Bush stands by and does nothing while NO sinks into the abyss

[basildestiny]

I'm sick of that guy doing nothing! Look at all that he's not doing.

Bush does NOT declare a public health emergency for the entire Gulf Coast, does NOT announce a massive federal mobilization for aid, and does NOT say the recovery will take years.

Bush does NOT ask George H Bush and Bill Clinton to assist in Hurricane relief.

Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security, has NO answers for those affected and what the White House is doing or is planning to do.

President visits Alabama. BUT WHO CARES?! It's not the most affected area, jerk!

Obviously the President does NOT have an outline or an agenda or any plan of any sort to aid those in need.

Bush says, "I've been everything I can. Get off my back! It's my way or the highway!"

Mr President, I have family down there. You are really hurting them and you're hurting my feelings.
~Bas

Comments

[alchemy]

Dude, I love you, but you need to stop believing the hype. Four of the six links you posted are from the White House website. That, to me, makes them moot. Secondarily, the wide-scale media isn't much better. And yeah, Bush wants to say that the response is "Unnacceptable." How convenient, since his administration's handling of funds during his last term are what fucked NO over.

[basildestiny]

Dude, I love you too, but you believe the hype as much as I believe the hype. You believe the liberal media. I wanted to give the flip side of things. And also the White House is held to a standard of stating the truth whereas the media can print whatever it wants and then later post a retraction on page 8c in font size 1. I could go and find other media sources that take from the White House, but that seems even more moot. Why not just ask the White House what it is doing? Much easier to throw eggs when you're there in front of it.

I think he's doing what he can. I agree more needs to be done. I don't want him pulling out of Iraq. I think Iraq needed to be done. I think he underestimated the power of the Hurricane. I think more research needs to be done in alternative fueling. But I also think that getting mad at the President when it was an act of nature that caused the damage is a stretch. Sure, he could have had his best guys working on predictions, but we all make mistakes. Sometimes our mistakes seems proportionally bigger depending on the microscope. He's definitely not the sharpest tool in the shed. Agreed. But do I get angry because he didn't forsee any event that could have happened? No. He had 911 to contend with and so he foolishly moved all of his resources into homeland security and didn't think about other disasters.

The Clinton White House sat on the information about Al Quaida for 5 years but it will always be the Bush White House that could have done something about it. I remember in 1998 I was so angry that Clinton refused to do anything about the UN inspectors. But some Presidents are blessed with better press and media people.

Anyway, I want to see things get better and I don't want to see those idiots with guns anymore.

[alchemy]

He MOST CERTAINLY IS NOT doing all that he can. Period. It is ridiculous. Our country's aid to the countries effected by the Tsunami was quicker.

But I'm not going to argue about this anymore. I think dude is a fucking assmunch, and you're not going to change my mind anymore than I'm going to change yours.

[basildestiny]

I wasn't trying to change your mind. I was just presenting a different view.

[lheena.livejournal.com]

... Because there (http://www.nola.com%2Fhurricane%2Findex.ssf%3F%2Fwashingaway%2Fpart1.html) Was proof there was a problem and diverted off the funds to fix it. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5961048/page/2)

Because he went back to his vacation for two days before a Cat 4/5 Hurricane was about to hit the US, and didn't actually cordinate a task force until Thursday. (http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4777)

He flew over it for 35 minutes, and said he's not looking forward to going there. Has to be the stupidest statement in a -long- time. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050902/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_katrina_21)

'New Orleans had long known it was highly vulnerable to flooding and a direct hit from a hurricane. In fact, the federal government has been working with state and local officials in the region since the late 1960s on major hurricane and flood relief efforts. When flooding from a massive rainstorm in May 1995 killed six people, Congress authorized the Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project, or SELA.

Over the next 10 years, the Army Corps of Engineers, tasked with carrying out SELA, spent $430 million on shoring up levees and building pumping stations, with $50 million in local aid. But at least $250 million in crucial projects remained, even as hurricane activity in the Atlantic Basin increased dramatically and the levees surrounding New Orleans continued to subside.

Yet after 2003, the flow of federal dollars toward SELA dropped to a trickle. The Corps never tried to hide the fact that the spending pressures of the war in Iraq, as well as homeland security -- coming at the same time as federal tax cuts -- was the reason for the strain. At least nine articles in the Times-Picayune from 2004 and 2005 specifically cite the cost of Iraq as a reason for the lack of hurricane- and flood-control dollars. ' (http://alternet.org/story/24871)

[basildestiny]

Never said the guy was a brilliant speaker. I was going to look for one and say "Bush IS a brilliant speaker." But I had to go to work.

[lheena.livejournal.com]

... It doesn't matter if he's a brilliant speaker, although the President should be, imho.

Only one thing above deals with his PR ability.

[basildestiny]

I also didn't vote for him. But surprisingly the majority of the country did. And I would begrudgingly vote for him if there was an election today.

