Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 12/18/08
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pork is what the kids will start to look more and more like it they have no where to burn off their mcdonalds
This is just hilarious! Larry is a great sport!
damed if you do and damed if u dont...as a obama supporter i saw this side of him in the general election...i am so suprised to hear people say ...where is this coming from....obama picks his battles very carefully
Erica there is so much pork there one can make a full pig from it.
So much pork we need McCain's sledge hammer.
I just moved out of Miami, I am glad I left. There is so much corruption and disrespect from our Government Leaders there. They think they can do what they want and not go to jail. maybe that's the problem, we should make them goto jail and not let them slide. Maybe then will they learn.
Thursday's Shot? Clink the glasses and bubble bathe with Larry and Carey..There are no words! NIght All Good Thursday evening.
Regarding the Governors' list of projects – it's disheartening to know that the basic economic principle of "greedy self interest" is alive and well throughout our country. It's amazing. We are in a severe economic crisis and cities are worrying about waterparks, dog parks, and other nonessential items. It isn't any wonder why Washington is the way it is. Many of our legislators have had training in the lower ranks as mayors and governors. I hope Obama and his staff go through these 11,000+ projects with a fine tooth comb and frequently say "thanks but no thanks". We may not help the auto industry but we might build a water ride – how insane is that.
If it looks like a pig, acts, like a pig, walks, like a pig – "it's pork"!
Gee, I already need one job to pay the rent and utilities, another job to afford groceries and gas, one more to pay my taxes on the other two, and now it looks like I'll need yet another to do my part to pay for a water park ride. Oh well maybe it will be a great place for the homeless to hang out who aren't lucky enough to have four jobs to keep a roof over their head and food in their mouth.
How disgusting, in this economy, for any Mayor or Governor to even think of asking for such frivolities . . .
Why do people think any money spent on parks and things that build community are pork??? Our view of a high standard of living seems to be pay as little as possible in taxes so that we can by more stuff that we do not need instead of being the world leader in education, technology infrastucture, technology for energy and a high standrad of living with cities that are pleasent to our eyes. We should start focussing on what great ideas these projects are to build skate board parks for kids to play at.
The AC360 article on "pork" from the Conference of Mayors really strains a gnat and swallows a camel. The DoD budget includes $300 Billion for the Joint Strike Fighter, which has no rival in the world. It also includes over $100 billion a year for ballistic missile defense systems that will probably never work.
When will AC360 cover the super-pork in the Defense Department budget?
ha Larry in the tub w bubbles and suspenders-that's ha-larious
Why doesn't he just go ahead and invite David Duke?!! It's not the fact that Rick Warren is against gay marriage. It's the fact that his language is so offensive when talking about the gay community. He has expressed strong vitriol towards LGBT people. Obama could invite him for a meeting. . go camping. . .whatever. . . But to give him the spotlight after gays and lesbians put so much sweat and tears into getting him elected is a huge slap in the face.
With regards to Warren at the inauguration, I don't see any problem with it. Warren is an American like the rest of us. All Americans don't agree on the same issues, that's why our country is so great. We can agree to disagree and go on with our lives. I don't think this choice by Obama is a slap in anyone's face.
With regards to the infrastructure money, I think each project needs to be considered individually. I don't see anything wrong with improvements to zoo's and museum's, but perhaps a waterpark ride is a little overboard. So long as the consideration for bridges and roads is taken into account first. With the problems we have seen with bridges lately, I think that is a high priority, and is the perfect project at the perfect time.
Congratulations! Tonight you've successfully pointed out whats wrong with America. You do an entire story based on pork barrel spending. Unfortunately the items you point out as useless pork, waterparks, skateboard parks, and museums are the things a government which CARES about it's citizens should be investing in.
In your mind it seems that the only thing that should be important in the U.S.A is buying bullets and bailing out the banking system.
Kudos to any Congressman that can use tax dollars that positively affect EVERYONE in our society.
Sad...just sad.
Would someone PLEASE talk about the 100 Billion dollars tha tAIG got and where the money went; who got it?
That is a lot more than the 15 billion that the auto companies want to loan.
By the way, I believe Bill Maher(sp?) suggeted the oil companies help bail out the car companies.
All I can say about Peterson – "I smell a rat".
While I know that some folks may see these projects as pork... but to those who will build these structures they are not... for those who will gain tourist dollars from a water park or museum... these are huge revenue makers for communities... and with more communities in need of revenue from outside areas tourism may help many communities grow out of a recession. Please look at the broad picture and not at the small short term picture.
I understand how some of those infrastructure projects do not help the economy, but I don't see anything wrong with spending money to improve museums and zoos. Culture is an important side of our society and we need to invest in it. Same goes for parks and municipal areas where youth can spend time safely. While I think fixing roads and bridges should be the priority, some money should be set aside for these important aspects of our society.
Stop comparing African Americans to Gays and Lesbians. Race and sexual orientation are two different things. They've been riding the coat tails of African Americans for too long. I never hear anyone compare Gays to any other race. I agree with the Obama team, we don’t always have to agree with people in order to include them in the political process.
It seems fairly obvious that the Mayor of Miami, and mayors around the country, have little interest in boosting the failing economy and much more interest in securing amenities for their cities, thereby ensuring reelection. I certainly hope that monstrocity of a report falls on deaf ears in Washington.
These people on TV should stop talking for taxpayers because they really have no clue; look, anything that will help the economy I will take- pork or no pork; who cares. Also those taking shots at obama need to just chill; Rick warren is a conservative sooooooooo; obama campaigned on being a uniter and not a divider; so for all those who think my president is gonna be to the far left or far right you got it all wrong........... so sad
Waterpark ride, what ever. Beats giving the money to CEO's for banks bail outs without any returns whatso ever. These may create some jobs.
