Posted on 09/15/2005 6:50:47 PM PDT by anonymoussierra
President George W Bush has promised the US government will do and spend whatever it takes to rebuild the hurricane-hit Gulf Coast. Speaking from New Orleans, Mr Bush said billions of dollars would be spent on the reconstruction - "an unprecedented response to an unprecedented crisis".
New Orleans' mayor said three districts would re-open next week, and the historic French Quarter a week later.
Meanwhile the confirmed death toll from Hurricane Katrina rose to 792.
The president's prime-time speech from the French Quarter came on his fourth trip to the region since Katrina smashed communities across the Gulf Coast over two weeks ago.
It is two days since Mr Bush said he accepted responsibility for the failings of the federal government's response to the hurricane. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
'Great city'
The BBC's Claire Marshall said it was a surreal scene as Mr Bush stood in a deserted Jackson Square, in an empty city, addressing millions of people via the airwaves.
"Throughout the area hit by the hurricane, we will do what it takes. We will stay as long as it takes to help citizens rebuild their communities and their lives," Mr Bush said.
"There is no way to imagine America without New Orleans, and this great city will rise again."
The president needs to put in a convincing performance to counter falling approval ratings, the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says.
'Life, commerce'
Mayor Ray Nagin earlier announced that residents will be allowed to return to some parts of the city from next week.
The move should allow about a third of New Orleans' 485,000 people back home.
"The city of New Orleans will start to breathe again," he said.
Mayor Nagin said the first section to re-open to residents would be Algiers on Monday. The city's uptown areas would follow in stages next Wednesday and Friday.
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"We will have life. We will have commerce," he said.
Residents of three suburbs have been returning home since basic services damaged during the storm and its floods were restored.
Some of those allowed back into Gretna, Westwego and Lafitte at daybreak on Wednesday found their properties relatively unscathed, while others were piles of rubble.
However, much of New Orleans still lacks basic amenities such as clean water and electricity, Claire Marshall reports from the city.
It is thought that around 40% of the city is still rotting under the fetid flood waters, our correspondent says.
People are being advised that the receding flood waters contain hazardous substances, such as e-coli, lead and arsenic.
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"I know all of you will do well. You are great in heart and soul eto of it important is you need to unite now as all Americans and help each other of which I know you are doing. Don’t allow some donkey separate you eto I wrote this to make you happy and make you smile of sometimes you need a good humor . I have absolute faith for your great nation “On a shining hill” I shall call you from now one “Nation on a shinning hill” and add one word from me His Majesty bless you all. Everything will be well.”
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be strong good G-D will help you all be strong thank you all
Hi Peach -
People in my area got flooded out this spring. When they asked for federal FEMA help, they got the big FU from the federal government.
Do you think maybe after the federal government spends the 200 billion, or 500 billion, or trillion dollars to rebuild NO, we might be allowed to dig through the lumber scraps to rebuild?
Thanks for your consideration.
I'm glad those investigations are in progress. Money is better spent there than in giving money to corrupt governments and shady businesses in some roundabout attempt to deal with the problem of foreign infiltration into our economy.
G-d help us! I am so angry right now! When I hear a lib pundent say that Pres. Bush's speech was "FDR like", I see red! I have no problem with a temporary hand up, but not a life long hand out!!! This is just what this city has been getting for years!
I have a big problem with it, since it's *my* money. I'd like to be the one deciding where it will be spent, and the one deciding what sort of return to pursue.
"I believe we should start with three initiatives that the Congress should pass.
Tonight I propose the creation of a Gulf Opportunity Zone, encompassing the region of the disaster in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Within this zone, we should provide immediate incentives for job-creating investment … tax relief for small businesses … incentives to companies that create jobs ... and loans and loan guarantees for small businesses, including minority-owned enterprises, to get them up and running again. It is entrepreneurship that creates jobs and opportunity … it is entrepreneurship that helps break the cycle of poverty … and we will take the side of entrepreneurs as they lead the economic revival of the Gulf region.
