CaseAgainstBush.com

House GOP leader DeLay indicted, steps aside

"Several DeLay associates have already been indicted for conspiring to use corporate donations to fund political campaigns in Texas, in violation of Texas state election law. Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle has been leading the investigation."

DeLay indicted for conspiracy in campaign finance probe

"Criminal conspiracy is a state felony punishable by six months to two years in a state jail and a fine of up to $10,000. The potential two-year sentence forces DeLay to step down under House Republican rules. White House press secretary Scott McClellan said the president still considers DeLay a friend and effective leader in Congress. "Congressman DeLay is a good ally, a leader who we have worked closely with to get things done for the American people," McClellan said. "I think the president's view is that we need to let the legal process work." The indictment accused DeLay of a conspiracy to "knowingly make a political contribution" in violation of Texas law outlawing corporate contributions. It alleged that DeLay's Texans for a Republican Majority political action committee accepted $155,000 from companies, including Sears Roebuck, and placed the money in an account."

DeLay Charged With Conspiracy

"A political action committee that oversaw the funds has also been charged by the grand jury. DeLay, an 11-term congressman from Texas, has been House majority leader for three years. Under House rules, DeLay could be forced to step down temporarily from the leadership post. DeLay denies any wrongdoing in the case and says it's being pursued for political reasons by a Democratic district attorney."

Chronology: House Majority Leader Delay

"Some key events and controversies in the career of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas:"

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Brown: 'I know what I am doing'

The Washington Post reported earlier this month FEMA's top three officials had ties to Bush's 2000 presidential election campaign. Five of eight top FEMA officials had no crisis management experience, the newspaper said.

Brown tries to shift blame for slow Katrina response

“We can't deny the point that it worked in the other [affected states of Alabama and Mississippi] and it didn't work in Louisiana,” he said. “I was unable to get [Governor Kathleen] Blanco and Mayor Ray [Nagin] to work together.” In an effort to pre-empt the charge of political bias, he added: “I cannot help it if Alabama and Mississippi are Republican.” The authorities in Louisiana and New Orleans are Democrat. Mr Brown said he had pleaded with Mrs Blanco to order a mandatory evacuation earlier. The failure to order a timely evacuation, he said, had been “the tipping point for all the other things that went wrong”. In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Mrs Blanco's press secretary responded by ridiculing Brown's line of attack: “Mike Brown wasn't engaged then and he surely isn't now. He should have been watching CNN instead of the Disney Channel.”

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Despite the amazing ability to release unemployment figures no later than the 3rd of September it took 3 weeks to finally release the average retail price of a gallon of gasoline for the month of August which was $2.486. What cost $1.47 in 2000, 22 days before Bush took office, would cost $1.68 in June 2005. 2.486 - 1.68 = 0.806 / 0.47976190476 or 47.98% The Average Retail Price per Gallon of Gasoline is up 47.98% adjusted for inflation under George W Bush. The raw price is up 69%. 2.486 - 1.471 = 1.015 / 1.471 = 0.69000679809 or 69% At the same point in Bill Clinton's term gas was up 1.11% adjusted for inflation. 122.350 - 121.000 = 1.350 / 121.000 = 0.0111572479 or 1.11% The raw price was up 15.23%. 122.350 - 106.175 = 16.175 / 106.175 = 0.15234283023 or 15.23% top of page

Bush Management and Budget Procurement chief arrested after quitting

David Safavian, who oversees $300 billion of annual federal purchasing as director of the Office of Procurement Policy, has been arrested for three criminal charges relating to obstruction of a federal investigation. He resigned quietly last Friday.

FORMER GSA OFFICIAL CHARGED WITH MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS, OBSTRUCTING FEDERAL INVESTIGATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.-A former General Services Administration (GSA) official was arrested on charges of making false statements and obstructing an investigation by the GSA’s Office of Inspector General (GSA-OIG), Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division announced today. David Hossein Safavian was arrested today based on a three-count criminal complaint filed at federal court in Washington, D.C. The complaint charges Safavian with making false statements to a GSA ethics officer and the GSA-OIG, along with obstruction of a GSA-OIG investigation. The affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint alleges that from May 16, 2002 until January 10, 2004, Safavian served as Chief of Staff at the GSA. During that time he allegedly aided a Washington D.C. lobbyist in the lobbyist’s attempts to acquire GSA-controlled property in and around Washington, D.C. In August 2002, this lobbyist allegedly took Safavian and others on a golf trip to Scotland. The false statement and obstruction of the investigation charges relate to Safavian’s statements to a GSA ethics officer and the GSA-OIG that the lobbyist had no business with GSA prior to the August 2002 golf trip. According to the affidavit, Safavian concealed the fact that the lobbyist had business before GSA prior to the August 2002 golf trip, and that Safavian was aiding the lobbyist in his attempts to do business with GSA Since November 29, 2004, Safavian has served as the administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy at the Office of Management and Budget. A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Nathaniel B. Edmonds and Guy D. Singer of the Fraud Section, which is headed by Acting Chief Paul E. Pelletier, and Trial Attorneys Mary K. Butler and M. Kendall Day of the Public Integrity Section, which is headed by Chief Noel L. Hillman. The case is being investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the General Services Administration Office of Inspector General, the Department of the Interior Office of the Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service.

