Unlike Fox News, I won't play the race card, but Katrina was a disaster for the Bush administration. Right?

Question

When one considers their response to the man made disaster of 9/11 and compared to the Natural disaster of Katrina. The response was woeful and frankly criminal.

Answer 1

I'm sorry to say it was a disgrace to the American nation as a whole.

I was at Dunkirk the other day. In the early days of WW2 the British Army was stranded on the beach there. Thousands of people from the area of England nearest to the continent who had boats went over and ferried them back. The army was off the beach and back in Enland in two days.

Now you guys, in peacetime, couldn't get your own people out of New Orleans. I heard about some government agency not sending people back in to help out because a couple of guys had been shot at - for crying out loud the Dunkirk rescue was done by non-professionals with the LUFTWAFFE in attendance.

How can such a powerful country as the US, with all the military choppers, boats, landing craft, huge resources fail to rescue people quickly?

Oh, and another thing. We (the UK) sent loads of ready meals over to help feed the guys as they were rescued. They were stopped at customs. Now I know our cuisine isn't the best in the world but its better than starving and rejecting aid might seem to be the action of [self censored] ingrates.

Answer 2

I think that the failure was on the part of government - all levels of government - and not specifically the Bush administration - though they do have some of the blame. But in the case of Katrina - there is plenty of blame to go around.

Don't forget the city of New Orleans - and all of those busses left underwater. Buses that could have been used to bus people out. Also, Amtrack was moving trains out of New Orleans, they contacted the city government wanting to know if they wanted to evacuate anybody and the city said no.

Don't forget the state of Louisiana and the wonderful governor. She was late in contact the federal government for help. And while it would be nice for the Federal Government to swoop in and provide help without being asked - there are serious constitutional issues that would be raised if the government came in without having been asked by the state first. Then people, such as yourself, would be screaming that Bush was trying to take over the country and was using Katrina as an excuse to seize power from the local elected offiicals.

What about the Levee Boards in New Orleans? What exactly have they been doing all of these years - and with all of the money they have? What's the excuse for having pumps that don't work because they got wet?

There is also quite a bit of difference between the events of 9/11 and Katrina. 9/11 happened on a single day - in several different locations - but the damage was really isolated to two locations, the World Trade Center in NYC, and the Pentagon in D.C. - the recovery work was largely conducted by local emergency people.

Katrina was drawn out over several days - and affected a lot of seperate areas, not only in New Orleans and Louisiana, but also in Mississippi.

Answer 3

Personally, I feel that the correct protocol was not taken. Many residents of New Orleans did not have power up to 10 hours before the storm so how could one possibly evacuate. Also, it was not the hurricane that caused all the disaster it was the lack of responsibility of the engineer who waited 40 + years to adhere to the codes and upkeep of the levees. When the levees broke that's when all hell broke loose. That's why people blame the govt. Do you believe if the Statue of liberty needed upkeep or maintenance it will be ignored for 30 + years or even the White House. i don't think so? Ignoring the levees was just the political agenda of the big time builders to rebuild New Orleans as a Casino district. they were just awaiting something to destroy and clear as many poor and minorities as they could without paying them off to move. Gentrification, look it up!!

Imagine your 16 year old cousin picked up for a possible suspect for vandalism on Aug. 28, 2005 just because he fit the description of a young black male with a red t-shirt and blue jeans. He sat in a holding cell for 48 hours. Due to all the drama with Katrina he was not given the phone call nor did he get evacuated. As the water grew him and other whom were stopped or detained by the police just set in a cell while the water was rising. They all drowned many were not even convicted nor did they committ crimes (runaways, profiled suspects) See the media left out so many things and you have the audacity to say its whining many people died slow and painfully, watching there lives pass by why the water rose. Our gov't who say the work for all people have their political agendas and the caliber of people whom made up New Orleans did not make their agenda!! And Katrina was an aid in whipping out what they see as the bottom percentage!!

