Just when you thought it was President Bushs' Fault for KATRINA Damage

[greenmachine]

Preach that gospel brother. I am definitely on the same page as BigScrub

[apkkfx400]

The head of FEMA (Brown) had little experience with any emergency or disaster relief situations.  He could have had the proper training and been better prepared for any disaster situation-Bush appointed him shortly after the 9/11 tragedy-Where did he come from?-from Bush's 2000 election campaign-'Hey buddy, I need to fill this here position since you helped me in the 2000 election'.  Do you think his ignorance maybe is why he resigned??!!??

A hurricane has been dealt in the past, correct?  The only difference was the catastrophic flooding and the size of the hurricane.  We could only anticipate the damage-which was anticipated to be catastrophic-the preparations for immediate relief should have been a little sooner.  No matter why the people stayed-no transportation, no money, no clue!

[Ida_Mann]

so, what was the difference in FEMA's reaction to Katrina as compared to Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne?

Since it is the State that governs when Federal assistance is brought in,,,,,wonder what the difference was?

could it be a governator that understands that his/her state needs the help as fast as possible?

Id@

[TRX350_On_The_Rack]

The head of FEMA (Brown) had little experience with any emergency or disaster relief situations.  He could have had the proper training and been better prepared for any disaster situation-Bush appointed him shortly after the 9/11 tragedy-Where did he come from?-from Bush's 2000 election campaign-'Hey buddy, I need to fill this here position since you helped me in the 2000 election'.  Do you think his ignorance maybe is why he resigned??!!??

You didn't know Horse Farming is one of the qualifications for a FEMA Director under the Homeland Security Act? 

[RL400]

Help turned away?

State officials also are being blamed for turning back assistance during the critical first few days. Sheriff Steve Simpson, of Loudon County, Virginia, sent 22 deputies with supplies and 14 vehicles, including four all-terrain vehicles. But he called them back when Louisiana state police officials waved him off.

"I said, 'What if we just show up?' and he says, 'You probably won't get in," Simpson told CNN. Later that night, Blanco cleared legal hurdles that would have allowed local officials to accept the help, but no one ever got back to Simpson.

"I'm very frustrated, trying to figure out what went wrong in that process," Simpson said.

The White House has suggested that Gov. Blanco also failed to call early enough for the federal help she needed. The governor's office says that before, during and after the storm, Blanco's message to the president was consistent. (Watch the video on political defensive moves -- 1:56)

"The governor genuinely felt at that time she had asked for help," press secretary Denise Bottcher said, "She said, 'We need your help. We need everything you've got.'"

Blanco lashed out at FEMA Tuesday for what she said was a "lack of urgency and lack of respect" involving the recovery of bodies of Hurricane Katrina victims.

Blanco said she ordered the state to sign a contract with Kenyon International Monday , after Chertoff failed to live up to renew the private disaster recovery firm's contract. The company has been recovering bodies in New Orleans.

Kenyon worked for the Australian government to identify the remains of tourists killed during the December tsunami, and the company handled the remains of plane passengers who crashed into a Pennsylvania field during the September 11 attacks.

Kenyon told the state that if they didn't get a contract soon, they would be force to leave as soon as they professionally could.

"In death, as in life, our people deserve more respect than they have received," Blanco said.

Source: CNN

[Gamer]

Today Bush announced that he is taking responsibility for the failures related to Hurricane Katrina.  I was a little surprised and it made me think better of him because of it.  I think that's what most Americans wanted him to do when we did not find any WMD's in Iraq due to failed intellegence which was the reason for war.  No president is perfect and they all have made mistakes but it takes courage to admit when your wrong.

[TRX350_On_The_Rack]

Today Bush announced that he is taking responsibility for the failures related to Hurricane Katrina.  I was a little surprised and it made me think better of him because of it.  I think that's what most Americans wanted him to do when we did not find any WMD's in Iraq due to failed intellegence which was the reason for war.  No president is perfect and they all have made mistakes but it takes courage to admit when your wrong.