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Bill O'Reilly cherry-picked census numbers to falsely suggest Bush is better on poverty than Clinton

If one looks at a slice of data one can jump to false conclusions.

To read poverty data that says the poverty rate for the same relative period for one president was 12.3 while it was 11.3 for another may seem as if 11.3 is better, if one is myopic.

The whole truth is understood by comparing the change in poverty from the beginning of presidential terms, not a selective piece. The fact is poverty increased from 11.3 to 12.7 under Bush, whereas poverty decreased from 14.8 to 13.7 under Clinton for the same period.

Bill O'Reilly knows this, but, he deliberately chooses to be misleading or he truly believes that increased poverty is better. It could be a combination of both. There is no doubt that O'Reilly intended to mislead the lazy, who he knows will not check the facts, into believing that George W Bush is better on poverty reduction than Bill Clinton was.

Using numbers to lie or mislead is despicable. These are fine examples of dedication to a party or a man and not the truth and what is real.

For the sake of discussion let's assume two presidents have the same average unemployment rate or poverty rate. On the surface that may seem as if the two presidencies are relatively equal. The math below demonstrates exactly how "averages" can be used to be blatantly misleading.

President A assumes office and unemployment is at 8%. Over eight years of two terms annual unemployment drops to 1% with an average of 4.5% like this:

8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 36 / 8 = 4.5

President B assumes office after President A and annual unemployment increases back to 8% with an average of 4.5% like this:

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 = 36 / 8 = 4.5

Both presidents have an average unemployment rate of 4.5%. Are both presidencies equal? President A cut unemployment by 87.5%, President B increased unemployment by 800%, both have an average unemployment rate of 4.5%.

Although Bush's poverty rate average is 12.25%(11.7, 12.1, 12.5, 12.7) the truth is poverty increased every year under Bush and the end result is poverty is up 12.39% from 11.3% to 12.7% whereas Bill Clinton's average poverty rate was 13.2875%. But, the whole truth is Clinton's poverty rate decreased from 14.8% to 11.3% which equals a reduction of 23.65% in poverty.

In the real case of Bush and Clinton the lower averaged president actually increased poverty whereas the higher averaged president lowered poverty.

Averages don't tell the whole story.

American support for Iraq war at all-time low- poll CBS News/New York Times Poll. Sept. 9-13, 2005. N=1,167 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3 (for all adults). "Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation with Iraq?"

	Approve	Disapprove	Unsure
ALL adults	36%	59%	5%

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll "All in all, do you think things in the nation are generally headed in the right direction, or do you feel that things are off on the wrong track?"

	Right Direction	Wrong Track	Mixed	Unsure
9/9-12/05	32%	57%	8%	3%

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Just look who’s cleaning up

Meanwhile, it’s an ill wind that blows no one good, so we should not be surprised to learn the first winner out of the gate on Katrina is none other than the Halliburton Co., whose deserving subsidiary Kellogg, Brown and Root has already been granted a $29.8 million contract for cleanup work in the wake of Katrina. Of course, no one would suggest Halliburton and its subsidiaries get government contracts (more than $9 billion for reconstruction work in Iraq, with Pentagon audits thus far showing $1.03 billion in “questioned” costs and $422 million in “unsupported costs”) just because Vice President Cheney is still on the payroll. Heavens no. The veep continues to receive deferred pay from the company he formerly headed — $194,852 last year. But Cheney has nothing to do with the Halliburton contracts — that, friends, goes through none other than the noted lobbyist and former head of — of all things — the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Since Joe Allbaugh, who was Bush’s campaign manger in 2000, left FEMA in December 2002, he has been busy making sure reconstruction contracts in Iraq go to companies that give generously to the Republican Party.

