Now I'm pointing a finger at poor national democratic leadership as well.

[inthebrain]

We have all posted various speaches by Clark and Kucinich today. I will say that an event like this certainly opens a door for these two on a national stage.

My gripe now turns to a common discussion we have been having since last November. Were is the Democratic leadership filling the void down in LA, MS and AL?

All three branches of government are controlled by one party at this point. It is not enough for what little we have elected write now to make lovely speaches on the senate floor. They need to take their message to the streets in the form of actions as well as words. Afterall, thats what we critisize Bush for.

Jesse Jackson is not enough. No way!!! No How!!!! Although he says things that sometimes resonate he is very much a camera hog.

THe best thing would be for someone like Clark to go down there and nudge and inept Mike Brown aside and show real leadership. I may not like the guy that much but he does have one thing in this area Bush and company lack; CREDIBLE EXPERIENCE GETTING THE FOOD WHERE IT BELONGS!!!!!!

Same goes for Kucinich who has a great talent for connecting with people and Bona-fide FDR like credentials!!!

Heres the deal with the Democratic party as it now stands. It doesnt need Carter; It sure as hell doesnt need Clinton; Tom Daschles leadership skills are out of the questions.

What it sorely needs like a kidney transplant are the risk takers like LBJ. It also needs a get your hands dirty, in your face populist and make enemies of scumbags persona of FDR. The greatest thing to have happened this week was for some of these guys to go down to the gulf and crack some skulls of the incompetent. Bush and the Republican party are way too consumed with crony capitalism give a crap out human pain and suffering.

Afterall, in the wake of the worst national disaster ever to strike this country, it was we the people that whipped them off their asses. Listening to the mayor of New Orleans cries for help today really shook me. It would have been nice to see Wes Clark, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich and John Kerry hustleing their asses off for him.

And yes it playing politics and I don't fear the acusation. But you know what? It's the kind of politics that really saves lives!!!!

I am still not happy with the spinelessness this party is showing today. Trent Lott complained that national guard troops couldnt get through. Yet, at the smae time, Tucker Carlson, Joe Scaborough and Anderson Cooper all managed to get down there immedietly.

THis was some free positive publicity that the Dems just blew off. It's not enough that Bush's lack of leadership ha sunk him. It's the fact that this party can't find ANY LEADERSHIP TO RAISE THEM UP!!!

CALL THEM!!!

WRITE THEM!!!!

AND FOR GODS SAKE LETS LET THEM KNOW THAT WE KNOW IT!!!!!!!!

[countmyvote4real]

1. Yes! Thanks for that and kick. n/t

[inthebrain]

17. KKKKKKKKKKICKTO!!!!

[NVMojo]

2. wow, i said this same thing to a group of Dems tonight ...where's

the righteous indignation from our Democratic Leadership? Time to get the collective heads out of the politically correct arses!!! People's lives depend on it!

[yojon]

3. Democratic leadership = oxymoron

Heads so far up their asses they disappeared.

[pocket]

4. another Lyndon "Gulf of Tonkin" Johnson???

I think we have one of those already.

[inthebrain]

5. Oh no I dont mean that!!!

I mean as in the 1964 civil rights act!!!!!!

Oh please not the gulf of tonkin!!!

[Mr Rabble]

6. I made lots of phone calls this week.

Sen. Reid
Rep. Pelosi
Dr. Dean
Sen. Boxer
Sen. Clinton


None of them had a decent response.

Dean's office was the only one to acknowledge that a response was needed.

They said they were giving 1 week for rescue and recovery and then it is going to be full attack mode.

Today his office released the first salvo in the form of a brief statement chastising *.

Next week is really the most important week in a long time.

[inthebrain]

8. Good for you!!!

People like you never get thanks enough.

Thank you for your service to your country.

You showed more leadership today than both parties combined!!!!

Thank you!!

[phiddle]

7. Send Al Gore

[Larkspur]

19. I heard that Gore is trying to help friends in New Orleans

[AlGore-08.com]

24. Not friends, the most critically ill

http://www.algore.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=272&Itemid=81

CNN reports that Al Gore has landed a plane in New Orleans, and will fly approximately 100 of the most critically ill to hospitals in Tennessee.

Further details as they become available.

[Larkspur]

31. Thanks for this info. I like Gore a lot and am glad he's doing this.

[TayTay]

9. I'm looking for allies for a big fight

I expect all Dems to join in. To that end, I will call them, write them and cajole them all to a fight they seem ready to join in.

I refuse to criticize Dems right now. I need them too badly for the fight. You do what you want, drink as deeply from the cup of bile as you want if it makes you feel better. But I am collecting allies and I want everyone I can find.

