threatened to veto the bill a second time."

NYS
Deputy Secretary for Public Security Mike Balboni says "These reductions add up to a billion dollars of missed opportunities to invest in a variety of crucial security programs... Continued support is essential in order to encourage states and localities to believe in a partnership with Washington and make their own investments in homeland security."

"Israel said the compromise still boosts homeland security funding. "Would I have preferred more than that?" he said. "Yes. But the administration said they'd veto it and we'd end up with zero."

Peter King...
"said he expected Congress to allocate more security funds as part of its regular budget process."

And the check is in the mail.

Why doesn't Bush want more Homeland Security funds and why does King stick up for Bush?

No Peter, He Resigned from THAT Job

King says "The troops need the money, and the president as commander-in-chief should not be bound by the Congress as far as strategy and tactics."

Sorry but Bush resigned as Commander in Chief of the military when he got himself a "War Czar."
Bush is no longer Commander in Chief. He gave that job up.
Even right-wing nut-job Michelle Malkin finds a "War Czar" odd.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

And....... Corrigan is Out!

The first announced challenger to King in '08, independent candidate Bill Corrigan of Massapequa is out. We first told you about Bill Corrigan a few months ago.
The story of Corrigan running was picked up by Newsday and then the Massapequa Post He was mentioned on The Politicker and he even started a thread over at Urban Elephants.
Corrigan started the 'Long Island Party' and according to his website began polling and reaching out in the district.
And now.... Nothing.
Corrigans blog content about his run is all gone and the 'Long Island Party' blog is now empty.
His name was on Race Tracker 2008 and that is gone too.
No announcement or reason for dropping out so completely was given.
The last post we saw was Corrigan saying he likes King and voted for King and agrees with King on issues. That didn't sound like an opponent.

Friday, May 18, 2007

King Takes Tumble on Long Island Press Power List

Each year, the Long Island Press prints as "Power List" of influential Long Islanders. This year many republicans have taken a fall down the ladder. King drops 22 places.

"27. Peter King

Last year #5"


Monday, May 14, 2007

Even Conservatives Find Kings Stance Unreal

Our friend over at Nasty Letters has the story "Peter King: So Very Wrong on Immigration"

"Regardless, King's position is incredibly short-sighted, as illustrated by a recent study calculating the benefits of Latino immigrants for Long Island's economy:
Some of the nation's most virulent anti-immigrant proposals have erupted from Long Island's elected officials, from Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy to local Congressional Representative Peter King, co-sponsor of the harsh and unworkable immigration bill H.R. 4437...

The report, which is not yet available online, finds that Long Island Hispanics contribute nearly a billion dollars a year in taxes and other revenues to local government, far more than they use in public services, producing a net benefit to the public of $202 million a year. Consumer spending by Hispanics produced an additional $5.7 billion impact on the Long Island economy, creating more than 52,000 jobs.
Even Newsday's conservative columnist Raymond Keating gets the picture:
"Locally, it's time for some groups to stop kicking around immigrants, and instead start recognizing the role they play in keeping Long Island's economy afloat. Common-sense economics and basic human decency dictate welcoming immigrants and aiding their assimilation.

Meanwhile, our congressional representatives should be pushing for comprehensive immigration reform. Yes, tighten up the borders for national security purposes, but also expand legal avenues for immigration to keep our economy chugging along. It's clear that immigrants are not an economic burden, but instead a blessing."

Keating points out "So the importance of Latinos to the local economy has expanded. Torras and Skinner found that employment among Latinos on Long Island grew by one-third from 2000 to 2004. And between 1997 and 2002 the number of Latino-owned businesses on Long Island jumped by 35 percent, with growth in Suffolk County particularly strong at 51 percent. To sum up, the authors estimated that the Latino population in Nassau and Suffolk had a total economic impact of $5.7 billion in 2004, including helping to create more than 52,000 jobs. The economic pie grew.


But what about the burdens immigrants place on local government services? Torras and Skinner estimated that Latinos directly or indirectly generated $925 million in revenue for local governments in 2004, while costing Long Island localities $723 million. That comes out to a net positive contribution to local government of $614 per Latino resident."

Elana from DMI has more at Albany Project.

Friday, May 11, 2007

Hi Peter, Welcome to May 2007

In a story today in Newsday about the Bush-Iraq War and poll numbers, King is quoted as saying "If the war doesn't begin to turn around, Republicans will have problems."
Now if this were May 2006, I could see Kings ramblings being
prescient but this is 7 months after an election that put King into the MINORITY in congress.
Democrats won both houses of congress and Bush has a lower approval rating than Jimmy Carter on his worst day.
The republicans already have a heck of alot of problems. King can't see that?
Is he that detached from reality?

I'd also like to know how King believes that this Bush-Iraq War can "turn around."
Will all the warring factions give a big group hug and declare bygones?

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Dave Mejias on MassapequaNews.com

Here's an item I forgot to post.. Dave Mejias on the massapequanews.com weekly webcast.
Thanks to Nasty Letters for not missing it.

Thursday, May 03, 2007

King Votes Against Hate Crime Legislation

After a debate this morning, HR1592: To provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes, and for other purposes AKA Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 passed the House 237-180.
Peter King decided it was best he vote against it.
What a sad little man.

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

King Stands by Bush Who Doesn't Know What He Stands For

On the Iraq withdrawal timetable King tells Newsday "King said he stood by Bush and is not in favor of placing a timetable on troop withdrawal. "Congress cannot be micromanaging the war ... I can see sending a signal to the Iraqis, but not cutoff dates," he said."

Back in 1999, Bush had a different idea... (h/t Think Progess)

Victory means exit strategy, and it’s important for the president to explain to us what the exit strategy is.”

George W. Bush, 4/9/99, Houston Chronicle

“I think it’s also important for the president to lay out a timetable as to how long they will be involved and when they will be withdrawn.”

George W. Bush, 6/5/99, Scripps Howard/Seattle Post-Intelligencer