“You cannot deny that your project involves the use of the Federal Government’s sovereign power — very few escape it. Perhaps you are innocent — or perhaps you are not. We will decide.”
“Answer the questions, miserable applicant! It is not for you to know the meaning of our criteria!”
“I have six lines of your writing admitting that a federal agency will incur unforeseen costs of natural disasters because the project involves essential regional infrastructure. This we know, of course. Your honesty is most commendable. However, it will not save your application.“
“Statutory basis for the ineligibility of projects when certain federal agencies are involved? We don’t have that. We don’t need no stinkin’ statutory basis!”
“Ineligibility first — application of budget principles afterwards!”
