John Kerry & Firefighters

[CollegeBuff]

100,000 fire fighters? Modeled after CLinton's COPS program? I have seen studies that have shown that there wasn't one extra cop put on the street as a result of that program. The money was used to supplant money already being spent. The same thing will happen with FF.

Meanwhile......

The proposal, modeled after the Clinton administration COPS
program for police officers, earned the senator from Massachusetts
a standing ovation at the annual meeting of the Professional
Firefighters of New Hampshire.

It sure sounds good, don't? And whether we like it or not, that's all it has to do- sound good, and sound good to the right audience.



Without pumping natural gas on a room and contents job.... ( )Wonder if any of those 100,000 are volunteers. Takers?

[E229Lt]

While walking down the street one day a female head of state is tragically hit by a truck and dies. Her soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to Heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the lady.

"Well, I'd like to but I have orders from higher up.
What we'll do is have you spend one day in Hell and one in Heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in Heaven," says the head of state.

"I'm sorry but we have our rules." And with that, St. Peter escorts her to the elevator and she goes down, down, down to Hell.

The doors open and she finds herself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a club and standing in front of it are all her friends and other politicians who had worked with her, everyone is very happy and in evening dress.

They run to greet her, hug her, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster and caviar. Also present is the Devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes.

They are having such a good time, that before she realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives her a big hug and waves while the elevator rises. The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on Heaven, where St. Peter is waiting for her.

"Now it's time to visit Heaven." So 24 hours pass with the head of state joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before she realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.
"Well then, you've spent a day in Hell and another in Heaven. Now choose your eternity."

She reflects for a minute, then the head of state answers: "Well, I would never have said it, I mean Heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in Hell."

So Saint Peter escorts her to the elevator and she goes down, down, down to Hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and she is in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. She sees all her friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags. The Devil comes over to her and lays his arm on her neck.

"I don't understand," stammers the head of state. Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and club and we ate lobster and caviar and danced and had a great time. Now all there is a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable.

The Devil looks at her, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning.
Today you voted for us.



Any questions, Brothers?

[dfdex1]

Im definitely not voteing for this looney toon,like most democrats his policys shape shift according to the crowd. Next week when he is at the hospital it will be 100,000 more nurses or at a school it will be 100,000 more teachers.I just dont belive a word he says,not getting my vote.

[CaptainGonzo]

This promise is from a politician who had enough clout and $$$,$$$,$$$ (thanks to his wife) to have a fire hydrant moved from in front of his "oh so chic" Louisburg Square condominium on Beacon Hill because "she did not like the look of it in front of their home"...

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

John Kerry is an idiot. He has as much chance of being President of this country as I do.

100,000 fire fighters? Modeled after CLinton's COPS program? I have seen studies that have shown that there wasn't one extra cop put on the street as a result of that program. The money was used to supplant money already being spent. The same thing will happen with FF.

The bottom line is that fire protection is a local issue. Providing supplemental grants is a valid use of federal money. But this is hollow campaign rhetoric that will not increase fire safety in this country at all. It' also an example of Kerry's goal to have the federal government involved in every aspect of our lives.

[NJFFSA16]

HAMPTON, N.H. (AP) - Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry
said Wednesday he'd replace President Bush's "broken promises" to
firefighters with a pledge of his own to put 100,000 more of them
on the streets.
The proposal, modeled after the Clinton administration COPS
program for police officers, earned the senator from Massachusetts
a standing ovation at the annual meeting of the Professional
Firefighters of New Hampshire.
"What we need is an administration that understands how you
make America stronger," he said.
Kerry said Bush likes to talk about the heroic firefighters who
lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, but has failed to ensure that
their surviving peers across the country get the training and
equipment they need.
The result is that bridges, nuclear plants and other possible
targets of terrorism aren't being as well protected as they should,
Kerry said.
"There isn't one of you as professional firefighters - people
who put your lives on the line- who doesn't understand what it
means to realize promises have been broken," he said.
In March, Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge announced $750
million in grants to help rural, urban and suburban fire
departments better train, prepare and equip for the war on
terrorism. In the latest round of grants, four New Hampshire
communities received $73,000 earlier this month.
The announcement more than doubled last year's Assistance to
Firefighters grants, when the Federal Emergency Management Agency
distributed more than $334 million through 5,316 grants to help
America's firefighters prepare to respond to fires and other
disasters. FEMA is part of the Homeland Security Department.
Ridge had recommended that leaders pool their resources in
mutual aid agreements between neighboring cities, or to develop new
training programs and buy equipment.
But Kerry compared the firefighters to the troops in post-war
Iraq, whom he said are not being protected well enough as they
struggle to bring about peace. "You have a bunch of troops who
trained for something else," he said. "Every day some kid walks
into a store to get a Coke and gets blown away."
Berlin firefighter Peter Donovan asked Kerry how he would help
rural communities likes his, where a scarcity of jobs puts a strain
on social services and makes him fearful of cuts to his department.
"These rural communities, not just in New Hampshire, have
problems," Donovan said. "But after the voting's done, we're
forgotten."
Kerry answered by outlining several job creation proposals, from
expanding high-speed Internet to rural areas to putting people to
work rebuilding schools, roads and airports.
"There's no excuse for not putting America back to work
tomorrow, but if your priority is feeding the rich and country
clubs, it's going to be tough," he said in a swipe at Bush's tax
cut plan.
Donovan said he liked what he heard. Though he usually votes
Republican, he said he would keep an open mind about Kerry and the
eight other Democrats seeking the nomination. "I think he answered
very well," he said. "He didn't beat around the bush."
Later, Kerry met with public health workers in Nashua, where he
explained his $80 billion-a-year plan to expand health care
coverage and reduce the price of insurance in part by requiring the
federal government to pick up the costs of catastrophic care.
The plan also would require companies who benefit from the plan
to offer wellness programs for their workers.
"We don't even talk about diet in America," Kerry said. "We
have a health care system almost devoid of connecting people to
wellness."
Maria Gilmartin, a public health nurse, told Kerry she sees many
patients who work but don't make enough to afford health insurance.
"There's no preventive care," she said. "Their kids don't
have anyone looking at their development."
Kerry said early education programs should start before a child
is born, teaching pregnant women about nutrition.
"If you start with kids at age zero... you can bring a kid to
first grade who's ready to learn," he said.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)