Good piece, David. Well-reasoned and full of hope mixed with the obvious
disappointment and anger.
I doubt, however, that every step of Bush's response, or lack of it, has not
been carefully measured. Is this any different to announcing "the war is
over" on an aircraft carrier 18 months ago and nearly 2000 needelessly dead
US servicemen later (and many thousands irreparably damaged physically and
emotionally) to show that "the war" is not over at all, and has no signs of
being over?
To think otherwise indicates he is a total incompetent in conceivably the
most important public office in the "free world"... and more, that all his
"specialist" advisors are equally incompetent.
And that's the part that I think people really need to be aware of.
Phil
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Kusumoto" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2005 7:57 PM
Subject: Re: [MOPO] MAJORLY OFF TOPIC
Today was the last straw.
New Orleans is among the poorest of America's "great cities," with more
than
half of its citizens living at or below poverty levels, some who continue
to
re-elect, time and again, civic and state leaders who for decades have
encouraged the perpetuation of a welfare state that allows people to
continue to live without insurance, jobs or decent homes. Add to this the
fact that an astounding 70 percent of New Orleans is African-American,
well,
it magnifies what we see on TV in ways that far-too-politically correct
newscasters dare not mention. The people of New Orleans are honest,
God-fearing, decent. They have been thrust into extraordinary and
heart-wrenching circumstances.
And their leaders -- at every level -- have let them down.
The blame for this disaster falls at the feet of unprepared civic and
state
officials -- New Orleans' first line of defense -- and then at the feet of
the United States government for failing to respond to this disaster
decisively and boldly when it quickly became clear that Louisiana's
leaders
could not cope without help beyond its invisible borders.
While I grow sick of mainstream media and hard leftists "Monday morning
quarterbacking" the lack of clairvoyance associated with an "act of God,"
a
once-in-a-generation disaster -- and while I detest the awfully
predictable
attempts to politicize this event by drawing an angry link between a lack
of
manpower at home -- to a controversial war designed to spread democracy in
Iraq...I will say this....
....As much any person who is a naturalized citizen who staunchly supports
this President -- actually anyone who occupies the Oval Office -- I am
bitterly disappointed with this president's horrifically delayed response
to
this titanic disaster. While leaders during such calamities occupy a
largely ceremonial and symbolic role -- they must in fact, lead
decisively,
with emotion, with optimism and hope, and with concrete action.
The juxtaposition of footage of daring rescues and dead bodies -- against
footage of clean smelling bureaucrats in suits and ties using politically
correct language to minimize what our own eyes have seen -- is disgusting.
Despite good intentions, and everyone seems to have them by the
truckload --
the lack of accountability for this disaster at the state and local levels
is shocking. And then to watch the same "disconnect" between federal
bureaucrats reporting to a president who's responsible for mobilizing
relief
and leading America's response to this disaster -- is beyond unforgivable.
Politicizing a natural disaster remains inexcusable. I hate it. My
criticism of elected leaders in Louisiana and our own President -- comes
without regard of their political affiliations (Louisiana's leaders are
Democrats, its electorate votes "red" in national elections, and our
president is a Republican). The disaster of Katrina must not be
transformed
into a left vs. right, Republican vs. Democrat, liberal vs. conservative
fight. We must unite in ways that renders affiliations irrelevant. This
is
what leaders are supposed to do. Local and state leaders have failed, so
the president should and must step in. He has not, or he has done so, far
too late in the game. Managing crisis by committee does NOT work.
Negotiating political compromises during emergencies does not work.
Teamwork directed by a leader does work. Leaders must lead. And they
all,
including the president -- have failed.
I criticize the President I support not because of his lack of
clairvoyance
-- he would've been in a "no-win" situation anyway, had he flown to
Louisiana on Tuesday, accused of milking a disaster for political gain. I
criticize him because his penchant for not caring what detractors think --
instinctively tells me he should've flown in anyway, as symbolic leader of
a
nation that mourns for a region in crisis. This is what his supporters
expected him to do. Now, nearly five days after Katrina, he's to visit a
battered Louisiana tomorrow (today, Friday) -- and he may likely look like
the fool he is. His leadership from October to December 2001 -- failed
him
miserably this week for Katrina, a disaster equal in scope. His speech
this
week was weak and uninspiring, devoid of the raw, plain-speaking,
unscripted
emotion that endears him to supporters. His woeful lack of urgency -- his
disconnect to things happening on the ground, combined with increasingly
horrific details about the devastation -- have taken the war and Cindy
Sheehan and Judge Roberts and Natalie Holloway off the front pages. We
execute rescue missions to tsunami-wracked regions thousands of miles away
but can't take care of our own?