Public speaking was 1/5 links you posted. I don't disagree with the others. And I haven't had a chance to read some of the others. I like to post from work because I know when I get home and have time to read the links that I won't actually respond back. Just wanted to say reply and say I agreed that he's a horrible public speaker. Truly horrible. If it weren't for that whole dad connection, I don't think he would have had what it takes to get nominated for the Republican candidate much less elected. Because, again, and alas, very very sad public speaking skills.

[lheena.livejournal.com]

Ahha!

*thumbs up*

Totally agree. My High School Speech Coach wanted to stab him in the head, I think.

[basildestiny]

LOL I want to stab MYSELF in the head when he speaks. And his facial expressions? Ugh! haha I just can't even talk about it for the cringing.

[bloominglotus.livejournal.com]

I can't agree with you here, but as always I appreciate the strength of your convictions.

I was talking to my dad earlier today, and he and I both agreed that it's a shame that politics plays any part in this. However, it does seem that there's no avoiding it this time, because no matter what side you're on there are undeniable politcal implications to what has transpired.

One thing to think about (and this applies to both points of view) - there are people - I admit, myself included - who find it emotionally easier to be angry or cast blame than to try to absorb the pain and suffering. When I think about the scope of this tragedy, it overwhelms me to the point of distraction...but the political aspect is easier to swallow. It is more or less a coping mechanism (at least on my part). I don't like having to own up to that, but there you have it.

[basildestiny]

What's to agree or disagree about? I posted some links about some of the stuff he's doing and some of the things he's saying. Just a different view from what's prevalent on my friends' LJs.

[bloominglotus.livejournal.com]

Well, sure...I'm not trying to argue with you on this. That was never my intention at all, and I tried to make that clear. I was just offering a reason why some people may be taking some of the political aspects more personally, or emphasising them a bit more. I definitely wasn't looking to debate you, and I'm sorry if you felt otherwise or if I came off confrontational in any way. That's why I made my statement on "that part" very brief.

[basildestiny]

It's ok. I didn't think you were confrontational at all. I just wanted to let you know my intentions. That's all. :)

And I don't mind people taking it politically. I just want to offer a different side. Whether or not I agree with what's said is another thing altogether. But there's been several comments in the past couple of days that "nothing" is being done. Or if not the comment then the implication. I know things are being done. Maybe not as much as should have been planned to be done, but things are being done.

Anyway, don't let me rant and get you upset! That's not point. But you know how everyone is all stressed about it and any comment and I start pouring my ideas out on paper. I'm not very good conversationally because I've been taught to yield the floor when others are speaking so I get into written correspondence and my so-called not so verbal diarrhea comes out. :0 TMI now that I write out. >.

[bloominglotus.livejournal.com]

Hey, I totally understand! It never hurts to put the other side out there. People should hear both sides of the argument. Besides, it's an emotional time for everyone, and words are going to fly.

[basildestiny]

Exactly. We all just want to be down there slamming the morons and helping everyone else.

[mlwhite617.livejournal.com]

I agree the president is doing all he can except for pressing that magic button that the so called liberals think he has.

The White House can't post lies on their website. They are held to a higher standard then the media is. Think about it, the Democrats would have a field day if Bush's staff posted lies on their website.

If you ask me people are being very childish. This isn't a political issue. A natural disaster happened and the president is doing the best he can. He cut short his vacation in order to get things moving. The National Guard has been doing search and rescue before trying to keep order. There are over 30,000 national guard in the disater area to help those in need and to keep order.

But honestly because our president is a Republican anything he does isn't good enough for the Democrats. Which is really sad that people are being so political.

In reality the President does have some power like deploying National Guard or the Army ect. But its really up to your congressmen to get money and other relief to the states. So if you are looking to blame someone I believe the ones that you need to look at the states congressmen. They are the ones that are responsible for their state they are also the ones that are supposed to communicate to the president and other organizations that their state needs help.

Anyways lets stop placing blame natural disaster happen and I am sure there are ways to do things better, but honestly you can look back and say that about any situation. Instead of being hateful and placing blame on someone that you don't like try helping by donating money or food.

As for a pubic speaker I would rather have a president with good moral values then a great speaker. I think we had enough of Bill Clinton. A good leader motivates and has great moral value for an example to others. Public Speaking will not help those in need, nor will it destroy terrorism.

But then I am a Republican and yes I do like this President not for his decisions on politics and money but because of his morals. I honestly believe he is trying to do the right thing. And yes he is going to make mistakes I don't think any man is perfect.

After this aftermath I hope the president does address the Gas situation and illegal immigration.

[spaghetti-os.livejournal.com]

Ahh absolutely! Illegal immigration is such a huge problem. I hope President Bush will ignore the cries of the ACLU and work to solve the problem. We're being colonized and no one seems to mind...

I like the President's morals too, but I hate watching him speak. It's like a train wreck!