Ken Schram: It's About People, Not Politics

[flamingyouth]

(The end is my favorite part...)

This isn't about politics. It's about people.

And it's about a Bush administration that doesn't know the difference.

It's about a President who doesn't have the ability to lead a nation in a time of crisis and catastrophe.

I honestly didn't think that George Bush could disappoint America more than he already has.

I was wrong.

http://komotv.com/stories/38926.htm

[aquart]

1. Doesn't politics kinda mean people?

And wouldn't it be nice if Bush knew THAT?

George's responses are always so weird, so OFF, they restore my faith in science fiction.

[jurassicpork]

2. Obviously, it's not about politics

Neither should it be politicized. And neither should these Neocon whack jobs be accusing us of politicizing this catastrophe for merely pointing out whose fault this really is. The GOP had no problem politicizing 9/11, God knows. Hell, they politicized a blow job and a failed land deal from the 70's.

And as long as they keep pushing us into the liberal corner, it will always be a partisan issue whether we like it or not.

JP
http://jurassicpork.blogspot.com/

[ananda]

22. proud liberal

I'm a proud and loud liberal.

I like my corner, and it seems to be growing out toward the center.

Sue

[jurassicpork]

29. I am a loud, proud and rude liberal

...myself. Keep up the good fight, honey, behind enemy lines.

JP
http://jurassicpork.blogspot.com

[raysr]

3. Ol' Ken is usually

a jerk-off but every once in a while he's RIGHT-ON!

[flamingyouth]

4. Sometimes he really does hit the nail on the head.

Like in this commentary...

[walldude]

5. There's alot of that going around today...

The heads are popping off even the staunchest conservatives. You still have Hannity, Rush, and a few others but the ones with an ounce of humanity have stepped into the light.

[nine23]

6. GO KEN. Well said. I expected this type of comment from you, bro.

I'm from Vancouver, BC. We get Seattle television here, and this guy (from KOMO TV/ABC affiliate), LIKE DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND, is one of our windows to SANITY from south of the border.

By the way, I must say this: this is classic Ken Schram. No jumping on a bandwagon, no Johnny-come-lately, this is the MAN in Seattle, and he's been speaking out like this for years. (Decades? Help me out Seattle...he's been around since at least my teens...)

Thanx Ken.


On edit: I know I'm probably over-praising this guy for some of you Seattle folks, but I'm not normally preoccupied with Seattle issues ('natch, you'd all say the same thing about Vancouver local issues as well...). I just like a man who always, REASONABLY, shouts out what's on his mind...

[flamingyouth]

7. He has been around for a long time.

He used to host that show "Town Meeting" on KOMO and I remember him from when I was a teenager too.

Hi neighbour! :hi:

[nine23]

10. Big sloppy kisses, flamingyouth. Love Seattle; love NOLA. Love ya'll...

[fortyfeetunder]

11. We need Town Meeting again, agree?

Wish KOMO would bring that show back...

[progressivebydesign]

13. Ken is cool because he never parrots one party-line.

He nails it 90% of the time, but for the other 10%, at least I know the guy is sincere. I've written to him a few times in support or agains things he's written, and he's often written back and been really respectful even though we aren't agreeing.

[SeattleGirl]

8. I love Ken Schram

I don't always agree with him, but I love it that he just says what he thinks, and damn the torpedos! I just sent him an email to let him know he had made the homepage of DU.

[Skittles]

9. I emailed him in complete agreement

I am finally at the point where I can say bush is worse than I ever thought he would be, and I knew he would be BAD

[SeattleGirl]

12. Right on Skittles!!

:bounce:

[Broken_Hero]

14. I'm pretty sure...

He doesnt' know the difference between shoe laces and velcro, but Katrina will be politicized, its just a fact of life...

[nine23]

17. Hey, pal...you're from Missouri...

You really haven't a clue what we're talking about here, do 'ya? Figured...

Now. What's that about "the difference between shoe laces and velcro"?

[Broken_Hero]

31. ha, ha...:)

The reference was to GWB=Not knowing the difference between shoe laces and Velcro.

I'm not from Missouri, i'm trapped in hell, out in SW Missouri, i'm born and raised from SE Alaska, Seattle is my second home, my father is from Everett, and i still have family in Bellevue.

[Broken_Hero]

32. and Whats wrong about being from MO?

My wife is from MO, and is very very liberal, whats your issue man? MO is a swing state, whats your beef? And yes, i know exactly what you are talking about, do you, even know?

[TankLV]

28. It sure will - by the REPUKES and bunkerboy.

He has already tried to link it to 911 and WWII - but the "link" only shows more profoundly how criminally negligent they are.

And except for the congressional black caucus, the dems SILENCE is simply astounding.

[Rainscents]

15. I like Ken alot!!! I always look forward to his commentary at the end

of the news! Thanks Ken!

[masjenkins]

16. he's still around??

i lived in seattle until 1999. he's been around forever. he was the only good thing about "queer komo"..as we called it. (is kathi goertzen and the guy with the bad hair still there? can't remember his name.. looked like a modified ken doll) .. oh and cyndi reinhart?? ah.. memories..