Finally, looters don't represent the greater whole of those who are
suffering. Stop showing them. Shoot looters in the kneecaps, but save
lives, bury the dead, heal the sick, get those who are able -- back to
work.
Our tax dollars can handle this -- and should -- even if it takes years.
I'm not for socialistic measures, but this is a disaster for which tax
dollars are intended. This is why we're able to rebuild faster than other
nations. Restore self-esteem by preventing a welfare state of perpetual
handouts by putting people to work by building shelters and infrastructure
for thousands, remove permanent subsidies and entitlements -- and a
greater,
hardier New Orleans will be reborn. It should start with churches
throughout America who brag and pride themselves for care giving -- who
must
now step up to the plate for Louisiana -- by sheltering those in need and
supporting organizations receiving donations still taxed with plenty of
money, but w/limited hard resources.
For now, I am angry and bitter at local and state leaders, including our
President. But I'm not gonna stay in a funk forever. I am confident
because America is a nation that has time and again proven it can rebuild.
It is a nation, in my view, that encourages entrepreneurship,
self-reliance,
competitiveness -- and the result, in part, is the ability to boast among
the lowest unemployment rates of any advanced nation, less than half of
those in quasi-socialistic countries including France, Great Britain and
Germany. We take shorter vacations, we are among the hardest working
people
in the world. Deficits do not bother us, they don't mean anything to the
average Joe who wants to keep his job or, failing that, wants to be
trained
to do another that's more competitive. Our nation's collective self-worth
is greater than those who perceive it less from distant shores. I do not
believe, as others do, that the woes of Louisiana are reflective of
America's ills. However, the woes of Louisiana must and CAN be shared --
in
ways that may be an anathema to hard right conservatives -- but are
nevertheless reflective of this nation's uniqueness -- and Louisiana's
partnership with America. I do not care that America is "juggling too
many
things at once." We can handle it. If you're doing well, give what you
can, not because you have to, not because it's a duty, but because you
want
to. If you're not doing well, then pray. If you don't pray, then try to
stay confident. Sorry for the speechi-fying. But I live here because
unlike other nations, this nation refuses to stay "broken" for long. It
bitches and complains, but not incessantly. When you ask its people if
they're doing well, most say they're doing OK, but they worry about others
who aren't. That's America. It's flawed and imperfect, but that it works
at all is a miracle. And a big thank you to Houston and the state of
Texas
for taking in so many "refugees." Yes, it's only a temporary fix, but
it's
a great start. . . finally. . .
-koose.
P.S. -- I blame Channing for this long note. I was struck w/how balanced
(and brief) his post was. He's sad and angry, but he signs off with
optimism. I don't care whether he's on the left or the right, whether he
lives in liberal San Francisco or conservative San Diego (like I do). I
admire him for being a fair-minded person who can throw a fast ball down
the
middle of the plate w/o pissing off the batter who's trying to clobber
him.
He's a great American.
----Original Message Follows----
From: channinglylethomson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: channinglylethomson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: MAJORLY OFF TOPIC -- Thank You Joe Bonelli!
Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2005 23:34:15 -0700
Thursday, September 2, 2005
To The MOPO Community --
I wanted to take a moment and thank Louisianian Joe Bonnelli for his
update
on the hurricane Katrina aftermath. Yes, the disaster continues and
worsens
every day. As I mentioned a few days back, I dread the thought of what
the
recovery teams will discover in those deluged houses once the flood water
eventually recedes. What really upsets me is the fact that when the
initial
evacuation was ordered, there were no provisions for the tens of thousands
of people that either were unable or didn't have the means to evacuate.
Both the state and Federal government should be ashamed of the way the
evacuation was and continues to be handled. Basically, what is left in
New
Orleans are thousands of poor and sick people who were abandoned by their
government and left to their own, extremely limited devices. Now that
utter
chaos, looting, illness, violence, hunger, thirst and hopelessness have
resulted, the primary focus of the Federal government should be to get the
people out and secure their safety -- not tomorrow, or the day after that,
BUT RIGHT NOW! I'm not going to blame President Bush directly for this
woeful mishandling but I have no
problem saying that I was disgusted that so much of Wednesday's Oval
Office
press conference focused on the oil production problems and gasoline
prices.
There will be time for that a few days or a week from now, but TODAY'S
issue is life or death for thousands and I was totally appalled that even
one minute of that conference was dedicated to oil industry issues.
I'm sorry if I've offended anyone by my comments here but I've been
feeling
physically and emotionally sick about this all day.
Channing Thomson in San Francisco -- Goodnight -- and hoping that tomorrow
is a better day!
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