The last few weeks have been irrefutable proof that America is being wrecked and mismanaged by the most incompetent, dangerous and out of touch boobs ever to obtain power. Any American with even a tiny amount of conscience who watched those images from New Orleans shook their heads with disbelief and shame that something like this should happen within our own borders in these modern times. As pictures of floating corpses glared at us through our TV sets, we were treated to photo-ops of our supposed leader golfing, blithering about Social Security, eating cake and strumming a guitar. Meanwhile, our Secretary of State shopped for shoes and took in a show while the Vice President shopped for a house in a ritzy Maryland neighborhood. And just as it was four years ago before the smoke had cleared in Southern Manhattan, the Bush people are running from any sense of responsibility or accountability before the waters are gone from New Orleans . Oh sure, I know Bush came out later the same week and assumed responsibility for any short-comings by the federal government, but that ploy was devised to address his pathetic numbers rather than any altruistic intentions. They still shamelessly accuse those who point to the pathetic response of the federal government of playing the “blame game” and “pointing fingers” while they and their media mouthpieces do exactly the same thing when referring to State and Local officials. But there are other unfortunate similarities regarding Bush and Company’s actions that also remind us of what happened four years ago besides their chronic fear of accountability. Yet the most disturbing similarity between 9/11 and the aftermath of Katrina is Bush’s outright refusal to examine the obvious mistakes made by his administration. The day before he was to address the country about all things Katrina, the Republicans in the Senate saw to it that there would be no independent investigation. Just as Bush fought tooth and nail to stone-wall any independent investigation into the events of 9/11, he has now declared that he himself will conduct an inquiry into what “mistakes were made.” Excuse me, but that is as absurd as allowing the Department of Defense “investigate” what happened at Abu Ghraib and we all know what a white-wash that turned out to be. Allow me to get a tad personal. Why do I think that you would have any sense of decency about this catastrophe after I saw you joke about not finding any WMD’s at a Press Club dinner a few years ago? I swear by all that is decent and right, you and your ilk are an embarrassment to this country that is unparalleled. <snip> And has it dawned on you or any of your blind and blithering supporters that Katrina proves that we are no more “safe” than we were before 9/11? <more> http://www.oldamericancentury.org/dave3_035.htm Great stuff! Read the rest, his rant is fucking awsome! MojoXN
Don't ya' think we've about beaten that horse to death? ...a few times over, perhaps? Or is it because there was nothing new on the news that was exciting today? Baron Max
You should stop blaming Bush and pity him instead. Look, unlike most everyone, Bush was born a Billionaire. His family has so much fucking money they wouldn’t know what to do with it. That means that Bush has never had to do the hard-yakker to make something of himself. He has never had to worry and to really reflect on what decisions would be best and how thing could go truly go wrong. His life was one of willy-f-n-nilly. There are precious few, gifted with all it takes to run the gantlet of bull shit it takes to steer this nation into the clear. I’d say, almost anyone raised with such unimaginable amounts of wealth would be hard pressed to develop the skills it takes to do it. And, correct me if I’m wrong, pretty much every congressman and woman comes from a family of millionaires – so don’t count on them either. Why do you think Empires eventually turn to shit? The rich can not hope to understand what it is like to do it tough. Living in their palaces they can not hope to learn the lessons that need to be learnt. They have no true sense of reality, as the majority of us know it, because they have never had to worry about the things that concern us. Aside from Buddha, I can’t think of anyone born of such Royalty (as the Bushes) that were able to develop any sense of depth and understanding towards the common person. [And he had to give up his fortune to do it. So Jesus, don’t expect Bush to do so for Christ’s sake. His notion of depth is: "YeeHaw lets have us aw crooosayeed in dat dar Middle East ... (I mean come on, I still can't beleive he'd be such an idiot)]. The idea of budgeting for food would have to appear preposterous to a Bush. The notion of working 9-5 and to make a living by an hourly wage – WTF? The use of familiar connections to get anywhere in life – only too obvious, of course. History is littered with nations whose downfall were heralded by people cut from the same cloth. From Roman and Chinese Emperors to Religious Kings and Popes. I’m not saying America is on the way down, and I don’t think it is, for now, thanks to the American People and the foundations our forefathers laid. But I'll say it is going to get worse before it gets better. Lastly, everyone knows, that the best leaders arise from within the flames of adversity – something Bush has, unfortunately for him and his ilk, never had test his mettle. (Not that it'd have mattered, a grandson of Venus his is not by damn sure). Why do you think so many people connected with Clinton? Sure he had his problems, but he had to do it tough, came from a poor single-mother family, and worked his way up. He can look back and know his was owned by him and him alone, a feeling Bush will never enjoy. So, stop bashing Bush – He was raised a Billionaire, never had to worry about making any really God damn life altering decision in his entire fucking life, (even his drug problems were solved with a few cliché lines read from a God damn priest), and he will probably be remembered as one of our nations most abysmal presidents – if anything pity the man.
For any of you who have not lived through hurricane damage and destruction, let me advise you how it is done in Florida. The responsibility for shelters and evacuation plans is with the local city and county and state governments, not the Feds. The immediate response to the aftermath of any destruction is with the local city and county and state governments, not the Feds. The Federal govenment then comes in after assessing the priorities of where to start and takes over the massive task of getting things back to normal in conjunction with the city, county and state. It has worked in Florida for many years. Stop blaming the Feds for the lack of evacution and immediate response in New Orleans, it was the local and state governments that failed to follow their own plans. Do not forget about Alabama and Mississippi, both were hit harder than New Orleans. It just didn't make the news right away. New Orleans was a much better story for TV ratings.
