I need to explain a post from yesterday re:DU and Katrina

[Armstead]

Yesterday, I got a bit hot headed after reading DU, and vented at what I perceived as hypocricy on DU regarding Katrina and Bush.


( http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4516170&mesg_id=4516170 )

This was a case where I should have counted to ten before typing. I stand by my basic point, but I put it in the wrong terms.

I guess it's a personality thing, but what bothered me was that almost any major tragic event sets off certain reactions on DU that I feel uncomfortable about here. Such as automatically linking Bush with the hurricane and automatically saying it's all Bush's fault.

My own perspective is that politics should play second fiddle to humanity. IMO, the first reaction should be on a human, non-political level. Katrina is -- above all -- a natural disaster in which thousands (millions?) of people are going to either die or suffer major hardship and misery.

That trumps everything else on a purely human level. And, much as I dislike Bush, we ought to hope he actially does something right for the sake of the people there, and the nation as a whole.

There is plenty of time to sort through the many related issues, including the political implications. And, at this point, Bush certainly deserves criticism for his insensitive, ham-handed response (or lack thereof).

But, as with other tragedies we have gone through since DU was started, we shouldn't let our politics corrupt what should be an initial reaction of humanity and compassion and desire for success in response, regardless of politics.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Ok but his behavior speaks for itself

After 911 we hoped he would do something right. Instead, he used it to forward an agenda that made us less safe and more of a target.

During an election year, he was on the ground in Fla serving ice water to potential voters...this year, he cut his 5 week vacation short by one day.

Furthermore, the cuts to the Army Corp of Engineers to shore up the levies in LA only points to the fact that he is incompetent. Who knows what work MAY have been aurhtorized and WHEN were those cuts not made.

[CatWoman]

2. Rachel Maddow is saying the exact same things as you, Teena

re: Army Corps of Engineers and other cuts.

She's subbing for Al Franken this week.

[myrna minx]

4. Rachel Maddow rocks.

I wish she had her own show during the day.

[Armstead]

6. You're right

My original post was not so much a defense of Bush, but just a feeling that there's a time and a place,and the initial response to a natutral disaster should be human rather than political.

Unfortunately, Katrina would have happened regardless of who was president -- although President Gore would likely have not undermined the prevention preparation in NO before it happened or gone off to play FDR in California in its aftermath.

[Walt Starr]

3. Do what I do, I type it all out, go over it, re-read it

then count to ten before posting it.

Many times, a rant I spent maybe an hour over gets dumped before being posted.

[Armstead]

5. i probably should have counted to 15 with that one