This post was specifically written to address a comment in the post before that said that there was ample notice for people to get out. How?
I think and have stated that this is the saddest thing that has happened in our country during my lifetime. And as anybody who reads me regularly knows it takes a lot for me to say that. The 9/11 happened in my back yard thing.
It’s too funny how people who will blame Democrats for anything are going around blogs saying that we’re making this situation political when they make everything political, everything. I know because I live in a city where many businesses never reopened; where fed terrorist aid went to Wyoming because they need it more–saw an explanation of that once.
Why am I not blaming the city of New Orleans? They weren’t prepared; they were relying on FEMA. They’re not New York; they don’t have our resources. I don’t know about New Orleans politics or buses; but I do know that our administration once against was not a first responder. The president of our country should always be a first responder at a time like this. Always.
The President of the country is the leader of the country; like it or not. He should be there. So should his staff, and his vice president who is…where exactly?
Bring it on! has done much to publicize Hurricaid. A comprehensive list of resources that is continually being updated
You want blame? Blame it on the president because he didn’t do anything for how many days? Was he studying the situation? Oh that’s acceptable, but you couldn’t vote for Kerry because he flip-flopped on issues. He would have acted on this at once. He would have known about the levees because he would have read and cared about the information.
That’s right; he might have been able to alleviate some of this because he would have been prepared. A flip-flopper reads and weighs information so that he could be prepared in an emergency.
Don’t tell me that I’m making this political when everything in this country is and has been about politics for too long.
Angry? Damn right that I’m angry. I love New Orleans; I love this country. It almost feels like New Orleans is becoming a symbol for everything that has has been so wrong for so long.
Only this time bloggers, mainstream media and almost everybody decent are asking why?
If I am making this into a divisive issue: I don’t have that power, and it’s your consciences that need to heed a wake up call big time.
People in New Orleans didn’t do this to themselves. The people who stayed were poor, poor, very poor, and usually Black. Their average annual income was $11,000 and a bit. What car can they buy? What hotel can they stay in? How could they leave? How many buses were there? Why didn’t the government arrange for people to be bussed out?
Don’t ever tell me that people had ample warning. How many times have you not listened to the media because they make everything seem like a category four hurricane?
Maybe this will help the media tone it down. Maybe New Orleans will be rebuilt. Maybe our administration will take responsiblity. No they couldn’t predict a hurricane. But they could have gotten the people out.
Screw everybody in this country who doesn’t give a damn. We are all Americans and we are all responsible for every person in this country. We are. We’ve walked away from that responsiblity for too long.
A society is judged by how it treats its weakest members.
I saw a Broadway play on Tuesday night and couldn’t focus on it. And Condi Rice went to see Spamalot on Wednesday? Something is very wrong with this country. Very very wrong. Maybe now we’ll get our real moral values back.
This is crossposted at Bring it on!
Louisiana disaster plan, pg 13, para 5 , dated 01/00
‘The primary means of hurricane evacuation will be personal vehicles. School and municipal buses, government-owned vehicles and vehicles provided by volunteer agencies may be used to provide transportation for individuals who lack transportation and require assistance in evacuating’…
There is indeed plenty of blame, but New Orleans and Louisiana has a lot to answer for as well.
http://www.violenceworker.com/my_weblog/2005/09/why_werent_your.html
Look at all those buses they could have used I/A/W their own plan.
How sad that talk of blame enters into the discussion at all - so soon afterwards. Why not worry about the welfare of the survivers first? Woulda,coulda and shoulda are out of town right now, lets talk about willa, canna and shalla.
I feel so sorry for katrina victims. BTW, nice blog..
I think you’re absolutely right – the idea of high ranking members of the Adminsitration singing songs, seeing shows and generally staying entertained while they abandon people to die is simply reprehensible. Yes the welfare of survivors is the paramount consideration now, but remember the US Government is not making it so – instead they’re looking for someone to blame for the lack of reaction, including looters in New Orleans itself.
It’s important that we try to understand things as passions are arounsed, therefore I think a reasonable blame game is perfectly acceptable and, indeed, responsible.
Great post! I totally agree, this situation is very saddening and the Bush administration have a lot to answer for.
I could not agree with you more. This whole administration needs to go! So many people have died, that could have possibly been saved if our government had acted more quickly. 5 days to respond is shameful. Is this any indication of how prepared we are should another 9/11 occur? We are in serious trouble.
I commmented at BIO instead of here.
But I’m with you on this one.
First responders are by definition local not Federal. The locals then tell the County/Parish if they need assistance, the County/Parish tells the State and the State tells the Feds. That’s the way it works. That’s the only way it can work. President Bush and FEMA cannot be everywhere and know everything. The Mayor of NO and the Governor are the ones that have explaining to do. To bad the Mayor didn’t deploy his busses during the mandatory evacuation.
BTW:,
Bush Declared A State of Emergency for Louisiana on Saturday, August 27th. Well before the huricane hit (http://author.voanews.com/english/2005-08-28-voa6.cfm)
Noah, Gov. Blanco declaed a state of emergency on Friday the 26th. Here’s the link: http://gov.louisiana.gov/Press_Release
And if everybody evacuated, who was supposed to drive the buses, and to where with what funds? FEMA and this Administration dropped the ball, and thousands died.
It’s funny. My husband was in Alabama for the last hurricane that went through. He told me that FEMA had trucks there ready to go for after the hurricane passed. What happened in NOLA?
Also, considering how Bush thought it a good idea to activate the National Guard during 9/11, why couldn’t he have done the same thing for this hurricane? Focusing all the blame on the mayor and the governor is partisan in the extreme…and tries to take away the scrutiny on why the agency specifically designed to help states out during emergencies (FEMA) took so very long to get rolling.
I could go on…but I’ll see what you have to say for yourself on these issues first.
Thanks Tracey, I appreciate the info.
You’re welcome, Pia. Looks like I should learn how to close a tag though, huh?