Bush's Katrina Effort Called Into Question

Actually considering the blockage of the situation with local officials I would say that FEMA did quite well and that President Bush has done a rather nice job.

You should be tempted to think that the President didn't really care what might happen when you consider who and how he appoints key positions such as FEMA and his slow, but repeated visits to the Katrina damage zone without leadership which needs money attached to it.

Good GOD! He took Bagdad in less time than it took for HIM to show up in New Orleans!!! WHY? Abrupt Climate Change

Published: January 29, 2006
The top climate scientist at NASA says the Bush administration has tried to stop him from speaking out since he gave a lecture last month calling for prompt reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases linked to global warming.

why did bush take so long? hes was to busy tring to figure out how much money he was going to make of the so caled oil shortage!

He probably wanted to study the adoption laws for the state of Louisiana since we taxpayers are now committed to supporting the victims for the rest of their lives.

Weak? You simply CAN'T expect the PRESIDENT of the US to _cut his VACATION short_, do you?

Just for some lousy weather?

C'mon, lets be real: bush is IMPORTANT, and moreover RICH.

He has BETTER things to do than worry about some non-contributing 'voters' after all ....

{in very sarcastic voice}

To each his own perception.....

Florida had a great relationship with FEMA and the Administration during it's hurricane seasons. And Mike Brown was head of the agency during that time. The President has limited authority over the States. It's called State's Rights. 90% of the lack of assistance or co-ordination of help and relief in Louisiana was caused by poor leadership, locally and statewide. Frankly, with experienced and capable people in charge, New Orleans in particular, could be brought back better than ever AND creating a lot of jobs and a stronge local economy.

Jo Anne wrote:

... 90% of the lack of assistance or co-ordination of help and relief in Louisiana was caused by poor leadership, locally and statewide...

Perhaps.

One SHOULD wonder why bush failed to return even to Washington from one of his many, many extended 'vacations' during the crisis.

Records show that bush has taken MORE TIME OFF than any OTHER president in contempory history ... hardly the qualities of LEADERSHIP.

(But in keeping with his past practices, such as reniging on his 'military service' commitments ...)

It IS on record that the State and Local reps ASKED FOR PRE-POSITIONING of relief supplies and equipment.

Bush's _wonderful man_ Mike Brown-[nose] refused to do so, even though the request was in plenty of time to complete.

These supplies and equipment had been pre-positioned for past hurricanes, under different presidents ....

So.

90% local fault?

HARDLY! And since the PHONES were out after ....(sarcastic voice again ...)

"Florida had a great relationship with FEMA and the Administration during it's hurricane seasons."

!!!! Get real. Of all the occasions to excuse an incompetent FLORIDA is the least rational. What did Florida have? "A great relationship"?!! Florida's governor is the President's BROTHER. So "Brownie" hopped to it. Anything else? Sure: Florida "decided" the election that put that politician in the presidency and was a must-have state in the election that re-elected Bush--an election that was coming up when Florida had their "hurricane season."

It's not about Louisiana's elected officials who've released all the information ever asked for.

It's about a good-ole-boy you-scratch-my-back-I'll-scrat ch-yours politician who knows better than to let anybody look at _his_ records.

A line from a tv show I just saw sums up Bush and his "cowboy cabinet"
"one thing about being president is you don't have to answer to anyone". And Bush is good at that.

John wrote:

"Florida had a great relationship with FEMA and the Administration during it's hurricane seasons."

!!!! Get real. Of all the occasions to excuse an incompetent FLORIDA is the least rational. What did Florida have? "A great relationship"?!! Florida's governor is the President's BROTHER. So "Brownie" hopped to it. Anything else? Sure: Florida "decided" the election that put that politician in the presidency and was a must-have state in the election that re-elected Bush--an election that was coming up when Florida had their "hurricane season."

It's not about Louisiana's elected officials who've released all the information ever asked for.

It's about a good-ole-boy you-scratch-my-back-I'll-scrat ch-yours politician who knows better than to let anybody look at _his_ records.

That's the problem. A lot of Americans are getting their political sense from TV shows.

Bob the Unbeliever wrote:

It IS on record that the State and Local reps ASKED FOR PRE-POSITIONING of relief supplies and equipment.

Bush's _wonderful man_ Mike Brown-[nose] refused to do so, even though the request was in plenty of time to complete.

These supplies and equipment had been pre-positioned for past hurricanes, under different presidents ....

So.

90% local fault?

HARDLY! And since the PHONES were out after ....(sarcastic voice again ...)

They were pre-positioned

Bush doesn't have relatives down there so he does not care. He tries to act like he cares, but he is a phoney and it shows.

this president is fool, a hick cowboy to is turning into another Sadam....Hitler.....his view of the presidency is "I'm the boss, and I can do what I want"
he's paying back all the cronies who bought him into office (twice), his debt might almost be paid back....just need to make a little more money for Halburton/cheny.....and lose a few more lives in Iraq....oh, we need to let a few more Mexicans in to do the 1.00 a day job's for his buddies so they don't have to pay a "living wage" or insurance....Katrina? he dosent have a clue or care....Katrina just got in his way....look at the fraud involved....how about giving Halburton the first and only shot at a major clean up....tell me what people see in this cowboy?
He is a discrace to the United States of America (someone might tell him this is the country he rule) and the worst President ever....some dictators might have been better

MEE wrote:

Good GOD! He took Bagdad in less time than it took for HIM to show up in New Orleans!!! WHY? Abrupt Climate Change

Published: January 29, 2006
The top climate scientist at NASA says the Bush administration has tried to stop him from speaking out since he gave a lecture last month calling for prompt reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases linked to global warming.

Said again and again; FEMA (Bush) as the federal responsibility was too slow in acting, and then acted irresponsibly.

I hate to say this, but the Republicans are dead meat on this issue. Pictures speak a thousand words. Seeing those people in need while the President, who cannot run a medicare drug program either, attempted to claim that the department of homeland security was competent was a sad commentary on Katrina. And the place still looks like a mess. Mississippi and Alabama included. Wake up Red states!

Of course we know Homeland security was not competent, nor could it have been with so much money going to the rich in tax cuts. And with the housing bubble popping, we know that trickle down is not going to work this time. We cannot afford another chicken hawk to be president. Our dollar will be worth 10 cents.

Gary Anderson wrote:

I hate to say this, but the Republicans are dead meat on this issue. Pictures speak a thousand words. Seeing those people in need while the President, who cannot run a medicare drug program either, attempted to claim that the department of homeland security was competent was a sad commentary on Katrina. And the place still looks like a mess. Mississippi and Alabama included. Wake up Red states!

Of course we know Homeland security was not competent, nor could it have been with so much money going to the rich in tax cuts. And with the housing bubble popping, we know that trickle down is not going to work this time. We cannot afford another chicken hawk to be president. Our dollar will be worth 10 cents.

Dear Mr. Anderson, Correct me if I am wrong, the 400 billion dollars aid from the government works out to approximately 1 million dollars per every man, woaman and child living in New Orleans, pre Katrina. New Orleans happens to be "smack dab" in the middle of a flood plain. If I were from New Orleans, I take the money, i.e., appropriated to re-building, and run for the high ground and forget about rebuilding in New Orleans. Nature rules not man!

Robert Newell wrote:

<quoted text>
They were pre-positioned

Aaah, you are mistaken on that one, as far as I have been able to find.

If you have reliable info to the contrary, please post a link - and I will apologise.

If so, then I will have to reasses my opinion on FEMA, re Katrina.

But again, as far as I can find out, sadly, they were not pre-positioned as of Saturday before the storm.

So, given the sentiment here, why aren't we taking to the streets?