<p>I think the problem actually was that everyone talked about the disaster potential, but no one believed deep down that bad things happen. </p>
<p>I think they planned for the storm to blow over or go sideways or somehow miss New Orleans – sort of the way I assume that despite the forecast of 4-8" of snow for tomorrow, it’s really going to be nothing much because the weather forecasters are having too much fun talking about it!</p>
<p>well, this just shows that this administration doesn’t see problems were they are and sees problems where they aint</p>
<p>read some of the transcript- most everyone at the meeting was scared and worried, Bush, said, its all handled, well, gee, it wasn’t</p>
<p>so many things have been shown to be not handled, even though the smart people in the know have talked about to the administration, to the newspapers, in public, behind the scenes</p>
<p>and finally, we have proof of this man’s incompetence on film</p>
<p>as well as proof of his (dis)honesty…thank goodness we have someone of such high moral fiber and character in the White House!</p>
<p>New thought…perhaps, just perhaps, the reason this admin doesn’t do anything properly, is because they want to prove that the government shouldn’t be involved in doing anything, because…they can’t do it properly. AND that everything should be done by faith groups funded by charity and the last rich people still standing and then taxes should be cut so private groups can do it “better”. Ummmm otherwise no explaination for why they are so bad at doing EVERYTHING.
Let’s face it, we now know cheney’s undisclosed location is anywhere he can have a good time at our expense…like shooting older lawyers or fishing in (fill in the blanks).they are all wasters…and some of us knew that years ago. Now 64% of us know that. Getting there…v-e-r-y-s-l-o-w-l-y.</p>
<p>from me in another thread … </p>
<p>OK, the video tape of the briefing to Bush before Hurricane Katrina has put me over the edge … I wish incompetence (and bending the truth?) was an impeachable offense.</p>
<p>I’m 47 and would like to have had at some point in my voting life before I die a President I agree with, like, and respect … I’m shut out since 1980 and I’m pretty sure I’m not going to make it!</p>
<p>Just out of curiosity, why is the White House to blame for all local problems, but the state and city governments don’t seem to be garnering much blame in this thread?</p>
<p>Isn’t part of federalism the joy of never knowing who to blame for what, whenever?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I’ll take a crack at this.</p>
<p>If this was a Lousiana based forum I’m sure there would be enough venom for all parties involved … but this is an international forum so less attention is paid to local issues.</p>
<p>All blame is not being placed on the feds but their words and actions are being discussed. The President publically declared after the Katrina hit that he did not know the levees were at risk … and a few months later a tape appears where he is being told the levees are at risk in advance of Katrina hitting … for me as a voter I find this deeply troubling. This has nothing to do with the mayor, the govenor, or anyone … but everything to do with the integrity and compentency of my president … the same president who says trust me to decide who can be spyed upon with any judicial oversight, even confidential post event oversight. Personally, I think the President is … the rest of the sentence deleted out of respect for the office (but not the office holder).</p>
<p>Fair enough, but what bugs me as a Democrat is watching the party just spend all of its energy talking about how Bush is the Anti-Christ, but no time actually doing what needs to be done: Winning seats.</p>
<p>Besides, this forum is largely American nationals, so they should have at least some understanding of the fact that federalism means blame is shared at multitudes of levels.</p>
<p>I never said I thought this Administration was that competent, however. I think that their handling of Katrina was an incredible domestic flub only matched by the poor handling of coalition building during the events leading up to the war. However, I can’t help but wonder as someone with at least some formal education in politics how much of this is the fault of more local authorities. </p>
<p>I mean, we’ve all seen what a wanker the mayor is…</p>
<p>But yeah, Bush definitely has bled away a lot of post-9/11 goodwill he received so typically unconditionally during a crisis.</p>
<p>UCLAri:</p>
<p>I would suggest that the answer to your question has to do with the magnitude of this disaster. It was simply too big for local and state authorities. Clearly, few cities in the world (especially many American cities like New Orleans which are in chronic financial difficulties) could handle a disaster that size. States aren’t really set up for that kind of response either. It just isn’t what they do.</p>
<p>After Sept. 11 many Americans thought that our Federal Government was going to get really organized with disaster reflief. We assumed that there was preparation, money, and a plan. I guess the “surprise” was that it was a natural disaster, instead of a terrorist attack, that would come up next. The sad part is that natural disasters have always been, and probably always will be, the number one threat.</p>
<p>Maintaining the levees was, at least in part, the state’s responsibility. The state also did its fair share of sitting with its thumbs up its tuchus with evacuations as well.</p>
