More Critics Challenge Bush on Hurricane
By Keith Boykin, in politics
Sunday, September 4 2005, 6:26PM
From Celine Dion to Kanye West, people are outraged by the Administration's handling of the hurricane crisis. Even the normally pliant media have grown a backbone and begun to challenge official Administration spin. The most notable change in tone came from Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu, who only days earlier had refused to criticize anyone for the failures of the relief effort. Now even she is angry. This is what the critics are saying.
"George W. Bush gave one of the worst speeches of his life yesterday, especially given the level of national distress and the need for words of consolation and wisdom."
--New York Times editorial, Sep. 1, 2005
"Excuse me, Senator, I'm sorry for interrupting. I haven't heard that, because, for the last four days, I've been seeing dead bodies in the streets here in Mississippi. And to listen to politicians thanking each other and complimenting each other, you know, I got to tell you, there are a lot of people here who are very upset, and very angry, and very frustrated."
--Anderson Cooper to Sen. Mary Landrieu, Sep. 1, 2005, CNN
"We had an incredible crisis here and [the president] flying over in Air Force One does not do it justice ... I have been all around this city and...I am very frustrated because we are not able to marshal resources and we are outmanned in just about every respect...I don't want to see anybody do any more goddamn press conferences. Put a moratorium on press conferences. Don't do another press conference until the resources are in this city. And then come down to this city and stand with us when there are military trucks and troops that we can't even count. Don't tell me 40,000 people are coming here. They're not here. It's too doggone late. Now get off your asses and do something, and let's fix the biggest goddamn crisis in the history of this country."
--Ray Nagin, mayor of New Orleans, Sep. 1, 2005, WWL Radio
"To the president of the United States, I simply say that God cannot be pleased with our response."
--Elijah Cummings, U.S. Rep. (D-MD), Sep. 2, 2005
"George Bush doesn't care about black people."
--Kanye West, Sep. 2, 2005, NBC's "A Concert for Hurricane Relief"
"FEMA has been on the ground for four days, going into the fifth day. Why no massive airdrop of food and water? In Banda Aceh, in Indonesia, they got food dropped two days after the tsunami struck."
--Soledad O'Brien, Sep. 2, 2005, CNN "American Morning"
"I open the television there's people still there waiting to be rescued and for me it's not acceptable. I know there's reasons for it. I'm sorry to say, I'm being rude, but I don't want to hear those reasons. You know, some people are stealing and they're making a big deal out of it. Oh, they're stealing 20 pair of jeans or they're stealing television sets. Who cares? They're not going to go too far with it. Maybe those people are so poor, some of the people who do that they're so poor they've never touched anything in their lives. Let them touch those things for once. The main thing right now, it's not the people who are stealing. It's the people who are left there and they're watching helicopters flying over their heads and they're praying. How come it's so easy to send planes in another country to kill everyone in a second, to destroy lives?"
--Celine Dion, Sep. 3, 2005, CNN's "Larry King Live"
"Yesterday, I was hoping President Bush would come away from his tour of the regional devastation triggered by Hurricane Katrina with a new understanding for the magnitude of the suffering and for the abject failures of the current Federal Emergency Management Agency. 24 hours later, the President has yet to answer my call for a cabinet-level official to lead our efforts. Meanwhile, FEMA, now a shell of what it once was, continues to be overwhelmed by the task at hand."
--Mary Landrieu, U.S. Senator (D-LA), Sep. 4, 2005
"The palettes of food and water that have just been dropped at selected landing zones in the downtown area of New Orleans. It's an outrage because all of those elements existed before people died for lack of them: There was water, there was food, and there were choppers to drop both. Why no one was able to combine them in an air drop is a cruel and criminal mystery of this dark chapter in our recent history. The words "failure of imagination" come to mind. The concept of an air drop of supplies was one we apparently introduced to the director of FEMA during a live interview on Nightly News on Thursday evening."
