American Politics during the Bush Presidency
I thought I would chime in as long as this thread brought up the subject of the criticism being heaped upon Bush and FEMA after Katrina. I have some experience with emergency management - hurricanes - in Florida.
First of all, this storm was the nightmare scenerio and as such, would strain and break any resources available. Here are the problems as I see them:
Lack of leadership. CNN and the media constantly criticizes Bush but the key roles for these disasters fall first on the Mayors of cities affected, then on Governors of the States. FEMA and the Federal Gov't are support systems meant to augment and supplement those local officials in charge. The local officials have failed. Local personnel have failed (see reports about 4-500 Police walking off the job, that is 1/3 of the Department) The city, understandably, has been destroyed from within and emergency response personnel suffer from the same problems as those caught in the disaster. The Mayor and Governors have been woefully inadequate in their preparation and after actions of this storm. That is not Bush's fault.
Community response. Hurricanes do not happen within minutes. People have several days of warnings and are given time to evacuate. When tens of thousands did not leave, they created a nightmare scenerio and were forced to use the "shelters of last resort" approach. Disaster plans account for these shelters. The Superdome was the best example, however, overpasses, highways and attics are also in this category. You see, once the storm hits and people realize it is dangerous, they cannot get to another state or city. They crawl into attics or trek to high ground highways just to survive.
Community Planning. I have read about and understand the economic issues regarding those who did not leave. It is understandable that many did not have the money for evacuation. However, all hurricane planning advises that for the first 72 hours after a storm people need to make sure they can survive on their own. This means water, medicines, food and any other necessities that they as individuals need. Within minutes of the storm passing, people were clamoring for these basic items and wondering why the Feds were not delivering these things immediately. I am afraid that the citizens of New Orleans did little or nothing to prepare for this storm and the aftermath.
Security issues. The CNN feeds have downplayed the violence that sprung up after the storm. Put yourself in the place of the firemen, rescue and police personnel. You enter an area to help and someone starts shooting at you. How many times are you going to go back in to this environment? Looters and roving gangs are not there to help others. When people decide to stay in the areas they complicate efforts to mitigate the storms.
This is a disaster of immense proportions and many factors had to line up for it to happen. The newspaper reports of using New Orleans as the nightmare scenerio for FEMA training are accurate. The city was always considered a potential disaster becasue of the levy problems and below sea-level location. While many are blaming Bush, neither he nor the Feds have pointed out where the real fault lies: the Government and community of New Orleans failed in protecting their community and educating their citizens on how to prepare and respond to hurricanes.
That said, I do feel terrible for those poor people who have lost everything. Please see various internet pages on how to donate and help (Red Cross is the best for your donations as they are charged with managing shelters during any emergency)
Bush Administration and Katrina
"Or is it just stunning incompetence and lack of foresight?" SteveC said. Yes, it is stunning incompetence and lack of foresight straight from the hands of a pack of ideological hacks. Well said, thank you, SteveC.
The thing I love about neocons
[QUOTE=One Tree Hill]Thomaso.
Truth logic and reason will never fly with THAT crowd. But I applaud your attempt.[/QUOTE]OTH (who's posts about Pussy I love) please don't bring this sort of garbage into a serious debate. Are you saying Richard T and I are imune to logic and facts. How about this very simple fact. Last year the Army cops of Eng asjed for 180 million dollars to improve the levies around Lake Punch-my-train. They recieved 43 million dollars, However 280 million dollars of the billions in pork went to Alaska to build a bridge to an obscure island. Hmm Alaska red state, Republican senators. Looseanna blue state, mostly Democrats. Next year big flood but the federal government has no blame. Rove is putting the blame where? On the State of course, with it's dems in charge. When asked about a study to find who was at fault, Bush replies "There will be time to find fault later, right now lets save some lives." The fucking city is almost empty whos life is there to save? Why does nothing get investigated with this admin? Why because Congress calls special investigations. With Clinton in office we spent 50 million dollars to find out how he put a cigar in the fat chicks pussy. Lets see, Dem President, Rep congress hmmmm.
To Tomasos post. Yes sir I agree, the State and City didn't do shit. They let the good times roll and paid the price. The citizenry wasn't just forced to live like animals they became animals. They share their burden of blame without a doubt. No food, no water at the shelter they sent people. The cops taking off (I do believe some of those missing cops are dead though) Every negative stereotype of the welfare mentality on the 6 oclock news. I was going to open my home and let somebody stay here but I'll be damned if I'll take the chance on letting one of the animals in my house. I don't like the way this last week has effected me but I can't deny it has had an impact on me.