OK, maybe a waterslide has an oink to it, but lay off the polar bears. They're having enough trouble in the arctic. Zoo's provide not only a unique opportunity for untold number of kids to see that the animals on the TV box are real but also an opportunity for threatened animals to exist. The zoological infrastucture is important not only to the US but to the globe.
Drew Peterson is something else, a man with no remorse, no feelings. That poor 23 yr old that is now involved with him must be out of her mind. Has she no idea what has been going on with him these past years.
I hope everything comes to light soon, but I'm not holding my breath as this has been going on for years.
Drew Peterson has most likely been involved in the death's of 2 wives. What is his new fiancee thinking!
Hello Anderson,
Watching that Mayor from FL, who came begging to Washington for money to fund his water park "infrastructure project" and then feigning ignorance that he is "not sure about which project" is the reporter talking about, was an insult to common sense of every American.
Did he really think, we are so stupid that we do not understand what is going on in here?
Young pictures of Anderson. Anderson, I remember watching you when I was in high school when you were on Channel 1. Wow, we are both getting up there arent we?
Am I the only one who thought many of the programs discussed by the Mayor of Miami actually make a lot of sense. Out of 11,000+ projects, there are several relating to parks and recreation? That seems healthy. One wouldn't want only build highways and factories, after all.
I am a proud Obama supporter, and I was shocked by his inclusion of Warren. Yes this is Obama's "day" , but he is also showing support for someone who is outspoken about taking away a group of people's rights. We should all be talking more about this.
Oh my goodness-Peterson is guilty and just like OJ he will finally get his "justice". The fifth wife to be is stupid. My dad always said look at a persons track record...to see how they really are. And his track record is not that great! (an understatement).
Erica, it is definitely pork! And it is sad that that Mayor did not even know what he was asking for his own city.
As for Drew Peterson, disgusting disgusting, disgusting!!!!! I don't see what a 25 yr old would find attractive in him and then when you put his martial history in it, it is unbelievable!
I am outraged!! The selection of Rick Warren to conduct the invocation is an abomination! I will not be watching the inauguration, and I have lost a huge amount of respect for Obama. There were plenty of other Pastor's to choose from, and the fact that he is rubbing the back of Evangelical bigots is a disgrace. I am tired of my community being the target of bigotry by the "religious" right.
If it sounds like pork, looks like pork, and the crunched numbers meet the definition of pork, it's pork! It's an insult to my intelligence for these guys to try to sell me on this crap.
I am glad this has caused such controversy. People had begun to put Obama on a pedestal and see what happens when he does something controversial. Now maybe people will see him as a human that is the President of the United States and take him off that pedestal and see if he sways from his campaign promises. I believe Barack is sincere in what he wants to do but with all the problems he face there are certaintly going to be room for errors and now he can see how people will react. Regretting that you voted for him! What you want some bush years?
Some of those projects, lots of them, seem like projects for kids, does that make them less important?
where can i find the report on park and skateparks being considered unnecessary needs for the community? if that is corrct from what i caught at the last ind
have a another word for it...deals more with dog parks!!! And what is up with the mayor who doesn't know that the project is in his city and can not tell us what the average american thinks...another politican that is out of touch with mainstream america!!!
I think there is always some pork. The water park sounds like pork, but trails, parks, art all seem to be valid. The WPA had not just bridge building but arts projects as well. Also look at the life cycle of things, you need not just to build things (which can create jobs) and then maintain things (also creates jobs). Not everyone in the country has the same skills. Some work with computers, some work with steel, some work with brushes.
I think that last piece about the city projects was over the top. I mean a political power grab to put in a skate park. It would create revenue just by paying someone to build it. Wouldn't that give someone a job. How about increasing tourism by building a better water park. What is wrong with improving the quality of life in the cities. Wouldn't that add to tourism revenue. I think you guys need to be a little more balanced in reporting on this issue and less reactionary. The interview with Mayor Diaz was just confrontational for the sake of it.
Erica it certainly does. I can appreciate supporting programing infrastructure, especially in these challenging economic times – but where's the acountabilty? It sounds and smells like pork.
It seems like they just all got together and put whatever they wanted to put in their "plan". Again, the everyday American is being put on the back burner by the people who think they have all of the power.
I can't imagine why some women are SO desperate to be married that they'd even consider taking up with someone like Drew Peterson who has so many skeletons in the closet (no pun intended). What's wrong with just being alone until you meet someone worthy? That guy is obviously a dangerous man.
The pork of the infrastructure doesn't bother me too much. We need parks like dog parks, skate board parks, they are social things. I rather see money go to these things then see money go to the big banks or the big 3.
Is it me or did most of those projects – though "pork" – sound like good projects? Parks and tazers sound like great projects that are worthy of money. What is NOT worth our money? The pigs in the banks that stole our 700 billion dollars. Let's get our priorities straight, people.
More Pork than a BBQ Contest
What is CNN's problem being so overly critical of the infastructure or non infastructure projects.
The intent of all of this is simply to create jobs and put people to work.
You all have jobs. Please be supportive of creating jobs for the unemployed. The new jobs will be the benefit of the projects and will be a good investment for the taxpayers to help stimulate the economy by creating the jobs to give people money to spend.
You're being overly critical of local governments and their leaders, who are trying to keep their citizens employed in a sinking economy. $1.5M isn't excessive for an amusement park ride, and if it will create jobs and tourism and boost the economy, what's wrong with it? This country needs to be reinvigorated from the bottom up – we've got to focus on cities.
How on earth does any sane woman agree to be the wife of Drew Peterson, let alone a number 5?
wow, if the woman wants to marry this man than I guess she deserves him!