I, like many people, watched President Bush’s supremely disappointing speech last night. I was happy to see that the power was on. But it turns out that was a stunt for the cameras. NBC’s Brian Williams reports:
I am duty-bound to report the talk of the New Orleans warehouse district last night: there was rejoicing (well, there would have been without the curfew, but the few people I saw on the streets were excited) when the power came back on for blocks on end. Kevin Tibbles was positively jubilant on the live update edition of Nightly News that we fed to the West Coast. The mini-mart, long ago cleaned out by looters, was nonetheless bathed in light, including the empty, roped-off gas pumps. The motorcade route through the district was partially lit no more than 30 minutes before POTUS drove through. And yet last night, no more than an hour after the President departed, the lights went out. The entire area was plunged into total darkness again, to audible groans. It’s enough to make some of the folks here who witnessed it… jump to certain conclusions.
We are facing the largest reconstruction effort since…well…Reconstruction. Last night was President Bush’s chance to announce that he would increase the Americorps budget by twenty-fold, and that he’d be calling on high school seniors from across the nation to enlist for two years’ work. It was his chance to announce that, with a $300B effort ahead of us, taxes will have to be raised and spending will have to be cut. It was his chance to accept responsibility — not to say “I accept responsibility,” but to actually assume that tremendous moral burden and act accordingly.
It’s possible for the president to claim that the world is a shiny, happy place in Sadr City, because we’re not there, we don’t know the difference. President Bush cannot lie — sorry, “spin” — his way out of our $300B disaster in the Gulf. And he can’t pull a Gilmore and hide the nation’s rising debts. He’s got a difficult three years ahead of him. If he makes it.
It will be interesting to see if Bush trys to ram down the repeal of
the estate tax this month, wouldn’t that be ironic. then again, it’s
only the our countries fiscal future, and he does have to deliever
more tax breaks to his base, when will the insanity stop?
That speech was one of the most ironic I have ever heard. Sad for our nation.
Am I the only one who was reminded of potemkin villages? :)
Although I do have to give the President props for actually color-coordinating with his background. He’s so chic and trendy, matching the monuments in Jackson Square!
Race and Class matter in this country despite an unwillingness of the majority to believe and understand the ramifications of prejudice and institutionalized racism. American citizens were allowed to dehydrate and die on the streets of an american city, after surviving the most powerful hurricane in our history. They were abandoned by the most powerful government in the history of the world for four days. The infants and elderly infirm were the most vulnerable. I find it ironic that someone who was “offended” by Viola Baskerville’s references to her race in her stump speech for Lt.Governor now finds three weeks to volunteer to help out Katrina victims. It should not take this happening for you to finally get it. God Bless you for caring enough to do something.
WOW! I’m shocked to know that Waldo thinks the President didn’t do a good job last night. What would you have him do? Go down and pull people from the roof tops himself? Would a nice photo-op of POTUS hamering in some nails at a Habitat project make you happy. Wait. Do I hear a “tax me till I bleed” coming? That’s what you really want, don’t you? “Screw the rich!” They don’t deseve that money; particularly the folks who worked for it. They should work HARDER, so parasites like Howard Dean can decide what to do with that hard earned money.
Guys like Delay are on crack when they say that the budget cant be stripped anymore than it already is. Cut spending and you will have your funding for the hurricane. Personaly, I think we should let the Crecent city and the state of Louisiana fix itself. Some folks could not get out. This I understand. But most could and chose not to. The burden should be on them.
I find it ironic that someone who was “offended” by Viola Baskerville’s references to her race in her stump speech for Lt.Governor now finds three weeks to volunteer to help out Katrina victims. It should not take this happening for you to finally get it.
Um. What? I was offended by Viola Baskerville trying to guilt-trip me into votign for her on the basis of her race. Not her references to race. I’ve found no shortage of time to be involved in racial matters here in Charlottesville. I ran for office with a major plank in my platform being the racial and economic disparity in Charlottesville. If there’s something that I still need to “get,” perhaps I haven’t “gotten” it yet.
I’m shocked to know that Waldo thinks the President didn’t do a good job last night. What would you have him do?
Walt, I gave three examples of specifically what I would like him to do. There’s no need to invent silly examples.
You seem angry. I hope you feel happier soon. Perhaps a few weeks of helping down in the Gulf would provide some perspective?
I’m not in much of a mood to defend the President these days, but it should be noted that he does say “that federal spending would have to be cut to help the Gulf Coast recover,” according to the NYT.
It’s a start.
I wish he’d said that in his speech last night, but I’m mighty glad to see that he’s acknowledged that need. What I don’t buy his saying “we should not raise taxes.” I am definitely not an economist, but if we’re to fight two wars and reconstruct the Gulf, I don’t rightly see how we can do so without raising taxes. I’d be very happy to learn that such a thing were possible, and excitedly await the prospect of being proven wrong. :)
Damn it, Waldo, I expect better than this from you. Quit complaining about what George Bush is or is not doing and do something your damn self. You are too talented and smart to stoop to this crap.
