Posted on 09/11/2005 12:20:48 AM PDT by ArmyBratproud
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell has joined those leveling sharp criticism at government recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina.
"There have been a lot of failures at a lot of levels – local, state and federal," Powell said in an interview with ABC's "20/20" program. "There was more than enough warning over time about the dangers to New Orleans. Not enough was done. I don't think advantage was taken of the time that was available to us, and I just don't know why." Powell, who recently visited storm survivors at Reunion Arena in Dallas, doesn't feel that race was a factor in the slow delivery of relief following the storm. "I don't think it's racism, I think it's economic," he said. "When you look at those who weren't able to get out, it should have been a blinding flash of the obvious to everybody that when you order a mandatory evacuation, you can't expect everybody to evacuate on their own.
"These are people who don't have credit cards. Only one in 10 families at that economic level in New Orleans has a car. So it wasn't a racial thing – but poverty disproportionately affects African-Americans in this country. And it happened because they were poor."
Powell is among those reportedly being mentioned in Washington as a potential "hurricane czar" to take over the long-term recovery effort, according to Reuters.
Two Republican senators have proposed that the job be created, and the White House says it is considering that option.
The Garden District was affected. Not exactly poor folks.
Powell is pathetic. I guess he is still bitter that people liked Stormin' Norman better. And that Norman did not like him too much.
And who are the people who didn't follow their OWN plan to get these very people out?
Why, it is the losers they voted for governor and mayor.
I don't see anything wrong with what Powell says, it is the truth. The bigger question is...WHY is that the truth? Could it be...liberal policies?
It was absolutely a poor problem. The plan for the poor was to use the busses.
Certaily rich people lossed more money in Katrina but the poor, who couldn't leave because of the incompetence of their Mayor and Governor and 70 years of Democrat rule, paid with their lives.
And now he's regretting ever going in front of the UN to justify invading Iraq. Maybe he's confused about what party he really belongs to..
Put his money where his mouth is so to speak. I find it apalling that people can't seem to put the blame where it should lie, on Nagin and Blanco, without blaming President Bush, too. It seems to be politically correct these days. If I hear "There is plenty of blame to go around" or "all branches of government failed them, local, state and federal" one more time, I'm going to bust a gut!
I don't think advantage was taken of the time that was available to us, and I just don't know why."
Why is he talking on 20/20 about what he doesn't know?
"Why is he talking on 20/20 about what he doesn't know?"
Well, here's one theory:
"Colin Powell to Run for President? As a Democrat!"
http://www.dvorak.org/blog/essays/powell.html
That is what I see, a presidential campaign about to kick off. A little testing of the waters. However, I doubt he contacted ABC for an interview. They seem to be the movers on this.
he headline sounds worse than the aricle.
Oh, good grief! Poverty affects more than just blacks. Also, as you pointed out, it was more than poor people who lost everything and regardless of what some people think, insurance doesn't cover everything.
How do you replace pictures, video and movies of children growing up? How do you replace a chair that has grown to fit your body perfectly. How do you replace things like embroidery done by great, great Grandmom? How do you replace your Grandfather's watch? There is no amount of money that can replace things that have sentimental value.
Hey, but let's make it all about poverty and race.
The corrupt Democrat machine in Louisiana is to blame. There was money in the state. Money which went to connected contractors.
Gov. Edwin Edwards was convicted several times as a crook (and I believe that he still sits in jail today).
Why hasn't his name been mentioned? Is it because the media said the citizens of LA should overlook his "past" transgressions when faced with the RINO candidate David Duke, a former Klansman (who had run as a Democrat and Independent, previously)?
And the czar thing is stupid too. I'm sure the Founders are shaking their heads in disgust.
Fats Domino wasn't too poor to leave town.
And if people still want to insist it was about "race", then I'll cite Alex Chilton, another musician (white) who decided it was best to stay home and "ride it out".
Both had to be rescued for their stubborness or foolish decision.
Colin Powell is getting to be as annoying, if not more so, than Jimmuh Cahtah. Enjoy your retirement Colin and STHU.
He's not confused, he's just a mooshy-middle moderate.
Mythbusting: as of June 2005 the Orleans Parish School Board had NOT approved the use of its buses for hurricane evacs, nor was that any part of the formal evac plan.
It's on the record, it's not debatable, it is a fact.
As of August 28th, the City Of New Orleans had no authority to use those buses (until its emergency declaration), and of course no drivers.
By then it was too late.
I've been confused about what party he belongs to all along.
It makes a little more sense when you include BaBa's leading questions. Still no excuse. I started nodding off towards the end of the interview.
Btw, he says he won't run. Hillary says the same thing.
I know a lot of Pwell's background. Read his book. But the crap he's been doing the last few years makes me sick. He is disloyal to America. IMOHO
god bless the greatest secretary of state in my lifetime:
condi rice
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