--Brian Williams, NBC News Anchor, Sep. 5, 2005
Comments conceal
Nasham
September 4 2005, 8:59PM
I like your site in general but I would hope you can put up some links to remind people to donate for the relief in addition to your articles blasting Bush and his cronies. Also I am pissed at many brothas I talked to who complain white people don't care about the blk victims but when I asked them have they donated money to the relief efforts many of them gave excuses on why they haven't or can't. These are the same brothas who got money to go to clubs or going to ATL for the "pride events" but can't event donate a few dollars to help the brothas and sisters out in the affected areas. Please remind your visitors Keith to donate.
Kenneth Winfrey
September 4 2005, 11:58PM
I am very happy to see that members of the press and the people with a microphone are bluntly letting Bush have it for a change. They've been too kind too long, and it's about time they called the moron a moron, and got it over with! Mayby Bill Maher won't feel so lonely now...
I would have thought that Bush's tight-knit circle of advisors, especially "spin doctor of all spin doctors" Karl Rove would have at least given Bush something more to say in keeping with their well-established tradition of blowing hot air up everyone's butt. They couldn't even make up a good sentiment!
Also "Nasham" is right; we can either just make ourselves madder and madder by ruminating the incompetence of our government, or we can roll up our sleeves (or open our wallets) and try to help. It should really be no surprise that the Bush administration failed to handle this properly. Have they EVER handled anything properly? Their incompentence is becomming less newsworthy [to me] by the minute.
The religious right have blamed the sin of the City and others that were effected. I dismissed it at first but couldn't help but revisit the thought of how horrific events have touched this nation since Bush entered the White House. I am not suspicious, but it's hard to ignore such "coincidences."
Nyah Molneaux
September 5 2005, 1:15AM
I am so glad that people are finally standing up to this crooked administration. He can not go un-accountable for all the deaths of these people.
But Kenneth and all people DO NOT donate to OPERATION BLESSING. This organization is run by Pat Robertson and who knows the money may go to George Bush.
But all black people should donate. It is our obligation.
Damien
September 5 2005, 7:14AM
Alot of people now see Bush for his true colors, he did use the gay issue to get in the white house, but if people would have not been so bent on preservation of marriage and trying to keep gays from marrying, the right person would have been in the white house to had the breech of the levees blocked and the help would have been there for the people who was stranded for days and died, so I guess you can say it is not the sin of the city fault, it is the religous folk themselves for putting Bush in office. Yes indeed, it is true alot of religious folk have blamed the sin of the city of New Orleans but they will not be able to use that same excuse when the next hurrricane that will hit this year, and yes, sadly it will be very devasting and deadly, so as my duty as a decent human being and psychic, I want to tell anyone reading this not to visit The Carolinas.
Bklynbro
September 5 2005, 11:06AM
You know, the "Black elected folks" that represent the poor areas in NO were the very first ones to realize the situation of there poor constituents. But what did they do while the mayor was telling folks to evacuate? They fled without staying to help with evacuation efforts of those people. How many black elected officials (state, local, federal) did you see with the mayor? I can't stand Bush and feel the response was too slow like everybody else. But the black on black help really failed big time. In a city that's 70% black it doesn't bode well that it appears so many black folks haven't faired that well for so long. It makes you think how vulnerable living in the black community really is.
Cody
September 5 2005, 3:15PM
Nine months after Bush was first elected to office he proved to the world that he was not up to the job.
Then he started the war, proving again that he was not capable of making sound decisions of a president.
Now, nine months after his re-election he has proven again that he just does not have the intellect to be president.
Will America ever survive the nightmare that is this man's presidency?
Bklynbro
September 6 2005, 7:16PM
You know, the "Black elected folks" that represent the poor areas in NO were the very first ones to realize the situation of their poor constituents. But what did they do while the mayor was telling folks to evacuate? They fled without staying to help with evacuation efforts of those people. How many black elected officials (state, local, federal) did you see with the mayor? I can't stand Bush and feel the response was too slow like everybody else. But the black on black help really failed big time. In a city that's 70% black it doesn't bode well that it appears so many black folks haven't faired that well for so long. It makes you think how vulnerable living in the black community really is.
