• Twitter
  • Facebook
News-Sentinel.com Your Town. Your Voice.
Opening Arguments

Bad promise

I shouldn't be picking on Obama over this; I don't think many of the other candidates -- not the Democrats, certainly -- have an appreciation for federalism, either. But he has a habit of saying directly what others only hint at:

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Democrat Barack Obama said Sunday the country cannot fail New Orleans again and that as president, he would keep the city in mind every day.

``The words never again cannot be another empty phrase,'' he said in front of one of the few rebuilt houses he saw on a brief tour of the city's Gentilly Woods section. ``It cannot become another broken promise.''

Leave aside the wisdom of rebuilding in place a city below sea level -- lightning does, in fact, strike in the same place more than once, and so do hurricanes. It's not the federal government's job. There have been all kinds of stories about the rebuilding work done by charities and other private interests in New Orleans. What have the billions from the federal government done?

Comments

Mike
Mon, 08/27/2007 - 5:41pm

"What have the billions from the federal government done?"

Lined the pockets of many a politically connected enterprise. Payback is a good thing.

A J Bogle
Tue, 08/28/2007 - 7:13am

What the hell do you mean its not the governments job - protecting our citizens and helping them in times of disaster are one of the most basic roles of government.

I am sick and tired of this neoconservative crap, trying to cover up for the current administrations complete incompetence and indifference on the disaster in New Orleans.

I totally agree there should be no rebuiilding in flood prone areas, even we in the "dumbest city" are smarter than that, but to totally ignore the problems in New Orleans is completely unfathomable.

tim zank
Tue, 08/28/2007 - 9:06am

AJ, you realize of course, no matter who had been sitting in the oval office when Katrina hit, the result would have been identical. In fact, it's unlikely a Democrat would have been able to gather 80 billion dollars as quickly as W did, and then immediately flush it down the sewer that is New Orleans.

There is NOTHING neo-conservative about me not wanting to participate financially in the preservation and restoration of housing for communities that can't and won't take care of themselves. If you stand on the railroad tracks for a full week while the whistle blows and don't move off the tracks even when you can SEE the train, you deserve what you get.

I can't help ALL the stupid people in this country.

A J Bogle
Tue, 08/28/2007 - 10:09am

Wrong - under the clinton administration FEMA helped Florida from no less than five major hurricanes

Too bad you neocons forget about your christian responsibility to have compassion for the poor and the sick

tim zank
Tue, 08/28/2007 - 10:21am

Apples and oranges AJ. Katrina was a cat-5, the likes of which has never hit American shores and of course Florida has been recovering from hurricanes on a regular basis for over a century. Florida prepares, New Orleans residents just sat there with a glazed look in their eye. Simple.

My Christian responsibility ends with people that refuse to help themselves. It's not my governments job either to pass out gazillions of dollars to morons, just because they are morons. Head down south and ask the people that staff the hotels and cruise ships and brand new modulars (by the thousands) how well those people took care of their "temporary tax payer provided free housing." They tore the absolute s$^* out of everything.

Got no sympathy for them, sorry.

Bob G.
Tue, 08/28/2007 - 11:07am

IMHO - Given the scenario of ANY "major" emergency (man-made OR act of God), the best person(s) to seek aid from is YOURSELF. Your learn to band together, finding who is willing to help and who cannot (or just won't).

THEN...maybe...you can expect some level of government to respond.
They can't be everywhere ALL the time...YOU, on the other hand are with "you" 24/7, right?

YOU are your FIRST, BEST line of any defense or assistance.

B.G.

Quantcast