What would John Kerry do?

[CoffeeCat]

Seriously.

I envision the grace, dignity and incredible leadership that John Kerry and his administration would have handled Katrina and the aftermath--and it's almost heartbreaking.

At least we would have faith in our President.

At least those who were hungry, thirsty and hurting would have had food, water and medical care in those first critical days--instead of excuses.

We would have action from a capable, qualified head of FEMA, instead of discombobulation from a Bush cronie who was forced to step aside.

We would have information and straight-forward answers--instead of hourly press conferences filled with lies.

We would have hope, instead of skepticism.

We would have faith that the President would do the right things--for the country, for the affected areas and for the people who need help--instead of worrying about what will happen.

I'm "Jonesing" for a John Kerry presidency.

Can you imagine?

[liberalpragmatist]

1. Yup - same with Gore

Either Gore or Kerry would have done a fantastic job with this. There would still have been deaths and the levies would probably have still broken, but evacuation would probably have been far more complete, there would have been proper contigency plans, and the chaos that occurred in the week following Katrina would not have happened.

And we wouldn't have had the horrible spectacle of Dick Cheney being sent to comfort people. Edwards would be a far greater comfort.

[Blue Belle]

19. It's hard to say if the levees would have been broken...

John Kerry was firm in his campaign on securing securing our ports, and infrastructure. I don't know if he would have secured the levees, but NOLA is a major US port and I'm sure the subject would have come up. It's purely speculation/wishful thinking at this point. :sigh: :cry:

[blm]

36. Actually, it seems Kerry was ACUTELY aware of Louisiana's needs and has

been trying to move government on it since 1991.

See lower thread for info on his efforts.

[Robert Oak]

2. what Kerry is doing

He's organizing a convoy/rescue op out of Boston currently.

Al Gore airlifted numerous in hospitals and so forth.

I think Kerry had to raise funds and Gore due to getting into corporate America just had the funds so he could move quickly and he did and he didn't seem to issue any real press release either.

No big fanfare, they act, Bush poses for propaganda photo ops.

[FreedomAngel82]

10. Exactly

Kerry would've been out there surveying for real and not just on Air Force One. He would've been on the ground I'm sure or at least in a helicopter so he could get a good view of what to do. Everything would've been so much more organized and food and water would've gotten to people much quicker. I remember reading WalMart tried to get food and water in but FEMA turned them away. WHAT?! That's ridiculous!

[jillan]

23. I could see Kerry on the ground, passing out water and food.

He wouldn't have been afraid to get his hands dirty while helping.

[blm]

11. Kerry was also in Iraq at the beginning of Sept.

In an appearance today he said that only 1500 Iraqi troops have been fully trained.

[noahmijo]

3. I've been a John Kerry supporter since before he ran for the presidency

And I feel the exact same way you do.

Interestingly though my first thoughts considering Edwards would be VP was the fact that I could just totally picture that immediately after the hurricane we'd see Edwards looking like a scrappy young guy in beat up clothes running back and forth like Gore was trying to coordinate rescues and get people to safety...you wouldn't even think he's some rich politician but a guy who is desperate to help.

John Kerry would around the same time stop what he was doing and fly down there and compliment Edwards and then quickly assume the role of someone who is responsible for getting agencies like FEMA to get their shit together.

[blm]

18. Kerry was on a flight to Malaysia when he heard that 4 firefighters were

killed in a huge fire in Mass. some years ago. He had the plane turned around IMMEDIATELY.

[blm]

4. Last year Kerry told Louisiana he'd budget 14 billion to deal with their

wetlands and infrastructure problems.

But, the media didn't think it was an important enough issue to discuss, I guess.

[FreedomAngel82]

13. Really?

I didn't even know that. He knew about this even. So this just goes to show what Kayne West said is probably true sadly.

[blm]

14. Kerry is the top lawmaker on environmental priorities. No surprise he

would have addressed this problem during the campaign. It was the part of the campaign that the media editted out to keep Bush propped up.

