Bush and Louisiana and Sheer Stupidity

I read the news everyday and I am really beginning to wonder why. For those of you who are hoping this post is designed to blast President Bush, turn away now, it is not going to happen here. While I may not agree with all that the man does, I voted for him and I respect him and will honor his decisions (though I do not always agree with what or why he is doing them). That being said, I read today with great disdain that the Mayor of New Orleans is pushing to have 1/3 of Louisiana's people back at home by mid week...despite warnings of a new hurricane headed for the Keys of Florida that could dump heavy rains on the already strained levee system in La. My question, Mr. Mayor McCheese is why? Are you so desperate to look like some kind of hero in this whole Katrina debacle that you are again willing to risk the lives of your citizens?

You read me right... a GREAT portion of the debacle is YOUR fault. The buses you used to ship people to the dome...why were they not used to get them out of the city? The dozens upon dozens of school and MT buses that were found floating....floating in the mire were not utilized to MOVE people out of harms way. Why? Simple things that could have gotten a lot of people out faster than stranding them in your own Thunderdome. Yes, I understand that people are silly and think they can ride anything out in simple structures of nails and wood and the occasional brick but you are just as responsible for not utilizing your own resources to get people out of there. Hindsight is 20/20 isn't it.

But wait, there is more. This Mayor McCheese is now COMPLAINING that Bush's FEMA director has set himself up as "the federal mayor of New Orleans". What are you complaining about. They are telling you not to bring people back too quickly because the INFRASTRUCTURE can NOT handle the PRESSURE too quickly. The power grid is not totally back up, the HOSPITALS are not open or are destroyed or are not federally regulated because they can not be ready yet, but they will open where they can because they MUST if you are letting people back in. You are risking lives of the medical workers as well as potential patients by opening too soon. The stores are not open or cleaned. The water...is NOT ready for the demand it will face. AND THE LEVEES are NOT ready to handle a bunch of rain...which you may very well get if you don't get hurricane force winds. FEMA does not want to be mayor, the PRESIDENT has warned you that you do what you are doing at your own judgment and peril.

I really do understand people want and need to get back and assess what it will take to return to "normal" though I am not sure their normal will ever be the same again (it never is after a tragedy) but bringing them back too soon to boost your own ego and chances of "re-election" is stupid and down right dangerous. And I hope, for the sake of those who believe you and return, that they are not the ones to bear the brunt of your ignorance and short sightedness.

Oh, and ex-president Clinton, GIVE IT A REST. Blaming President Bush for the poverty and lack of a disaster plan in Louisiana is like blaming Chelsea that you are her father. She can't help what she had nothing to do with. President Bush is not responsible for every state to have a workable disaster plan. There are guidelines in place and if a state chooses to not drill or make sure their plan works, it is NOT the president's fault. Would it have been your fault if it happened on your watch? You would have been blubbering with the people in the dome but it still would have happened and you still would have had to wake the National Guard and that still would have taken days and days.

I am so sorry for the people of Louisiana who are struggling through this, but please don't rush back into danger. Please listen to the president and FEMA and wait just a bit longer to be sure you will be as safe as possible when you do return. Your meager items left behind, though important and sentimental are NOT worth your life. Your life is your life. Live it responsibly.