Bush Takes Responsiblity for Katrina Failures
By Phillip Martin
In a stand up move today, President Bush stated that, "to the extent the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility." The Houston Chronicle article goes on to mention that the President will address the nation Thursday in Louisiana. The President went on to say that he hopes to examine the government's readiness for future disasters:
"Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government...
Are we capable of dealing with a severe attack? That's a very important question and it's in the national interest that we find out what went on so we can better respond."
The political reasons and ramifications of this announcement notwithstanding, I am pleased to see the President accept some responsibility. Realizing there is a problem is the first step in beginning to fix the problem, and that first step doesn't always occur with our elected officials.
How much of this is genuine and how much of it is merely posturing, we'll find out tomorrow night and in the coming weeks. Hopefully, promise will translate into actual policy, and Republicans and Democrats will work together to bring fast, focused relief to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, as well as find the best ways to bring efficient communication and coordination techniques to all agencies that work on disaster relief and homeland security efforts.
In the mean time, we can still do our parts by continuing to donate to the Red Cross and continuing to volunteer our time for those still struggling to find direction in their lives.
Posted by Phillip Martin at September 13, 2005 01:11 PM
| TrackBack
The real issue here is how in the hell, in a post 9-11 America, a vastly important economic region and a cultural capitol get wiped out and hundreds and thousands left homeless, not to mention countless dead? Department of Homeland Defense!? What if it had been terrorists, who by the way, do not give us days of warning and can not be seen on a radar. All the president can offer is "My bad, I will look into it". C`mon, we just told the world in a very big way that the United States is still a plump target. These guys running the country rode in, and still ride, on the promise of national security! Where did the billions in Homeland Defense money go? As a taxpayer and an American I demand more of my elected officials than excuses. Accountability?
"Americans get the kind of government they deserve."
No, no, no. We are safe from terrorists. Don't you know that? We have the color-coded terror alarm system. Better than Brinks!
Bush just calls Daddy and when Daddy calls the bin Laden family about their mutual investments, he asks what kind of mood Osama is in and then the CIA assesses that and notifies the Department of Homeland Security. He's usually in a yellow or orange mood. Daddy is all. Don't mess with Daddy. Saddam Hussein tried to kill Daddy. And look what happened to him and Iraq.
Bush is a good reason why presidential candidates should be required to submit to psychological testing.
