College Sophomore Confounds Bush with Unscripted Question

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Confident that the audience at Kansas State University would be packed with presidential supporters, the White House decided to take the president out of his bubble and have him take a few unscripted questions from the audience.

Whoops. The problem with abandoning the script is that reality can intrude. In this case, it came in the person of Tiffany Cooper, a sophomore at Kansas State, who politely asked:

"I was just wanting to get your comments about education. Recently 12.7 billion dollars was cut from education. I was just wondering how is that supposed to help our futures?"

Bush looked like he had been hit by a two-by-four. First he pretended he didn't hear the question. Then he looked desperately back to aides for some help. Then he simply lied:

"I think what we did was reform the student loan program. We are not cutting money out of it. In other words, people aren't going to be cut off the program. We're just making sure it works better as part of the reconciliation package I think she's talking about…We are saving money in the student loan program because it's inefficient."

Got that wrong. Secreted in the "reconciliation package" that the administration and the Republican majority in Congress are pushing is a staggering $12.7 billion cut in student loan programs—the largest cut in history.

That bulk of that cut will be paid in the form of higher interest rates and fees paid by students and their parents. On average, students will face an additional $2,000 in interest payments; parents an additional $3,000.

As for private lenders that provide student loans—they'll make out just fine. Rather than significantly cutting subsidies to private lenders, Rep. John Boehner—an architect of this legislation and a candidate for House majority leader—targeted working families for the cuts. As The Chronicle of Higher Education reports, Boehner met in December with private student lenders, who contribute handsomely to his campaigns, and said: "Relax. Stay calm. At the end of the day, I believe you'll be at least satisfied, or even perhaps happy. Know that I have all of you in my two trusted hands."

Those "trusted hands" don't protect students like Tiffany Cooper, or their parents. An additional $2,000 in costs doesn't seem like much to legislators like Boehner, who collect more in individual checks from well-heeled contributors. But for working families struggling to make ends meet, it cruelly adds to already growing burdens. College tuitions have gone up a staggering 40 percent in the last five years. State support for public universities has been cut. The Republican Congress, violating a promise Bush made while campaigning, has frozen maximum Pell Grants at the same level for the fourth straight year. The vast majority of students now borrow to help finance college. The average loan burden a student carries upon graduation is more than $19,000. Students from working families have little choice but to pile up debt, even while working part-time and piecing together grant opportunities.

Already, the burden of paying for college is closing the doors of higher education to deserving students. Most public colleges now report six-year rather than four-year graduation rates, because so many students have to drop out and work for a time to make ends meet.

This doesn't make sense. And the president and the Congress know it—so they don't admit what they are doing. The "spin" (Washington's fancy term for lie) is that they are "reforming" the lending program, not raising costs. And that they are "tightening our belts" to reduce staggering budget deficits. The reality is that students and parents will pay more for their loans, and these spending cuts will not even pay for the new tax cuts that the White House and the Republican majority are committed to passing this year. Working and middle-class families will pay the costs of the loans. And, not surprisingly, the affluent will pocket most of the savings. That's on top of the two tax cuts that went into effect this month, giving millionaires an average windfall of $19,000 a year.

Tiffany Cooper stunned the president by asking about this harsh reality. The president ducked. His obvious discomfort is likely to lead him back into his protected bubble. But Tiffany Cooper and students across the country will remain exposed to the twisted priorities and the costly corruptions of conservatives in power.

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20060125/bush_back_to_the_bubble.php

[Spider]

Damn her unAmerican terrorist loving áss .......... Just who in the hell does this bítch think she is ? She should move to france ............How dare she ask Bush a serious question ...........

[Spider]

I am realy looking foward to Errand terrorist name for her ........ probably somthing like I sheezt Mi drawrz, or I Bin pharteen

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

I am realy looking foward to Errand terrorist name for her ........ probably somthing like I sheezt Mi drawrz, or I Bin pharteen

Yep.

Only a matter of time 'til her name appears on the BushCo robber baron hit list right next to Cindy Sheehan and Michael Moore.

[enjolras]

The Daily Show did a bit with this the other night... it was funny as hell and all they did was basically play it.

[enjolras]

http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_daily_show/videos/most_recent/index.jhtml

Look for 'Manhattan Project'... :)

[Rigs11]

LOL LOL I love the part where he feigns ignorance and asks "our education?"How anyone that voted for this imbecile can look in the mirror every morning is beyond me.

[-Slap-]

Did she ask him to spell cat?