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Medicare's premiums to increase 13 percent

Medicare monthly premiums for doctor visits and outpatient care will jump next year from $78.20 to $88.50, federal officials said yesterday. The 13.2 percent increase in premiums for Medicare Part B is lower than last year's record-high 17.4 percent spike but nevertheless drains more cash from the Social Security checks of Americans 65 or older, from which Medicare premiums typically are drawn. The average Social Security benefit is $955 a month.

Medicare premiums to rise 13 in '06

Senior citizens and the disabled will have to pay a monthly Medicare premium of $88.50 next year for doctor's visits and other services. The $10.30 increase amounts to 13.2 percent.

"Medicare" @ Google News top of page

Heck of a job Johnnie! Gov. Jeb Bush's son arrested in Austin

John Ellis Bush, the son of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and nephew of President Bush, was arrested in Austin today on charges of public intoxication and resisting arrest, police said.

Jeb Bush's son arrested for public intoxication, resisting arrest

Alia Faraj, the spokeswoman for Jeb Bush said the incident "is a personal family matter" which the governor and his wife "are dealing with privately."

The Bush family has a history of substance abuse while taking a tough stance on drug use when it comes to mere commoners.

• George W Bush: Cocaine, DWI
• Noelle Bush

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FTCR: Health Care Premiums Surpass Minimum Wage Salary; Increase Marks the Beginning of the End of Health Care System

The Kaiser Family Foundation report found that health care premiums are increasing 2.5 times faster than inflation and 3 times faster than workers earnings. As a result, the cost of family health insurance coverage for one year rose to $10,880 in 2005. Minimum-wage, full-time worker income for one year is $10,712. The report also found that the number of employers that offer health insurance fell to 60 percent -- a 10 percent reduction since 2000.

Pig People from Outer Space (PPOs)

PPOs, HMOs and other health insurers are overcharging us to pay for excessive administrative costs, advertising and huge salaries while they rack up record profits. Watch the video and sign the petition.

Bush order likely means lower wages for rebuilding

SOME Houstonians who plan on moving to Louisiana and points east to get work in the Katrina rebuilding effort may discover their wages won't be as high as they might have expected. That's because President Bush signed an executive order last week rescinding the rule that contractors on projects receiving federal money pay the prevailing wage in areas damaged by the hurricane.

Characteristics of Minimum Wage Workers: 2004 top of page

Bush takes blame for relief delay

"Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government, and to the extent that the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility," Bush said.

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20 Appalling lies we were told about Iraq war

After an astonishing two years of cowardice, the mainstream press has finally started during the past year to draw the world’s attention to the unconscionable level of the administrative deception. But they seem surprised to find that when it comes to Iraq war, the Bush isn't prone to the occasional lie of expediency but, in fact, almost never told the truth. We decided to document the trail of deceit.

Even the Republicans are withdrawing their support

"The Administration is now starting to lose its base on the war, and if this continues, it will come under increasing pressure to accelerate our withdrawal," said Larry Diamond, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and former adviser to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. Recently, he wrote "Squandered Victory: The American Occupation and the Bungled Effort to Bring Democracy to Iraq."

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It has been four years since the attacks on September 11, 2001. Despite George W Bush's cowboyish claims that he would hunt down Osama bin Laden, smoke him out and bring him to justice dead or alive Bush has failed to produce bin Laden. Should we have expected anything different from the Shrub? Just look at his track record for screwing up everything he gets involved with. There is a very good reason Bush has not captured or killed Osama after four years. He has no desire to do so. Sure, Bush lies and pretends he wants to get bin Laden, but the reasonable among us know that just isn't the case. If you have any doubts as to Bush's sincerity about capturing bin Laden just watch the reaction of CIA Director Porter Goss to Bush's claim that we "spend every day gathering information to locate Osama bin Laden." It is a guaranteed fact that Bush will not capture or kill Osama bin Laden before leaving office. And it is a pretty good bet that the NeoCONS will somehow try to pin that failure on Democrats. America needs a bad guy. Without an enemy what need do we have for our huge defense spending? The military industrial complex is too big to risk achieving peace. We need to have a constant state of war with someone to justify spending our resources on military build up rather than educating our kids. Johnny and Tyrone may not be able to read, but, they can fire an M-16. It is much easier to convince the uneducated that they are dying for some noble cause than it is to convince the learned. No one should ever encourage their kids to join the military until our leaders are willing to send their kids to war. Where are the Bush twins? They are not in Iraq or Afghanistan. top of page

Historical Minimum Wage Increases

The Minimum Wage is worth 18% less today than it was worth when it was raised to $5.15 in 1997. Somehow George W Bush figures poor millionaires need a huge tax cut just to be able to get by while those earning slave wages can go suck it for $206 a week. An individual earning $5.15 has to work more than 8 hours to fill up their car with 14 gallons of gas. An entire day's pay and then some just to fill their car. And then there is food, electric, water, gas and telephone, no cable TV. Even murders and rapists in prison get cable TV, but, not someone who works for minimum wage.

