ClutchFans - President Bush: 'I take responsibility'...

KingCheetah

09-13-2005, 12:42 PM

I'm impressed that the President made this statement...
_________________

"Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government, and to the extent that the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility."
_______

Bush: 'I take responsibility'

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -
President George W. Bush took responsibility on Tuesday for any failures in the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina that struck two weeks ago and acknowledged the storm exposed deficiencies at all levels of government four years after the September 11 attacks.

Asked if Americans should be concerned their government remains unprepared to respond to another major disaster or a terrorist attack, Bush said: "Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government, and to the extent that the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility."

Speaking at a joint news conference with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Bush said, "I want to know what went right and what went wrong. I want to know how to better cooperate with state and local government to be able to answer that very question that you asked.

"Are we capable of dealing with a severe attack or another severe storm? And that's a very important question and it's in our national interest that we find out exactly what went on so we can better respond," Bush said.

The president plunged in the polls after fierce criticism for the government's slow response to the hurricane that ravaged the U.S. Gulf cost when it struck on August 29, killing hundreds and displacing 1 million people in one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history.

link (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050913/ts_nm/katrina_bush_responsibility_dc)

RocketMan Tex

09-13-2005, 12:44 PM

Too little, and way too late. But at least the words came out of his mouth.

He needs to say the same thing about the war in Iraq. Now THAT would be front page news.

real_egal

09-13-2005, 12:56 PM

Too little, and way too late. But at least the words came out of his mouth.

He needs to say the same thing about the war in Iraq. Now THAT would be front page news.

It's a very good start. Damn, he has good advisors:)

lnghrn4life

09-13-2005, 01:14 PM

i think it is good that he said this, although i don't think he needed to because he shouldnt be taking on all the blame himself (yes, he had his shortcomings) but federal response was quicker in this storm then it was in Hugo and Andrew...

Sonny

09-13-2005, 01:21 PM

I'm a Bush supporter, always have been - I think everyone from the top to the bottom screwed up on Katrina and I am glad to see Bush accept the blame. The FEMA boso has been replaced and I hope this is just the beginning of the changes that need to occur.

I wish everyone would just accept the fact that everyone regardless of race or political affiliation screwed up and move forward with recovering from this disaster.

link (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050913/ts_nm/katrina_bush_responsibility_dc)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -
President George W. Bush took responsibility on Tuesday for any failures in the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina that struck two weeks ago and acknowledged the storm exposed deficiencies at all levels of government four years after the September 11 attacks.
ADVERTISEMENT

Asked if Americans should be concerned their government remains unprepared to respond to another major disaster or a terrorist attack, Bush said: "Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government, and to the extent that the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility."

Speaking at a joint news conference with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Bush said, "I want to know what went right and what went wrong. I want to know how to better cooperate with state and local government to be able to answer that very question that you asked.

"Are we capable of dealing with a severe attack or another severe storm? And that's a very important question and it's in our national interest that we find out exactly what went on so we can better respond," Bush said.

The president plunged in the polls after fierce criticism for the government's slow response to the hurricane that ravaged the U.S. Gulf cost when it struck on August 29, killing hundreds and displacing 1 million people in one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history.

Saint Louis

09-13-2005, 01:28 PM

wnes

09-13-2005, 02:47 PM

GWB taking (personal) responsibility, hmmm, is it the first ever for him?

Hopefully it's not just hollow words. For now, I am prepared to give Dubya the "benefits of the doubt". Will refrain myself from posting any Bush-bashing stuff for, uh.., the next three months.

losttexan

09-13-2005, 02:57 PM

Well it's good to hear. I think he should take responsibility. Lord knows I have to take responsibility at my job.

Preston27

09-13-2005, 02:59 PM

Good to hear the man take responsibility. My respect for him has gone up.

glynch

09-13-2005, 03:28 PM

I'm a Bush supporter, always have been
I wish everyone would just accept the fact that everyone regardless of race or political affiliation screwed up and move forward with recovering from this disaster.

link (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050913/ts_nm/katrina_bush_responsibility_dc)

That is the Party line alright. I'm sure you wish it.

u851662

09-13-2005, 03:43 PM

It's a very good start. Damn, he has good advisors:)

He really does, him taking the blame for this one is absoulutely brilliant political strategy. And then to say it on National TV. He may be the worse President ever, but someone put the best Political PR crew together for him ever assembled.

MadMax

09-13-2005, 04:03 PM

He really does, him taking the blame for this one is absoulutely brilliant political strategy. And then to say it on National TV. He may be the worse President ever, but someone put the best Political PR crew together for him ever assembled.

wait, wait, wait. there was no one better than Clinton at that sort of thing. no one. Mr. Teflon. i'm not knocking Clinton at all...but in this media age, in order to survive politically, you must have a kick-ass PR crew.

MadMax

09-13-2005, 04:04 PM

That is the Party line alright. I'm sure you wish it.

so you think Bush, alone, is to blame, glynch?

halfbreed

09-13-2005, 04:09 PM

He really does, him taking the blame for this one is absoulutely brilliant political strategy. And then to say it on National TV. He may be the worse President ever, but someone put the best Political PR crew together for him ever assembled.

The "worse" president ever? Have you actually studied every presidency since Washington and thereby justify such a statement?

Sishir Chang

09-13-2005, 04:12 PM

Will refrain myself from posting any Bush-bashing stuff for, uh.., the next three months.

