VIEW FROM ABOVE — by Steve Nadis
Who says George Bush does not care about the common man (and woman)? That is so unfair. When New York City suffered a terrorist attack four years ago, he went to that city himself, within a week, which is impressive given his aversion to “big city livin’.” And this week, the President cut short his celebrated vacation in Crawford, Texas and got right in the trenches, as it were, flying over the ravaged Gulf Coast in Air Force One, where he got an aerial view of people clinging to their lives on rooftops. Fortunately, if that view became too tiresome, the president could always seek refuge in the aircraft’s gym and entertainment center.
Posted by
at
13:05:42
A couple of images that might put the President’s concern in proper perspective.
First one, from the day after Katrina:
http://www.brainbus.com/images/bushsuperdome.jpg
Second one, from the White House web site (sort of):
http://www.brainbus.com/images/bushrelief.jpg
(If these links don’t work, just go to http://www.brainbus.com/Photos.php )
Snake, this may be the turning point for this administration. Boy, did they talk a good game, telling us how they were keeping us safe from terrorist attack during the the last election. That we’d be putting ourselves in danger by voting for Kerry. But when Katrina came on shore (unlike a sleeper cell, with DAYS notice) look at how this crew responded. The Gulf States and New Orleans are like 9/11 in slow motion and to the 10th power. These poor people are trapped and DYING and STILL no coordinated effort from Bush. Well, other than a news conference to congratulate himself on all the stuff his agencies plan to do and to tell people to buck up! You’re not running for reelecton George, you have to actually DO something now, like save hundreds of thousands of lives!!!! Summer vacation is over.
(P.S. Sorry about the rude, long post, I’ll get back to short and moderately amusing, just pissed off today)
Don’t be sorry, Doc. Rude and pissed off is entirely appropriate under the circumstances…
Sorry to break the news to you, Snake, and your regular readers, but… it is not the responsibility of the President or the Federal government to manage catastrophes. It is first the responsibility of local authorities and private citizens; then, state and regional agencies; the rescuers of last resort are the Feds.
In this case, in New Orleans, Mayor Nagin said on Saturday he had an evacuation plan that was going to save everybody. The Governor said she was sure the state agencies were prepared for anything and the Feds should stand off until and if needed. The President went ahead and declared the region a disaster area even before H-Kat came ashore, while still a cat-4. It was the Feds who kept saying, "this is the big one, the Catagory 5 monster that will destroy everything in its path - get the hell out."
That 100K-300K people decided to stay, citizens never prepared for the disaster they all knew would happen, the mayors plans were non-existent, hundreds of school busses were left unused in the school yard is hardly the fault of the Federal government nor the fault of the President even if the office was still held by the that scum sucker, Bill Clinton.
Hurricanes cannot be legislated. Disasters happen and no one can know what will present the following morn. Sure, the liberal conmen and policy wonks will Monday morning quarterback, but where were they when their unerring prescience was needed most?
I live in earthquake country. The first thing aid agencies will tell you is to have food, water, clothing, medicines, toiletries, flashlights and batteries, blankets and shelter, and cash money to last five to six days minimum because that’s how long it will take for organized help to arrive.
I agree w/you Indigo; this is not strictly or perhaps even primarily a federal issue. But there is an agency called FEMA that is supposed to be ready to step in during situations like this. And the federal government does provide aid for most legitimate disasters, and this one surely qualifies. Perhaps you don’t see it this way but for the president to continue his vacation for a couple of days after the hurricane hit the coast seems callous to me to say the least. Yes disasters happen. I can’t blame Bush for what the hurricane did. But I think the response on all levels–federal, state, and local–was wanting in this case. This I believe.