Minimum hourly wage of workers in jobs first covered by
	1938 Act1			1961 Amendments2			1966 and Subsequent Amendments3
							Nonfarm			Farm
Effective Date	Current	2005	Difference	Current	2005	Difference	Current	2005	Difference	Current	2005	Difference
Oct 24, 1938	$0.25	$3.46	+48.84%
Oct 24, 1939	$0.30	$4.22	+22.04%
Oct 24, 1945	$0.40	$4.34	+18.66%
Jan 25, 1950	$0.75	$6.08	-15.30%
Mar 1, 1956	$1.00	$7.18	-28.27%
Sep 3, 1961	$1.15	$7.52	-31.52%	$1.00	$6.54	-21.25%
Sep 3, 1963	$1.25	$7.98	-35.46%
Sep 3, 1964				$1.15	$7.88	-34.64%
Sep 3, 1965				$1.25	$7.75	-33.55%
Feb 1, 1967	$1.40	$8.19	-37.12%	$1.40	$8.19	-37.12%	$1.00	$5.85	-11.97%	$1.00	$5.85	-11.97%
Feb 1, 1968	$1.60	$8.98	-42.65%	$1.60	$8.98	-42.65%	$1.15	$6.46	-20.28%	$1.15	$6.46	-20.28%
Feb 1, 1969							$1.30	$6.92	-25.58%	$1.30	$6.92	-25.58%
Feb 1, 1970							$1.45	$7.30	-29.45%
Feb 1, 1971							$1.60	$7.72	-33.29%
May 1, 1974	$2.00	$7.93	-35.06%	$2.00	$7.93	-35.06%	$1.90	$7.53	-31.61%	$1.60	$6.34	-18.77%
Jan 1, 1975	$2.10	$7.63	-32.50%	$2.10	$7.63	-32.50%	$2.00	$7.26	-29.06%	$1.80	$6.54	-21.25%
Jan 1, 1976	$2.30	$7.90	-34.81%	$2.30	$7.90	-34.81%	$2.20	$7.56	-31.88%	$2.00	$6.87	-25.04%
Jan 1, 1977							$2.30	$7.42	-30.59%	$2.20	$7.09	-27.36%
Jan 1, 1978	$2.65 for all covered nonexempt workers										$7.94	-35.14%
Jan 1, 1979	$2.90 for all covered nonexempt workers										$7.81	-34.06%
Jan 1, 1980	$3.10 for all covered nonexempt workers										$7.35	-29.93%
Jan 1, 1981	$3.35 for all covered nonexempt workers										$7.20	-28.47%
Apr 1, 19904	$3.80 for all covered nonexempt workers										$5.68	-9.33%
Apr 1, 1991	$4.25 for all covered nonexempt workers										$6.10	-16.26%
Oct 1, 1996	$4.75 for all covered nonexempt workers										$5.92	-13.01%
Sep 1, 19975	$5.15 for all covered nonexempt workers										$6.27	-17.86%
Jul 24, 2007 5	$5.85 for all covered, nonexempt workers										$6.27	-17.86%
Jul 24, 2008 5	$6.55 for all covered, nonexempt workers										$6.27	-17.86%
Jul 24, 2009 5	$7.25 for all covered, nonexempt workers										$6.27	-17.86%
Current: Amount of the Minimum Wage at that time.
2005: Value of the Minimum Wage in 2005 Dollars as of September 11, 2005.
Difference: Value of Today's Minimum Wage Relative to Previous Minimum Wage Adjusted for Inflation.
sources: U.S. Department of Labor & BLS CPI Calculator

Labels: inflation, Minimum Wage Increases

9-11 Did Not Cause the Shrub Job Loss

Despite the lies and misrepresentations of Bush supporters the facts remain the facts. The attacks on September 11th, 2001 did not cause the Bush job loss.