No offense Wnes but I have a hard time imagining you going cold turkey for the next three months.

No Worries

09-13-2005, 04:16 PM

The "worse" president ever? Have you actually studied every presidency since Washington and thereby justify such a statement?
Have you?

wnes

09-13-2005, 04:22 PM

No offense Wnes but I have a hard time imagining you going cold turkey for the next three months.

Hey my abstinence is only limited to Bush-bashing. I am at liberty of blasting any other right-wing freaks as much as I want to. :D

But seriously, I am trying to be non-partisan for a while to see if I can understand the other side a little better. Believe it or not, I used to be a 'softcore' Rush dittohead.

MartianMan

09-13-2005, 04:23 PM

The "worse" president ever? Have you actually studied every presidency since Washington and thereby justify such a statement?

it's obviously his opinion. Questioning someone's opinion seems pretty weak esp. since there are many facts backing up his opinion. A better route would be to ask him how he arrived at his opinion. But then this thread will wind up into another Bush/Iraq thread and we don't want that to happen, or do we?

halfbreed

09-13-2005, 05:13 PM

Have you?

I've taken many classes on American Presidents and can say with some certainty that if you ask any expert on the issue, GWB will end up on the bottom of the list MAYBE 1 out of 500 times.

halfbreed

09-13-2005, 05:15 PM

it's obviously his opinion. Questioning someone's opinion seems pretty weak esp. since there are many facts backing up his opinion. A better route would be to ask him how he arrived at his opinion. But then this thread will wind up into another Bush/Iraq thread and we don't want that to happen, or do we?

There are no facts you could use to justify him as the worst president ever. You could justify him as a bad president if you subscribe to certain ideologies, don't get me wrong. But anyone claiming Bush as the worst president ever has no sense of history with regards to the presidency and those that have held the office.

ragingFire

09-13-2005, 05:19 PM

Deckard

09-13-2005, 05:36 PM

The "worse" president ever? Have you actually studied every presidency since Washington and thereby justify such a statement?
I wouldn't say that. I would say that Bush is the worst president in my personal experience. That would include Ike, JFK, LBJ, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush Senior, and Clinton.

I had problems with all of them, except for Kennedy. Ford pardoned Nixon, so I can't give him a pass. Carter was a lousy leader, but a good man. LBJ did wonders with the social issues JFK had targeted... just amazing accomplishments, but they went down the rabbit hole of Vietnam, which is what most people, sadly, remember him for. Ike should have taken on the blacklisting of the McCarthy era, and not waited until he was leaving office to make his "military-industrial complex" speech. Reagan was a strong leader, but didn't accomplish nearly what his supporters think that he accomplished. And he largely got a pass for Iran-Contra, which was a travesty. Bush Senior should have said "**** it!" and taken out Saddam during the Gulf War, which would have prevented his son from doing what he's doing there. Clinton couldn't keep his pants zipped. Otherwise, Bill has a damn fine record.

All in my opinion, of course. Good to see George finally accept responsibility for something. Perhaps Rove will see the good of contrition on Bush's part and encourage him to do it more often. He can suggest fewer vacations and more press conferences, while he's at it. Bush is setting records for the first, and setting records for the fewest press conferences for a modern President. Bush remains, despite the competition, the worst President I've known. I won't get into Nixon, who I had the pleasure of voting against. Someone finally makes him look halfway decent.

Keep D&D Civil!!

KingCheetah

09-13-2005, 05:45 PM

All in my opinion, of course. Good to see George finally accept responsibility for something.

It's been a long time coming...

No Worries

09-13-2005, 05:56 PM

I wouldn't say that. I would say that Bush is the worst president in my personal experience.
Deckard, you are such an ideologue!!!

Deckard

09-13-2005, 05:57 PM

Deckard, you are such an ideologue!!!
Who, me?? :D

Keep D&D Civil!!

No Worries

09-13-2005, 05:59 PM

I've taken many classes on American Presidents and can say with some certainty that if you ask any expert on the issue, GWB will end up on the bottom of the list MAYBE 1 out of 500 times.
Historians are going to rank W in the bottom of the list, no doubt about it. W has enough time to straigthened out this situation, but I am not holding my breath.

BTW most historians wait until many years after a presidency has completed before they have to enough documents and can make a detailed evaulation.

Sishir Chang

09-13-2005, 07:16 PM

NewYorker

09-13-2005, 07:19 PM

Bush should take responsibility for hiring Brown - now that would be really impressive.

I'm still impressed he did it. If he had shown this kind of character on early in his presidency, then this nation wouldn't be so divided.

No Worries

09-13-2005, 07:58 PM

Yeah I would say GW Bush beats Harding and Harrison and probably Van Buren.
but maybe not Hoover? When I think of GWB, I see a mix of both Hoover and Harding.

No Worries

09-13-2005, 07:59 PM

If he had shown this kind of character on early in his presidency, ...

He would have had to polling very badly.

FranchiseBlade

09-13-2005, 09:55 PM

I'm happy to hear it. I hope that it is a trend.

Sishir Chang

09-13-2005, 10:18 PM

If he had shown this kind of character on early in his presidency, ...

He would have had to polling very badly.