I propose the creation of Worker Recovery Accounts to help those evacuees who need extra help finding work. Under this plan, the federal government would provide accounts of up to five thousand dollars, which these evacuees could draw upon for job training and education to help them get a good job … and for child care expenses during their job search.
To help lower-income citizens in the hurricane region build new and better lives, I also propose that Congress pass an Urban Homesteading Act. Under this approach, we will identify property in the region owned by the federal government, and provide building sites to low-income citizens free of charge, through a lottery. In return, they would pledge to build on the lot, with either a mortgage or help from a charitable organization like Habitat for Humanity. Home ownership is one of the great strengths of any community, and it must be a central part of our vision for the revival of this region."
7. Check this one out....lol
I'm beginning to think that W is more like Clintoon than anyone could have guessed. There are only two reasons that I can think of that might explain Bush's "spending spree".
1.-he's starting to worry more about his legacy than his (stated) philosophy.
2.-he's back on the sauce.
20 posted on 09/15/2005 7:04:02 PM PDT by skimbell
They are having fun with your "back on the sauce" remark.
"Bush discovered a money tree in the back yard of the white house. Now its just a matter of who to give all the free money to."
There's a time to save and a time to spend. 9/11 was a time to spend, and we did, and we're better for it. Same goes with Katrina. And what's the good of having money if we can't help our own people in their time of need? Because I'll tell you friend, the south is a lost cause without help, and our nation dies a little more every time we fail to do what's right. America was forged by people who agreed all at once to become Americans and help others become Americans, and Bush is a great American.
This administration has raised taxes about 20%, it just haven't kicked in yet. Deficit spending is not free money.
America wasn't forged by government deciding to take from one group of people and give to another based on its own assessment of their need. I can think of a few other countries that were "forged" that way, but not this one.
Exactly. That, in a nutshell, is the founding concept of the USA. Not many folks believe in it anymore, though.
Beyond that, the market is like a force of nature anyway, government officials can't stop it or direct it. Distort it, maybe.
"The era of big government is OVER". Didn't Clinton let Bush in on this little secret?
I would rather our money go to help real people than the pork garbage they usually spend it on. If only they would not do both! :-)
thank you"Echo Talon"
Funny how none of the Cast Iron Conservatives realize how much Fed Tax REVENUE is being lost everyday that area is devastated. Funny how often "Fiscal Conservatives" are are pennywise and pound foolish. It isn't just the 3 states, it is a whole lot of river traffic to and from the whole Midwest. Sitting on our butts doing NOTHING, as the "Fiscal Conservatives" advocate, actually GROWS the deficit because of the reductions in tax income.
Funny how none of the Cast Iron Conservatives realize how much Fed Tax REVENUE is being lost everyday that area is devastated. Funny how often "Fiscal Conservatives" are are pennywise and pound foolish. It isn't just the 3 states, it is a whole lot of river traffic to and from the whole Midwest. Sitting on our butts doing NOTHING, as the "Fiscal Conservatives" advocate, actually GROWS the deficit because of the reductions in tax income.
You need to get with the program. Become a socialist, quit your job and wait for your George Bush welfare check as other socialist freepers are suggesting.
Funny how none of the Cast Iron Conservatives realize how much Fed Tax REVENUE is being lost everyday that area is devastated. Funny how often "Fiscal Conservatives" are are pennywise and pound foolish. It isn't just the 3 states, it is a whole lot of river traffic to and from the whole Midwest. Sitting on our butts doing NOTHING, as the "Fiscal Conservatives" advocate, actually GROWS the deficit because of the reductions in tax income.
Here, I just made a thread about the Port of New Orleans:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1485468/posts
The Port of New Orleans - Why We Must Rebuild!
THAT will answer your questions.
Funny how none of the Cast Iron Conservatives realize how much Fed Tax REVENUE is being lost everyday that area is devastated. Funny how often "Fiscal Conservatives" are are pennywise and pound foolish. It isn't just the 3 states, it is a whole lot of river traffic to and from the whole Midwest. Sitting on our butts doing NOTHING, as the "Fiscal Conservatives" advocate, actually GROWS the deficit because of the reductions in tax income.
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