Kyon Saucier
September 6 2005, 9:48PM
I'm sorry but I will simply be honest this government's response to this crisis has me very angry. N O has been ruined and still there are people waiting to be rescued and too many of them...Far too many of them look like me... Like us... Condeleeza Rice, that Auntie Thomasina should be ashamed of herself for saying the government's slow response was not due to racial insensitivity... I'm only 27 but I have seen enough and read enough about what this nation does to those of color inside and outside of it's border's and of course the response was due in part to racism. It's the same as was our response to Rwanda. When Black People and Latino People and Asian People, and Native People die by and large this government either does not care or worse has some kind of hand in it.
We as a people CAN NOT FORGET this travesty and WE MUST NOT FORGET this either. We now all know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Government of the United States (George Bush especially) does not care about nor for people of Color outside of it's borders, and it obviously gives not a shit about the ones living and dying inside of it's borders either.
What we need to do now is start helping our brothers, sisters, and cousins with all that we are able to. I implore and encourage everyone to give something. Give time, give money, give resources, give blood, give a shoulder to cry on, give an encouraging word from Jesus, Allah, God, the Creator, the Loas or the Orishas. Give of yourselves to our people. It seems to me that WE are all WE have and We are all We can depend on and WE can not ignore the suffering of our own. For but by the grace of God could we be in similiar situations. Sorry if there are typos here but I'm just emotional all of this has broken my heart.
Michael
September 7 2005, 2:37AM
I have read these blogs and watched the coverage until there are no more tears. Unable to go help directly, I have donated every penny in my checking account, and sent every non-perishable stocked in my cabinets to a reputable charity. Apocolyptic can only describe what my largely black and Southern neighbors are having to endure. Ultimately, the blood of an estimated 10,000 (maybe more) is on the hands of our "Commander in Chief". (That sends chills down my spine....what if this threat was produced by thinking-soldiers and not Mother Nature??) How can this man smugly and proudly claim his Christianity while flying above thousands of starving, homeless, broken and dead, promising "help is on the way".....a full FIVE days after the hurricane? Only to fly back home, and produce more lip service. This doesn't sound much like the Christ I've read about.
How dare Bill O'Reilly say that those who chose to stay "deserve what they got" No one, regardless of skin color, health, socio-economic status, or even I.Q. deserves to be starved, drowned, or diseased because of a natural disaster. Perhaps he should be called out for those comments? Or perhaps he could extol his genious leadership skills and infinite brilliance that transcends politics and take his pompous ass to Louisiana.
O'Reilly just crystallizes ineptitude, and will never "get it"......If you agree, call FOX and tell 'em.
Now, the buzz in Washington is .."you can't point blame"?? ...oh yes, hell yes, we can. And we will, we should all hold "W" accountable later. Right now, pray to whatever higher power you worship that a real and respected leader without political agenda step in to save our fellow Americans. New Orleans is now filled with the largest collection of Keystone Cops ever assembled in one region of this world. Bush is now calling for an investigation. WHAT???? Hey, "W": How many times can you pull a slight of hand and decieve the people pledging allegiance to you, usually in the name of Christ? WAKE UP!!! Natural disasters, largely, cannot be controlled. Your response to them can. Funding for the levees should never have been cut, thank you "W". And your response, and that of FEMA will be looked back upon as but one of the only-God-knows-how-many collossal failures of your administration. At our so called "commander in chiefs" bidding, US forces are absent, securing and rebuilding a foreign country sitting on enormous oil reserves, at our expense of about 8 TRILLION DOLLARS to date. Every Iraqi citizen has food, subsidies, and homes. Yet half a million Americans are homeless, and dozens have died since you started reading this. What will this nation endure before the blind and brainwashed stop applauding this pathetic puppet? Tom Delay had the audactity to deem the recovery efforts "adequate" and says the rescue will be over in "a few days". To me, this is indicitive of just how ingnorance has permeated at least 2 brances of our government. If this isn't grounds for impeachment, then only God can save us.(you know, the God who just smited 10,000 people and 10 Billion dollars in property) Incidentally, where are the "churches"? I live in a city that proudly boasts that it has the HIGHEST NUMBER of churches per capita in the ENTIRE United States. Not one of them has placed an ad in the local paper soliciting funds or donations, or initiated ANY visible effort as a member of the church community to assist in feeding, clothing, housing, or even offering spiritual guidance to evacuees. That says a lot to me about their mission. I noticed today that the remodeling of a local Fellowship Hall continues. Silence is devastating, isn't it? Hmmm. Now, fellow Americans, I ask you: Is that real cause for alarm?
