Where is the leadership?
September 1st, 2005 by Josh
I don’t really know what to say about Hurricane Katrina and it’s devastating aftermath throughout the Gulf Region. It seems like every day things just get continuously worst. For an informational update I’ll point you towards a long post that Matt is continously updating. Meanwhile, if you haven’t already watched Bush’s “speech” from yesterday, head over to C&L and see how our commander-in-chief is handling this crisis. Very good Georgie, 13.4 million liters of water is a lot. The New York Times editorializes that we are waiting for a leader:
George W. Bush gave one of the worst speeches of his life yesterday, especially given the level of national distress and the need for words of consolation and wisdom. In what seems to be a ritual in this administration, the president appeared a day later than he was needed. He then read an address of a quality more appropriate for an Arbor Day celebration: a long laundry list of pounds of ice, generators and blankets delivered to the stricken Gulf Coast. He advised the public that anybody who wanted to help should send cash, grinned, and promised that everything would work out in the end
You would think that even the ideologues in the Bush administration could put aside their distaste for anyone who isn’t an American to help the tens of thousands who are in need, but sadly this is not the case. Kos reports that the US won’t allow Canada to help the victims:
On tonight’s news, CTV (Canadian TV) said that support was offered from Canada. Planes are ready to load with food and medical supplies and a system called “DART” which can provide fresh water and medical supplies is standing by. Department of Homeland Security as well as other U.S. agencies were contacted by the Canadian government requesting permission to provide help. Despite this contact, Canada has not been allowed to fly supplies and personnel to the areas hit by Katrina. So, everything here is grounded. Prime Minister Paul Martin is reportedly trying to speak to President Bush tonight or tomorrow to ask him why the U.S. federal government will not allow aid from Canada into Louisiana and Mississippi.
Compounding the near-criminal delays that the White House has allowed to occur, Bush is even blatantly lying to cover his own ass, telling reports today that “I don’t think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees.” Of course this is a complete fallacy since in 2001 FEMA ranked a hurricane hitting New Orleans as the third most likely catastrophic event in the US after a massive earthquake in San Francisco and a terrorist attack in NY. And as the New Orleans Times Picayune reported on June 8, 2004, the Bush administration’s budget cut funding for hurricane preparedness for the first time in 37 years. Is he trying to hit trifecta? Does he even want to be president?
At least the hurricane isn’t disrupting Condi’s good time as she shops for shoes, sees a show in New York City, and has someone who disagrees with her physically removed from the store.
On at least one positive note, I’m glad to hear my friend Jon’s family is okay.
That’s all the anger I can summon for right now. I go in for sinus surgery tomorrow, laying me up for most of the weekend, so hopefully there will be plenty of posting over the next few days.
The Red Cross needs your help:
September 2nd, 2005 at 12:02 am
[...] that Hurrican Katrina has had on the Gulf states, but Josh has written two posts that are beautifully and passionately stated. I am digusted when I turn on the TV [...]
September 4th, 2005 at 12:34 am
Where is the leadership?
Where is the leadership?