NYT: bush failed his test; action was needed and he didn't deliver

[dajoki]

NYThttp://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/opinion/05krugman.html?th&emc=th

Killed by Contempt
By PAUL KRUGMAN


Published: September 5, 2005
Each day since Katrina brings more evidence of the lethal ineptitude of federal officials. I'm not letting state and local officials off the hook, but federal officials had access to resources that could have made all the difference, but were never mobilized.

Here's one of many examples: The Chicago Tribune reports that the U.S.S. Bataan, equipped with six operating rooms, hundreds of hospital beds and the ability to produce 100,000 gallons of fresh water a day, has been sitting off the Gulf Coast since last Monday - without patients.

Experts say that the first 72 hours after a natural disaster are the crucial window during which prompt action can save many lives. Yet action after Katrina was anything but prompt. Newsweek reports that a "strange paralysis" set in among Bush administration officials, who debated lines of authority while thousands died.

What caused that paralysis? President Bush certainly failed his test. After 9/11, all the country really needed from him was a speech. This time it needed action - and he didn't deliver.

But the federal government's lethal ineptitude wasn't just a consequence of Mr. Bush's personal inadequacy; it was a consequence of ideological hostility to the very idea of using government to serve the public good. For 25 years the right has been denigrating the public sector, telling us that government is always the problem, not the solution. Why should we be surprised that when we needed a government solution, it wasn't forthcoming?

[AspenRose]

1. There it is

Keep beating that drum. Keep repeating it. They are trying so desperately to spin this and the TRUTH needs to drown it out.

[dajoki]

4. yes...

he squirms his way out of ALL his screw ups, we can't let them off the hook anymore.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

12. Bush Gutted Clinton's FEMA

Headline: Storm Exposed Disarray at the Top

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090301653_3.html

"The federal system that was perfected in the '90s has been deconstructed," said Jane Bullock. Citing a study that found that the United States now spends $180 million a year to fend off natural hazards vs. $20 billion annually against terrorism, Bullock said, "FEMA has been marginalized. . . . There is one focus and the focus is on terrorism."

[dajoki]

24. the better question is...

what program hasn't * gutted that would help the poor in this country?

[fearnobush]

14. Truth tid bits like this must be taught to all.

"The U.S.S. Bataan, equipped with six operating rooms, hundreds of hospital beds and the ability to produce 100,000 gallons of fresh water a day, has been sitting off the Gulf Coast since last Monday - without patients."

"Experts say that the first 72 hours after a natural disaster are the crucial window during which prompt action can save many lives. Yet action after Katrina was anything but prompt. Newsweek reports that a "strange paralysis" set in among Bush administration officials, who debated lines of authority while thousands died."

We all must pressure the media to expose these truths, because even there own people are at risk of death under this regime of failure.

[dajoki]

20. yes they absolutely should...

problem is nothing can penetrate the heads of the ignorant RW segment of the population.

[FormerRepublican]

2. Bush failed.

They can spin it how ever they want, but the raw truth remains.

Bush is incompetent, and he massively failed the American public and cost who knows how many American lives.

[opihimoimoi]

3. Gov't, big or small, is not the PROB...POOR LEADERSHIP IS

Failed this and many other tests...how in the world we got this Dude in there in the first Place? The LIE CHEAT STEAL way of course...se the results of stolen Minds....we got shithead for a leader...

[dajoki]

5. shithead would be...

a step or two up for dumbya.

[dajoki]

6. kick

:kick:

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dajoki]

8. "another high price to be paid for the woefully mismanaged war in Iraq"

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/12545876.htm


Posted on Sun, Sep. 04, 2005

Guard's in Iraq, but it's needed here

By CARL HIAASEN


New Orleans is now nearly as dangerous and chaotic as Baghdad, where about 5,000 Louisiana National Guard soldiers have been helplessly watching the hurricane tragedy back home on television.

Their presence would have been mighty useful in deterring the looters on Canal Street and restoring order, but that task now falls to a better-late-than-never coalition of Guardsmen summoned from other states.

The same is true in devastated Mississippi, which has a state National Guard brigade attached to the II Marine Expeditionary Force in Iraq. As a result, two battalions from the Alabama Guard were ordered to back up the 1,600 Mississippi Guardsmen who've been mobilized since Katrina struck.

It's another high price to be paid for the woefully mismanaged war in Iraq -- the cities of our own homeland have been left to fend for themselves after catastrophe strikes.

