I have created a point by point rebuke of your hate America first article. Chicago Sun-Times ^ | September 7, 2005 | CINDY RICHARDS
"We Americans have become citizens of the world." Seems to me we always were and have helped the world fight many oppressive governments and dictators, and when disaster struck, it was usually the USA first hitting the shores with supplies while others sat on the sidelines.
"We were insulated on two sides by friendly neighbors and on two other sides by huge expanses of water." We have friends on one side only, and that would be Canada. Mexico can hardly be called friendly regardless of who is in the White House.
"Evacuees in America? Never, we thought." Oh come on! We have had evacuations in the past but you're free to ignore them when it suits your agenda. I guess the Chicago Sun-Times will print anything.
"Failure of leadership? Not here, we thought, at least not when the stakes were this high." Only those like you, with a political agenda, would jump on the "Failure of leadership" bandwagon before the water has even receded. What were your plans for a Cat 5 Hurricane hitting a major port city, built below sea level, with citizens who not only refused to evacuate but shot at rescuers, and with a levee breaking? I guess when you only have to 2nd guess you can attempt to make yourself look smart. It didn't work by the way.
"But the Bush administration has different priorities. He has spent our money and manpower and political will in Iraq fighting a war of his choosing." Ah, now we see your real agenda. In your world, one that Josef Gobbels would be proud of, Bush is responsible for all things bad.Yup, Bush told the Mayor of New Orleans to not use the 200 busses at his disposal and just leave them there to be flooded, NOT. Yup, Bush told the governor of LA to not request a takeover of the National Guard until days after the event, NOT. Yup, Bush never pre-positioned FEMA staff 2 days before the storm, NOT. Yup, Bush somehow got the US Congress, during the Clinton administration, to vote down the Kyoto treaty so global warming is his fault, NOT. Exactly how many moons circle the planet on which you live?
"President Bush's tax cuts -- which went primarily to the wealthiest Americans, including Bush and his pals -- left little for the poor people who live in the inner cities of New Orleans and the rural areas of Mississippi." Putting aside your tried and "untrue" class baiting, how is it the responsibility of the US Taxpayer to fund an inner city? That is a state function. Please read, not interpret, the US Constitution. Why should the US Taxpayer fund a city's decision to build itself below sea level in an area know to be exposed to major hurricanes?
"Was the response so slow because the victims were overwhelmingly black and poor?" Ah, jump from class warfare to race baiting. Good job Cindy. Repeat a lie often enough and all your liberal friends will believe it. What is the proper time frame based upon the vast disaster relief knowledge amassed by Cindy Richards? You say it was slow so you must be able to do it better. Yup, the storm hit the city because it was black and it is the fault of President Bush.
"Learning that we are no better at taking care of our own than some impoverished Third World country may be the most humbling of all". I see you left you dumbest statement till last. Can you wrap your pin head confined brain around the size of this storm? Can you not see how much has been done right in the wake of such disaster? Does your blind hatred for President Bush obfuscate all the good things done by the citizens and government of this country?
Is it possible that some of the poor people you elevate above the rest of us might be responsible for, to use your term, the slow response? Could some of your special people behave like contributing citizens and not shoot at those evil rescuers? Could the people of New Orleans have help themselves by evacuating the city when instructed? Could the governor of LA buy a clue? If the TV and appliance stores had placed their inventory out on the street then your poor people would not have had to risk getting cut when they broke down the doors. Did you make Bernard Goldberg's list of the "100 people screwing up American"? If not, I am sure your name could be added for the 2nd printing.
Living in Chicago, one of the most corrupt cities in the US, you'd think she would be demanding to know what arrangements HER mayor has made to evacuate the city in the event of some natural disaster.
I hope you get a reply.
"Putting aside your tried and "untrue" class baiting, how is it the responsibility of the US Taxpayer to fund an inner city? That is a state function. Please read, not interpret, the US Constitution. Why should the US Taxpayer fund a city's decision to build itself below sea level in an area know to be exposed to major hurricanes?"
Can't say it enough. Best point in your letter. I have had it with these communists.
The only problem is that you rarely if ever get a response or reaction from any of these columnists - you're better off sending a letter to the editor.