[Bronco_Beerslug]

http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_daily_show/videos/most_recent/index.jhtml

Look for 'Manhattan Project'... :)

Hilarious!

[gunns]

He thinks???

[Mile High Shack]

it's not a real cut in student loans, just in the portion the banks get that doal out the money to the students

[Bronco_Beerslug]

it's not a real cut in student loans, just in the portion the banks get that doal out the money to the students

It isn't? How do you figure? What are you saying, that there will be 12.7 billion LESS available for student loans now?

-------------------------------------------
Having passed the House of Representatives this past Nov. 18, H.R. 4241 includes billions in cuts to federal student aid. With the cost of higher education increasing and interest rates rising, the cuts are expected to make it more difficult for students to obtain a college education.

Student Loans Hit Hardest
This past fall found students and concerned citizens throughout the country up in arms over the legislation to cut student aid. As the government looked for ways to curtail spending in the wake of disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, federal student aid would see the worst of the cuts to federal programs that included Medicaid and food stamps. The five-year $39.7 billion legislative package ultimately includes $12.7 billion in cuts to student loans.

http://tinyurl.com/cuxuj

[Mile High Shack]

sigh

please look into the bill deeper, on the outside w/o looking into it, it does look like that......

I don't have a link, but I heard this on NPR and that is pretty left wing so...

The amount of loan money out there is still the same - there's no less 'money in the pot' for people to draw out of (according to an NPR commentator, at least, and they're pretty left-wing, so if they could have slammed the Bush administration on it, they would have). What the cut does is lower the subsidy that banks get for giving the loans to students. And according to this guy, the subsidy is still plenty that it's still a sweet deal for the banks, and so no one is going to get less student aid than they used to, when it comes down to it.

so basically it is less since the federal government isn't going to pay the banks as much to do it, but the amount of loan money available is still there

I'm surprised Mr. Bush couldn't shoot that moron down

after re-reading what Bush said, he didn't lie, he was telling the truth, but he didn't dumb it down enough for you :)

[Antilles]

sigh

please look into the bill deeper, on the outside w/o looking into it, it does look like that......

I don't have a link, but I heard this on NPR and that is pretty left wing so...

The amount of loan money out there is still the same - there's no less 'money in the pot' for people to draw out of (according to an NPR commentator, at least, and they're pretty left-wing, so if they could have slammed the Bush administration on it, they would have). What the cut does is lower the subsidy that banks get for giving the loans to students. And according to this guy, the subsidy is still plenty that it's still a sweet deal for the banks, and so no one is going to get less student aid than they used to, when it comes down to it.

so basically it is less since the federal government isn't going to pay the banks as much to do it, but the amount of loan money available is still there

I'm surprised Mr. Bush couldn't shoot that moron down

after re-reading what Bush said, he didn't lie, he was telling the truth, but he didn't dumb it down enough for you :)

This is just my inital (and not thought out) reaction to your post, but if the banks are receiving less government subsidy, doesn't that logically mean that they will start charging higher rates for student loans, thus making education more expensive and, for some, less attainable?

[W*GS]

It's all rather a moot point, since so many colleges and universities are obligated to provide remedial instruction to freshmen - products of the liberal-controlled government indoctrina- (I mean "education") system.

Part of the reason a degree costs so much is that the first year (at least) is spent learning all the stuff that should have been learned in high school.

[Mile High Shack]

This is just my inital (and not thought out) reaction to your post, but if the banks are receiving less government subsidy, doesn't that logically mean that they will start charging higher rates for student loans, thus making education more expensive and, for some, less attainable?

I suppose you could argue that

but the banks are still getting a pretty sweet deal

[Antilles]

I suppose you could argue that

but the banks are still getting a pretty sweet deal

I'm sure they are. I just have a hard time imagining them being content with getting less than before.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

sigh

please look into the bill deeper, on the outside w/o looking into it, it does look like that......

I don't have a link, but I heard this on NPR and that is pretty left wing so...

The amount of loan money out there is still the same - there's no less 'money in the pot' for people to draw out of (according to an NPR commentator, at least, and they're pretty left-wing, so if they could have slammed the Bush administration on it, they would have). What the cut does is lower the subsidy that banks get for giving the loans to students. And according to this guy, the subsidy is still plenty that it's still a sweet deal for the banks, and so no one is going to get less student aid than they used to, when it comes down to it.

so basically it is less since the federal government isn't going to pay the banks as much to do it, but the amount of loan money available is still there

I'm surprised Mr. Bush couldn't shoot that moron down

after re-reading what Bush said, he didn't lie, he was telling the truth, but he didn't dumb it down enough for you :)


Everything I've read states it is indeed a cut a 12.7 billion and for your information "Mr. Bush" doesn't have a clue about shooting anyone down (considering he has no idea about the cuts) or didn't you watch the clip?