[jhain]

10. and the red cross was prohibited because...???

and FEMA f'ed up because...?

if one tenth of those poor souls had even had WATER the security issue would have been vastly different.

[Jackpine Radical]

15. Gov. Blanco requested military assistance on Aug 26,

in anticipation of the storm. There is a copy of her letter on her website.

The idea that the Feds weren't asked is an ex-post-facto lie told by those trying to exculpate the chimp.

[progressive_realist]

16. Bullshit! Read clauses (a)(4) & (a)(5) of 6 USC 466.

6 USC 466 (United States Code, also known as federal LAW):


§ 466. Sense of Congress reaffirming the continued importance and applicability of the Posse Comitatus Act


Release date: 2005-05-18

(a) Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1) Section 1385 of title 18 (commonly known as the “Posse Comitatus Act”) prohibits the use of the Armed Forces as a posse comitatus to execute the laws except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress.
(2) Enacted in 1878, the Posse Comitatus Act was expressly intended to prevent United States Marshals, on their own initiative, from calling on the Army for assistance in enforcing Federal law.
(3) The Posse Comitatus Act has served the Nation well in limiting the use of the Armed Forces to enforce the law.
(4) Nevertheless, by its express terms, the Posse Comitatus Act is not a complete barrier to the use of the Armed Forces for a range of domestic purposes, including law enforcement functions, when the use of the Armed Forces is authorized by Act of Congress or the President determines that the use of the Armed Forces is required to fulfill the President’s obligations under the Constitution to respond promptly in time of war, insurrection, or other serious emergency.
(5) Existing laws, including chapter 15 of title 10 (commonly known as the “Insurrection Act”), and the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), grant the President broad powers that may be invoked in the event of domestic emergencies, including an attack against the Nation using weapons of mass destruction, and these laws specifically authorize the President to use the Armed Forces to help restore public order.
(b) Sense of Congress
Congress reaffirms the continued importance of section 1385 of title 18, and it is the sense of Congress that nothing in this chapter should be construed to alter the applicability of such section to any use of the Armed Forces as a posse comitatus to execute the laws.

***********************************

I'm getting really tired of hearing these RW talking points. They are LIES. Why is anyone protecting an incompetent administration that cannot or will not protect us, the citizens of the USA? What the f*** is wrong with you?

:mad:

[dajoki]

19. glad you posted that...

i was looking for it but couldn't find it. thanks

[DELUSIONAL]

17. SHE DID ASK

[stickdog]

18. She asked; he strummed; you disseminate disinformation. (nt)

[calimary]

23. Did you see this? You need to.

Welcome to DU.

Consider:

http://gov.louisiana.gov/Disaster%20Relief%20Request.pdf

AND this...

Katrina's Smoking Gun: Gov Blanco's Letter requestioning aid and help with Evacuation. She wrote this 2 days BEFORE Katrina hit.

Here is a link send it to your favorite local paper:
http://gov.louisiana.gov/Disaster%20Relief%20Request.pd...

From DU thread:
Katrina's Smoking Gun: Gov Blanco's Letter requestioning aid
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4657604&mesg_id=4657604

[dajoki]

25. wow!! thanks for links. n/t

[Wordie]

9. That's it exactly...a governmental response is not his desired m.o.

Excellent post, hits the nail on the head.

[dajoki]

22. certainly not in a situation...

where it would help our own poor people.

[AuntiBush]

11. He Sure Did FAIL US! Now, He Should Be Expelled!

He and his whole pack of evil crooks should pack-up and just leave the country. We'll handle it from here! I'm so fed-up, words can not describe the anger and disgust I feel right know, and it ain't going away anytime soon.

The Absolute "WORSE" President & Adm ever, and some!

I want my country back promto, bofore they ruin us beyond repair.

[dajoki]

13. you are so correct...

i have no words left to describe my disgust. but, like you, i DO want my country back, NOW!!

[genius]

21. kick

[maxsolomon]

26. careful, GHWB will get mad at you, Mr. Sulzberger

Publishing Krugman & Herbert ON THE SAME DAY! You're blaming the gamer!

[dajoki]

27. did you see faux's...

gibson still blaming the mayer and governor and saying * needs to fire someone? the one that needs to be fired is the shrub himself. what the fuck ever happened to "the buck stops here"? they're going friggin' nuts trying to blame everyone but dumbya.

[Clarkie1]

28. A great analysis of how conservatism kills people.