[inthebrain]

11. This is much needed constructive critisism...

The onus now should be on "what you do to the least among us". I want to create a politics that really fuckin matter.

Dems should be on the streets of New Orleans kicking the FEMA diretor and Bush's incompetence in the ass. I am not about creating enemies with this post. I am about giving this party a much needed emergency spine transplant that it sorely needs.

Lives are at stack becuase lets be honest, Republicans care ver little about the political fallout that comes from having an opposition party.

New Orleans right now may as well be Falujah or Baghdad. We got there because of poor national party leadership. We are not like Republicans. We take Responsiblity, take names and kick butts.

[TayTay]

12. And I am very interested in standing with you on that

We must form a huge, huge block of people that will kick the Rethugs out of power and retore sanity to this country.

But we need allies. We need all the voices we can get. We need to focus on the prize and not tear each other to pieces. We need to stand together and do this thing.

Then I'm with you. And we stand together. United as sane people who know this kind of callous neglect of human beings must never, ever be allowed to happen again. Ever. It is a disgrace to this nation, a disgrace to the human race and a hurt that will never heal.

[Gloria]

10. Well, join the club. Calling Reid's office, I got a jolly, laid back

guy who seemed to have no real concern at all...The DNC guy claimed that they were "up" on the smear of Blanco and Julia Reed spinning on AAR, blaming the Democratic gov.

But nothing seems to gel, they never seem to have any real fight. I want to hear ONE WORD, and that word is...LIAR, as it applies to Bush. And the entire GOP...immoral thugs.

[Stinky The Clown]

13. That's all fine to say .... and surely I agree with your sentiment ... but

(you knew there was a 'but' coming ........ )

You suggest that Kucinich and Clark go down there and 'nudge' the FEMA jerk aside. I'd love nothing more.

But honestly, those two - as is true for the rest of the Dems - have no legal standing to do that. Indeed, I suspect they could be could be charged with something criminal if they strongly interfered with ongoing federal operations (not that anyone would notice since the feds are DOING NOTHING).

What might be better would to have the democratic leadership go camp down there and get some face time. Lean on the worst situations. Get on teevee (kinda like the clip of Geraldo and Shepard Smith that was just posted) and go out there - to the convention center - to the superdome - and on national teevee demand that the feds respond.

But in the end, no dem has one iota of legal standing to do a damned thing.

And that's the tragedy. The dems would have acted.

[FrenchieCat]

14. The guy, you may not like that much....Wes Clark

is in Italy at an economic conference. As he is not an elected official of anykind, and travels on his own dime, whether he'll come back early, considering that he just left....I can't tell you.

Your suggestion "The best thing would be for someone like Clark to go down there and nudge and inept Mike Brown aside and show real leadership" is only different from what I propose here short of getting up in someone's face that probably will be hostile (considering the life and death fuck up).

Clark could provide a written strategy and advice plan and get it published (although getting published isn't always a given--WSJ refused to publish his "correct the fucking direction on Iraq now cause it ain't working or get the fuck out" which was shopped around and finally got printed in WAPO).

In the piece, he can point by point deride the administration's handling while providing what should have and should be done....and he can show up on Fox at some point soon (if they let him after his attack on Bush)and get more specific with what could be done on the matters as they stand at the time that he would be speaking.

The work that he has done with the former Clinton FEMA director is planning for emergency preparedness, so he is an expert on the topic....however, I can't envision him knocking on this administration's door trying to force his way in. That won't work very well, IMO.....cause they can just slam the door in his face, or try to put their arms around him....and I can imagine how DU would react to that!

I agree that Clark and Kucinich are probably two of the best original thinkers and leaders that we have (it seems). Clark's strong statements on Bush's handling of the Hurricane were made early on Thursday morning (see if there was any leading Democrats saying what he said prior to that)....although others came out after the coast was clear and the first polls were out. So yes, a few of our politicians are leaders but most are posers at being leaders...nevertheless, I do think that both Clark and Kucinich will do what is the most effective thing that they can do based on their circumstances and power.

I do think that suggestions should be listened to by these same leaders, although in the end, they'll determine what is best to do (that what leaders do, don't they?).

so I'll certainly pass this on to the WesPAC staff...and its a tiny staff, so he'll get the message, you can rest assured of that.

[inthebrain]

15. Nobody would have faulted him...

People were dying in the streets because of lack of competence. Mike Brown was completely flustered and incompetent.

People were dying because there was a major leadership void this week. Wes Clark is more than capable and would have been hailed for his bravery.