I think GW Bush is willing to take responsibility for this as opposed to other things that haven't gone right is because this wasn't a situation that the Admin. created. While the Admin. might've done things to exacerbate it its not like they created the hurricane and as others have noted their is a lot of blame to go around so its not like this is something as associated with this Admin. as the invasion of Iraq.

nyquil82

09-13-2005, 10:54 PM

I'm happy to hear it. I hope that it is a trend.

hopefully for only past mistakes, I don't want him making more and thinking he can get away for it by saying 'sorry'.

Rockets2K

09-13-2005, 11:44 PM

I've taken many classes on American Presidents and can say with some certainty that if you ask any expert on the issue, GWB will end up on the bottom of the list MAYBE 1 out of 500 times.

Why did you have to take the class so many times?

Did you drop or fail the class multiple times?

Most degree plans only require two american history classes

:D

glynch,

I happen to agree with Sonny on that...failure came from all levels of our government....are you accusing me of toeing the Repub line?

That would be a most laughable accusation.

Uprising

09-13-2005, 11:56 PM

I happen to agree with Sonny on that...failure came from all levels of our government....are you accusing me of toeing the Repub line?

That would be a most laughable accusation.

Exactly. It was good to hear Bush say this. Every level of gov, espeically the local gov. really messed up on this one.

Rockets2K

09-14-2005, 12:03 AM

Exactly. It was good to hear Bush say this. Every level of gov, espeically the local gov. really messed up on this one.

no...not especially...I realize you are a FOB(fan of Bush)...but comeone Ups...quit parroting the party line....Ive seen you do it time after time lately...you are better than that.

The locals were woefully unprepared....true....and once in a crisis situation with no communication capabilities and no visiable backbone...they cracked.
Perfectly understandable imo....

but I expect better response from the national gov...they should have been better prepared...they have dealt with disasters time after time...they had experience and the capabilties to respond better thanthey did.

Surely you can see that...its only logical.

Incompetence at the local and FEMA levels cost us dearly.

Now...lets all hope and pray that Mr Bush can correct the issues that FEMA had..and can fix what went wrong...before they next disaster happens....you never know...it could be us next time....we are WAY overdue.

All aspects of government emergency preparedness failed....equally...in their own ways.

We cant fix the problems if we are blinded by politics...

u851662

09-14-2005, 12:12 AM

Rocket2k that I do agree with, and these friendly appointments must stop. On both party lines. This has been a disaster in which I think in the future politician's will not put their "FRIENDS" in such critical post.

glynch

09-14-2005, 04:57 AM

wait, wait, wait. there was no one better than Clinton at that sort of thing. no one. Mr. Teflon. i'm not knocking Clinton at all...but in this media age, in order to survive politically, you must have a kick-ass PR crew.

Max, your colors are showing. Clinton!!? Still think the lying about the blow job, even under oath, is worse than any lies/ deceptions/incompetencies Bush has engaged in?

NO I don't think Bush alone is responsible. Like the Iraq War lies or "fixing" intelligence and then packaging it to the public as the truth, this is serious. If he is responsible, then he should consider resigning or he should go beg the victims at the Astrodome for forgivenss, not just do photo ops with NYC firemen in New Orleans. Otherwise empty pr words.

I don't see it simply as : "Everyone is responsible; so nobody really is. Everything is about as good as realistically possible therefore, remain contented with Bush" This is the party line in a nutshell.

Now we have the false nobility : (Well I'm the CEO so I have to say the cliche.) "I'm responsible." (wink).

I think it may be enough to hold the dittos, some of whom have been wavering for the first time and those desperate to remain contented. We'll see.

glynch

09-14-2005, 05:34 AM

A Fatal Incuriosity

By MAUREEN DOWD
Published: September 14, 2005

I hate spending time in hospitals and nursing homes. I find them to be some of the most depressing places on earth.

Maybe that's why the stories of the sick and elderly who died, 45 in a New Orleans hospital and 34 in St. Rita's nursing home in the devastated St. Bernard Parish outside New Orleans, haunt me so.

You're already vulnerable and alone when suddenly you're beset by nature and betrayed by your government.

At St. Rita's, 34 seniors fought to live with what little strength they had as the lights went out and the water rose over their legs, over their shoulders, over their mouths. As Gardiner Harris wrote in The Times, the failed defenses included a table nailed against a window and a couch pushed against a door.

Several electric wheelchairs were gathered near the front entrance, maybe by patients who dreamed of evacuating. Their drowned bodies were found swollen and unrecognizable a week later, as Mr. Harris reported, "draped over a wheelchair, wrapped in a shower curtain, lying on a floor in several inches of muck."

At Memorial Medical Center, victims also suffered in 100-degree heat and died, some while waiting to be rescued in the four days after Katrina hit.

As Louisiana's death toll spiked to 423 yesterday, the state charged St. Rita's owners with multiple counts of negligent homicide, accusing them of not responding to warnings about the hurricane. "In effect," State Attorney General Charles Foti Jr. said, "I think that their inactions resulted in the death of these people."

President Bush continued to try to spin his own inaction yesterday, but he may finally have reached a patch of reality beyond spin. Now he's the one drowning, unable to rescue himself by patting small black children on the head during photo-ops and making scripted attempts to appear engaged. He can keep going back down there, as he will again on Thursday when he gives a televised speech to the nation, but he can never compensate for his tragic inattention during days when so many lives could have been saved.