Support our Troops, Impeach our President. And give whatever you can to help our Brothers and Sisters in the Gulf. And ask the question, scream the question, HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN IN AMERICA??????????
Regan DuCasse
September 7 2005, 12:10PM
I have noticed, and I'm sure you know it too, that many of this country's richest and most prominent Christians, have huge churches...indeed a church here in Los Angeles BOUGHT the Western Forum Sports Arena.
How many of them opened their doors to become SHELTERS for their fellow citizens in this crisis?
Jerry Falwell has a private jet, TD Jakes and Pat Robertson are millionaire preachers...surely the universities and church grounds they acquired and own TAX FREE can house those who need it?
So far, no pledges from THEIR camps for housing and care....
No...finger wagging again from Robertson that the sins of New Orleans caused it's destruction.
Karanja
September 7 2005, 9:03PM
I am still surprised and utterly shocked by the somewhat nonchalant resoponse to the hurricane Katrina. I dont know how things are done in America but i thought that every government has indeed a duty of care towards it citizens that surpases their freedoms of choice especially during imminent and inevitable catastrophes like Huirricane Katrina. So i still cannot understand why the government did not organise itself and evacuate the whole area of neworleans way before the disaster struck!
Donny
September 16 2005, 5:34PM
Very interesting blog!
Nancy
September 18 2005, 12:16AM
Being a strong Christian, I must admit that I believe that God had a reason for Hurricane Katrina hitting NO. However, this doesn't mean that he doesn't want his people to not help the victims of this most horrible of disastors. I believe that everything that the Lord presents to us is a test...our test at this point is, in my opinion, is how well we stand behind and help these poor, poor victims. Yes, Churches should be the first in line to lend help to NO. Not only with money, shelters, etc., but also with the word of God...missionaries to help convert the sinners to HIM, so that the survivors might have a chance to enter Heaven when the day comes that they aren't lucky enough to have survived and given another chance to enter Heaven. Think about all those poor, lost sinners in Hell, the ones that didn't make it.....
Nancy, Charlotte, NC
Nancy
September 18 2005, 12:18AM
Being a strong Christian, I must admit that I believe that God had a reason for Hurricane Katrina hitting NO. However, this doesn't mean that he doesn't want his people to not help the victims of this most horrible of disastors. I believe that everything that the Lord presents to us is a test...our test at this point is, in my opinion, how well we stand behind and help these poor, poor victims. Yes, Churches should be the first in line to lend help to NO. Not only with money, shelters, etc., but also with the word of God...missionaries to help convert the sinners to HIM, so that the survivors might have a chance to enter Heaven when the day comes that they aren't lucky enough to have survived and given another chance to enter Heaven. Think about all those poor, lost sinners in Hell, the ones that didn't make it.....
Nancy, Charlotte, NC
Nancy
September 18 2005, 12:25AM
I believe that the Lord has a reason for everything that he presents to us. So, I , to am a believer that the disaster in NO may well have been an eye opener for the many sinners in that area and a chance for the survivors to turn their lives over to him so that, should they be faced with death the next go round and NOT survive, hopefully their souls will make it to HEAVEN. This is not to say that there were some innocent souls that went to Heaven....I'm sure there were, but I believe God was giving the powerful message that HE is still in charge, will ALWAYS be in charge, and whosoever believes otherwise and worships other entities will be given a wake-up call, and a chance to turn their lives around in time to make it to this wonderful place called Heaven...which is why churches should be helping in the relief effort, and I don't agree with the finger wagging, either. I don't believe the Lord is looking fondly at Christians who aren't coming to the aid of their fellow man, and at the very least preaching the word of God to them, along with providing them with essentials to make it through this most devastating disaster known to mankind...