Bush clearly only care for PR. Every reporter in that city would have hammered Bush ten fold for making a stink about it. Clark would be hailed as a national hero and we wouldnt be worried about hillary running right now. SHe is making a living by ducking and hiding.

No way.

No How.

Would Shrubo have the balls to go after Clark for filling the leadership void this week.

[FrenchieCat]

16. I will tell you this....that Clark's Co. in the emergency prep bus

is most likely doing what they can, without kissing any Bush ass!

read this blogged article
http://talkleft.com/new_archives/012074.html
Thursday :: September 01, 2005
Where is James Lee Witt when we need him?
James Lee Witt, http://www.wittassociates.com/
an Arkansan, was FEMA Director under President Clinton, and he had the cojones to immediately go to the scene and take control. Clinton gave him power, and he used it for the national good. We were served well by him. In any natural disaster, he was there, he was on TV telling us what was going on, and he got things done. He did not sit on his hands in a Washington office getting information from CNN or FoxNews. James Lee Witt works in Little Rock, and I'll bet my house he's working on this disaster somehow. If he ran FEMA, the response would be markedly different, instead of the "what do I do now?" look of Michael Chertoff we see today.

[amandabeech]

20. Gov. Blanco of La. has appointed Witt as her official liason with FEMA.

He should change the way things are done. Anyone decent left in FEMA will probably follow his lead, and he should know who else to bring in.

Help is now truly on the way.

By-the-by, Gore flew in and picked up 100 sick and injured and flew them or is flying them to hospitals in Tennessee. He's setting a great example, but not getting much airplay.

[inthebrain]

27. James Lee Witt chewed Bush.....

for reducing FEMA!!!!!

Not that long ago.

[FrenchieCat]

18. Gov. Blanco was forced to open the back door to real experts.....

and has retained James L. Witt, former FEMA Director under Clinton, as her liason to FEMA. Translation, Witt & Co. will be guiding FEMA through the rest of this disaster...as reported on MSNBC a short while ago!
----------
NOTE: JLWA had originally bid on planning emergency work for New Orleans via IEM, but were not awarded the contract.
----------

About James L. Witt& Associates (JLWA)--

Our Team


What we do

Founded in 2001, James Lee Witt Associates (JLWA) is a crisis and emergency management consulting firm based in Washington, DC with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, and Sacramento. JLWA has unrivaled experience and hands-on knowledge of public safety, disaster mitigation, continuity of operations, and emergency management issues. JLWA bridges government agencies and non-profits with industry and constituents, advises educational institutions, and assists state and local governments, as well as international bodies to prepare for and recover from disasters and crises.

JLWA is uniquely positioned to bring together policy architects and technical experts in public safety, with leaders from all levels of government and private sector partners to forge solutions to emergency management challenges.

The JLWA staff includes seasoned crisis and emergency management leaders with significant experience in the public sector to provide consultation on key issues of public safety. The team is proficient in the details of emergency management, committed to the responsibility of the profession, and understands how crisis and emergency management work fits into a larger political and social climate.

JLWA is comprised of two main practice areas: Crisis and Consequence Management and Strategic Advisory Services.

http://www.wittassociates.com/1162.xml

[FrenchieCat]

25. Official AP story.....

La. gov. hires former FEMA director Witt for Katrina recovery
9/3/2005, 3:05 p.m. CT
The Associated Press

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency joined the Louisiana government Saturday to help direct the recovery from Hurricane Katrina.

James Lee Witt, who ran FEMA from 1993 to 2001, said he will stay as long as he as needed.

"He will sit at the table for me, and he will be my voice at the table," Gov. Kathleen Blanco said.

Louisiana officials are getting stretched too thin and need help, she said. "I like to hire the smartest people in the country," she added.

Witt has more than 25 years of disaster management experience. He was appointed to head FEMA in 1993, after President Clinton took office. FEMA had been strongly criticized in 1992 for its slow response to Hurricanes Andrew and Hugo; after Witt took over, it won praise for its vigorous reaction to Midwest floods and the 1994 Northridge earthquake in Los Angeles.
More....
http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisiana/index.ssf?/base/news-18/1125778441267231.xml&storylist=louisiana

[formernaderite]

21. Geez....let's start with Blanco, she's all but disappeared

except when hiding behind Bush's tail. Believe me there are alot of dems I'd like to take to task. The only people speaking up for the victims are the congressional black caucus...unfortunately much of america looks at their statements as racial politics. We need someone of stature...obviously not a Clinton since Bill's in the Bush camp now, to come forward. By next week they will have "moved" the human catastrophe and spread it around....that will leave no real news of the tragedy.