He made the ultimate sacrifice and admitted his administration had messed up, something he'd refused to do through all of the other screw-ups, from phantom W.M.D. and the torture at Abu Ghraib and Guantánamo to the miscalculations on the Iraq occupation and the insurgency, which will soon claim 2,000 young Americans.

How many places will be in shambles by the time the Bush crew leaves office?

Given that the Bush team has dealt with both gulf crises, Iraq and Katrina, with the same deadly mixture of arrogance and incompetence, and a refusal to face reality, it's frightening to think how it will handle the most demanding act of government domestic investment since the New Deal.

Even though we know W. likes to be in his bubble with his feather pillow, the stories this week are breathtaking about the lengths the White House staff had to go to in order to capture Incurious George's attention.

Newsweek reported that the reality of Katrina did not sink in for the president until days after the levees broke, turning New Orleans into a watery grave. It took a virtual intervention of his top aides to make W. watch the news about the worst natural disaster in a century. Dan Bartlett made a DVD of newscasts on the hurricane to show the president on Friday morning as he flew down to the Gulf Coast.

The aides were scared to tell the isolated president that he should cut short his vacation by a couple of days, Newsweek said, because he can be "cold and snappish in private." Mike Allen wrote in Time about one "youngish aide" who was so terrified about telling Mr. Bush he was wrong about something during the first term, he "had dry heaves" afterward.

The president had to be truly zoned out not to jump at the word "hurricane," given that he has always used his father's term as a reverse playbook and his father almost lost Florida in 1992 because of his slow-footed response to Hurricane Andrew. And W.'s chief of staff, Andy Card, was the White House transportation secretary the senior President Bush sent to the rescue after FEMA bungled that one.

W. has said he prefers to get his information straight up from aides, rather than filtered through newspapers or newscasts. But he surrounds himself with weak sisters who don't have the nerve to break bad news to him, or ideologues with agendas that require warping reality or chuckleheaded cronies like Brownie.

The president should stop haunting New Orleans, looking for that bullhorn moment. It's too late.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/14/opinion/14dowd.html?hp

SamFisher

09-14-2005, 05:37 AM

I'm happy to hear it. I hope that it is a trend.

same, this is hte first time i recall him ever attempting to be accountable for anything. (I imagine they figured his approval ratings weren't going to get much lower so may as well try it, it wouldn't hurt) Either way I hope it's sincere and marks a turning point. It probably won't, but I can hope.

SamFisher

09-14-2005, 05:43 AM

I've taken many classes on American Presidents and can say with some certainty that if you ask any expert on the issue, GWB will end up on the bottom of the list MAYBE 1 out of 500 times.

Which classes? I stopped after "American Presidents 345: Fillmore or less?" however, prior to that I did take "Introduction to Whigs", "Tippiecanology 1" and "Van Buren for non-president majors" and the mandatory Van Burenalysis Lab section.

MadMax

09-14-2005, 08:29 AM

Max, your colors are showing. Clinton!!? Still think the lying about the blow job, even under oath, is worse than any lies/ deceptions/incompetencies Bush has engaged in?

NO I don't think Bush alone is responsible. Like the Iraq War lies or "fixing" intelligence and then packaging it to the public as the truth, this is serious. If he is responsible, then he should consider resigning or he should go beg the victims at the Astrodome for forgivenss, not just do photo ops with NYC firemen in New Orleans. Otherwise empty pr words.

I don't see it simply as : "Everyone is responsible; so nobody really is. Everything is about as good as realistically possible therefore, remain contented with Bush" This is the party line in a nutshell.

Now we have the false nobility : (Well I'm the CEO so I have to say the cliche.) "I'm responsible." (wink).

I think it may be enough to hold the dittos, some of whom have been wavering for the first time and those desperate to remain contented. We'll see.

My colors are showing??? I FREAKING VOTED FOR CLINTON, GLYNCH!!

I see it as "Everyone responsible, so everyone really is." We had a breakdown at some very fundamental levels. At the municipal level...at the state level...and at the federal level. We need to find out why.

MR. MEOWGI

09-14-2005, 09:05 AM

The FEMA (http://www.kkrw.com/pages/audio/fema.mp3) song.

glynch

09-14-2005, 09:30 AM

My colors are showing??? I FREAKING VOTED FOR CLINTON, GLYNCH!!

I see it as "Everyone responsible, so everyone really is." We had a breakdown at some very fundamental levels. At the municipal level...at the state level...and at the federal level. We need to find out why.

Max, it is ok to be conservative. (have colors) No need to get upset. I do take it as a hopeful sign that you get so upset if someone hints you might be a conservative.) I would. :)

That vote for Clinton was quite awhile ago in your life-- a fling at liberalism in college? You have been a fairly consistent defender of Bush's policies. I will grant that you haven't been as consistent or as vociferous as TJ, bigtexx, etc.

glynch

09-14-2005, 09:34 AM

""And to the extent that the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility. I want to know what went right and what went wrong," said Bush.

Anyone else find this a weasel type of taking responsibility,when all his minions are trying sometimes lyingly to place most of the blame on others?

MadMax

09-14-2005, 09:47 AM

No Worries

09-14-2005, 10:00 AM

when did this become about ME, glynch?
It has always been about YOU Max. ;)

jo mama

09-14-2005, 10:03 AM

Which classes? I stopped after "American Presidents 345: Fillmore or less?" however, prior to that I did take "Introduction to Whigs", "Tippiecanology 1" and "Van Buren for non-president majors" and the mandatory Van Burenalysis Lab section.

tippiecanology!!! :D

i cant believe they made a whole class about william henry harrison! was it an elective?

i hope you learned to always wear your jacket when its cold out and to keep those inagural addresses short!

glynch

09-14-2005, 10:13 AM

when did this become about ME, glynch?

