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The Forum > Article Comments > Bush apologises for Katrina, and he should > Comments

Bush apologises for Katrina, and he should : Comments

By Walt Brasch, published 20/9/2005

Walter M. Brasch says George Bush has contributed to the problems in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

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Well I think Bush's statesmanlike (spread the blame suckers) apology was quite principled - for a most excellent politician.

I think the link Walter draws with the (misguided) war in Iraq doesn't hold up. The US would have had and still has huge reserves of emergency and airmobile resources at home - even though so much national effort is being wasted overseas.

Bush and the Republican Federal Government's cold political calculation was that in Louisiana, a thoroughly Democrat dominated state with a large proportion of poor blacks, there was little electoral advantage to provide adequate resources to face a mega hurricane before of after the hurricane. The only thing that made Bush move was widespread national embarrassment (we mustn't kid ourselves that he was concerned with international embarrassment - non US citizens can't vote).

Whether the Democrats can exploit this bump in Bush's dream run (and I hope they can) remains to be seen.
Posted by plantagenet, Tuesday, 20 September 2005 10:45:54 AM
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The American democrats like our Aussie Labor Party, Platagen', seem unable to make strong political moves. Even with close to 50% of both populations against the strike on Iraq at the time, both left-wing parties did not have the guts to join in the protest, John Kerry in America, even declaring he would send more troops there than the Republicans.

There is a saying in political science that in political policy you don't do things halfway. The very fact that the right-wing parties treated the UN like dirt could have also been used to stir up the unsure voters.

The term gutless is so often used to describe our left-wing parties these days, it makes middle of the roaders wonder about voting at all, worrying whether voting for the right-wingers could be helping turn our democracy into a fascist state. So get with it, our Aussie Labor, and show the public you've got at least a bit of intestinal fortitude.

From an old Country Party voter,

Bushbred
Posted by bushbred, Tuesday, 20 September 2005 6:22:13 PM
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Bushbred

I see your point that the ALP is in a sad state. Having spent most of my life from a very conservative background I've now come to the conclusion that the Left, eg the Greens, offer more hope.

Basically I think the differing political factions concerning Katrina, Bush's Republican Feds and Louisiana's Democratic Party leadership did not start communicating on disaster measures effectively until it was too late.

I would estimate (from military contacts) that there would have been 1,000s of helicopters, and Hercules like aircraft available (correct me if I'm wroung) that could have been called on by the US Federal Government to provide aid quickly. This is in additional to the choppers and Hercs already being used in the Middle East. Instead the residents of New Orleans all too frequently got trucks and buses.

My contention is that the article's linkage of Katrina with resouces used in Iraq will give Bush an excuse. Along the lines "Well folks, it was real bad about Katrina but, you know, we were saving the world in Iraq at the some time".

As I also come from country Queensland I don't think we should be suckered by Washington.
Posted by plantagenet, Wednesday, 21 September 2005 11:28:18 AM
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Bush, God, and the Hurricanes
New York Sun Editorial
September 23, 2005

While leading the logistical work of disaster preparedness and recovery connected with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, President Bush has been doing some important yet little-noticed theological work as well, helping a nation of believers in a benevolent God grapple with the age-old "problem of evil."

Mr. Bush has eschewed any suggestion that Katrina is a punishment by God for, as several of our enemies have suggested, fighting Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan. Neither has Mr. Bush paid notice to the suggestion of several of our own clergymen who have suggested the storm is divine retribution for tolerating a "decadent" lifestyle at home.

Rather, Mr. Bush in his remarks has seen fit to associate God with the rescue and relief efforts rather than the cause of the hurricane. In remarks to a dinner marking the 350th anniversary of the arrival of Jews in America, Mr. Bush spoke of the work of Jews helping victims of Katrina. "These are the good works of good people relying on the wisdom of the Good Book, a book that tells us how God rescued life from the flood waters," Mr. Bush said. "And like Noah and his family, we have faith that as the waters recede, we will see life begin again." .....
Source: http://www.nysun.com/article/20491
Posted by MichaelK., Saturday, 24 September 2005 3:02:49 PM
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I won't post it here - but one humour site (www.slashnot.com) contained a fictional account on Bush's newly declared "war on weather".
Posted by WhiteWombat, Wednesday, 28 September 2005 1:06:37 PM
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