And you do know that this is part of a 40 billion dollar CUT (Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act)?

Among the provisions in the legislation that will see changes on July 1 is an increase to 6.8 percent for federal Stafford Loans, from rates as low as 4.7 percent. Also included is a jump from 7.9 percent to 8.5 percent for PLUS fixed interest rates.

Kansas State Student Confronts Bush on College Loans
By Joel Havemann, Times Staff Writer

WASHINGTON — President Bush, caught off guard Monday by a question about cuts in higher-education student-loan programs, said the reduction in costs would come at the expense of lending institutions, not students.

Representatives of higher-education associations disagreed moderately. Leaders of student groups took vehement exception.

During a question-and-answer session with students at Kansas State University, sophomore Tiffany Cooper asked, "Recently, $12.7 billion was cut from education, and I was just wondering, you know, how is that supposed to help our futures?"

"The education budget was cut?" Bush responded. "Say it again. What was cut? At the federal level?"

She repeated the question and clarified that she was referring to student loans.

"Actually," Bush finally said, "I think what we did was reform the student-loan program.

"We're not cutting money out of it. In other words, people aren't going to be cut off the program. We're just making sure it works better."

Becky Timmons, director of government relations for the American Council on Education, said the president had it half-right. "When you take [$12.7 billion] out of the program, you can both hit the lenders and make students and parents pay a lot more when they repay their loans," she said.
(CONTINUED)
http://tinyurl.com/d4b87

---------------------------------------------

[Mile High Shack]

you do realize interest rates have gone up...right BB?

when I went to school the rates were 9% and Clinton was president

and again I restate, the amount of student loans is still the same, the banks just won't get as much money to do them, which is where the cut came from

[Bronco_Beerslug]

you do realize interest rates have gone up...right BB?

when I went to school the rates were 9% and Clinton was president

and again I restate, the amount of student loans is still the same, the banks just won't get as much money to do them, which is where the cut came from
Link?

And how do you pass a bill to cut the deficit if you don't take the money away?

[Mile High Shack]

Link?

And how do you pass a bill to cut the deficit if you don't take the money away?

listen again

you are taking the money away

the money that was being paid to the banks to process the loans, they are getting less money to do the loans

the gross amount of loan money is still available

[Bronco_Beerslug]

listen again

you are taking the money away

the money that was being paid to the banks to process the loans, they are getting less money to do the loans

the gross amount of loan money is still available

So how many billions does it cost to "process" these loans?

[alkemical]

I know AES is a billion dollar a year company - and they get special protections.

But then you have fannie & sallie mae that had problems with them cooking the books. Damn bitches.

[Mile High Shack]

So how many billions does it cost to "process" these loans?

not a clue really, I assume banks get paid a pretty sum, since pretty much anyone with a pulse can get a student loan

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

it's not a real cut in student loans, just in the portion the banks get that doal(sic) out the money to the students

http://www.ohanaed.com/images/4533.gif


That bulk of that cut will be paid in the form of higher interest rates and fees paid by students and their parents. On average, students will face an additional $2,000 in interest payments; parents an additional $3,000.

As for private lenders that provide student loans—they'll make out just fine. Rather than significantly cutting subsidies to private lenders, Rep. John Boehner—an architect of this legislation and a candidate for House majority leader—targeted working families for the cuts. As The Chronicle of Higher Education reports, Boehner met in December with private student lenders, who contribute handsomely to his campaigns, and said: "Relax. Stay calm. At the end of the day, I believe you'll be at least satisfied, or even perhaps happy. Know that I have all of you in my two trusted hands."

[Mile High Shack]

http://www.ohanaed.com/images/4533.gif

which means they'll still be getting some good money, just not as much as they were (banks)

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

which means they'll still be getting some good money, just not as much as they were (banks)

Not the issue.

The issue is $12.7 billion in cuts to student loans.

[footstepsfrom#27]

http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/daily/0402/28-finaid.html

A friend sent me this a few days ago. Students who qualify academically with parents who make under 40K a year can now attend Harvard for free, which is awesome. Parents between 40-60K will have thier tuition reduced.