Good post.

Partly when I said: "colors"; then you shouted that you voted for Clinton. Peace.

Max, do you actually think Bush has taken "responsibility" in other than a pr sense? Certainly he tried to initially deny any wrong doing-- "Brownie you're doing a hell of a job", the tried to place most of the blame on locals. Now this nuanced "responsibility" statement.

I do admit Bush is finally putting some effort into it. Too bad the costs, in terms of human life and suffering, went up so high because of Bush's intial neglect. (doesn't mean nobody else had neglect)

I think it is critical that we not let this rebuilding not turn into a Hallibruton-crony slush fund for Bush insiders.

Ps. Now I remember what made me bring Max into this. His wierd interjection of Clinton into the apology thread.

MadMax

09-14-2005, 10:24 AM

Good post.

Partly when I said: "colors"; then you shouted that you voted for Clinton. Peace.

Max, do you actually think Bush has taken "responsibility" in other than a pr sense? Certainly he tried to initially deny any wrong doing-- "Brownie you're doing a hell of a job", the tried to place most of the blame on locals. Now this nuanced "responsibility" statement.

I do admit Bush is finally putting some effort into it. Too bad the costs, in terms of human life and suffering, went up so high because of Bush's intial neglect. (doesn't mean nobody else had neglect)

I think it is critical that we not let this rebuilding not turn into a Hallibruton-crony slush fund for Bush insiders.

Ps. Now I remember what made me bring Max into this. His wierd interjection of Clinton into the apology thread.

the point was made that Bush was the best at PR...I think Clinton was even better. That's not a knock on either one of those guys. It's not support for either one of those guys.

I agree...the executive agencies were lethargic. had their response been different, i believe more lives could have been saved. there is blame all around. and we need to find out what all the problems were.

MadMax

09-14-2005, 10:25 AM

It has always been about YOU Max. ;)

i don't want that responsibility! :)

pippendagimp

09-14-2005, 10:50 AM

Yes, while he takes fool responsibility and finally martyrs his stubborn insecurity for never admitting he's made a booboo, here's how he still continues to f*** the people of N.O. Baqui-style:

Hurricane Looting Not Over Yet

by Jesse Jackson

The victims have been dispersed to states across the country. Many still sleep on cots in arenas, desperately trying to locate family members separated in the furies of Katrina. They are struggling with a staggering psychological toll -- destruction of homes, loss of jobs, suffering, abandonment, displacement to a new city, prospects unclear, past literally under water.

But while the victims are simply trying to get their bearings, the barracudas are circling. Naomi Klein, who witnessed this in Iraq, calls it "disaster capitalism." Congress has appropriated $62 billion already. Hundreds of billions more will be spent on reclaiming the Gulf Coast, rebuilding and relocation. The feeding frenzy has begun.

Already Halliburton is on hand with a no-bid contract for reconstruction. Fluor, Bechtel, the Shaw Group -- Republican-linked firms -- are lining up for contracts. Lobbyists like Joe Allbaugh, close friend of George Bush, and James Lee Witt, close friend of Bill Clinton -- both former heads of the Federal Emergency Management Agency -- are advising their corporate clients to get teams on the scene. Normal rules of contracting and competition are being waived in the emergency. Big bucks are on the table. It is a time to be wired politically.

The ideologues are in the hunt, too. Newt Gingrich is circulating memos calling for turning the region into a massive enterprise zone, slashing corporate taxes, reducing regulations. The oil lobby is pushing for drilling in Alaska and off the shores of the United States. Right wing activist Grover Norquist calls for cutting taxes on the wealthy even more to stimulate the economy. Arizona Republican Rep. Jeff Flak suggests conservatives use the crisis to try out their favorite ideas -- vouchers for education and health care.

President Bush characteristically issued an executive order effectively lowering the wages of reconstruction workers -- and hiking the profits of their companies. He wiped out the requirement to pay prevailing wages in the disaster region, apparently thinking that $9 an hour for construction workers was too high a price to pay. The government can save money, no doubt, by exploiting illegal immigrant labor.

The New Orleans business establishment has already created a headquarters in Baton Rouge. They want to reopen the French Quarter, which didn't suffer much flooding in 90 days. They are planning to lobby for one of the 2008 presidential nominating conventions -- although it is hard to imagine that Republicans would want to remind folks of the administration's monumental failure. They're talking about capturing the next available Super Bowl.

Business optimism and energy are vital for rebuilding New Orleans. Big dreams and big schemes are essential to the human spirit that will bring the Gulf Coast back. But those who were abandoned in the Superdome are looking at another manmade catastrophe. Dispersed in 40 states, Katrina's victims are struggling to get by, as companies pick up contracts and others get the jobs. If New Orleans is rebuilt as an enterprise zone, private investors will wait for the government to clean up the mess and then build luxury condos to replace affordable housing. They'll turn New Orleans into a theme park, with its former residents unable to afford to come back.