[oasis]

15. 14 billion for Louisiana wetlands and infrastructure. Last night, a guy

on Tavis Smiley's PBS show said that's about what was needed. He wrote a book on it."Bayou...." something.

Kerry is well read, and probably checked out the book. Or a member of Kerry's staff may have clued him in on the potential crisis.

One thing about our Democratic leaders, they read.

[blm]

17. Can you even fockin' believe it, oasis? This is why I blame most media

who ignored the crap out of important issues that effect the real lives of Americans while keeping Bushboy propped up as a hero.

[oasis]

27. Tweety/Tucker and their ilk shy away from "tree hugging issues". It's

not sexy enough. Gore was the author of "Earth in Balance" but very few voters were provided information (via the corporate media) on his awareness of environmental issues.

BTW, Green voters knew.

[whometense]

35. That slays me.

14 billion for prevention versus - what are they saying now?? Over 100 billion for repair?

Penny wise pound foolish. Not to mention the incalculable despair, grief and the disruption and dislocation of thousands and thousands of lives.

[globalvillage]

5. Given that he's not the president

and that he was in Iraq when it happened, he's said and done quite a bit. If he were...sigh...hope is a very powerful thing. So is action. I imagine that if Kerry was president, the people devistated by Katrina would be much better off today, and that many more would be alive to talk about it.
Here's what I know of what Sen Kerry has said and done re Katrina so far:

8/29-30?
http://kerry.senate.gov/v3/cfm/home.cfm Our thoughts and prayers go out to the thousands of families affected by Hurricane Katrina. Katrina's unprecedented devastation has cost those in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi their homes, their loved ones, even their lives. Our great nation must come together to comfort and bring relief to those in the Gulf Coast suffering from this blow. Local leaders and National Guard forces have bravely started the effort, but they need all of our help. Please visit the link below to learn how you can help our fellow Americans affected by Hurricane Katrina.

8/31
Dear XXXXXXXXX,
This is a time for all Americans to pull together and do everything we can to assist people whose lives have been devastated by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.
If you haven't acted already, I urge you to join in delivering immediate help to the people who need it most. One way to do that is to support the relief and recovery efforts of the Red Cross with a personal donation.

8/31
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2005_08_...
"Hurricane Katrina devastated significant portions of the Gulf Coast and disrupted millions of lives but she didn’t and couldn’t destroy the spirit of endurance, bravery, generosity and compassion we have been witnessing during the relief and rescue operations. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the citizens of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama as they struggle with the aftermath of this devastating storm, and to their loved ones and families viewing the disturbing photos coming out of the region. Now is the time for all of us to come together to help the evacuees, refugees and survivors and rebuild the communities that have lost so much.

9/2
Johnkerry.com “Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the citizens of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama as they struggle with the aftermath of this devastating storm, and to their loved ones and families viewing the disturbing photos coming out of the region. I also would like to commend the brave men and women who are leading the rescue operations; from emergency service officers to health care professionals to the power and water crews working around the clock to save lives.
“Hurricane Katrina devastated significant portions of the Gulf Coast and disrupted millions of lives. The situation in New Orleans is heartbreaking.


9/2
JK has been in Iraq - He is on his way home
"Senator Kerry was in Iraq in January and wanted to go again to thank our troops for their service, talk with military commanders about the situation on the ground and meet with Iraqi government officials as they work to establish a democracy in Iraq."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...


9/6
http://lott.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleas...
LOTT : John Kerry called my wife Tricia and me at our home -- I don't remember -- two or three days ago and said he and Teresa wanted to help. And I identified what we needed and he said, "Where can we land the plane?" And I told him. And I assigned a staff member to coordinate with him.

9/7
Dear XXXXXXXXX,
"More tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans are off the table." Those are the words that America is waiting to hear from President Bush. At a time of crisis and enormous need, it should be an easy decision for him to make. He could make the announcement tomorrow.

