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Politics : GOPwinger Lies/Distortions/Omissions/Perversions of Truth -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: American Spirit who wrote (44922)	5/7/2005 1:51:47 PM
From: TideGlider	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 173976

FOP OP/ED: Why George Bush? By Chuck Canterbury I am often asked by those in the media or outside the membership of our organization why the Fraternal Order of Police chose to endorse the reelection of President George W. Bush over Senator Kerry--the first ever unanimous endorsement of a presidential candidate in the F.O.P.'s nearly ninety year history. Quite simply, it is because under this President promises made are promises kept. It is one thing to claim that you support law enforcement. It's quite another to actually go out there, roll up your sleeves and work on their behalf as the President has done. Over the past four years, President Bush has proven himself to be one of the very best friends that rank-and-file law enforcement officers have ever had in the White House. Our members recognize this, and the fact that this election will have a tremendous impact on how we will protect America from threats at home and abroad in the years to come. They also see for themselves the unprecedented dedication of this Administration to protecting our communities from violent criminals and our nation from terrorism. The President's commitment to America's first responders has been complete and consistent, and began even before the heinous terrorist attacks of 9/11. He has stood beside our front-line police officers, firefighters and other public safety employees to ensure that we are able to do our jobs more safely, and that we are better prepared to meet the challenges which confront us. He has created grants for interoperable communications systems that allow first responders to better interact with one another, and has provided funding for Emergency Operations Centers to improve preparedness and management systems. He has increased funding to State and local public safety by 680 percent over the past four years. And he has provided more than $11 billion to State and local law enforcement for use in counter-terrorism preparedness efforts. President Bush has also worked to enhance the personal security of America's law enforcement officers. Most recently, the President's vocal and active support led to the passage in Congress of the top legislative priority of nearly every rank-and-file police labor organization in the country, the "Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act." The bill allows off-duty and retired law enforcement officers to protect themselves and their families wherever and whenever necessary. For more than a decade, this critically important officer and public safety initiative languished in the committees and subcommittees of Congress. This year might have been no different, were it not for the commitment of the President to the legislation--a commitment he expressed to me personally in a letter and then in another official communication to Congress, which urged them to send him the bill so he could sign it into law. President Bush was there when we needed him, Senator Kerry was not. President Bush not only recognizes the extraordinary valor demonstrated by the police officers that rushed into the burning World Trade Center moments before its collapse, but also in the everyday heroism of the cop on the beat. More importantly, he understands the role and the importance of law enforcement families and he shares our obligation to those who have lost a loved one in the line of duty. This Administration has worked on countless issues affecting survivors, including helping to ensure congressional passage of the "Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act"--the most significant expansion of the Public Safety Officers' Benefits program in a generation. Because of President Bush's leadership, we now have a better, more comprehensive survivor benefit program. President Bush was there when we needed him, Senator Kerry was not. During the past four years, President Bush has not only enhanced the personal security of America's public safety employees and their families, but their economic security as well. Under new regulations which took effect just months ago, America's police officers, firefighters, and paramedics now have the strongest overtime protections ever. This President has protected overtime pay for those public safety officers who have it now, and established a framework which will guarantee overtime compensation to an expanded majority of those whose continued performance of overtime work is vital to the security of our nation. While many in Congress-including Senator Kerry-tried to turn this issue into a political football, the President was helping to preserve the overtime rights of these vital public servants. He was there when we needed him, Senator Kerry was not. This Administration has enacted some of the most beneficial changes to American law enforcement in the past five decades. Because of the President's efforts, our streets and neighborhoods are safer, our nation is more secure, and we are ready to meet every challenge that lays before us. Promises made, promises kept. ©1997-2005 Fraternal Order of Police, Grand Lodge

To: American Spirit who wrote (44922)	5/7/2005 1:59:27 PM
From: TideGlider	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 173976