<p>I’m by no means pardoning the White House’s lackluster response, but I think that Katrina was a clear example of when government at multiple levels just takes a collective dump.</p>
<p>Look at how much more effectively California dealt with the Northridge quake.</p>
<p>"He WASN’T lying. He said “I don’t think.”</p>
<p>That is likely true."</p>
<p>Truer words were never spoken.</p>
<p>“Hey, give the guy a break. You have to remember that, between the emergency briefing and his remarks about no one anticipating there were important fundraising opportunities.”</p>
<p>Hey mini, you forgot his war selling tour. When your ratings slump, by no means act as a true leader would and get yourself to the disaster site or at least come home from Crawford. Get on a plane and sell your decision to go to war in Iraq by surrounding yourself with people who agree with you and can make you feel good - not to mention posing for numerous photo ops. Nothing this man does surprises me. He must be lying because his lips are moving.</p>
<p>This is not in defense of anyone or anything at all…but I will say that the levy situation is sort of like The Boy Who Cried Wolf for New Orleans.</p>
<p>My mother grew up in the 9th Ward in New Orleans (it’s a favorite of the news lately). Most of her cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. still live in New Orleans or surrounding suburbs. For as long as I can remember being alive, my mother has told me about the levy situation. Although I grew up in south Mississippi about 90 miles northeast of NO, we battled hurricanes each year as well. Every time a large hurricane came our way, my mother would tell the levy story about how they were going to break. I’ve been hearing this for 30 years that I’m aware of. (The other big fear there has always been a hurricane getting into the mouth of the Mississippi River and heading north.)</p>
<p>Each year hurricane after hurricane would come. Any time it was a 3 or 4, we would wait to see what would happen to New Orleans. Nothing ever did. I believe for the residents and those of us who have family there it became like the boy who cried wolf. We heard it so many times that you start to believe it will never actually happen. </p>
<p>To say that no one knew this was a possibility is ludicrous (they could have called my mom–she would have gladly told the story). However, I think most of us had been lulled into a false sense of security that it would never actually happen. My mom lived in NO during Camille and while they flooded, the levy situation held up. </p>
<p>I really think that’s why you saw a lot of people not evacuating. Growing up near the Gulf Coast I’ve heard people all my life talk about riding out hurricanes as a point of pride. They’ll say things like: We survived Camille so we’re not going anywhere, etc. When hurricanes are a part of your yearly life, you never think the “big one” is actually going to come. It’s like people who live in areas prone to tornadoes or earthquakes.</p>
<p>“States aren’t really set up for that kind of response either. It just isn’t what they do.”</p>
<p>Yet in the absense of federal leadership and response, that’s exactly what happened. Just look at the social and financial ramifications for the state of Texas. Taking in huge numbers of refugees wasn’t part of our state budget, or our preparedness planning, but someone had to step up.</p>
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</p>
<p>Oh great, just what Texans need: More self-assuredness about their greatness. ;)</p>
<p>Yeah, everyone screwed up. And, in no small part, it was because of the crying wolf syndrome. Also people - the government cannot take care of you, hello! In a true disaster, the government cannot take care of you in the immediate aftermath!!! It doesn’t matter if they are Democrat or Republican or Fascist, local state or federal - they cannot help you. If you are an able-bodied person with or without a family, you should take the lesson of Katrina to heart. Assess your personal risk of disaster and make the best plans you can to protect yourself and your family. There are resources to help you - some provided by the stupid government.</p>
<p>Finally, lost in all the hoopla, we need to have an open discussion in this country about that Constitutional principle, I’m sorry the proper name escapes me, that prevents the federal government from sending in troops unasked. Yes, monkeying around with the Constitution is a bad thing, but there are situations where because of lost communications or incompetence of local officials, etc that the need for troops is obvious, but legally there is no procedure for bringing them in. The implications of this change are huge, so it needs to be discussed in the media, in Congress, etc.</p>
<p>Hey, cut the guy a break, he was on vacation for crying out loud, probably ridin’ his bike, cutting some brush or maybe even shooting some Quail.</p>
<p>
Never has there been a truer statement. The statement “I don’t think” is something I believe 100% when Bush says it. What an idiot … and I say that with as much respect as I can muster.</p>
<p>You know what’s funny?</p>
<p>I think Bush wants everyone to think he’s easily hoodwinked. I think he laughed all the way to the White House. His policies may suck, but he’s a brilliant politician who knows how to get the right people behind him.</p>
<p>By the way, Karl Rove? I watched him speak at the University of California DC center. He exudes a creepy aura of evil about him. And I tend to stray from such comments. But yeah…like…baby eating evil.</p>
<p>Didnt a similar situation occur before 9/11?</p>
<p>UCLAri, transplant here!</p>