Takes a lot of guts to admit you were wrong especially when you are in politics. It's considered Taboo and was the fall for Clinton. See if Bush pulls out of this.

[apkkfx400]

The head of FEMA (Brown) had little experience with any emergency or disaster relief situations.  He could have had the proper training and been better prepared for any disaster situation-Bush appointed him shortly after the 9/11 tragedy-Where did he come from?-from Bush's 2000 election campaign-'Hey buddy, I need to fill this here position since you helped me in the 2000 election'.  Do you think his ignorance maybe is why he resigned??!!??

You didn't know Horse Farming is one of the qualifications for a FEMA Director under the Homeland Security Act? 

   I guess it would be beneficial to have a horse farmer ahead of FEMA in the event we run out of fuel-he might be kinda handy then!!

[BIGWORM3699 ( ECP RACING)]

I wish every one would stop pointing fingers and move fwd. pointing fingers takes time away from the problem at hand HELP the people get back to fairly normal lives and then figure out whos them blame. The world has become sue happy and forget the the main focus.

[Scrb15's Fiancee]

I say that Bush did a great job in this situation! He is only one man trying to run the country, what else can you ask the man for? Well Done Bush!!! 

[Ride1Rob]

Bush sent plenty of money to the region for walls to be built, most of that money was diverted to build more casinos and tourist areas. It is the State and Parishes and City's fault for not following through with the construction of the wall. Also, how do you expect the head of FEMA to have experience in this?? There has never been such a hurricane to hit us so he could have no training. Also Bush was trying to protect the country from more terroist attacks to shutup the democrats that blamed him for that too. Noone expected a hurricane like this to hit, NOONE is to blame for this. If you want to blame someone, blame the people that stayed, what idiot stays in the path of a F3 Tornado thats 400miles wide and will be on top of you for 24hours? Most people would run from an F1 tornado, but this hurricane was as powerful as an F3 and they stayed, they are the idiots that had a week to walk their lazy butts down the highway and get to saftey. In a week I could have walked well out of the path of danger. Instead they just sit there and say the gov't didnt get them out.

I don't like to flame anyone in this forum, but I can't help but to do it this time. You, my friend have to be still in your teens and don't have the slightest clue as to how life really works or you're purely blinded by your living conditions thinking EVERYONE lives as plush as you do.

1st) The funding WAS cut by our President George W. Bush JR. His excuse for cutting the funding was needing more money for the war on Terrorism. But, in turn the blame SHOULD NOT be placed on him. But he didn't help the situation.

2nd) You made the statement about why people didn't evacuate and purely "sat" in the way of the hurricane. Just b/c (You) may have the means to ride or even walk (which I'm more than sure you wouldn't have done) 100 - 200 miles away, not everyone had those means. And might I remind you that there were many elderly that passed away who went to the Superdome b/c of the conditions afterwards. There were ALOT of old and disabled people as well as those that were simply too poor to leave. THEY HAD NO MEANS (money, transportation, or health) TO EVACUATE!!! Whether they wanted to or not. Did you see where the disabled man was rescued from the waters clinging to a tree for his dear life? He had no legs. Guess he could've walked to safety to ha? What about those 34 people that drowned in the nursing home when they were abondoned b/c of the floods that overtook the facility. Guess they could have up and left on their own to ha? Those people didn't deserve to die that way. Exspecially when it could have been prevented from the so called leaders of that state.

As far as "Blame". The Mayor and the Governor dropped the ball. They should have loaded those 100's of busses that are now under water and taken those people to higher ground. They should have had a "Mandatory evacuation".

And for those of you who agree w/ BigScrub post, you need to look yourselves in the mirror and see pure disgust. It ashames me that there are fellow American brothers and sisters who feel this way. But I guarrantee you this, if those were his loved ones bodies floating in that water or missing he'd have a totally different opinion.

[apkkfx400]

I say that Bush did a great job in this situation! He is only one man trying to run the country, what else can you ask the man for? Well Done Bush!!! 