The unemployment rate had already risen 16.67% by August, from 4.2 in January to 4.9. The single largest month-to-month increase in unemployment throughout Shrub's entire term was before 9-11, July to August, 2001 from 4.6 to 4.9. The 0.3 percentage point increase is the single largest increase in the unemployment rate under Bush. Although unemployment did jump from 5.0 to 5.3 after 9-11, September to October, and then again from 5.3 to 5.6 from October - November the 0.3 increase from July to August was the single highest percentage increase of Bush's entire presidency and it occurred before 9-11.

• 0.3 / 4.6 = 0.0652173913 or 6.52% increase July - August
• 0.3 / 5.0 = 0.06 or 6.0% increase September - October
• 0.3 / 5.3 = 0.5660377358 or 5.66% increase October - November

So we see that the single largest percentage increase in unemployment, 6.52%, was before 9-11. The unemployment rate simply continued to increase after 9-11, not because of 9-11.

So much for blaming 9-11 for the Bush job loss.

Bush Unemployment Rate & 9-11
Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Ave
2001	4.2	4.2	4.3	4.4	4.3	4.5	4.6	4.9	5.0	5.3	5.6	5.7	4.75
source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics

Labels: 9/11, Bush, job loss, unemployment rate

Hurricane Katrina survivor tells asshole Dick Cheney, "go fuck yourself Mr Cheney go fuck yourself." A classic. Kudos to whomever said it. http://movies.crooksandliars.com/Cheney_090805.wmv or http://www.tian.cc/2005/09/go-fck-your-self-mr-cheney.html top of page

How Reliable Is Brown's Resume? A TIME investigation reveals discrepancies in the FEMA chief's official biographies If Michael Brown had truly done such a good job as Bush and Michael Chertoff have claimed why would he be removed from overseeing the operations in New Orleans? Because Bush and Chertoff are liars.

"Again, I want to thank you all for -- and, Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." George W Bush "We'll do all in our power to help you." George W Bush

That line sounds awfully familiar. Like the way Bush said he provide everything our troops needed in Iraq. Of course, that was a lie too. FEMA's Brown Removed From Hurricane Katrina Recovery

"I have directed Mike Brown to return to administering FEMA nationally," Chertoff said at a press conference in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. "Mike Brown has done everything he possibly could to coordinate" the federal response to the hurricane, he said.

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As of today, Gas Price Watch says the national average retail price of regular unleaded gas is $3.08. The minimum wage, which has not been increased in 8 years, is $5.15. 3.08 / 5.15 = 0.59805825242 or 59.81% or 60% top of page

Poverty has increased 12.39% under George W Bush.

Poverty Rate by Presidential Term 1987-2004

	╔ Number in thousands ╗
Year	Total all races	Below poverty	Percent
2004	290,605	36,997	12.7
2003	287,699	35,861	12.5
2002	285,317	34,570	12.1
2001	281,475	32,907	11.7
2000	278,944	31,581	11.3
1999	276,208	32,791	11.9
1998	271,059	34,476	12.7
1997	268,480	35,574	13.3
1996	266,218	36,529	13.7
1995	263,733	36,425	13.8
1994	261,616	38,059	14.5
1993	259,278	39,265	15.1
1992	256,549	38,014	14.8
1991	251,192	35,708	14.2
1990	248,644	33,585	13.5
1989	245,992	31,528	12.8
1988	243,530	31,745	13.0
1987	240,982	32,221	13.4
source: U.S. Census Bureau Historical Poverty Tables

Distinctly out of the norm, the August unemployment figures were released unusually early. I checked the unemployment rate September 3rd and to my surprise they were already out for the month of August. I religiously keep up with the unemployment rate for the purpose of updating The Bush Legacy and I can tell you the unemployment rate is never available so soon. I am running late because of the situation in New Orleans so for all I know the unemployment rate numbers for August may have been available before September 3rd. The implication is that the lying Bush administration knew they were going to be presenting false numbers for August so they didn't have to wait the usual two weeks into the next month to release the figures. The liars knew the had to get the unemployment rate below 5.0% soon so they could inch their way a little closer to the numbers experienced under Bill Clinton. We know how the Bush liars have falsely claimed that unemployment is at low levels not seen in decades. We know that Bush liars have claimed the unemployment rate under Bush is comparable to the unemployment rate under Clinton. They wish. Bill Clinton never saw a 50% spike in unemployment as Bush did. The real unemployment rate is not 4.9%.