[vickitulsa]

18. I don't understand the responses here.

Obviously a lot of you know the writer of this article, so I guess I get it that comments are made just about him.

But I'm just waking up after a very poor and short night's sleep where I had vague but VERY disturbing dreams of violent, gun-toting looters and thugs roaming about in a dark, mostly silent and very flooded city that was completely cut off from the world. These dangerous and menacing men were raping children while their mothers screamed, and killing babies while National Guardsmen and cops stood by without acting. And worst of all the President of this nation was still on vacation in Crawford, hoping at least that the catastrophe along the Gulf Coast would distract the media from Cindy Sheehan....

This was not my summing up of what I saw on TV for the last five days -- it was MY DREAM! My nightmare! I live in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for god's sake!

So I hope we'll be talking less about what Ken Schramm (I never heard of him before) may be all about, what his history is, what his abilities are, and way more about what he wrote in this online edition of a Seattle newspaper. I would just go to other threads to do this, and I will do that; but he said it SO WELL and so succinctly. I read the piece and hope to be able to discuss it here at DU where I've found people to be very insightful and able to articulate serious views.

These are very serious times indeed. Another dawn breaks over a city in Louisiana that is looking like Baghdad or Fallujah, and an entire Gulf Coast region that has been left to fend for itself for almost a WEEK in the richest, most powerful country in the world. I think at the very least we ought to ditch those titles....

~VV

______________________________________________

[PinkyisBlue]

20. Well said.

I agree with you. This article is succinct and sums up Bush's lack of humanity in a nutshell. I've never heard of Ken Schramm either, but he wrote one heck of a commentary.

What horrifies me most about this disaster is that these people were without the most basic human need for days, fresh water! Babies and children died from dehydration in a country that used to be the first to respond to catastrophes across the world. We have lost so much after 5 years of Bushco. Our government has lost its ability to respond quickly to emergency situations. It seems like if there isn't a signed contract with Halliburton or another private company, the job doesn't get done. In a government run like a corporation, if there's no profit to be made, the work isn't worth doing. Unfortunately, people are the big losers in Bushco.

Also, journalists are calling our displaced citizens in the south REFUGEES. According to my dictionary, a refugee is one who flees for protection to a foreign land. What's with this?

[DrZeeLit]

26. Agree! This "refugee" label MUST BE STOPPED. These are AMERICANS!

They are citizens. They pay taxes. They live, work, die in this country and they deserve respect.

They can be "displaced Americans," "American victims of a natural disaster," or something else -- BUT they better be first, last, always -- AMERICANS.

We need to start a movement on that one.

and p.s. I agree -- this man has said it succinctly -- in a short, deliverable form that holds up to scrutiny. I copied it and I'm posting it on my office door.

Bravo.

and remember: AMERICANS in AMERICA are NOT REFUGEES!

[Broken_Hero]

33. Ditto...

I have never heard of this guy either, and i thought we were talkign about how bad Bush has dismantled our country, and i get responses because people think i'm ranting badly on this Ken fella. Hey in Tulsa, :P

[joytomme]

19. It's Totally About Politics

If it weren't about politics and the fact that the Repubs don't believe in global warming or fixing the infrastructure of the US or anything except ruling the world, then this disaster in the Gulf would never have happened.

This is all about politics and nothing but politics: The horror in New Orleans is about the horrendously bad politics of the Republican Party.

Joy Tomme
http://ratbangdiary.blogspot.com

[Phlem]

23. Exactly

Even when they say it's not about politics.....it's about politics. The people pay the price.

The corporate financed government is showing it's true colors.

What I don't get is why people don't understand that if big business won't think twice about off shoring our sorry ass jobs, will corporate government care about your sorry ass life?

I was always taught in school America was a country by the people and for the people.

sorry for the rant

Phlem

[NJCher]

24. corporate-run gov't

corporate financed government

I only wish it was corporate financed. Instead it's taxpayer financed and corporate dominated.




Cher

[Phlem]

25. Thanks for the correction

And spot on.

phlem

[bejammin075]

21. Bush's incompetance gives aid and comfort to the enemy

Terrorists watching the U.S. must think we look like a pretty easy mark after this lack of leadership and preparedness.

Resignation or Impeachment, Now, and nothing less will do. 2006 can't get here fast enough.

[TankLV]

27. They always dredge up the "don't make it political" crap WHEN THEY ARE

CAUGHT WITH MOUNTING PROOF THAT THEY ARE INCOMPETENT AND WORSE!

I am so sick of these uncaring criminal scheming repukes.

I want them out of OUR White House and Congress NOW! - ANY WAY POSSIBLE!

[DinahMoeHum]

30. I remember arguing with my Repuke brother in 2000 about Bush.

I argued that Bush was too much a lightweight in terms of background, experience, intellect, etc.

and I recall the exact words I said at that time:

"...Bush as a president will fail us as a nation and a people in a time of crisis..."

Well, after 9/11/01, the Iraq war, and now this, you all and I have been proven correct.

I'm still waiting for my brother to kiss my feet and admit he was wrong.

:kick: