Posted on 09/15/2005 7:31:32 PM PDT by Uncle Joe Cannon
A Good Speech by a Good Man
September 15, 2005 06:45 PM PST
Perfect pitch returned tonight, and the president's looks backward and forward were on target. As Chris Matthews observed, it sounded a little LBJ/FDR-like in its vows about the underclass of the recovery region, but that is exactly why it worked so well: That is what needs to happen, and he identified the best approaches in the empowerment of entrepeneurs and the retraining of the evacuees. The enterprise zone could prove a turbo charged motor to the effort, and the promise of innovation was well delivered.
So too was the emphasis of the president on the private side of the relief effort, on the central issue of home ownership, and of the need for local union to help local union, small congregation to help its similarly situated cousin, for every American to stay committed. The president's sincere faith connected with Americans of sincere faith, and the weeks and months ahead will show again and again that this trust in the avergae American's good will is well placed.
Finally, the serious notes he sounded on the need to review and improve the emergency plans across the country, and to empower the American military to become the first responder when scale requires it, was exceptionally well delivered. Millions of Americans had to have heard this portion of the speech from this man and concluded that he is very serious indeed about fixing the gaps.
And except for his bitter opponents, they will trust him to move the reforms forward.
(Excerpt) Read more at hughhewitt.com ...
Good analysis by a good man.
I agree with Hugh's assessment and yours!
He alluded to the fact that a lot of planning will have to go into the rebuilding. He certainly did not endorse building right on top of everything that was destroyed.
Somebody once said that you should never ask a question that you can't stand the answer to. The fact is that the wetland will never be allowed to remove the navigability of the Mississippi, so why bring up the question......?
Well said! Amen!
Smart speech by a smart man. Since he was being blamed for all the fallout, Bush played it perfectly. He came out and took responsibility for what wasn't his to take. Then he said it should not happen again. Oh how everyone is feeling good about now. But then came the smart part. He said the Federal Government will have to come in and "assume control" right from the beginning to keep everything in order. Screw state's rights. Screw state's constitutions. Screw protocall. When the states realize what he just did they're gonna have a fit. What will a "national emergency" consist of? I can hear it now. "What do you think you're doing Mr. President? This is my State. You just can't walk in here and take control", the Governors will say. At that point the President should say, "If I'm gonna have to take the blame for what happens here, then I'M gonna decide what happens here. Thank you for your service Governor, you've now been relieved of all your duties. Now go drive that bus please"
A great speech from the commander-in-chief. It was clearly evident that he has his arms around this gigantic and multi-faceted challenge to our country and our people. I believe the majority of the American people will support his efforts, and work along with him to restore the Gulf Shore and New Orleans to a better state than before Hurricane Katrina caused her devastation. I am dismayed by many Freepers, who by their comments, do not understand, nor appreciate the immense challenge this restoration of property and lives of our citizens is. It is historic, and requires the participation of the Federal government and the entire country to respond. Our country has reached a critical crossroad. I personally believe we have a leader that will take us through that crossroad to a much better and brighter future for our country and all Americans. How small and insignificant the Democrat Party and the MSM look tonight!!!
I saw President Bush as both a healer and a leader tonight.He acknowledged the tragic nature of Katrina and made it clear he appreciated both personal loss and personal courage.
He spoke of the Gulf Enterprise Zone,the entrepenuerial spirit,and private-public sector co-operation.Home ownership and job training were important features.
He was what he has always said he is,a compassionate conservative.
I thought it was a TOTALLY Conservative speech!! It was a "I'll teach you to fish and we'll help you build your boat, also." NOT the LIBERAL LBJ/FDR speech "Here's your fish today, make sure you vote for me or the mean, evil Republicans will take away your fish tomorrow"! BLAH.....it was a way OFF of the Plantation that they have been kept on by their slaves the Democrats!!
I have been to N.O. on business for very brief visits on two occasions. Everything I know about the levee system and Corps of Engineers activity in the area comes from John McPhee's excellent piece in The New Yorker back in 1987 (Here) and some of the better pieces written in the aftermath of Katrina (but that's not saying much). My understanding is - the Mississippi, left to itself, would meander and deposit sediment all over the Mississippi Delta. By being channeled and protected as a navigable waterway - the deposition is essentially going to the end of the river and falling off the Continental shelf. The remaining Delta region is sinking at the rate of 1/3rd inch per year, and the wetlands along the coast are disappearing at a rapid rate. If you diverted the river to get sedimentation to the rest of the delta, the main channel would not be navigable. If you keep the channeling of the Mississippi - the sinking phenomenon means that the walls/dikes/levees have to keep on getting bigger/taller to protect the city.
Any good cost/benefit analysis includes a "do nothing' or base case alternative. That's not to suggest it is politically palatable or feasible - but that those paying the freight deserve an explicit accounting of the alternatives.
Agree. Plus the flooding in New Orleans did not come in over reclaimed wet lands. In fact the only way it could have been stopped is if the Lake would have been drained and filled or a giant flood wall be erected east of the lake across wetlands.
If NO is worth salvaging, the private sector will (should) be the driving force and determining factor.
Woops forgot second link.
http://www.nytimes.com/glogin?URI=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/12/national/nationalspecial/12rebuild.html&OP=78fb0b15Q2FzWcXzNQ60Q7CrqQ60Q60yozo!!3z!Q7Dz_ozuByQ2AQ60uBxzuByQ2AQ60uBxrmcQ7CQ2ABxz_oqcXpQ2AxNTOyHx
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.