[watermock]

Every lieral dimwit has given her opinion.
Jesus Christ.

[gunns]

listen again

you are taking the money away

the money that was being paid to the banks to process the loans, they are getting less money to do the loans

the gross amount of loan money is still available

Who doesn't think that the banks will make up that money??? They sure will and it will be the students paying that difference. Thus making education more expensive and once again....unattainable for some.

[watermock]

OK...now that the season is done I am going to beat you down so bad you wish you were plankton...

The hole thread was amusing,every dimwit showwed sfce. showed face.

[Spider]

Higher learning isnt for everyone , we all loved Animal house , but what a waste of money .......... I want my kids to go t ocollege , but Trucking has been damn good to me also .... some times learning a trade is better

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

and again I restate, the amount of student loans is still the same, the banks just won't get as much money to do them, which is where the cut came from

Bzzzzzzt!

Another incorrect answer.

Got that wrong. Secreted in the "reconciliation package" that the administration and the Republican majority in Congress are pushing is a staggering $12.7 billion cut in student loan programs—the largest cut in history.

That bulk of that cut will be paid in the form of higher interest rates and fees paid by students and their parents. On average, students will face an additional $2,000 in interest payments; parents an additional $3,000.

As for private lenders that provide student loans—they'll make out just fine. Rather than significantly cutting subsidies to private lenders, Rep. John Boehner—an architect of this legislation and a candidate for House majority leader—targeted working families for the cuts. As The Chronicle of Higher Education reports, Boehner met in December with private student lenders, who contribute handsomely to his campaigns, and said: "Relax. Stay calm. At the end of the day, I believe you'll be at least satisfied, or even perhaps happy. Know that I have all of you in my two trusted hands."

[Bronco_Beerslug]

OK...now that the season is done I am going to beat you down so bad you wish you were plankton...

The hole thread was amusing,every dimwit showwed sfce. showed face.

Hilarious! You've have mastered stuttering, slobbering and generally making an ass out of yourself.

You should be put on ice until you get a keyboard breathalyser.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Hilarious! You've have mastered stuttering, slobbering and generally making an ass out of yourself.

You should be put on ice until you get a keyboard breathalyser.

Hilarious!

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

"When a student at Kansas State asked George Bush about those cuts, the president said the bill only reforms the program, it doesn't cut loans. That was a lie. The bill takes $12.7 billion from student loan programs.

The right-wing's proposed cuts to affordable student loans come as tuition is rising at double digit percentage rates -- up 40% over the last five years for public universities. <3> More and more students must take on debt to help finance their education. The average college student graduates with more than $19,000 in student loans. <4> And now, after freezing Pell Grants, the leading federal scholarship fund for college, Congress is voting to increase the costs of taking out a loan.

Conservatives say we have to tighten our belts to reduce the deficit. But the money cut from the loans will be surpassed by the tax cuts they plan to lavish largely on the wealthiest Americans. The result? The budget deficit will continue to increase and college will become increasingly expensive and even out of reach for millions of Americans.

Let's put the Congress on notice. Call your member of Congress before this Wednesday and demand that they stand up for affordable education and stand against irresponsible tax cuts for the wealthy. Click below for a toll-free number to your lawmaker's office, and simple talking points to make your call quick, simple and effective. Please call now."
Robert L. Borosage, Co-Director
Campaign for America's Future

<1> Chaiker, Anne Marie. "Loss of $12.7 Billion Means that Graduates will Face Higher Interest Payments, Fewer Options." Wall Street Journal, 22 December 2005; Page D1. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113521583786329095.html

<2> Stephen Burd. "The Congressman and Sallie Mae." Chronicle of Higher Education. January 27, 2006. http://chronicle.com/weekly/v52/i21/21a02301.htm

<3> College Board. Trends in College Pricing. 2005. http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/press/cost05/trends_college_pricing_05.pdf

<4> Chaiker, Anne Marie. "Loss of $12.7 Billion Means that Graduates will Face Higher Interest Payments, Fewer Options." Wall Street Journal, 22 December 2005; Page D1. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113521583786329095.html

<5> College Board. Trends in College Aid. 2005. http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/press/cost05/trends_aid_05.pdf

[freak6]

Hilarious! You've have mastered stuttering, slobbering and generally making an ass out of yourself.

You should be put on ice until you get a keyboard breathalyser.

lmfao!!!

BTW Shack, NPR is not Left wing, it's just the news, and it sounds left wing because everything in your party is bad, sucks, and is RUINING my country.