Obama: Katrina survivors didn't get enough help

[jefferson_dem]

Obama: Katrina survivors didn't get enough help
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Obama said Friday that residents of the U.S. Gulf Coast still are trying to rebuild three years after Hurricane Katrina and have not received the support they deserve from Washington.

His words amounted to sharp, though indirect, criticism of former President George W. Bush's oversight of the Katrina recovery efforts. Katrina was blamed for more than 1,600 deaths and $41 billion in property damage.

"The residents of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast who are helping rebuild are heroes who believe in their communities and they are succeeding despite the fact that they have not always received the support they deserve from the federal government," Obama said in a statement. "We must ensure that the failures of the past are never repeated."

Bush was widely believed to have botched the response to the devastating storm of August 2005 by being too slow to respond. The country watched in shame as the catastrophe cemented images of Bush being out-of-touch: flying over a flooded New Orleans, praising his beleaguered emergency management chief for a "heckuva job."

To provide more support, Obama said he would extend the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding, a position created by Bush that was set to expire at the end of this month, until September.

The president also is dispatching two Cabinet secretaries to visit New Orleans and other storm-ravaged parts of the Gulf Coast. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan will tour the region March 5-6.

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http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-02-20-obama-stimulus_N.htm?csp=34

[firedupdem]

1. More good news! n/t

[DevonRex]

2. Wow. We actually have a President, ladies and gentlemen. K&R.

[Thrill]

3. Shame on the Governor of that state. Shame on him

:)

[xenussister]

4. How brilliant is this man?

He times a compassionate response to Katrina, NOLA and the Gulf coast, right after Jindal and Barbour make asses out of themselves regarding the stimulus.

His wanting to help, which he is and will follow through on, isn't a political move. He genuinely cares and is compassionate, but the timing of this announcement, pure politics. Brilliant politics!

As someone else here said, these people have no idea who they're dealing with.

[politicasista]

5. He is right. And they stil aren't

:(

Shame on the governor. Kudos to President Obama for helping out. :)

[EraOfResponsibility]

6. kicked and rec'd

[Cha]

7. Katrina was a total tragic catastrophe on

every level and said to be the catalyst that finally woke up the masses to the ineptitude of all things bush.

Imagine.. Mother Nature being bush's Waterloo. If only they had competence and a heart..things would have been so different.

[Kdillard]

8. kick. Disgraceful.

[babylonsister]

9. Could this also be a preemptive response to Jindal turning

down a lot of the stimulus money? Two birds? President Obama is an excellent chess player...

[Clio the Leo]

10. a ha! I think you're on to something wise one! NT

[DevonRex]

11. Of course. Really makes Jindal look stupid and stupider, doesn't it? heh

[Name removed]

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[genna]

13. What about that report from Rachel Maddow or Keith about the whistle blower in New Orleans

saying the Bush executives tried to extend their charter by not getting the work done so they'd keep a job?

Is that a right wing talking point to dissuade us from the clean up or is that a need to change the management team in LA, MI, and AL?