And 38% of Americans agree, Bush can do no wrong!!

[TRX350_On_The_Rack]

2nd) You made the statement about why people didn't evacuate and purely "sat" in the way of the hurricane. Just b/c (You) may have the means to ride or even walk (which I'm more than sure you wouldn't have done) 100 - 200 miles away, not everyone had those means. And might I remind you that there were many elderly that passed away who went to the Superdome b/c of the conditions afterwards. There were ALOT of old and disabled people as well as those that were simply too poor to leave. THEY HAD NO MEANS (money, transportation, or health) TO EVACUATE!!! Whether they wanted to or not. Did you see where the disabled man was rescued from the waters clinging to a tree for his dear life? He had no legs. Guess he could've walked to safety to ha? What about those 34 people that drowned in the nursing home when they were abondoned b/c of the floods that overtook the facility. Guess they could have up and left on their own to ha? Those people didn't deserve to die that way. Exspecially when it could have been prevented from the so called leaders of that state.

As far as "Blame". The Mayor and the Governor dropped the ball. They should have loaded those 100's of busses that are now under water and taken those people to higher ground. They should have had a "Mandatory evacuation".

And for those of you who agree w/ BigScrub post, you need to look yourselves in the mirror and see pure disgust. It ashames me that there are fellow American brothers and sisters who feel this way. But I guarrantee you this, if those were his loved ones bodies floating in that water or missing he'd have a totally different opinion.

I've noticed some people don't seem to grasp how poor or disabled these people really are and how they just can't evacuate out without assistance. It's sad.

Bigscrb15, 38% is not a good number for any President.

[bigscrub79]

Rob and TRX i agree that the disabled were the unfortunate in this event, the poor also did not have the financial means to evacuate. The problem is the mayor and governer screwed up. I get upset that after this happens they (the poor) get upset at the president and start yelling that this is racial. Believe me if i was poor and stayed and then had to get out afterwards i would not sit back and blame anyone other than myself. I feel horrible for the disabled but the poor able body people that were out there walking around hooting and hollering about this is whoevers fault just disgust me. If you are able to stand in front of the camera and whine and cry then you are able to find a job. If you do not have the education or will power to get up and find a job then blame your parents, and try ot change yourself. Stop sitting back and expecting people to do things for you. I am also thrilled to death to hear they charged the couple that ran the nursing home with 34 counts of murder.

[Pat]

I heard yesterday on the Sean Hannity radio show that Amtrak offered assistance with evacuating those that didn't have ability to drive themselves out...I am not sure if it was the Mayor or the Governor but the response was "No". It is my opinion that the Governor and Mayor are on the offensive (directing blame towards the Federal Gov't) simply to take the focus off of their own ineptitude.
Pat

[Bigscrb15]

2nd) You made the statement about why people didn't evacuate and purely "sat" in the way of the hurricane. Just b/c (You) may have the means to ride or even walk (which I'm more than sure you wouldn't have done) 100 - 200 miles away, not everyone had those means. And might I remind you that there were many elderly that passed away who went to the Superdome b/c of the conditions afterwards. There were ALOT of old and disabled people as well as those that were simply too poor to leave. THEY HAD NO MEANS (money, transportation, or health) TO EVACUATE!!! Whether they wanted to or not. Did you see where the disabled man was rescued from the waters clinging to a tree for his dear life? He had no legs. Guess he could've walked to safety to ha? What about those 34 people that drowned in the nursing home when they were abondoned b/c of the floods that overtook the facility. Guess they could have up and left on their own to ha? Those people didn't deserve to die that way. Exspecially when it could have been prevented from the so called leaders of that state.

As far as "Blame". The Mayor and the Governor dropped the ball. They should have loaded those 100's of busses that are now under water and taken those people to higher ground. They should have had a "Mandatory evacuation".

And for those of you who agree w/ BigScrub post, you need to look yourselves in the mirror and see pure disgust. It ashames me that there are fellow American brothers and sisters who feel this way. But I guarrantee you this, if those were his loved ones bodies floating in that water or missing he'd have a totally different opinion.

