OUR OPINIONS: An open letter to the President

New Orleans Times Picayune ^ | 9-05-05 | New Orleans Times Picayune

[jec1ny]

Dear Mr. President:

We heard you loud and clear Friday when you visited our devastated city and the Gulf Coast and said, "What is not working, we’re going to make it right."

Please forgive us if we wait to see proof of your promise before believing you. But we have good reason for our skepticism.

[jec1ny]

This is a blistering indictment of the administration. I am a proud Republican. And it pains me to admit this. But I think the administration really dropped the ball on this in the first few critical days. Apologies if this has already been posted. I looked and did not see it anywhere on FR.

[stocksthatgoup]

The President appoints people to handle these situations. Before we assign blame wouldn't it be good to first stablize the situation, review the events and pass judgement only then?

[Indy Pendance]

Another trash the President article, ho hum.

[digger48]

Then perhaps you should inform yourself of the facts.

What power did the Feds have, if the local and State refused assistance that was offered.

Did not the President declare a "State of Emergency" even BEFORE the storm hit? Has that been done before?

[PA Engineer]

I am a proud Republican.

I'm sure you are.

[FlingWingFlyer]

"But we have good reason for our skepticism...,our subscription numbers are in the toilet.

[Checkers]

jec1ny
Since May 16, 2005

[PA Engineer]

In before the zot?

[the invisib1e hand]

ib4tz

[Slings and Arrows]

Do you like kitties?

[Theresawithanh]

I think what the people who wrote this letter and you need to do is study more of the facts. The officials in the affected states needed to ASK the federal govermnemt for the help. They didn't. The mayors of the cities and the governors of the states needed to have a valid, working evacuation plan in place. They didn't. Hundreds of buses that could have been used to evacuate people ended up submerged, and useless.

I'll just have to just take your word for it that you're a proud Republican, and how much this pains you.

[axes_of_weezles]

Your a Monbiot.

Not Enough My A**

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1478165/posts

[Parley Baer]

The paper is nothing more than a left wing rag. It has no credibility in my book.

[Taggart_D]

And it pains me to admit this. But I think the administration really dropped the ball on this in the first few critical days.

Sorry if I don't cry with you over this one. Its time for everyone to realize that the federal government is not God. It can not and should not protect us from EVERYTHING ...or else the government will end up CONTROLLING EVERYTHING. Time to get over it and deal with what God has dealt you.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Sleeper Cell?

[the invisib1e hand]

[Captain Kirk]

In the United States in 2005, the Feds have the "power" to do anything they damn well please. That is the sad truth, hence the "states rights" defense of Bush (not even he believes in that) won't hold water. He has contributed more than anyone to nationalizing these problems. His supporter can hardly complain now when this nationalization is shown to be yet another opportunity for government bungling.

Government at all levels, federal, state, and local is a failure in this situation.

[SIDENET]

IBTZ?

[Sender]

The same Times-Picayune said on June 30 that NO and LA could not provide evacuation transportation for the poor and in the event of a major hurricane, "you are on your own", so better find a way to evacuate when told to do so. Even so, the documented evacuation plan using all those buses was not even attempted. Yes they were left "on their own" for a few days, as promised.

While it does appear that some spotty help could have, should have appeared earlier, to have done so at a federal level would have required the feds to "take over" by force to avoid local incompetence. Perhaps this should be done in a future calamity.

[Slings and Arrows]

"Ohboy! My first ZOT!"