I suggest a one time tax of $45,000.08 on all convention delegates in 2004.

I second the suggestion!

Open a couple of "Freedom Toast" concessions and use the profits to get Lady Liberty opened. Remember where the old dear came from.

This is pretty damn sad.

But here is an idea:

The democratic party should start a partisan campaign to open up Lady Liberty again.

All registered democrats will be asked to contribute...( I have no doubt the money will come forthwith), and the opening day will be arranged to coincide with the republican national convention in NYC....or even better: on 9/11.

Maybe they are waiting for NY to get desperate enough to sell the statue of liberty. I'm sure it would look good on the Crawford ranch - as well as giving an excellent view of the ranch and maybe even Crawford.

Of course, the French gave us the darned thing and Bush Co is still ticked at the French.

AND ... the US no longer wants the "poor and huddled masses." Most likely Congress is trying to see if they can ship the poor we have somewhere else. That would certainly improve the poverty stats.

Of course the Statue of Liberty is still closed. People who visit it might begin to get, you know, ideas.

Maybe they should ask the people who built it if they can spare a few francs for the upkeep.

"while the federal government doles out millions of dollars in homeland security funds to out-of-harm's way states such as Wyoming and North Dakota"

and Iraq.

a big sign saying: "Statue of Liberty closed due to lack of Funding from Bush Administration" might go a long way.