I've noticed some people don't seem to grasp how poor or disabled these people really are and how they just can't evacuate out without assistance. It's sad.

Bigscrb15, 38% is not a good number for any President.

I agree with your points about the disabled and I really wish they could have gotten out easier. I don't know anyone on this forum that wishes the diabled would have got hurt or killed. Im glad we both agree that the Governor and Mayor also dropped the ball, not just President Bush.
I do believe the problem on the board right now is that everyone hears something and swears it as gospel. Very little of what we hear about the money being spent here and there is true, and we need to research what we say before we say it.

[Ride1Rob]

Rob and TRX i agree that the disabled were the unfortunate in this event, the poor also did not have the financial means to evacuate. The problem is the mayor and governer screwed up. I get upset that after this happens they (the poor) get upset at the president and start yelling that this is racial. Believe me if i was poor and stayed and then had to get out afterwards i would not sit back and blame anyone other than myself. I feel horrible for the disabled but the poor able body people that were out there walking around hooting and hollering about this is whoevers fault just disgust me. If you are able to stand in front of the camera and whine and cry then you are able to find a job. If you do not have the education or will power to get up and find a job then blame your parents, and try ot change yourself. Stop sitting back and expecting people to do things for you. I am also thrilled to death to hear they charged the couple that ran the nursing home with 34 counts of murder.

Not everyone in America can be well off financially. Even in the early days you had the poor, middle class, and upper class people. You're making an argument that b/c they're poor and b/c they don't have the means to evacuate then it's their fault . Our society is not designed for EVERYONE to be well off. In a perfect world that would be lovely, but that's not reality! Not everyone can make that nice income most of us here do and provide for their family, not everyone can make that 6 digit figure or close to it, some of those people work hard for that $6/hr and struggle to survive. They're tax paying citizens and deserve better than the hand they were dealt. Many people didn't have cars b/c the transit system was a MAJOR part of New Orleans transportation system. When the transit system went down, they had (here's that word again) NO MEANS to leave. Just b/c they don't make a certain amount of money doesn't give the goverment the right to "Forget" about them and make them ride a storm out when they knew there would be catastrophic results.

[bigscrub79]

I am not saying we should forget about them. I refuse to believe there was no way out for them. The disabled yes but not the poor. There is always a way out no matter what. I am not saying we should blame them, i am saying they should take their own resposibility and stop blaming people. You cant rely on the government for your entire life eventually you have to make your own decisions and if it doesnt work out, deal with the consequences. I understand they are poor and i feel for them believe me, been there done that. I also know that you cant sit there and say there is no way they can stop from being poor, again been there done that. I am not rich i dont make a 6 figure income, but i am by no means poor. I have worked some horrible jobs i didnt like but you do what you have to in order to make money. We should continue to help these people but at what point do we realize that some dont want to help themselves.

I am also tired of arguing about this, i understand and respect your opinions. Hope to meet yall at a ride someday. Let me know if you are riding at any tracks around Polk County Rob, I have been wanting to check out the quads on the track.

[Ride1Rob]

I am not saying we should forget about them. I refuse to believe there was no way out for them. The disabled yes but not the poor. There is always a way out no matter what. I am not saying we should blame them, i am saying they should take their own resposibility and stop blaming people. You cant rely on the government for your entire life eventually you have to make your own decisions and if it doesnt work out, deal with the consequences. I understand they are poor and i feel for them believe me, been there done that. I also know that you cant sit there and say there is no way they can stop from being poor, again been there done that. I am not rich i dont make a 6 figure income, but i am by no means poor. I have worked some horrible jobs i didnt like but you do what you have to in order to make money. We should continue to help these people but at what point do we realize that some dont want to help themselves.

In terms of those deadbeat citizens you're correct. But I'm talking about the people that work hard just as you and I do. I'm also was one of those people that used to work for 5.75/hr. There were days when I was wondering how my rent would get paid. I worked my way up the ladder and now  I make almost quadruple that (Thanx to Law Enforcement ). But not everyone is able to get those same breaks and opportunities that you and I have.

