Bush rules out significant federal aid to hurricane victims

[Karmadillo]

Compassionate Conservatism in the conduct of the Class War.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/sep2005/hurr-s01.shtml

Only hours after reports that the death toll from Hurricane Katrina may number in the thousands, President Bush delivered perfunctory remarks that offered little except condescending sympathy to the victims of the worst natural disaster in American history.

Nothing in his words, facial expression, or body language indicated that Bush either comprehended or was even concerned about the monumental catastrophe that has struck hundreds of thousands of people in one of the United States’ greatest and most historic cities.

Rather, with a smirk on his face, he allowed that “the days seem awfully dark for those affected”—a phrase that could only have been uttered in these terrible circumstances by someone who did not count himself among those unfortunates. This from the President of the United States!

And yet, this was not merely a poor choice of words. For the Bush administration, the tragedy of New Orleans is not particularly important and requires no major effort on the part of the United States.

<edit>

Bush avoided any concrete commitment of financial resources. In the course of his speech, money was mentioned only once, at the end, when he declared, “At this stage in the recovery efforts, it’s important for those who want to contribute, to contribute cash.” He expressed thanks to “the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army and the Catholic Charities, and all other members of the armies of compassion.”

The meaning of these words is clear: relief efforts will be organized through private charities and religious institutions, just as the administration has sought to promote “faith-based” initiatives to replace government guaranteed social welfare programs. The American Red Cross hopes to raise $135 million to provide hurricane relief, a figure that is dwarfed by estimated damage—much of it uninsured—in the tens of billions of dollars.

more...

[Tim4319]

1. “the days seem awfully dark for those affected”

In other words, "It sucks to be you!"

[ultraist]

14. Perfect interpretion of Bush's words: "It sucks to be you." eom

[Contrary1]

21. We are all affected by this caricature of a president.

It sucks to be us.

[Spinzonner]

2. I don't know, considering his limitations

he did a halfway decent imitation of a real human being.

[Mike Daniels]

5. I'm not a virulent Bush-hater but I have to disagree with you

I was watching footage from yesterday's announcement and I noticed one glaring thing:

Everyone behind Bush had the most somber expressions on their faces.

Bush however constantly seemed to have the slightest trace of a grin on his face the entire time he was speaking. Granted, I don't know if his mouth curvature causes that (much like the smile of a dolphin) but it seemed out of place under the circumstances.

[Spinzonner]

9. I didn't say 'Good', I said halfway decent

You can't go beyond your material

[fudge stripe cookays]

24. You're high.

He did no such thing. He smirked and paused and repeated the same bullshit. The man has no soul.

The only thing he's good at imitating is a reptile. The man is cold blooded.

FSC

[tocqueville]

3. I reacted to that too

For an European it's beyond understanding. Normally here you get a govermental assessment in such cases about what money will be put in. Normally government provides extra help BEFORE the insurance companies can pay back...

Then charity is of course welcome and important, but can NEVER be the main source of relief...

[Eloriel]

6. You're exactly right: charity can NEVER be the main source of

relief. And in fact, we're also seeing that Federal assistance and perhaps even more importantly, coordination is essential.

[Hubert Flottz]

11. Charity has been dealt a knock out punch already!

Since the wealthy who once donated to their favorite charity, so they would get a big tax write-off, don't need to do so anymore since Bush's three tax cuts has pretty well exempted them from paying taxes. Bush wants to put this disaster on the backs of the poor completely. He's grinning because he knows, he's breaking it off in the little guy again.

[Benbow]

13. Yes (I'm a Brit) - does humanitarian aid have to be privatised in the US

before Bush will allow anything effective to be done to relief the victims of Katrina? PEOPLE ARE DYING, PRESIDENT BUSH, and - it has to be said - what is left of Bush's reputation around the world is shredded.

[ultraist]

15. Oh, geez, you don't have to call him "President Bush" around here.

;)

Belated welcome to DU! :hi:

[Benbow]

27. It's a Brit cultural thing - observing small niceties when being insolent

When I am being very rude indeed to someone, I smile so that you can see all my teeth.

Thank you for the kind welcome.

[jimshoes]

4. All I can say is

fuck this guy. What are we paying fucking taxes for, to fund his misbegotten war half way around the world and screw our own citizens? Fuck him. I want the goddamn army in New Orleans and to hell with Baghdad.

[liberal N proud]

7. Maybe this will expose the lack of compassion by conservatives

that really exists.
Just maybe America will wake up now.

Yes we need to do all we can do to help these people but we also still need to focus on the rest of the nation and what is going on there.
The world did not stop when Katrina hit, just the world as the people along the Gulf Coast know it.

[benburch]

8. WHAT THE FUCK!!!!

Words cannot express how ANGRY that makes me.

[Skidmore]

10. So where are these people supposed to work?

Business have been destroyed and jobs are disappearing from the economy. Charity only goes so far and provides immediate relief. Where will these people LIVE?


Maybe they have trust funds too.

[ultraist]

19. Oh, hell. Are you advocating for leaching off the welfare system?

Those people should be able to pull themselves up by the bootstraps. It's their fault they didn't have property insurance and/or didn't evacuate. There is plenty of private charity help out there, if they don't use it, it's their problem. The federal government should not be encouraging people to not work by giving hand outs.

:sarcasm:

[Karmadillo]

23. Give 'em hand outs, and they'll all be calling for Cat 4 hurricanes to

come their way.

[KittyWampus]

12. Bush Is Bad Enough Without The Socialists LYING & Twisting The Truth

please don't disseminate this.

It's misleading psuedo-journalism that's just as bad as the crap on Drudge.

Edit- yes, there's just enough truth in their rags to make it seem credible.

[sinkingfeeling]

17. Exactly what do you find misleading in that article? Where is the lie?

[KittyWampus]

26. actually, where is the supporting evidence that no federal dollars will

go towards relief.

someone posted an article that makes certain assertions about what our Fed. Govt. will NOT be doing.

Seems said article needs to provide some proof of THEIR assertions that the Fed. Govt. won't be providing relief.

[Karmadillo]

29. Why support a claim they didn't make? The article doesn't say NO federal

aid will be made available.

[Postman]

18. Whats wrong with socialism? Corporate America loves it.

as long as the socialism comes their way.

[Karmadillo]

20. Article seems OK to me. Please point out any inaccuracies. Here's

a link to a NY Times editorial that might help DUers determine whether or not the website is reliable.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/01/opinion/01thu1.html?oref=login

Waiting for a Leader
Published: September 1, 2005

George W. Bush gave one of the worst speeches of his life yesterday, especially given the level of national distress and the need for words of consolation and wisdom. In what seems to be a ritual in this administration, the president appeared a day later than he was needed. He then read an address of a quality more appropriate for an Arbor Day celebration: a long laundry list of pounds of ice, generators and blankets delivered to the stricken Gulf Coast. He advised the public that anybody who wanted to help should send cash, grinned, and promised that everything would work out in the end.

more...

[KittyWampus]

25. that's an editorial with no facts to support the article in question.

[Karmadillo]

28. You've yet to point out the inaccuracies in the WSWS article.

n/t

[DoYouEverWonder]

16. Bush is obviously not FIT FOR DUTY

he needs to step down NOW.

[joanne]

22. How long until he demands more money for Iraq though?

And how much has it cost so far?

200 billion?

Anyone know?

[rodeodance]

30. Generally a president would at least demand that Congress be called

into session for an emergency supplemental bill. Not happening--