Bush Rules the Winds and the Seas

[elph8]

Nobody could confuse me for a Bush fan, but I'm a little surprised by how many people here on LJ, and throughout the blogosphere, are trying to pin blame for Katrina's devastation on the current administration. It just seems like the inappropriate response to what's going on, and probably a tad myopic to boot.

Comments

[bajatierra]

Blame for Katrina? No. Blame for lack of initiating proper federal preparedness and a jackassedy series of sound bites? Boy howdy.

[elph8]

So the blame for not building higher and stronger levees lays on the head of Bush? Why didn't Clinton build 'em?

[radioactiveart]

No. It's a long history.

I blame him for being an idiot - saying stupid shit and fiddling while the city drowns. I blame him for pushing shortsighted policies that left an incredibly vulnerable city even more vulnerable.

I blame him for leading only where he wants to lead, and for a meanspiritedness that leads to disaster.

In early 2001, FEMA identified three probable major disasters that were most likely to happen in the US. Number 1: Terrorist Attack on NY. Number 2: Hurricane in NO. Number 3: Earthquake in SF.

We've had PLENTY of warning over the last few years as to what could happen. Ask FLorida.

I blame him for the devastation because he deserves blame.

[elph8]

So I assume, because you're a fair man, you put just as much blame on Clinton, on Bush I, on Reagan---all of whom had warning that New Orleans was ripe for a hurricane disaster?

[eskimopie]

I don't blame Bush for Katrina or its devastation.

Although, one would think that if he was going to use 9-11 constantly in his campaign and how "well" he dealt with it, then maybe, just maybe, there would be a better response system set up for such monumental disasters that put power and cell phones out of use in the affected sectors and possibly, just possibly, they might increase the efficiency, speed, reliability and quantity of communication between rescue groups.

I'm just a little bit annoyed that he acts like its a big effort on his part to come off of vacation three days early when he's spent more than one fifth of his presidency on vacation. I shouldn't be proud of him for coming back from Crawford and Idaho, I should expect it.

I'm just sayin' that I'm annoyed and disappointed.

[tweekedcat]

Eh, some on the left blame Bush for the disaster, some on the right blame homosexuals for it. Like I always say, there are saints & assholes on both sides.

It would be funny if it weren't so damn scary that with our new beefed-up Homeland Security shit in place, we can't keep people in New Orleans from shooting at FEMA and the National Guard and each other and robbing each other blind.

Damn Right it's his fault

[fengi]

I realize it's hard to fathom just how grotesquely irresponsible this administration is, but it fucked up big time because they are bankrupting infrastructure for their own needs. This isn't some idle speculation - Bush adminstration policies had a documented link to the New Orleans disaster

[bajatierra]

Also:

http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/20083/
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0918/p02s01-usmi.html
http://www.antiwar.com/lind/?articleid=3651
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/08/30/1354257