The Bush Legacy as of 8/31/05
U.S. Human Cost of Iraq War: 1,882 Dead, 14,021 Wounded source: AntiWar.com
National Debt: $7,926,933,374,544.81 up 39.70% source: U.S. Department of the Treasury
Bush Unemployment Rate up 16.67%
Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Ave
2005	5.2	5.4	5.2	5.2	5.1	5.0	5.0	4.9	N/A	-	-	-	5.13
2004	5.7	5.6	5.7	5.5	5.6	5.6	5.5	5.4	5.4	5.5	5.4	5.4	5.53
2003	5.8	5.9	5.8	6.0	6.1	6.3	6.2	6.1	6.1	6.0	5.9	5.7	5.99
2002	5.7	5.7	5.7	5.9	5.8	5.8	5.8	5.7	5.7	5.7	5.9	6.0	5.78
2001	4.2	4.2	4.3	4.4	4.3	4.5	4.6	4.9	5.0	5.3	5.6	5.7	4.75
begin 4.2 Jan 2001; end 4.9 Aug 2005; up 16.67% source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics
Bush Average Retail Price per Gallon of Gasoline up 47.98% adjusted for inflation
Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Ave
2005	183.1	191.0	207.9	224.3	216.1	215.6	229.0	248.6	-	-	-	-	209.57
2004	157.2	164.8	173.6	179.8	198.3	196.9	191.1	187.8	187.0	200.0	197.9	184.1	184.88
2003	145.8	161.3	169.3	158.9	149.7	149.3	151.3	162.0	167.9	156.4	151.2	147.9	155.92
2002	110.7	111.4	124.9	139.7	139.2	138.2	139.7	139.6	140.0	144.5	141.9	138.6	134.03
2001	144.7	145.0	140.9	155.2	170.2	161.6	142.1	142.1	152.2	131.5	117.1	108.6	142.6
source: Energy Information Administration Gasoline Components History
"The national average retail regular gasoline price was 147.1 cents per gallon on January 22, 2001." - EIA
What cost $1.47 in 2000, 22 days before Bush took office, would cost $1.68 in June 2005 - CPI Inflation Calculator
Bush & NYMEX Light Sweet Crude Oil Futures Prices up 100.03% adjusted for inflation
Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Ave
2005	48.35	52.38	57.09	52.93	53.25	58.80	62.86	69.71	-	-	-	-	56.92
2004	30.98	33.80	34.07	36.24	38.85	36.84	41.99	41.37	47.96	50.86	48.91	43.32	40.43
2003	30.86	31.98	27.64	25.14	27.28	28.83	29.32	30.28	28.08	28.29	29.45	31.30	29.04
2002	20.23	21.99	26.13	26.38	25.07	26.23	26.03	28.27	29.16	26.21	26.13	28.50	25.86
2001	26.99	27.11	26.49	28.65	28.23	26.06	25.59	27.04	23.84	21.53	19.99	20.41	26.83
begin $28.14 22Jan01; end $69.71 31Aug05; raw price up 147.73% high: $70.00; low: $18.27 source: EIA
Bush & the S & P 500 down 9.12%
Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Ave
2005	1,181.27	1,203.60	1,180.59	1,156.85	1,191.50	1,191.33	1,234.18	1,220.40	-	-	-	-	1,046.03
2004	1,131.13	1,144.94	1,126.21	1,107.30	1,120.68	1,140.84	1,101.72	1,104.24	1,114.58	1,130.20	1,173.82	1,211.92	1,133.97
2003	855.70	841.15	848.18	916.92	963.59	974.51	990.31	1,008.01	995.97	1,050.71	1,058.20	1,111.92	967.93
2002	1,130.20	1,106.73	1,147.39	1,076.64	1.067.14	989.81	911.62	916.07	815.29	885.77	936.31	879.82	988.57
2001	1,366.01	1,239.94	1,160.33	1,249.46	1,255.82	1,224.42	1,211.23	1,133.58	1,040.94	1,059.01	1,139.45	1,148.08	1,185.69
begin 1,342.90 22Jan01; end 1,220.40 31Aug05; down 9.12%; high: 1,383.370, low: 768.630 source: Yahoo! Finance
Bush & the NASDAQ down 21.97%
Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Ave
2005	2,062.41	2,051.72	1,999.23	1,921.65	2,068.22	2,056.96	2,184.83	2,152.09	-	-	-	-	2,049.29
2004	2,066.15	2,029.82	1,994.22	1,920.15	1,986.74	2,047.79	1,887.36	1,838.10	1,896.84	1,974.99	2,096.81	2,175.44	1,992.87
2003	1,320.91	1,337.52	1,341.17	1,464.31	1,595.91	1,622.80	1,735.02	1,810.45	1,786.94	1,932.21	1,960.26	2,003.37	1,659.24
2002	1,934.03	1,731.49	1,845.35	1,688.23	1,615.73	1,463.21	1,328.26	1,314.85	1,172.06	1,329.75	1,478.78	1,335.51	1,519.77
2001	2,772.73	2,151.83	1,840.26	2,116.24	2,110.49	2,160.54	2,027.13	1,805.43	1,498.80	1,690.20	1,930.58	1,950.40	2,004.55
begin 2,757.91 22Jan01; end 2,184.83 31Aug05; down 20.78%; high: 2,892.3601, low: 1,108.4900 source: Yahoo! Finance
Bush & the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.91%
Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Ave
2005	10,489.94	10,766.23	10,503.76	10,192.51	10,467.48	10,274.97	10,640.91	10,481.60	-	-	-	-	10,477.18
2004	10,488.07	10,583.92	10,357.70	10,225.57	10,188.45	10,435.48	10,139.71	10,173.92	10,080.27	10,027.47	10,428.02	10,783.01	9,478.16