I worked a few of the evacuation flights on the ground when they landed and the amount of guns and drugs left on the planes (the people were told they would be searched before going into the shelters) was kinda fucking unbelievable. The people getting off the planes for the most part disgusted me. Not because they were black, not because they were dirty but because they were ungrateful. The only thanks I got was from my boss for donating my time and labor. I didn't expect a BBBJ but a "hey man thanks" would have been nice. I expect Texas will now see a severe rise in crime due to this migration.
My post may seem contradictory at first bitching about OTH reply and then saying what I did. It just pisses me off when anybody acts in a kneejerk manner. Argue your point I'll listen but don't group me in with anybody because I am in "that crowd" and I do think in a logical manner. I'm with Dickhead, I think our President is a disgrace. I think his administration is corupt. I don't understand why anybody on this board would be in support of them when it's always been the "conservatives" that are running you off to jail for buying a blow job.
I don't think there are any simple answers to these problems and certainly nothing that will make a good sound byte on the 6 oclock news. I think it's time poor blacks in the south stopped looking for somebody to give them something and started going to school, spending the time to get trained for better employment, learn to speak the language that the rest of the country speaks. I'm sick of not saying this like I'm sick of airport screeners searching mentally retarded people instead of just saying "All men between the ages of 16 and 45 of middle eastern disent must be stripped searched before flying. Lets start saying the problem simply. The poor, undereducated people in New Orleans did nothing to improve their lives in order to have the resources needed to flee the city did not even take the basic precautions to have any water or food. When they were stuck on their roof they didn't even snag a pot going by to boil some water. They Sat on their asses and complained that nobody came the day of the disaster to rescue their ass from the situation THEY put themselves into by the desicions they made not just that week but for their whole life. Lets start there, then lets go on to what responsibility the local government has (finally they are telling people if you stay we won't bring you any more water) Then lets REALLY find out whos to blame in this administration that has shown total indifferance to the poor in our country.
Sorry for this rambling disjointed post but I'm trying to work his shit out in my head. OTH again I fucking LOVE your pussy posts.
For me I may become a libertarian
I'm really struggling with this. I'm sick to fucking death of the entitlement shit of most Democrates (not so much the party but the members) Get a fucking job and live within your means what the fuck. I can't fucking stand the elitism of the Republicans (we got ours fuck you) This war in Iraq is a fucking sham, He's still beating the Sadam 911 connection regardless of the fact that his own Congress released the report saying there isn't one. I'm sick of the NeoCons talking about Democrate tax and spend when the two biggest deficits in our nations history were run up by Republicans. I guess lowering taxes while increasing spending makes sense on some worlds but I'm not allowed to write hot checks.
I think if Bruce and Bruce want to get married it's none of my fucking business. But then the "liberal" coalition on the supreme court says that the inbreed local government can condem the land that has been in a family for 10 generations to build a strip mall on it if the increase in tax base helps the comunity. It's like everywhere you turn there is an idiot taking some major shit from you.
I didn't lose much in this pension fiasco but let me tell you the widespread defaulting of pensions along with the restructuring of SS is going to put some poor fucking old people into the system. Perhaps the right to lifers will take another look at ethinasia. I'm also sick of most union members (and I'm in one) thinking that being in one means you get more shit while giving less work. I wish I had the talent it takes to be an entrepenur but I don't. I'm smart but not that kind of smart, I'll probably always be a working stiff. But I understand that in order for my company to thrive all of it's employees must produce more than they recieve or else the company goes away.
If the republicans in this country actually practiced the values they say they hold I would probably be one. When we invaded Iraq they were all beating the patriot drum. Almost ALL of the Sr officials had multiple deferments during Vietnam and with the exception of two Congressmen (or Senators I'm not sure) NONE of their kids where there. (Michael Moore is an asshole but he was right about that) I'm sick of this administration not responding to legitamate critisizm and passing laws hiding what they do. I'm also sick of the opposition siezing ANY little thing and trying to make it a big deal. If Rove leaked that shit about the CIA lady and it was against the law let him call Johnny fucking Cochran (except he's dead) and try him. I think ALL of those fuckers leak shit to the press, though Rove is one vindictive amoral son of a *****, so why are they crying when He does it.
One of the reasons I'm moving to Argentina is because the people there understand that their government is full of lying corrupt bastards and they by and large ignore it. Here most of these idiots actually still believe one side is better than the other and they are giving this regeim way to much power. I'm telling you that soon you will see the EEUU on those lists of none transparent governments. The Patriot Act guts 1 and 4 and lawsuits and court rulings have seriously hurt 5 and 7.
I know it's a rant and I know my spelling is terrible but I'm fed up and frustrated. I'm sick of lowest common denomonater government and a public policy made of 10 second sound bites. I think as a country we deserve more but we only have ourselves to blame for the shit we have. I love this country and the ideals it was founded on. I wish we could get back to them and fear we are in a serious decline that will see us lose what we have. I really do think we are a great country and I seriously am in love with it but I fear for it.