Answer 4

common sense should also be considered. I know I'd leave if a hurge hurricane was coming. I'd take my kids, pets and get the hell out.

The local government didn't do enough. They didn't ask for help soon enough.

The feds probably mobilized as soon as they could that massive of an undertaking takes time...

Then the rescuees - some were shooting and the rescuers - HELLO??!?!

It is not only the feds that screwed up. It starts with personal responsibility - then goes all the way up.

Answer 5

Maybe if the residents had gotten off their butts and prepared, it wouldn't have been so bad.

I live in FL., and we're looking at one coming now (Not as bad as Katrina). Schools on the coast are getting out early tomorrow so they can be used as shelters.

Tolls on the evac routes are waived, and we're getting constant updates from our local news stations.

The stores are packed with people buying supplies, and the gas stations have people wrapped around the parking lots.

All this was done in 2004, too, when four hurricanes hit the state. No one just sat back and waited for FEMA.

Hmm.. and who's our governor?

That's right, Jeb. I'm not thrilled about that, but at least he knows how to get ready for a storm.

Answer 6

As a resident of New Orleans I get really upset when people attack the President for his blunders and never mention those of Nagin, our nincompoop mayor and the blundering bimbo of Baton Rouge, the governer, Blanco. It makes your 'concern' for the issue ring disingenuously to my ear. I think you bring it up just for an opportunity to indulge in some good ol' fashion Bush Bashin'!

Mississippi has as many black and poor people as Louisiana but they didn't fall into anarchy. They didn't hesitate to call in federal troops. The response of their local leaders from the Governor on down was both professional and heroic. Our Governor and mayor were pathetic!

So yes, Bush f*cked up. What he should have done was flown into Baton Rouge and slapped some sense into the Governor and threaten the mayor with a years stay at gitmo if he didn't pull his head out of his *ss! Bush's response was woeful. Our local leaders response is what this Neo Orleanean considers criminal.

Secondly, the race card was introduced into the issue by Nagin, not Fox News. It started with his inane 'chocolate city' rantings.

You don't like Bush or Fox News? Let me guess, you're a liberal!

Too bad. You're going to be very upset when we elect another Republican prez in 08.

See ya @ the polls!

Answer 7

No it was not woeful or criminal. More than 122 BILLION dollars has been allocated or spent for Katrina. More than any money ever spent for any disaster. 9/11 only got 15.8 BILLION, the state paid the rest with insurance companies. 9/11 had 2752 deaths - New Orleans had 70 deaths according to CNN - the state of Louisiana had 1577 deaths but the 122 billion did not go to other areas just New Orleans. Short of going down & personally rebuilding the homes many not more than rented shacks, I think the Federal Goverment, President Bush & the US people have given enough. The local & state leaders need to step up & act like they are leaders of some sort. New Orleans reelected the biggest cause of their problem, the one who redirected money sent for levee before Katrina. I say live with your choice.

Answer 8

Blaming Bush for Katrina is almost as ludicris as blaming the governor of Oregon. New Orleans is in Louisiana, it's Louisiana's responsibility. Nagan and Blanco. Those 2 names should go down in history as the worst 2 f**kups ever elected to office.

Answer 9

The response from the entire government was horrible. Nagin and Blanco saying 'Nah, we don't need the buses and trains to transport those residents who have no way to get out of the city' and Bush for taking 3 days after the hurricane ended to take any action whatsoever. If the fault in this disaster were a blanket it would have to be huge to cover everyone who made huge mistakes.

Answer 10

Just the opinion of a Brit - Bush responded to 9/11 by putting on a show to the world about how much he cared about all nations...not that many believed him and rightly so. Katrina was his big downfall, charity must begin at home but he showed he cares little or nothing for his own people. Let's hope that the Americans (and the Brits) vote in a real man at the next elections, one who puts his own house in order before even thinking of interfering with his neighbours way of life.