Posted on 09/03/2005 5:12:38 AM PDT by My Favorite Headache
Wexler: Bush Administration's Response to Hurricane Katrina a Disgrace
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) issued the following statement from the floor of the House of Representatives in response to President George Bush's failed handling in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina:
Mr. Speaker:
Like all Americans, my heart goes out to the millions of people displaced and suffering from one of the largest national catastrophe in our nation's history. I hope all the victims of Hurricane Katrina know that our prayers are with them in this most difficult hour. I strongly support today's initial aid package to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
However, the Administration's response to this catastrophe is nothing short of a national disgrace. How is it possible that the Administration did not realize earlier what a catastrophe this is? There is a 90,000 square-mile footprint of disaster; and yet, last night FEMA's director Michael Brown admitted that the Administration had no idea exactly how bad the situation was. Even worse, he had previously characterized the security situation in New Orleans as "pretty darn good" and stopped just short of blaming the residents of New Orleans themselves for not evacuating.
The Bush Administration failed the American people in advance of the hurricane by cutting critical funding in spite of pleas by the Army Corps of Engineers -- money that would have been used to reinforce the very levees that broke and flooded New Orleans. We had plenty of money to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans but none to save the poorest Americans with an ounce of prevention.
And in terms of the response to the disaster itself, what we have seen there is unquestionably too little too late. While the President today said the relief efforts so far were "not acceptable," how can he possibly be surprised by this deplorable response? How can he say that the flooding wasn't anticipated? Quite to the contrary, it was expected. It was predicted. What is not acceptable is the President's response.
One year ago we had the opportunity to learn from the disasters in Florida. Floridians experienced the consequences of FEMA's failure to deliver aid to communities who needed it the most. We saw the most vulnerable in our society - the elderly and the poor - being left out or overlooked. Last year we had the opportunity to prevent this from happening again. At that time, I called for the resignation of FEMA head, Michael Brown because of his grievous mismanagement. The President did not heed that call, nor did he see fit to make any substantial changes in FEMA.
Last year, when the President's election was in question, his response to the hurricanes in the swing state of Florida was tremendously fast -- even passing out ice in the immediate aftermath. Where was he in the immediate aftermath for Gulf coast? Where were the trucks of food? Where were the water buffalo? Where were the tents of aid that are just now being established? The President and Congress dropped everything and flew back to Washington on Palm Sunday to intervene on behalf of Terri Schiavo. Why did the President delay so long for an entire American city in crisis? These are desperate people who need food, water, shelter and safety, not a photo op - which even itself comes 5 days late. Every asset of the American military in this hemisphere should have been devoted to America's humanitarian crisis starting on Monday at 5 PM.
I was in Aceh in Indonesia last month. I saw first-hand the greatness of the American aid efforts. Our response in the aftermath of the tsunami was one of America's finest hours. I was extremely proud as an American to see all the work our country had done to stave off famine and disease. Our aircraft carrier was off the Aceh coast within two days. If we can do that thousands of miles away in Indonesia, why not New Orleans? If we had even just met that same standard, help would have been in New Orleans on Wednesday. It should have been self-evident on Monday that now is the time to use our strength for the benefit of our own people.
Hurricane Katrina is another tragic wakeup call for America. After the immediate crisis has passed, we must create a national disaster fund. We must restructure FEMA. And, we must do more than talk about disaster preparedness. We must do everything possible to ensure that we are fully prepared for a national disaster and the possibility of a terrorist attack.
Congressman Wexler is a senior member of the House International Relations Committee and is a member of the House Judiciary Committee.
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Lale M. Mamaux Communications Director Office of Congressman Robert Wexler 213 Cannon House Office Building (202) 225- 3001 lale.mamaux@mail.house.gov
During the height of the Clinton's eight year crime wave [ what I have dubbed "The Decade of Fraud(s) ] the was a radio show host named Jack Christy who made the very pointed observation that most people only read the headlines and first sentence in nearly any news article. His larger point being that that accounted for their being so easily misled, spun, and misinformed.
So, you may be right!
Isn't it, though.
"It IS a disaster area, and that presents challenges."
Yah, with Wexler-type supporters blasting away at rescue helicopters with their stolen guns and other similar acts of lawlessness and anarchy.
MSM is directing the script and sound bites out of NO.
If I were dirctor, I'd film people cutting flowers and playing games with children.
Au contraire! Massachussetts' (RINO) Governor has already launched a verbal attack on President Bush.
Okay, it isn't help or even helpful, but it shows that they are ON it in the Bay State.
Yeah, let's just drop supplies so they can float around with the rest of the debrees.
Your right about Clinton - however two can play the game and by the time the Repubs decide to get in the game the other team has made point after point ,day after day, and the game is over. I am really tired of it and for the first time in my adult life will probably not vote for anyone -
Nebbish little twerp should have stayed there.
Wexler and his party continue to be a disgrace to America. Every situation has to made political with their lies.
Just wait, he'll have his own disaster to blame on Bush when the "big dig" collapses. Any time now....
Because there weren't as many natives shooting at us in Afghanastan.
Did he reall say that we are not stuck on stupid??????
Because the Afghani's, which one might consider a third world people, aren't as barbaric in those who are in New Orleans, United States of America?
We here in Ohio are responsible for the 2004 election -- had we not voted for Bush, President John Kerry could have used his plan to protect New Orleans from this disaster.
Finally, Wexler should have made the point that the timing of this disaster is very suspicious. Cindy Sheehan was just about to win her campaign and force the President to resign when Karl Rove designed this diabolical plan to destroy New Orleans, commit genocide against blacks and get Cindy Sheehan off the front page! Of course, the plan would not have been possible were it not for the weather control program Dick Cheney developed secretly at Halliburton!
Absolutely he said it. Not sure where he is from, but he said with a slight Cajun draw too. Perfectly wonderful. Best grin I'd had all day!
We have children on the Gulf. Everytime there is a TD out there I start watching with a religous fever. I am only an ordinary citizen, not responsible for over a million people.
Looks like to me, that the Mayor should have had someone monitoring and reporting. The blame goes squarly on him, no matter how hard he tries to make it go away. What a jerk!!!!!!!!
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