2003	8,053.81	7,891.08	7,992.13	8,480.09	8,850.26	8,985.44	9,233.80	9,415.82	9,275.06	9,801.12	9,782.46	10,453.92	9,017.92
2002	9,920.00	10,106.13	10,403.94	9,946.22	9,925.25	9,243.26	8,736.59	8,663.50	7,591.93	8,397.03	8,896.09	8,341.63	9,347.63
2001	10,887.36	10,495.28	9,878.78	10,734.97	10,911.94	10,502.40	10,522.81	9,949.75	8,847.56	9,075.14	9,851.56	10,021.57	9,383.66
begin 10,578.24 22Jan01; end 10,481.60 31Aug05; up 0.91%; high: 11,027.1504, low: 7,181.4702 source: Yahoo! Finance
U.S. Dollar Value
U.S. Dollar Exchange Rate Against the Euro; down 23.54%
Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Ave
2005	0.7673	0.7553	0.7744	0.7772	0.8020	0.8290	0.8247	0.8182	-	-	-	-	0.7939
2004	0.8026	0.8006	0.8215	0.8348	0.8170	0.8277	0.8319	0.8298	0.8114	0.7818	0.7536	0.7331	0.8038
2003	0.9248	0.9296	0.9264	0.9024	0.8490	0.8746	0.8817	0.9107	0.8625	0.8596	0.8343	0.7967	0.8794
2002	1.1612	1.1554	1.1494	1.1067	1.0675	1.0090	1.0170	1.0185	1.0193	1.0161	1.0058	0.9541	1.0567
2001	1.07970	1.0899	1.1380	1.1241	1.1669	1.1778	1.1438	1.0913	1.0994	1.1056	1.1261	1.1289	1.2138
begin 1.0701 22Jan01; end 0.8182 31Aug05; down 23.54%; high: 1.19770 low: 0.7315 source: Oanda FXHistory
U.S. Dollar Exchange Rate Against the British Pound down 18.12%
Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Ave
2005	0.5299	0.5213	0.5323	0.5244	0.5486	0.5483	0.5689	0.5598	-	-	-	-	0.5417
2004	0.5506	0.5353	0.5477	0.5637	0.5452	0.5534	0.5492	0.5569	0.5559	0.5426	0.5282	0.5192	0.5457
2003	0.6048	0.6329	0.6354	0.6274	0.6115	0.6065	0.6189	0.6341	0.6001	0.5897	0.5808	0.5625	0.6087
2002	0.7071	0.7041	0.7015	0.6854	0.6826	0.6526	0.6354	0.6450	0.6406	0.6421	0.6426	0.6235	0.6635
2001	0.6838	0.6932	0.7061	0.6949	0.7010	0.7070	0.7011	0.6863	0.6782	0.6892	0.7007	0.6892	0.6942
begin 0.6837 22Jan01; end 0.5598 31Aug05; down 18.12%; high: 0.73080 low: 0.5114 source: Oanda FXHistory
U.S. Dollar Exchange Rate Against the Japanese Yen down 4.96%
Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Ave
2005	103.510	105.240	107.550	104.880	108.000	110.580	112.500	111.300	-	-	-	-	107.945
2004	105.960	109.210	105.640	109.820	110.360	108.380	111.210	109.940	110.920	105.790	102.870	103.100	107.7667
2003	119.090	117.570	119.850	119.780	119.350	119.640	120.310	116.980	110.820	108.760	109.680	107.100	125.7317
2002	132.870	134.370	132.650	128.070	123.450	119.580	120.230	118.350	122.600	122.940	122.580	118.540	124.6858
2001	115.921	116.178	126.330	124.120	120.408	124.770	125.101	119.479	119.560	121.990	123.820	131.140	122.4014
begin 117.110 22Jan01; end 111.300 31Aug05; down 4.96%; high: 135.180 low: 101.660 source: Oanda FXHistory
U.S. Dollar Exchange Rate Against the Canadian Dollar down 21.17%
Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Ave
2005	1.2394	1.2395	1.2173	1.2586	1.2565	1.2287	1.2238	1.1917	-	-	-	-	1.2319
2004	1.3305	1.3360	1.3081	1.3710	1.3628	1.3453	1.3296	1.3194	1.2699	1.2190	1.1866	1.2048	1.2986
2003	1.5285	1.4943	1.4716	1.4424	1.3656	1.3475	1.4014	1.3865	1.3536	1.3158	1.2993	1.2946	1.3918
2002	1.5890	1.6096	1.5953	1.5669	1.5351	1.5190	1.5755	1.5591	1.5785	1.5661	1.5652	1.5769	1.5597
2001	1.5039	1.5299	1.5767	1.5420	1.5460	1.5145	1.5300	1.5455	1.5775	1.5782	1.5808	1.5911	1.5513
begin 1.5118 22Jan01; end 1.19170 31Aug05; down 21.17%; high: 1.6190 low: 1.1714 source: Oanda FXHistory
U.S. Dollar Exchange Rate Against the Swiss Franc down 22.55%
Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Ave
2005	1.1877	1.1623	1.2002	1.1955	1.2391	1.2829	1.2898	1.2691	-	-	-	-	1.2283
2004	1.2591	1.2626	1.2817	1.2903	1.2495	1.2662	1.2811	1.2797	1.2600	1.1955	1.1425	1.1318	1.2417
2003	1.3576	1.3599	1.3683	1.3618	1.2985	1.3498	1.3665	1.4032	1.3271	1.3333	1.2920	1.2423	1.3384
2002	1.7100	1.7057	1.6856	1.6198	1.5623	1.4813	1.4821	1.5006	1.4938	1.4883	1.4833	1.3875	1.5500
2001	1.6469	1.6770	1.7438	1.7273	1.7779	1.7940	1.7276	1.6539	1.6210	1.6253	1.6551	1.6732	1.6936
begin 1.6386 22Jan01; end 1.2691 31Aug05; down 22.55%; high: 1.8216 low: 1.1258 source: Oanda FXHistory

