Ok, so this isn't Athens politics per se, but everyone in Athens should certainly care. This is just more of the same, really. How can we continue with this administration, honestly? I'm at a loss as to this guy's popularity. Check out the following from an admittedly biased source, Moveon.org (adapted from Katrina Timeline, www.thinkprogress.org/katrina-timeline/, according to the email):
Timeline
Friday, Aug. 26: Gov. Kathleen Blanco declares a state of emergency in Louisiana and requests troop assistance.
Saturday, Aug. 27: Gov. Blanco asks for federal state of emergency. A federal emergency is declared giving federal officials the authority to get involved.
Sunday, Aug. 28: Mayor Ray Nagin orders mandatory evacuation of New Orleans. President Bush warned of Levee failure by National Hurricane Center. National Weather Service predicts area will be "uninhabitable" after Hurricane arrives. First reports of water toppling over the levee appear in local paper.
Monday, Aug. 29: Levee breaches and New Orleans begins to fill with water, Bush travels to Arizona and California to discuss Medicare. FEMA chief finally responds to federal emergency, dispatching employees but giving them two days to arrive on site.
Tuesday, Aug. 30: Mass looting reported, security shortage cited in New Orleans. Pentagon says that local authorities have adequate National Guard units to handle hurricane needs despite governor's earlier request. Bush returns to Crawford for final day of vacation. TV coverage is around-the-clock Hurricane news.Wednesday, Aug. 31: Tens of thousands trapped in New Orleans including at Convention Center and Superdome in "medieval" conditions. President Bush finally returns to Washington to establish a task force to coordinate federal response. Local authorities run out of food and water supplies.
Thursday, Sept. 1: New Orleans descends into anarchy. New Orleans Mayor issues a "Desperate SOS" to federal government. Bush claims nobody predicted the breach of the levees despite multiple warnings and his earlier briefing.Friday, Sept. 2: Karl Rove begins Bush administration campaign to blame state and local officials—despite their repeated requests for help. Bush stages a photo-op—diverting Coast Guard helicopters and crew to act as backdrop for cameras. Levee repair work orchestrated for president's visit and White House press corps.
Saturday, Sept. 3: Bush blames state and local officials. Senior administration official (possibly Rove) caught in a lie claiming Gov. Blanco had not declared a state of emergency or asked for help.
Monday, Sept. 5: New Orleans officials begin to collect their dead.
It's always the same thing with this administration. Something really bad happens (9-11; "post-conflict" security problems in Iraq; Katrina); the administration claims it's not their fault and points fingers elsewhere instead of accepting responsibility and doing something to fix the problems that led to the bad thing; a later investigation reveals that the administration was actually warned of the very thing that happened; and then the administration still refuses to accept responsibility or fix the problems.
I took more responsibility for my actions when I was in the 3rd grade.
Ridiculous.
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2 comments:
It's time for the media(newspaper and television) to hold this adminstration accountable for their actions, and in the case of the hurricane their inaction.
I agree. But what are we supposed to DO about it?! The obvious solution is elect others to these positions. But WHAT others?
Now I am a democrat but I am not blind. The Democratic Party has a lot of problems. Not necessarily in it's essence but in it's message, if you can even call what comes out of the Party a "message".
They need to get their act together. They need to find some strong, likeable leaders who can stay on message (Gephardt) and then they need to get a central message. Right now their message seems to be "Bash Bush", "Republicans are Pigs". While I may agree with their sentiments, they need a POSITIVE message. They need to take stands on things that matter to real people and stick to those stands. Not everyone will like them but at least they will be standing up for what they believe.
Just my two-cents worth.
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