posted February 13, 2006
AP just sent out a wire, touting Congress’ declaration that the Bush Administration’s response to Katrina was a “national failure.” Getting past the fact it’s an AP wire, I continue to be disheartened by the rampant irrationality running through Congress and the press on this issue. Katrina was at one time a category five hurricane. Taking the track she took, she finally did what experts had been predicting could happen in the Gulf for the past 30 plus years. It’s not like it was a surprise, or unlikely it could happen, as oil and gas interests, as well as New Orleans had had plenty of previous scares to remind them the problems they were facing could not be put off until tomorrow forever.
Not since Galveston was creamed around 1900 has the United States seen the type of storm and destruction manifested by Katrina. And like 9/11, no national government in recent history has had to deal with a situation like the one ultimately presented by Katrina. Mistakes were made, and could be expected to be made. What’s burning me up, however, is the complete lack of accountability for the state and local governments that did nothing but wring their hands and point the fingers at FEMA, Homeland Security, and that target of all targets – President Bush. In contrast to the federal response, both the mayor of New Orleans and the governor of Louisiana made a mockery out of the post storm situation. Moreover, the absolutely irresponsible and pathetic local preparation contributed as much or infinitely more to many of the tragedies resulting from the storm. And let’s keep in mind the storm itself – something no one could control, and something few predicted correctly several times within the hours it made land fall last year. It was a category five hurricane. No FEMA, no Homeland Security, no form of national or local government could have effectively addressed the magnitude of that storm and the destruction it wrought.
Rather than looking for ways to ensure past mistakes aren’t repeated under similar circumstances (which hopefully won’t be often), Congress is again politicizing an American tragedy. Where the 9/11 commission lost any meaningful credibility, where the Senate Judiciary Committee wasted our tax dollars on a shameless exercise in obstructionism and acrimony, the so-called Katrina investigation is continuing the process in the worst possible way. I can’t speak for anyone but myself, but in listening to all the finger pointing, condemnations, and recriminations – I have to ask – if the New Madrid fault finally caused “the quake,” or if some other natural disaster hit Tennessee or Georgia as it did New Orleans – would we expect the rest of the country to pick up the tab for our lack of planning, investment, and preparation? Would anyone? Yes – a major U.S. city got flattened by a storm, but the prospect of that storm existed for decades with no tangible action by those most threatened by the problem. Why is it now the federal government’s fault, and why should we as tax payers absorb all the cost for local leader’s complete incompetence and lack of responsibility concerning a known risk? Are the Bush haters and congenital dependants so blinded that what’s going on now is the best we can do? If it is, then we have truly taken an unfortunate turn in the history of our country. I want to suggest, for all the energy being expended in Washington, why aren’t folks on both sides looking for positive ways to bounce back? Why aren’t they taking the course of Mississippi’s governor, and that state’s citizens – where all are trying to chip in and help in their own communities? The talking heads (locally and abroad) can Bush hate and complain all they want – but in the end – the United States gulf coast was hit by a storm the likes of which no one has seen in over a century. Since it’s an established fact that human beings don’t learn so good from experience (…look only to New Orleans and Louisiana politicians and budgetary priorities), seems to me everyone involved would come out better without the “drama” being intentionally fanned in Washington. I mean, it’s not so far removed from Islamists destroying buildings and killing people over cartoons.
As matters now stand – the response to the response to Katrina is what should be called a “national failure” – as upcoming mid-term elections, and the biggest bag of partisanship can in no way justify or legitimize recent events concerning these issues. Nobody’s really going to focus on that unfortunately, since the already rabid press is going to be soiling itself over who shot what and where for the next few weeks. But it would be nice, since all these reporters are going to be down in Texas any way – that they by pass senseless New Orleans and go back through coastal Mississippi. Stories about acts of heroism, sacrifice, and locals banding together to overcome adversity is what they need to report. And I can say that, having family, property, and friends there. So let’s dispense with the hysterical witch hunt, the over dramatized accusations (I think Abraham partied as much with Mr. Reid as those he’s been beating up) and instead intensely focus on raising the spirits and hopes of those most affected by a natural disaster. In the end it’s going to be Americans’ hopes – and not each wave of acrid recriminations - which will best define all of us. Absent the proper focus, however, then we really will be looking at a national failure.
Lex Coleman
lexlaw@jmcpc.com
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This verbose defense of the Bush administration's failure to act in a
responsible and dutiful way to the Katrina disaster is a sham.
Another sorry example of an elaborate excuse offered for the continuing
incompetence of this administration.
If actions were taken in a timely and competent way during Katrina,
there would no need for this exercise in deflection.
Enough already.
Ralph Xavier Jr.
ralphxavier@ricochet.com
* * *
Lex Coleman's blind attempts to absolve the Bush administration of their repeated failures to act on behalf of US citizens misses the point.
The Bush administration had advance intelligence indicating the Sept. 11, 2001 attack and failed to take action. The Bush administration also had volumes of intelligence from their own agencies stating that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq yet they followed a pre-existing game plan bent upon throwing that country into turmoil.
Katrina is merely one in a long series of decisions where the Bush administration has chosen to not act when presented with quality information which doesn't support their own agenda. According to Bush administration officials, George Bush was aware of the break of the levys yet choose to not act, even to deny knowledge of the on-going problems, while people lost their homes and businesses and lives.
Congress is working for the citizens of the United States when it exposes the repeated failures and their agenda. The Bush administrations attitude that we must look forward serves only George Bush as a method to avoid accountability.
I and other Americans are also looking forward but three more years of Bush failures is more than we will be able to bear. It's time Congress took action and relieved the president of his stranglehold on the good and the poor people of this nation.
Jim Needham
Carmel
jim@rockstacker.com
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Mr. Coleman thank you for taking the time to state the obvious. The media and the blame-Bush crowd count Katrina among the best things that could ever happen.
Like June is to Watergate, I suppose future Labor Day weekends will include the obligatory references to Bush's dysfunctional "response" to Katrina.
Jim Parker
Tampa, Fla.
jamescparker@yahoo.com
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I have lived in the New Orleans Metro Area for 16 years, and am in complete agreement with Mr. Coleman.
We will be moving to the Chattanooga area in the next few months, because here in Louisiana it's not the heat, it's the stupidity.
Mary Rockefeller
maryrockefeller@gmail.com
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We returned home about two weeks after the storm and are increasingly frustrated with both the national political exploitation of this, and the local politicians who can barely restrain their glee at the incoming federal funds and the opportunity to blame their shortcomings on someone else.
The maximum sustained winds for Katrina in New Orleans were 96 mph. Were it not for the levee breaks, things would have been business as usual around here within two weeks of the storm.
The levee breaks are largely attributable to the local corruption, and to the Corps of Engineers, and the problems at the Corps go back over many presidential administrations.
Mr. Coleman’s article was a refreshing change from the meme currently being served up to people who don’t know better.
Laura Curtis
Metairie, La.
lmcurtis@cox.net
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