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September 01, 2005
Zero Fiddles While The Big Easy Churns
It seemed just wrong to vent political rhetoric during a natural disaster when our fellow Americans were suffering. So despite a deteriorating situation in New Orleans, I've held my tongue. But after today, I can't stay silent about the "leadership" by the incompetent frat boy.
First of all, you can say what you want about Clinton and his eye for the cameras, but it's a dead lock cinch that by Tuesday afternoon, he'd have been in Louisiana feeling someone's pain or waiting to praise the rescuers from the incident below.
You want to know what Bush was doing during the hour this incident occured?
2000 years ago, Nero famously fiddled while Rome burned. In the modern day empire, a zero strummed while the city drowned. Rather than, oh, say do his job, Bush was gladhanding and playing for photo-ops at one of the few remaining places where people still like him. When the people needed him to be selfless, he was doing something self-serving. That's not leadership. It's cowardice.
Meanwhile, as New Orleans descends further into chaos every hour, Bush and FEMA haven't managed to control the situation well enough to even get constant rescue missions running. Granted, no one should expect rescue workers to risk gunshot or rape in order to save people. But why haven't we mobilized enough National Guardsmen to New Orleans to restore order? Of course, one reason is that 40% of Louisiana's National Guard is in Iraq fighting Bush's Halliburton war. I bet if there had been a profit motive for Bush's friends down there, we'd have 60,000 military there on Tuesday morning. Maybe New Orleans' mayor should have offered to give Halliburton a no-bid contract to control all the oil that comes out of the Gulf of Mexico. Then he could have gotten some help.
Moving further into his administration, it's truly incomprehensible that anyone who could watch this happening in New Orleans could possibly issue a statement like this:
"I am satisfied that we have not only enough," insisted Chertoff, "but more than enough forces there and on the way."
You know, if this guy had been in charge on 9/11, I do believe he might have sent a fire truck.
As you probably can guess, I'm on about a dozen Democratic mailing lists. In the last four days, I have received mass notes from Howard Dean, John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, and Nancy Pelosi. Not one of them has mentioned the word "Democrat" or "Republican." All of them have simply said that Americans needed help, and could I please consider donating to the Red Cross or other charity (which they linked to). Nothing else. No propaganda, no villianizing, no anything other than asking me to help. Know what the Republican National Committee sent out today (September 1) (Courtesy of Daily Kos)?
Dear XXX,
For the last four years, President Bush and Republicans in Congress have championed a pro-growth agenda that has brought tax relief to millions of Americans. Historic legislation in 2001 and 2003 put America on the track to economic growth, and today our economic outlook is bright. There is more work to do, however, to ensure that tax-paying Americans can keep more of their own hard-earned income.
When they return from their August recess, Senators will consider a key issue: elimination of the death tax. The death tax is an unfair double taxation of income, which hurts America's small businesses and farms and threatens job growth. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats are working hard to oppose our efforts to eliminate this unfair tax.
Will you help bring tax relief to more hard-working Americans? Call Senator George V. Voinovich at 202-224-3353 today and ask them to eliminate the death tax.
Americans are struggling with the most extensive natural disaster in US history, and the Republican National Committee cares about giving the richest Americans another tax break, a chance to inherit daddy's wallet without paying taxes on it.
Yes, the Dems send propaganda e-mail too... just not during a national disaster and crisis. The Republicans appear to have other priorities. Maybe that explains why we don't have adequate Guard presence in New Orleans.
Comments
I called Voinovich's office in Cinncinati. I asked if they knew how FEMA was paid. (taxes) How our Natioal Guard was paid (taxes). How our soldiers were paid (taxes) and then asked why then the Republicans don't want to support those programs.
I said that our tax dollars go to support those devastated in New Orleans and how could the RNC send out such an email during a time of National Disaster. (I started getting really misty about this time....)
Posted by: jillian at September 1, 2005 11:59 PM
Well FEMA can't respond well since the administration has been dismantling it -- not that I think it would help anyway. The social contracts which are the real barriers to chaos have been under strain in NO forever. Obviously it chaos rules and we can all see how chaos feeds itself.
The actions of people who shoot rescue workers are inexcusable and unpardonable At this point, no matter the root causes, order must be restored. The costs are simply too high not to do so and not just for the Gulf coast but for all of us... We cannot respond to major disasters in this nation when the situation becomes every person for themselves. Unfortunately the example of NO is likely to make some people think twice before helping, sharing, or simply acting their part and remaining civil when an incident occurs in their community.
I’ve never been a supporter of the Bush administration and I think in this case the President has again fallen short of his leadership responsibilities but it should be noted that this is a logistical nightmare – one that is well anticipated and why you are advised to keep a weeks worth of food and water at hand. The resources simply do not exist to respond to within 46-72 hours for disasters of this magnitude – and it may well be an impossibility no matter what resources are committed. Could we do better – yes. Could we be led better – yes. But please keep your expectations in the realm of the possible.
Posted by: Usefulguy at September 2, 2005 12:15 AM
Usefulguy -- Yes, this is a logistical nightmare. Nightmare is so the right word. However, we are talking about the President of the United States. POTUS for you West Wing fans. This is a man who runs one of the most powerful organizing forces in the world (no, not Hoffa Jr.). This is a disaster in his own back yard. Why is it that he has the will to organize troops for a profit-concocted war in Iraq, yet doesn't have the will to organize relief for those who mistakenly elected him? To the people of America -- and in many places around the world -- George W. Bush is a disaster magnitudes beyond any which come from Mother Nature.
Posted by: The SpinMD at September 2, 2005 07:31 AM
Is this not what Homeland Security is about? At least w/ the hurricane we had a few days warning (while the gov't did nothing). If it had been an out-of-the-blue attack or natural disaster, I could understand the delay. This is ridiculous. And his singing cowboy routine on Tuesday? Disgraceful.
Posted by: eden at September 2, 2005 12:27 PM