After Hurricane Andrew I went and fed the homeless in Florida and I didn’t need a damn engraved invitation from the president. I did it because it was what I could do. Get of the “Bitch at Bush” bandwagon and go help some people.
They need you. Stop acting like everything hinges on what the government does – IT DOESN’T – the whole world depends on what we do as individuals.
You have truly disappointed me here.
After Hurricane Andrew I went and fed the homeless in Florida and I didn’t need a damn engraved invitation from the president. I did it because it was what I could do. Get of the “Bitch at Bush” bandwagon and go help some people.
Simon, the only organization accepting volunteers right now is the Red Cross. They can’t take me until October 12, at which time I intend to go. I’ve called or e-mailed every other organization that I can think of — about two dozen, from FEMA to various church groups — and not a one is looking for help. (I wrote about this. Perhaps you missed it.) In the meantime, I called the Red Cross two days ago, and I have an appointment to sit down with their local executive director about volunteering locally, to ease the burden on their staff here, so that they can spend more time out in the field, down in the Gulf. (They’re all gone right now, deployed, so I can’t start until they return in a couple of weeks.)
We all must do what we can. But President Bush has to step up to the plate and do his part. Giving a major speech that consists of little more than platitudes and little about the hard work — the expensive work — that’s ahead of us is just terrible. It’s very nice to say that people should just volunteer their time, but we’re going to need a major, long-term program to do work that’s well outside of the scope of the work of NGOs like the Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity. That’s the role of Americorps, the very program that President Bush eviscerated in his few years in office. That, as I explained, is one of several programs that he could put into place that would make a huge difference.
There’s a lot of work ahead for this country. Rather than have troops or paid government employees do it, I advocate the expansion of our existing program that permits everyday people to give two years of their lives in service to our nation. That’s a pretty conservative ideal, Simon — I’d like to hope you’d favor it.
I did miss the post and apologize. However, you are smart enough to find a way to make something happen without an organization. Hell, you practically are known for just that – making things happen. Do you remember Tom Powell and how he rallied people to a cause and then helped those in need? You can do something as great if not better. Fill the need yourself. No matter who is in charge of government, I believe government will always fail if we expect it to solve the problem.
I gave money, because at this point in my life it is impossible to disappear for a month, to a Catholic charity that is repairing homes for the elderly in New Orleans. I’ll bet there is a church, synagogue, or mosque in Charlottesville that will take you right now to help do repair work.
The downside to the Red Cross is that they usually require volunteers to have gone through their training program. In a crisis, you have volunteers and the agency resources are geared towards the crisis not towards training.
William F. Buckley has a book about mandatory service and the benefit that it holds. I read it about ten years ago and cannot remember the title right now. If you can find it, give it a read.
Do you remember Tom Powell and how he rallied people to a cause and then helped those in need?
Hell yeah. Tom Powell rocks. :) I used to be the producer of his regular show on WCHV, many years ago. He really knows how to get shit done. Very impressive guy.
I gave money, because at this point in my life it is impossible to disappear for a month, to a Catholic charity that is repairing homes for the elderly in New Orleans.
For me, it’s precisely the converse — I don’t have any money to give, but I can give time. We all do what we can.
I’ll bet there is a church, synagogue, or mosque in Charlottesville that will take you right now to help do repair work.
Lord, I’d love to hear about one. :) I spent 3-4 hours each day from Monday through Wednesday trying to find any organization that would help me help them. I even had a guy from FEMA e-mail me, having seen my queries on some Katrina websites, and try to find some way for me to help. The general consensus is that, ironically, there will be a lot more to do in a few months than right now. It’s my hope to have more money than time by then, but we’ll see. :)
The downside to the Red Cross is that they usually require volunteers to have gone through their training program.
They do require going through their training program, though it seems to be for good cause. I went through it on Thursday, thinking I’d be shipped out the next day. It was really interesting. I’ve already decided that I’ll sign up to be on their local crisis team, heading to house fires and the like. It’s amazing how much they accomplish, quietly, making society continue to operate smoothly at those times when it’s most likely to break down.
I’ll look for that Buckley book. I had no idea he was such a prolific author — no title stands out, but I’ll give ’em a good browse tomorrow and figure it out. Thanks for the pointer, Simon.
The book is called Gratitude – Reflections In What We Owe Our Country. If I can find it in my boxes o’ stuff, I will gladly let you borrow it.
If I find a place that is looking for a newlywed to take off and go help, I will forward it to you.
The book is called Gratitude – Reflections In What We Owe Our Country. If I can find it in my boxes o’ stuff, I will gladly let you borrow it.
I have added it to my queue of books to read. Right after The Tipping Point and right before The Da Vinci Code. :) I think you should force me to buy a Buckley book. It’d be good for me. ;)
If I find a place that is looking for a newlywed to take off and go help, I will forward it to you.
That would be just great. Thank you, Simon.