Bush is not a Billionaire. Get help. The same thing would have happened under Clinton. Did Clinton fund the fixing of the Levees?? didnt think so...... Giskard is right- this stuff is the realm of the States (You know that whole States rights/responsibility thing...).
obvious agenda here On August 24, 1992, the morning hurricane Andrew ended, the Miami Herald broke with: Andrew Hits Hardest in South Dade. Five thousand people were left homeless by the storm, Metro Dade Police Director announced. They'll be moved into shelters in North Dade. Over subsequent days, the Miami Herald read as follows: August 25, 1992: Destruction at Dawn. Among worst hit in the Country Walk area of South Dade, few homes escaped at least minor damage and many were utterly destroyed. 10 killed in Dade. August 27, 1992: The Toll Rises. 22 dead as the search continues. 63,000 homes destroyed. 175,000 homeless. 1 million without power. August 28, 1992: WE NEED HELP. Relief effort collapsing due to United States inaction, Metro charges. Aid us now or more will die, Feds told. As Dade County's hurricane relief effort neared collapse Thursday, more than 1,500 airborne US soldiers were ordered into the county to cope with what is now being called the worst natural disaster in United States history. The move came after a day of bitter sniping among agencies that share responsibility for the relief effort. United States aid official Wallace Stickler stated: "Andrew has caused more destruction and affected more people than any disaster America has ever had." Dade County's Emergency Director pleaded for federal help, one angry voice among many that spoke in dire terms of needs unmet. Frustrated to the point of tears, Kate Hale said that the relief project was on the brink of collapse, a victim of incompetence and political games: "Where the hell is the cavalry on this one? We need food! We need water! We need people! If we do not get more food into the south end [South Dade] in a very short period of time, we are going to have more casualties! "We have a catastrophic disaster. We are hours away from more casualties. We are essentially the walking wounded. We have appealed through the State to the Federal Government. We've had a lot of people down here for press conferences. But Dade County is on its own. Dade County is being caught in the middle of something and we are being victimized. "Quit playing like a bunch of kids and get us aid! Sort out your political games afterward!" On the same day Hale made the desperate plea, Miami Herald staff writers Martin Merzer and Tom Fiedler wrote: The question echoed through the debris Thursday: If we can do it for Bangladesh, for the Philippines, for the Kurds of northern Iraq, why in God's name can't we deliver basic necessities of life to the ravaged population of our own Gold Coast?" The short answer: because no single person or agency is in charge. The result: a planeload of food and equipment is still a rarity. Instead of delivering goods, helicopter pilots shuttle government officials who just sit idle. Metro police turn away individuals trying to bring in food or water to a barren South Dade. On August 29, 1992, six days into the aftermath, the Miami Herald reported: Problems Plague Red Cross. The man on the phone wanted to donate 100 electric generators, extension cords and enough tools to build a small subdivision. But the operator who took his call at the Red Cross Command Center in Miami had no idea what to do with the offer. "We get a call, we take a message, we give it to somebody who signs it to somebody else," said the operator, Melitta de Liefd. "We have no idea what happens to it. The whole place is being run by senior citizens and college kids." Welcome to Red Cross headquarters--where the brains of Dade County rescue effort have been knocked almost unconscious most of the week. Callers offering services and supplies are put on hold. Others can't get through at all. The hurt and suffering plead for help over ham radio. On August 29, 1992, one week after hurricane Andrew struck, the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel reported 250,000 people homeless in South Dade. then we have a super efficient fema.... As Hurricane Frances made landfall 100 miles north of Miami-Dade County in September, a top official at the Federal Emergency Management Agency declared the county a major disaster area with no evidence of damage and contrary to a presidential order, federal auditors have found. That decision allowed more than 12,000 Miami-Dade residents, many with minimal or no damage, to collect $31 million and brought unprecedented scrutiny to the federal disaster aid program... On Sept. 5, as the storm continued its trek into central Florida, FEMA added to the declaration Miami-Dade and the other 12 counties originally requested by Gov. Jeb Bush. The decision was made by FEMA's recovery division director in Washington. The report did not name him, but Nicol D. Andrews, FEMA spokeswoman, identified him as Dan Craig. The ruling came just two months before the 2004 presidential election, with Florida the top battleground state.[/i]
"Actually he did, then Bush came and cut the funds." Bullshit. Let me get this striaght- Clinton was in Power for 8 years and you are saying he couldnt get funding? Being that they have known that New Orleans was below see level for the past 200 years you would have think that Clinton would have made it his top priority!
As soon as the local governor declared a state of emergency, the situation came under the jurisdiction of the department of homeland security.
Exactly. Bush declared a state of emergency on the Saturday before the hurricane actually hit, and then he went back on vacation until the Wednesday after the hurricane. He's the lousiest leader we've ever had. Him and all his corrupt cronies, who care for nothing but their own bank accounts.
I'm curious to see how he will handle that other hurricane, Rita. Because it has to do with him (being Texas and all), he'll probably express his pity, and be there himself helping and looking like he actually gives a shit...totally ignoring Lousiana even further.