We shouldn't let disaster capitalists make a killing while those who suffered the greatest devastation are left out of the mix. We need a serious plan to rebuild vital infrastructure, to make New Orleans sustainable, to develop affordable housing and mass transit, to rebuild schools. Tax breaks and enterprise zones will end up building floating casinos and luxury condos. We need public investment, linked to a Civilian Construction and Conservation Corps that gives priority to housing, hiring, training and putting to work the poor people who lost.

The Bush administration's inaction and indifference after Katrina hit abandoned the poor and added to their suffering. It would be tragic now if action by the Republican Congress and the Bush administration added to the misery. These people already have had their past swept away by Katrina's furies. We should ensure that their future is not erased by right wing ideologues rewarding disaster capitalists and excluding those who suffered the most from the deal.

© 2005 Chicago Sun-Times

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0913-32.htm

Chance

09-14-2005, 11:03 AM

by Jesse Jackson

The author of this is one of the worst human beings in the history of America. He is bad for blacks. He is evil to non-black minorities. He is bad for whites. He makes me understand some of the liberals who simply will not listen to or trust W because that is how I am with this race baiting demon. He has done more to destroy hope for blacks since the Jim Crow segregational laws. He subordinates black people. He divides the country. He is an opportunist of Seanpennian proportions. He incites hate. He incites unrest.

Deckard

09-14-2005, 11:11 AM

Perhaps we are giving Bush too much credit, and Brown too much blame. Check this out. From Knight/Ridder, via the Austin American-Statesman:

Chertoff had power to launch federal response to Katrina, not Brown, documents show
Memo suggests confusion in wake of hurricane

KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

WASHINGTON -- The federal official with the power to mobilize a massive federal response to Hurricane Katrina was Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, not the former FEMA chief who was relieved of his duties and resigned earlier this week, federal documents reviewed by Knight Ridder show.

Even before the storm struck the Gulf Coast, Chertoff could have ordered federal agencies into action without any request from state or local officials. Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Michael Brown had only limited authority to do so until about 36 hours after the storm hit, when Chertoff designated him as the "principal federal official" in charge of the storm.

As thousands of hurricane victims went without food, water and shelter in the days after Katrina's Aug. 29 landfall, critics assailed Brown for being responsible for delays that might have cost hundreds of lives.

But Chertoff -- not Brown -- was in charge of managing the national response to a catastrophic disaster, according to the National Response Plan, the federal government's blueprint for how agencies will handle major natural disasters or terrorist incidents. An order issued by President Bush in 2003 also assigned that responsibility to the homeland security director.

According to a memo obtained by Knight Ridder, Chertoff didn't shift that power to Brown until late afternoon or evening on Aug. 30. That same memo suggests that Chertoff may have been confused about his lead role in disaster response and that of his department.

"As you know, the President has established the 'White House Task Force on Hurricane Katrina Response.' He will meet with us tomorrow to launch this effort. The Department of Homeland Security, along with other Departments, will be part of the task force and will assist the Administration with its response to Hurricane Katrina," Chertoff said in the memo to the secretaries of defense, health and human services and other key federal agencies.

Chertoff's Aug. 30 memo for the first time declared Katrina an "Incident of National Significance," a key designation that triggers swift federal coordination. The following afternoon, Bush met with his Cabinet, then appeared before TV cameras in the White House Rose Garden to announce the government's planned action.

That same day, Aug. 31, the Department of Defense, whose troops and equipment are crucial in such large disasters, activated its Task Force Katrina. But active-duty troops didn't begin to arrive in large numbers until into the next week.

White House and homeland security officials wouldn't explain why Chertoff waited some 36 hours to declare Katrina an incident of national significance and why he didn't immediately begin to direct the federal response from the moment on Aug. 27 when the National Hurricane Center predicted that Katrina would strike the Gulf Coast with catastrophic force in 48 hours. Nor would they explain why Bush felt the need to appoint a separate task force.

Chertoff's hesitation and Bush's creation of a task force appear to contradict the National Response Plan and previous directives that specify what the secretary of homeland security is assigned to do without further presidential orders. The goal of the National Response Plan is to provide a streamlined framework for swiftly delivering federal assistance when a disaster is too big for local officials to handle.

Russ Knocke, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, didn't dispute that the National Response Plan put Chertoff in charge, but he disputed that the bureaucracy got in the way of launching the federal response.

"There was a tremendous sense of urgency," Knocke said.

The Chertoff memo indicates that the response to Katrina wasn't left to disaster professionals, but was run out of the White House, said George Haddow, a former deputy chief of staff at FEMA during the Clinton administration.

"It shows that the president is running the disaster, the White House is running it as opposed to Brown or Chertoff," Haddow said. Brown "is a convenient fall guy. He's not the problem really. The problem is a system that was marginalized."

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/auto/epaper/editions/wednesday/news_3472dc387199b0e41060.html#

Keep D&D Civil!!

FranchiseBlade

09-14-2005, 11:15 AM

The author of this is one of the worst human beings in the history of America. He is bad for blacks. He is evil to non-black minorities. He is bad for whites. He makes me understand some of the liberals who simply will not listen to or trust W because that is how I am with this race baiting demon. He has done more to destroy hope for blacks since the Jim Crow segregational laws. He subordinates black people. He divides the country. He is an opportunist of Seanpennian proportions. He incites hate. He incites unrest.
I disagree. Jackson wants to be at the center of things, and has made some mistakes, but to say he is one of the worst humans in the history of America is not looking at the facts. Jackson was one of the leaders of the civil rights movement was beside MLK when he was killed, and has done tremendous good for minorities in this country.