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Rescuers told gals on rooftops to 'show us what you've got'

"I could not describe how bad the authorities were, taking photographs of us as we are standing on the roof waving for help, for their own personal photo albums, little snapshot photographs," Scott told BBC News. Scott said there was a group of girls standing on the lobby's roof, calling out to passing rescuers for help. "[The authorities] said to them, 'Well, show us what you've got' – doing signs for them to lift their T-shirts up. The girls said no, and [the rescuers] said 'well fine,' and motored off down the road in their motorboat. That's the sort of help we had from the authorities," he said.

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We all know who George W Bush's base is. His Qaida are rich white Republicans, the elite. That is why Bush in no way cares about the fate of poor black Democrats. If this disaster had struck a nice rich white Republican city in a state with a Republican governor like San Diego his response would have swift and overwhelming. Unfortunately for New Orleanians they are not Bush's constituents. They did not contribute thousands of dollars to his campaign nor did they vote for him so he owes them nothing. It is the fault of New Orleanians for living in a city with a Democratic mayor and a state with a Democratic governor. New Orleanians have no one to blame but themselves for no being rich and white. Some Americans thought it was bad when George W Bush sat on his ass for 5-7 minutes and did nothing after being told "America is under attack". He proved to New Orleanians that 5-7 minutes was nothing in comparison to his response to the disaster caused by Hurricane Katrina. It was not just his response to the disaster for which he deserves blame, but, his virtual orchestration of the disaster by cutting funding and putting an inexperienced crony with no practical experience in charge of FEMA. Can America survive three more years of George W Bush? A prelude to disaster. How George W Bush destroyed FEMA. top of page