Safety is Worth More Than Two Points in the Game of Homeland Security October 9, 2004 - Michael Moore has spent the better part of the last year telling us that George Bush is responsible for making this country less safe than it was before 9/11. Is Mr. Moore qualified to make these claims about our homeland security? To date his biggest accomplishments in life have been resembling a character from H.R. Puffnstuff and being declared the unofficial Grand Poobah of the liberal Democrats. Add to that the fact that he tends to fabricate most of his information and you have him qualified to take over for Dan Rather as a CBS anchor. This is a far cry from being able to intelligently assess the dangers that threaten our shores. On the other side, Ann Coulter has spent an equal amount of time informing the public that they are much safer with George W. at the helm. Ann’s razor sharp satire, intelligence and ironclad arguments have made her an immovable object of disdain for those on the left. Does this make her any more qualified then Mr. Moore to speak as an authority on homeland security? The answer would be no. Cpl. George McGinty of the Washington State University police department doesn’t get invited on CNN panels to spout his theories about national security. Nor does he have a book on the Best Sellers List. Despite a lack of media credentials, this member of law enforcement managed to stop a “Columbine” style terrorist attack at a high school that is two thousand miles outside his jurisdiction. As a police officer whose job description includes the words “To Serve and Protect”, Corporal McGinty is absolutely qualified to talk about which presidential candidate will keep us safer at home. Unlike the talking heads in the media, he is responsible for the day to day safety of the American people. This gives him, and most other members of the thin blue line far more credibility then a dour news anchor in suspenders and an Armani suit. How is George W. Bush doing on protecting the homeland? This has been the topic of much discussion among media people whose position and wealth insulate them from the day to day dangers that are faced by the majority of Americans. Peril does not only come in the form of a Muslim with a headscarf and a murderous intent towards anyone who sports a cross or a circumcision. It also comes from the criminal element from within our own population. What do those who are on the front line of homeland defense have to say about the job our President is doing? The Fraternal Order of Police is the largest law enforcement labor organization in the United States. When they endorse a candidate it is more than just a political decision made by one or two men at the top of the organization. For a candidate to receive the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police, he must receive a two-thirds majority of the National Board, which comprises one Trustee from each of the organization's State Lodges. George Bush is the first candidate in the history of this proud organization to receive the unanimous endorsement of the National Board. Chuck Canterbury, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police summarized our Commander and Chiefs service to the police of this nation: "For the past four years, President George W. Bush has proved himself to be one of the very best friends that rank-and-file law enforcement officers have ever had. We are fortunate to have this man in the White House and we are proud to give him our endorsement today. He has always been there for the rank-and-file officer, and we are eager to be there for him in November." Homeland encompasses every law enforcement agency from the CIA to the county probation office. These folks are intimately familiar with the type of national security issues that most only brush against when reading a Tom Clancy novel. The television pundit deals in the realm of opinion and theory. The endorsement of the FOP says more about the Presidents service to the protection of this nation then ten Michael Moore movies. Homeland security does not end at our shores. Anybody who has convinced themselves of that either believes that Amway is a wonderful career choice or works in the CBS fact checking department. Recently a man arrested by U.S. authorities in Iraq had a computer disk in his possession containing a public report downloaded from a U.S. Department of Education Web site on crisis planning for United States school districts. Even the MTV audience (a population of Americans who have yet to master the complexities of stimulus/ response, let alone national security and foreign policy) could put two and two together and come up with the fact that our military stumbled on a plan by terrorists to perpetrate a slaughter against our children. This is just the tip of the iceberg of terrorist plans against our nation that have been disrupted by our military personnel in Iraq. In other words, they are fighting to protect our homeland security. Terrorism by nature is a weapon of mass destruction. It is an unconventional implement of war that took the lives of thousands of Americans on 9/11 and countless others across the globe. In Iraq we have found this particular WMD in abundance. Our President has done what nobody else has ever succeeded at. He has forced terrorists to fight a professional military force. Considering how the Al Qaeda is doing against them I can see why they avoid fighting soldiers and prefer to pick on women and children. A U.S.A. Today poll found that our soldiers, the men and women who face off against this evil everyday, overwhelming support the re-election of George W. Bush by a margin of 4 to 1. Apparently those who deal with the threat to our homeland security directly rate John Kerry in the same class with Captain Crunch when it comes to the topic of decisive, capable leadership. What does this tell you about who is better able to keep the American people safe? It is no accident that there has not been an attack on the United States since the World Trade Center came down. President Bush could guarantee his re-election by just talking about the terrorist plans that have been foiled under his watch. He won’t though. To yell his successes from the rooftops would tip the enemy off to how we are succeeding. They would change and become more difficult to stop. Our President has put the security of the American people over his own interests and a guaranteed victory in November. Ironically, many people who have had their lives saved by him are actively, in some cases violating the law, in an effort to get him out of office. Our police support this man. Our military supports this man. If this election is about who can keep us safe, one would have to ask why anyone wouldn’t vote for this man. therant.us