In addition he has succeeded multiple times where our own govt. has failed in getting prisoners/hostages released from foreign nations, and has an amazing track record at that kind of diplomacy. The fact that he was able to succeed where Reagan and other president's have failed is a great thing, and I dont' believe the Americans that were freed as a result of Jackson's work think he is one of the worst most evil humans in the history of our nation.

I agree that Jackson has become an opportunist. I disagree that he incites hate. He speaks out about what he feels are racist policies, and he is right at least half of the time when he does speak out about it. If that incites unrest, then I believe it should. As long as there is discrimination that helps to keep one group down, there should be unrest.

I don't think he has done more to subordinate blacks than many of the white owned institutions that discriminate in hiring/promoting practices have that Jackson has fought against.

Chance

09-14-2005, 11:23 AM

FranchiseBlade

09-14-2005, 11:25 AM

There may have been a time when JJ had altruistic ambitions but those days are long gone. Walking beside a brilliant, effective, and powerful man such as Dr. King does not make you great. I think MLK would be sickened by the way Jackson behaves.
Perhaps King would disagree with some of what Jackson does now. Some of it makes me angry, but he did more than walk with King. He was one of the leaders, organizers, and planners of King's movement.

Chance

09-14-2005, 11:28 AM

Perhaps King would disagree with some of what Jackson does now. Some of it makes me angry, but he did more than walk with King. He was one of the leaders, organizers, and planners of King's movement.

I know. that's why I said "There may have been a time..." MLK is one of my favorite people in all of America's storied history. Jackson is a dung beetle next to Dr. King.

RocketMan Tex

09-14-2005, 11:31 AM

The author of this is one of the worst human beings in the history of America.

Disagree. Jackson is an opportunist and a blowhard, but to say he is one of the worst human beings in the history of America is a stretch.

wnes

09-14-2005, 11:33 AM

FranchiseBlade

09-14-2005, 11:36 AM

I know. that's why I said "There may have been a time..." MLK is one of my favorite people in all of America's storied history. Jackson is a dung beetle next to Dr. King.
I'm sure that I won't change your feelings on Jackson, and it isn't as if he is a personal hero of mine either. He is quick to jump to conclusions and throws out possible accusations before all the facts are in, from time to time.

I just wanted to pose the possibility that you are putting more weight on Jackson's negative aspects than on his positive contributions which are numerous.

pippendagimp

09-14-2005, 11:46 AM

The author of this is one of the worst human beings in the history of America. He is bad for blacks. He is evil to non-black minorities. He is bad for whites. He makes me understand some of the liberals who simply will not listen to or trust W because that is how I am with this race baiting demon. He has done more to destroy hope for blacks since the Jim Crow segregational laws. He subordinates black people. He divides the country. He is an opportunist of Seanpennian proportions. He incites hate. He incites unrest.

It doesn't f***ing matter what you or I think about the author. No-bid contracts, congressmen taking advantage of this disaster to push through their profit-hopeful agendas, Bush issuing an executive order to lower reconstruction workers' wages.....unless you have something to say about these facts mentioned in the article, then you come off as a babbling partisan who cares more about his team winnin' than the country itself.

Some of the other posters here (both libs and cons) tow their party line and attack the other side just out of playfullness, to polish up their debating skills, or perhaps out of sheer boredom. But you actually seem to believe all this neocon crap you're being fed on FoxNews. Rupert Murdoch's focus studies could not conceive of a more ideal zombie to actually buy into all this political party schism bullshht. They got you so focused on helping your team win that you've become completely blind to the actual issues and what is really going on. And by the way, the author doesn't even mention race in this article. Funny how nonetheless, race is the exclusive theme of your post.

Chance

09-14-2005, 12:53 PM

It doesn't f***ing matter what you or I think about the author. No-bid contracts, congressmen taking advantage of this disaster to push through their profit-hopeful agendas, Bush issuing an executive order to lower reconstruction workers' wages.....unless you have something to say about these facts mentioned in the article, then you come off as a babbling partisan who cares more about his team winnin' than the country itself.

Some of the other posters here (both libs and cons) tow their party line and attack the other side just out of playfullness, to polish up their debating skills, or perhaps out of sheer boredom. But you actually seem to believe all this neocon crap you're being fed on FoxNews. Rupert Murdoch's focus studies could not conceive of a more ideal zombie to actually buy into all this political party schism bullshht. They got you so focused on helping your team win that you've become completely blind to the actual issues and what is really going on. And by the way, the author doesn't even mention race in this article. Funny how nonetheless, race is the exclusive theme of your post.

He has become a hyperbole of racial inequalities. He doesn't have to mention it.

pippendagimp

09-14-2005, 01:06 PM

He has become a hyperbole of racial inequalities. He doesn't have to mention it.

Riiight.....so if JJ says that Clinton's buddies are "advising their corporate clients" on how to get a piece of the Katrina pie, what he really means is that black people from coast to coast need to unite and overthrow their white oppressors :confused:

Chance

09-14-2005, 01:13 PM

Riiight.....so if JJ says that Clinton's buddies are "advising their corporate clients" on how to get a piece of the Katrina pie, what he really means is that black people from coast to coast need to unite and overthrow their white oppressors http://webzoom.freewebs.com/theoneandonlycolt/BongSmiley.gif

I have not been critical of Clinton. It is your distorted world view that seeks ways to paint Bush in a bad light.

pippendagimp

09-14-2005, 01:27 PM

I have not been critical of Clinton. It is your distorted world view that seeks ways to paint Bush in a bad light.

