Bush Is Not To Blame: Bureaucratic Bungling over the Katrina Disaster
I am so hot over this, I don’t know where to begin. I have written notes so I can stay focused in my outrage.
Our President has stood up and admitted that this has not been handled well at all.
First, the story, then let’s unpack it.
Bush “Admits” Katrina Response ‘Not Enough’
Two issues I have with this article:
1. It trumpets Bush’s Low approval ratings… almost as if to say that this disaster was a lost opportunity to improve his numbers.
If Bush would have left Crawford on Tuesday, these same critics would have accused him of trying to capitalize on the disaster for Political gain. Just sick.
2. It indirectly attempts to make Bush responsible for the bureaucratic bungling that fouled up the response. President Bush is one man… how could he control the National Guard, FEMA and local law enforcement? it is not possible… those that run those agencies are responsible for making good decisions and they did not.
Now, what I agree with:
1. It points out stupid decisions by FEMA. We need to understand that some of those that stayed behind are the criminal element including 7,000 inmates of a prision that escaped in the wake of the hurricane. Also, in poor neighborhoods, you have crime, that is a fact of life. The poor that couldn’t get out were most likely those seen looting. I’d hazard a guess that those shooting cops and helicopters were some of those escaped inmates or gang-bangers that stayed behind because they knew they’d have a chance to loot.
The pansies at FEMA decided to cut and run after a Helicopter was shot at, costing two days. People at FEMA need to be held accountable… and HEADS SHOULD ROLL, what a pathetic, weak decision.
Another one, hundreds of private citizens with boats were not allowed to go into new Orleans to bring people out over paranoia over the criminal element running loose. I’d also hazard a guess that those Bayou boaters that showed up were armed themselves… If I was in charge, I’d have sent everone in that wanted to help.
2. Why wasn’t the National Guard quicker on the draw? It was a known fact that many Lousiana National guard troops were on deployment. BTW, the Army looks like it is going to hit it’s recruiting goals this year… so I question the manpower shortage argument.
3. The Levees - This is some scary stuff as I am a Resident of a suburb at 23 feet in elevation of a City, Sacramento that is itself below Sea Level in parts. Why weren’t New Orleans’ levees reinforced with Concrete like those in Sac have been. BTW: Sacramento is very vulnerable as it is the only city in a Flood Plane with less than 100 year flood protection. We have been trying to build the Auburn Dam, but the Enviros have won that battle for years, the Auburn Dam would give us 250-year protection…
So here’s where I salute Bush…
Admist a sea of vipers that are playing gotcha, he takes responsibility for mistakes made and offers a solution. Look to see hearings similar to the 9-11 commission where the culture of Government Bureaucracy is permanently altered. At least I could only hope.
It takes guts to assume responsibility for errors when your critics are waiting to pounce by the thousands.
This is leadership, and why I would never want to be President… it has to be the most helpless feeling when people blame you for things out of your DIRECT control.
As a business owner, I try to delegate responsibility to do jobs to others and when they let me down… I get left holding the bag. Sorry, Mr. President… you are left holding the bag… the unfortunate consequence of being President.
Things that make you go hmmm…
What do we do now?
Pray.
Give Money to relief agencies.
Unite to solve the problem.
Comments?
Some of you went over the top on my last post, so please control yourselves, I know emotions are running hot. I intended to go off in this post, but I decided to restrain myself and not point fingers… rather I decided on a rational, cogent approach as much devoid of anger as possible. I am angry, but I realize that this is the latest in a demonstrated string of Bureaucracy that needs to be cleaned up bigtime.
– by contributing blogger, Aaron F Park
September 3rd, 2005 at 2:45 pm
Los españoles decentes estamos con el pueblo americano y con su presidente, Mr. George W. Bush. Otra cosa es el (des)gobierno del anti-americano Zapatero, amigo de Castro y Chavez.
September 3rd, 2005 at 6:08 pm
Yay.
*claps*
“When in doubt, blame Bush” — Typical Liberals. Ahahahaa.
September 3rd, 2005 at 7:00 pm
I agree the Govt was was to late to get in gear. If Bush really means what he said he will fire Rumsfeld. The Guard should have been called out by La. Gov on Sat - like Mis was. When it was not called on Sun Rumsfled should have stepped in. His inaction is a clear case of malfeasance of the first order. He has to go. Or Bush is telling lies and will be seen s untrustworthy by all; not just the America hating progressives.
September 4th, 2005 at 10:52 am
let me again remind you of J.Jackson’s quote;
“incompetence (ed: admitted) and arrogance (ed: the late response), are both unacceptable”
it’s a performance issue, not a political one - is this performance you’re happy with? Doesn’t a fish rot from the head? It seems that government is “top-down” when it succeeds but “bottom-up” when it fails. Is that right?
September 4th, 2005 at 5:58 pm
The president is an embarrassment and the whole world saw it. Osama Bin Laden must have enjoyed seeing how the president responded to this crisis. The mayor and the governor were calling for assistance from the federal government before Katrina hit New Orleans and the president responded by playing golf, playing a guitar and going to a birthday party. The president was more concerned about the oil refineries than the people dying.