New Rule: In order to save the government some money, let's get rid of the Coast Guard...
Check out Real Time with Bill Maher live Fridays at 10PM ET/PT - Only On HBO.
New Rule: In order to save the government some money, let's get rid of the Coast Guard...
Check out Real Time with Bill Maher live Fridays at 10PM ET/PT - Only On HBO.
The US Coast Guard is the EMS/Fire Dept/Police Dept of our coasts including lakes. It's like the National Guard of our waterways. Living on one of the Great Lakes I have to say, I'd get rid of the Navy (which would save a hell of a lot more money) before I'd get rid of the Coast Guard. They save lives instead of taking them.
This new rule was way off....
CC
clevelandchick: Bill, The US Coast Guard is the EMS/Fire Dept/Police Dept
Bill, you were wrong on your show this past friday. You wanted President Obama to "be more like Bush". You wanted him to have that who cares attitude and just push through legislation like Bush did. Well, there is just one problem and it's a shame someone as smart as you can't realize this. Bush had a rubber stamp Congress for 5 years. Of course he could ram through legislation. President Obama doesn't have that even with 59 senators (60 once Franken gets seated. He may have more luck in the House but there are more Blue Dog DINOs that refuse to support a lot of his legislation in the Senate such a Ben Nelson, Kent Conrad, and Mary Landrieu. The President supports the public option but the DINOs support Conrad's co-op plan. The DINOs don't support the same climate change proposals that the President does, so of course he has to water it down. It's the same thing that happened to the stimulus bill and its the reason why we don't have the employee free choice act passed yet, a public option in the healthcare bill, and some DINOs express doubt in Judge Sotomayor. Before you start asking Obama to be more like Bush, why not throw some anger at Congress.
cltdem: Bill, you were wrong on your show this past friday.
Oh Bill, there is a distinction between the duties of the Navy and the Coast Guard. Not to confuse you further, but we also have the Merchant Marine. Please do some reading rather than just following your lighter to your bong.
EspritDeVoltaire: Oh Bill, there is a distinction between the duties of
Sorry Bill, Funny, but a bad idea. Florida is not always a punch line.
The Coast Guard is like the fire department. They help people in trouble in our waters. Saving people and helping them out of a jam is not a military operation. Lots of former Marines and Navy men and women go into our Coast Guard. These are active driven people as are members of our fire departments. It is a career, and they have constant training and updates in gear and procedures to handle emergencies.
Push come to shove they do have firepower and back up – but that is not their main job.
And you better believe the US Navy is right there on guard looking at the bigger picture.
negogato: Sorry Bill, Funny, but a bad idea. Florida is not
The Coast Guard is a necessary part of our Defense. Mr Maher, among others, don't have a clue, as to the daily duties of these men and women. It's no easy ride from any potential combative situation. Those are routine.
xjug: The Coast Guard is a necessary part of our Defense.
I don't know about all of this, but I really liked your show on friday 12 june, ESPECIALLY the end bit on Obama not quite getting it done. THAT REALLY needed to be heard.
mergina: I don't know about all of this, but I really
I voted for Obama and I agreed with Bill that the President needs to stop trying to make everyone love him namely the Republicans. The President needs to stop this detente with the GOP. As long as they have Boss Limbaugh, Cheney and Sarah Palin they are going tune him out. Okay, that is the cue to do what you want to do. Don't worry about hurting feelings because is America or the people who voted for him is backing his play.
R8RBOB: I voted for Obama and I agreed with Bill that
He's not worried about hurting the GOP's feelings. He is not free to do what he wants. There are people and groups that are far more powerful than him. For a clue as to where that power resides, look at the Wall Street and banking bailouts. They control what he does. He got elected by making great promises and enunciating some very good ideas. Now he has to do what all Presidents in the last 65 years have had to do. He has to do the bidding of the powers that be, while still trying to make it look like he represents us.
Johnagain: He's not worried about hurting the GOP's feelings. He is
One thing that is missed about the Coast Guard, is that the entire budget, from buying Cutters and Aircraft including the Helicopters that rescued all the people in New Orleans. To manning and maintenance. The ENTIRE US Coast Guard budget, will not pay for, much less run, One US Navy Aircraft Carrier. And that means manning, operating, or placing aircraft on that Carrier.
gaydm: One thing that is missed about the Coast Guard, is
love you Bill but not on this one. When you are sitting in shark infested waters 50 miles offshore in a of a foreign country who doesn't have a coast guard, you're glad they are there. The most professional and dedicated agency and one which I can personally thank for my life today.
Luckynodebt: love you Bill but not on this one. When you
I agree Lucky. A USCG copter is a sight for sore eyes for any recreational/commercial sailor, fisherman, pilot or jack a$$ surfer drifting in heavy seas.
The US Coast Guard is the EMS/Fire Dept/Police Dept of our coasts including lakes. It's like the National Guard of our waterways. Living on one of the Great Lakes I have to say, I'd get rid of the Navy (which would save a hell of a lot more money) before I'd get rid of the Coast Guard. They save lives instead of taking them.
This new rule was way off....
CC
This is like when our school district decided to get rid of all of the librarians so they could save money...to pay for literacy programs.
The Coast Guard is like the fire department. They help people in trouble in our waters. Saving people and helping them out of a jam is not a military operation. Lots of former Marines and Navy men and women go into our Coast Guard. These are active driven people as are members of our fire departments. It is a career, and they have constant training and updates in gear and procedures to handle emergencies.
Push come to shove they do have firepower and back up – but that is not their main job.
And you better believe the US Navy is right there on guard looking at the bigger picture.
They saved 29,826 lives in 2006. (http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_02_45.html)
Congrats though...