There is hurt and suffering all around us. Estimates are that it will cost as much as $150 billion to help the hard-hit people and communities of the Gulf Coast get back on their feet following Katrina's devastation. And the Bush administration's failed policies in Iraq are draining billions of dollars from our treasury every month.

But still, Republican leaders refuse to abandon their obsession with granting still more tax cuts to the wealthy and well-connected. Don't let them get away with it.

Sign our "Don't You Dare" petition right now.

http://www.johnkerry.com/petition/taxcuts.php

9/8
Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., center, speaks as Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., left, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., second right, and Sen. Harry Reid,D-Nev., look on at a news conference at the Capitol, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2005, in Washington. Congress hurried toward approval Thursday of an emergency aid package that would spend well over $1 billion a day for recovery needs of victims of Hurricane Katrina. Democrats and Republicans agreed that much had gone wrong
http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/events/pl/021103kerry&c...

9/8 http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/08/national/nationalspec...
And Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004, said in an interview: "It's a summary of all that this administration is not in touch with and has faked and ducked and bobbed over the past four years. What you see here is a harvest of four years of complete avoidance of real problem solving and real governance in favor of spin and ideology."

9/9
John Kerry Offers Major Package of Legislation to Help Small Businesses, Others Devastated by Hurricane Katrina
WASHINGTON - With estimates that more than 400,000 jobs will be lost as a result of Hurricane Katrina, Senator John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) today unveiled a package of emergency economic aid and federal assistance for small businesses and others reeling from the destruction in the Gulf Coast.
“It is clear that our government failed the people of the Gulf Coast. In time, those responsible will be held accountable for what has gone right and what has gone wrong. Right now, we need to make up for lost time and help any way we can, and that means targeting the fastest relief possible,” said Senator Kerry. “Every small business we can help will help a hard-working family start to put the pieces of their lives back together. We should help small businesses rebuild themselves and these communities.”

9/9
Senator Kerry's office just called me! Someone is listening!!!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

9/10
Kerry set to deliver supplies
By Rick Klein, Globe Staff | September 10, 2005

WASHINGTON — Senator John F. Kerry has chartered a plane to deliver supplies to the New Orleans area tomorrow and is accepting donations in Boston to make deliveries in the coming weeks.

Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, has coordinated local and national corporate donations that will be part of tomorrow’s delivery to a supply distribution center in Baton Rouge, La.

http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=493

[whometense]

6. It's all I've thought about

for the past week - hell, for the past year. I'm with you.

[halobeam]

7. I love Kerry, but I wonder how much his hands would've been tied

at this point. He would've had only 8 or so months to replace every inept head of these agencies. Eh, who am I kidding... he would've handled it. Period. That's the crying difference.

[blm]

8. First off - Gary Hart would've been head of Homeland Security and last

summer Kerry told Louisiana they needed 14 billion dollars to deal with their immediate environmental and structural needs.

[ginnyinWI]

25. I agree--he'd have had a great team put together by now

The only problem he'd have is the Republican-dominated House and Senate--assuming that the elections would have kept them as they are now. But he's experienced at working with those guys and would know how to approach them, and who to start working on first.

[FreedomAngel82]

9. Yes, so true

*sigh* It's so true. If Kerry was president we know he would've put someone in charge of FEMA who wouldn't have screwed around and fucked up who told people to go away instead of helping people. He would've tried to fix the levee's so they wouldn't have broken. I don't think we'll know if they would've or not, but if they still broke under Kerry we know he would've jumped to action. He wouldn't have been eating cake with McCain, strumming a guitar, going golfing, fundraising or stayed at a fancy hotel. We know John Edwards would've really cared and helped since poverty is a big issue with him (and I'm glad someone is really pounding it).