So how do you recommend the poor should have evacuated? Enlighten me and help me to understand how someone that has not much money gets anywhere in a country where money makes everything move. Help me to better understand this.

[bigscrub79]

I have never been in there situation so i cant tell you exactly how to get out of there. I can tell you that I would have found a way. What way that is i dont know, i would just be making it up.

[apkkfx400]

I agree with your points about the disabled and I really wish they could have gotten out easier. I don't know anyone on this forum that wishes the diabled would have got hurt or killed. Im glad we both agree that the Governor and Mayor also dropped the ball, not just President Bush.
I do believe the problem on the board right now is that everyone hears something and swears it as gospel. Very little of what we hear about the money being spent here and there is true, and we need to research what we say before we say it.

I'll definitely end it on that note and agree with the fact that local and federal government officials dropped the ball.  And as I said before-this tragedy will be hopefully looked at very carefully so the outcome of any type of devastation in the future will not lead to so many avoidable and cruel deaths.  

OUR HEARTS, HOPES AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE SURVIVORS,  THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING, MISSING LOVED ONES AND ALL THOSE UP THERE HELPING OUT WITH THIS TRAGIC SITUATION!!

"United We Stand, Divided We Fall"---   So let's get it together!!

Mark

[bigscrub79]

I agree with your points about the disabled and I really wish they could have gotten out easier. I don't know anyone on this forum that wishes the diabled would have got hurt or killed. Im glad we both agree that the Governor and Mayor also dropped the ball, not just President Bush.
I do believe the problem on the board right now is that everyone hears something and swears it as gospel. Very little of what we hear about the money being spent here and there is true, and we need to research what we say before we say it.

I'll definitely end it on that note and agree with the fact that local and federal government officials dropped the ball.  And as I said before-this tragedy will be hopefully looked at very carefully so the outcome of any type of devastation in the future will not lead to so many avoidable and cruel deaths. 

OUR HEARTS, HOPES AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE SURVIVORS,  THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING, MISSING LOVED ONES AND ALL THOSE UP THERE HELPING OUT WITH THIS TRAGIC SITUATION!!

"United We Stand, Divided We Fall"---   So let's get it together!!

Mark

I completely agree, God bless all those who made it through, those who didnt, and all those helping out.

[Ride1Rob]

I have never been in there situation so i cant tell you exactly how to get out of there. I can tell you that I would have found a way. What way that is i dont know, i would just be making it up.

It's very easy to sit here on this board and say, "I would've found a way to get out". Sad thing is... you can't tell me here after the fact how you would have done it. Not good for making a statement that the people should have left themselves. Many of those people were probably trying to figure out ways to get out themselves and couldn't come up w/ a plan either w/o enough money to do so 

[bigscrub79]

You are absolutely right its easy for me to say that. I cant tell you how because i dont know how they lived and what was around them, I dont know and of the circumstances first hand.  Its like asking what would you do if you won the lottery, you cant truthfully say until that happens. So therfore im not going to sit here and tell you how i would get out because i dont honestly know. I do know that I would have found a way. Its hard for me to remember that not everyone is like me and I apologize for being so tough on them.

[Chuck_Norris]

I heard yesterday on the Sean Hannity radio show that Amtrak offered assistance with evacuating those that didn't have ability to drive themselves out...I am not sure if it was the Mayor or the Governor but the response was "No". It is my opinion that the Governor and Mayor are on the offensive (directing blame towards the Federal Gov't) simply to take the focus off of their own ineptitude.
Pat

My point exactly.
someone on this thread has said it best that welfare is assistance not a way of life. Then for someone to have the intestinal fortitude to claim to be a victim  receive a govt approved credit card set up for true victims only to not be a victim at all, to top it all off she goes off and buys a $800.00 purse while kids are going hungry that is just flat out unacceptable I hope that she will be used as an example for anyone else fraudulently trying to benefit with a scam.