[LittleClarkie]

22. Kudos to Boxer as well

it was posted yesterday that when someone called her office, they were told she was busy looking for ways to get aid to these victims that circumvented the fubar that is our government. I would wager that a decent number of the people we're not seeing on our televisions are doing as she is.

Harry Reid is already pushing Frist to shove his estate tax relief up his ass in favor of victim relief. But it appears that Frist's base is more important to him and I'm not sure he's going to do it. I say we call his office and support Reid in his call to get the Senate to do what it should do this week, which is help with disaster.

Dean appears to be gearing up as well. He's canceled all fundraising events for this next week and, though all I've heard him say is "These are OUR people, we must help them," and I don't know what he has planned, I would reckon he'll be doing something.

And then there is President Gore, out there airlifting seriously ill people out of L.A. I'm so proud of him for that I could burst something.

Several of them are doing things rather than the photo op, like President Fubar saw fit to do yesterday.

But a call or two couldn't hurt either.

[AlGore-08.com]

23. Gore's down there flying critically ill folks to hospitals in Tennessee

Spent his own money to do it, would have been there a couple days ago but he couldn't get clearance for the flights.

http://www.algore.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=272&Itemid=81

[MaineDem]

26. Having Dem leadership screaming right not will not save people

It won't get water to needy people or bring medical attention to those who need it.

Flame me if you feel it's necessary, folks, but once this crisis is more manageable THEN the Dems can start seriously pointing fingers. Not that it hasn't been done already. There are plenty of Democrats making statements. Apparently some people aren't hearing it.

Once we have accounted for all the survivors and gotten them to safety I expect all guns will be loosed on the GOP.

[Cocoa]

28. first, thank you for expressing your views like a human being

I would love to criticize dems, but that seems to be impossible at DU due to the way the criticism is usually done. So thank you very much for being passionate without resorting to namecalling style garbage.

But it's hard for me to see exactly what you are asking for. Is it primarily constructive solutions to the present crisis, or is it scoring political points. You seem to imply that they're the same thing, but they're not. Unlike you and me, the dems can't have it both ways.

[inthebrain]

30. I try to critisize to raise them up

In the case that we saw this week with a major leadership void left by Bush, there is no reason not to (as you say score political points) play politics. That's the exciting side of politics and what makes them so vital.

Politics saves lives. Especially when they are issued based and are directed at a catostrophic failure to respond. Politics means so much and are so important. These are not the character smear based politics of "you slept with so and so" or "your a marxist/socialist".

Those politics are the politics that do kill people.

Though all the tears I've shed and the screaming I've done at the TV, I've been asking myself this one simple questions; What conditions in our political system exist that have allowed a situation like this to exist?

I've come up with lots of reasons. One of them happens to be a Democratic party where the left is doing all the leading. Conyer, Boxer and Kucinich are doing all the dirty work. Meanwhile, none of it seems to braeking through to the rest of the party because the press disparages them as socialists, Republicans laugh and fellow Dems to nothing out of fear.

Its vital critisizm of this president on real issues such as poverty, global warming, tax cuts and crony capitalism thats gotten drowned out. Because of that, Bush clearly thought he was going to get away with one by doing nothing.

Make no bones about it, it was people like you and me screaming our heads off this week that got the president off his ass. Also the media, in the face of human catastrophe finaly got their backs up and did their jobs.

But the macro level of this issue is we have a president that's been allowed to get away with too much for too long. Not enough of our Democrats are hammering at this guy for his failures.

Because of that, people are dying. These issues come to mind in the wake of this mess.

Global warming.

Lack of attention on poverty.

Tax Cuts.

Iraq.

Crony Capitalism (Mike Brown as FEMA director?)

I could go on!!!!

[stickdog]

29. Al Gore rescued seriously ill people. That's my idea of leadership

right now.

[kerrygoddess]

32. Kerry... WTF?

Kerry just got back from Iraq last night. He had been there for a friggin week... left before Katrina struck. He issued a press release when he got in. It was all over DU last night. Guess you missed it.

John Kerry on Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts: “We Share a Collective Anguish and Frustration Over the Inadequate Response of the Federal Government”
http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=414

[deep_thwart]

33. Right on > Inthebrain!

I have grown weary of constant complaining about the Bush Administration and its policies without providing a competent and constrasting governmental alternatives by Democratic leaders in Congress and elsewhere.

We need leadership that makes sense and can logically replace what is now in force that most freedom Americans can follow.

Where there is no logic, there is no leadership. Where are our think tanks anyway?