[Stinky Bushes]

12. what would John Kerry do?

actually provide leadership and integrity to the WH.

actually speak in coherent sentences.

actually genuinely care about people.

actually bring intelligence, reason, and rationale into the oval office.

actually be a President of the People rather than a CEO lobbyist for wealthy donors and large corporations.

DON'T BLAME ME. I VOTED FOR KERRY.

[SammyWinstonJack]

16. Don't blame me I voted for Kerry

:cry: :cry: My anger for bush** voters and supporters grows daily.

[jillan]

24. Welcome to DU Stinky Bushes

Great name too :)

[politicasista]

20. kick!

:kick:

[tom_paine]

21. #1 -- Kerry would have dropped everything AND DONE HIS JOB

And while all rest you would have mentioned regarding a qualified head of FEMA, FAR fewer lies, certainly less severe lies and told told systematically 100% of the time, etc, nothing trumps the difference I mentioned in my header.

KERRY WOULD HAVE CANCELED THE FESTIVITIES AND DONE HIS JOB.

YOU CAN BET YOUR ASS THAT, EVEN IF KERRY'S SEC. OF STATE WAS IN NYC, HE OR SHE WOULD HAVE DROPPED EVERYTHING AND RETURNED TO WASHINGTON!

[SharonRB]

22. First of all, he wouldn't have been on vacation for

five frickin' weeks!

[kerrygoddess]

26. I love it! We used to say this on the Kerry Blog!

WWJD? What would John do?

I even saved some (some are applicable in the situation I suppose):

John Kerry would understand that there is a time and place for everything, and that it is not always appropriate to speak our minds just any where.

John Kerry would read something more than once if he was not sure about it.

John Kerry would ask what was meant by something he was not sure about, rather than make a snap judgement.

John Kerry would not assume.

John Kerry would disagree with someone else as respectfully as possible.

John Kerry would listen to someone who disagrees with him or his stance and respond with facts and information.

[karynnj]

28. Reading that list, it seems also to be guidelines for

interacting civily with others and how to make good decisions. He is amazing.

[ginnyinWI]

29. kick for kerry

[robbedvoter]

30. Concede to Katrina?

[mzmolly]

31. He would not have been on/stayed on vacation - for one.

:(

[Vektor]

32. He'd have showed compassion, empathy, and competence

in dealing with the Katrina disaster. His 20+ years of foreign policy would have really come in handy in dealing with the Iraq mess. (Versus Chimpy's ZERO experience.) I always jones for a Kerry Presidency. Too bad it wasn't HIS best buddy who owned the machines that "counted" the votes, huh?

[TayTay]

33. Well, considering that he sponsored legislation in 1991

to help deal with coastal erosion in Louisiana (that finally got passed in 1994, under Clinton, sigh) I think he knew the dangers in LA and that the problem was getting worse. I think he would have tried to do something about it and tried to confront the Rethugs in Congress and call them on their bullshit.

And I think he would have had a more compassionate response and that he would have gone on TV to reassure the nation that everything possible was being done for our fellow citizens in the Gulfport area who were suffering so much. And then he would have gotten his butt down to Gulfport and met with locals and the federal officials and made damn sure that everyone was doing their friggin jobs to the best of their ability or heads would roll.

And then he would ask that Congress reconsider all that pending legislation that is still in Congress about finally doing something about coastal erosion in LA and in finding a better fix for NOLA so that the water doesn't overcome the sea walls again.

Sigh! That's what my President would have done. And if people failed in their jobs or were incompetent then they would be looking for new jobs, not bragging about how they were going to go home, get a MExican meal, have a Marguerita and sleep in a warm bed. (Honestly, Is Brown the most insensitive man ever or just par for the course for Repukes?)

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

34. He'd have not putzed around for days on end. Hell, he'd

be driving a swiftboat in those waters and saving lives! I'm not being sarcastic. He'd have also been compassionate and not sat on his ass like * and that sorry excuse for a FEMA "leader."

I'm John Kerry, and I'm reporting for duty...