Wrong, it is facts such as the one stated in the article I posted - in which Bush issued an executive order to lower reconstruction workers wages - that already paint Bush in a bad light without my 2 cents being necessary.

But you will defend this jackass to no end regardless of what the facts are before you. This is because you are mindfrozen zombie parroting your party's line day after day, oblivious to raw deal you are getting yourself from the effects of the holy matrimony between the federal government and big business.

And this goes for Clinton or Bush. With slightly upgraded reading comprehension skills, before you replied you would have realized I was not defending Clinton but in fact calling him out on the same lack of ethics in his service to the electorate. :rolleyes:

Mulder

09-14-2005, 01:30 PM

This is what happened to the D&D btw...

MadMax

09-14-2005, 01:31 PM

This is what happened to the D&D btw...

i was just gonna say that.

take it easy, pip. take a breath.

Chance

09-14-2005, 01:42 PM

pippendagimp

09-14-2005, 01:46 PM

Why are you so condescending?

= For the life of me I can't come up with any kind of response to the facts in the article that I've chosen to ignore......so now I am going to just label this guy as condescending, even though just a few minutes ago I called him an imbecile with a distorted world view.

Chance

09-14-2005, 02:07 PM

= For the life of me I can't come up with any kind of response to the facts in the article that I've chosen to ignore......so now I am going to just label this guy as condescending, even though just a few minutes ago I called him an imbecile with a distorted world view.

nope. I painted with a broad brush. I didn't single out a poster as an imbecile. You have gotten personal. The closest to personal I have been was talking about your distorted world view. I shouldn't have said that. No two views of the world are the same so they, mine included, are by definition all distorted.

Let's back off this conversation. You got your feathers ruffled when I said my opinion of Jesse Jackson. I got mine when you went back to Bush's cronies getting no-bids. It's just a hoops bbs.

pippendagimp

09-14-2005, 02:23 PM

nope. I painted with a broad brush. I didn't single out a poster as an imbecile. You have gotten personal. The closest to personal I have been was talking about your distorted world view. I shouldn't have said that. No two views of the world are the same so they, mine included, are by definition all distorted.

Let's back off this conversation. You got your feathers ruffled when I said my opinion of Jesse Jackson. I got mine when you went back to Bush's cronies getting no-bids. It's just a hoops bbs.

Just to clarify, I'm not even much a fan of JJ myself....it's just that you were attacking the author of the article without taking up any of the actual points in the article.

And one more thing.....it's not "just a hoops bbs".....this joint is like the Palace de Versailles of cyberspace real estate :)

andymoon

09-14-2005, 02:26 PM

Max, it is ok to be conservative. (have colors) No need to get upset. I do take it as a hopeful sign that you get so upset if someone hints you might be a conservative.) I would. :)

That vote for Clinton was quite awhile ago in your life-- a fling at liberalism in college? You have been a fairly consistent defender of Bush's policies. I will grant that you haven't been as consistent or as vociferous as TJ, bigtexx, etc.

To be fair, Max is definitely conservative, but in case you hadn't noticed he has disagreed with Bush's policies regularly in the past two years or so and IIRC expressed regret wrt his vote for Bush recently.

While basso wears his GOP colored glasses, yours definitely resemble an ass.

jo mama

09-14-2005, 04:38 PM

I have not been critical of Clinton. It is your distorted world view that seeks ways to paint Bush in a bad light.

"facts" paint bush in a bad light.

underoverup

09-15-2005, 08:12 AM

nope. I painted with a broad brush.

You're not kidding. :eek:

RocketMan Tex

09-15-2005, 08:22 AM

http://cagle.msnbc.com/working/050912/keefe.gif

Icehouse

09-15-2005, 02:10 PM

So saying "it's my fault" does exactly what? It's not like he is going to quit or something.

Deckard

09-15-2005, 02:23 PM

Wrong, it is facts such as the one stated in the article I posted - in which Bush issued an executive order to lower reconstruction workers wages - that already paint Bush in a bad light without my 2 cents being necessary.

But you will defend this jackass to no end regardless of what the facts are before you. This is because you are mindfrozen zombie parroting your party's line day after day, oblivious to raw deal you are getting yourself from the effects of the holy matrimony between the federal government and big business.

And this goes for Clinton or Bush. With slightly upgraded reading comprehension skills, before you replied you would have realized I was not defending Clinton but in fact calling him out on the same lack of ethics in his service to the electorate. :rolleyes:
Chill, pippendagimp. I disagree with much of what Chance has to say on this subject, but the way you are trying to make your point just gives ammunition to those who denigrate this forum. I think you owe Chance an apology. He's been man enough, in the recent past, to apologize when his emotions got in the way of the discussion. You should be as well.

Having said that, Bush's executive order regarding wages during the reconstruction of this disaster is simply abominable. It does nothing but enrich his contributors, insure a lower standard of living for those working on these upcoming projects, hurts their families, and bumps up the bottom line for those getting the contracts.

Is profit everything at a time like this? Shameful, just shameful... and illustrates everything wrong with Bush and his cronies.

KEEP D&D Civil!!