I am so goddamn upset right now. I am scalding hot furious.
Today, at about 12pm (Eastern Time), the National Guard rode into New Orleans with triumphal reports from the media: "Thank god! We're saved!" At the same time, President Bush was (not so coincidentally) touring the region, offering comfort to a handful of people and attempting to appear the compassionate conservative he sold us back in 2000.
And then it dawned on me. Bush was speaking on the White House lawn at 9am Eastern today. He arrived in Alabama around 11am. Two hours. Two freaking hours. And yet, here it is Friday, four days after Katrina struck and a full WEEK after we knew it would hit where it did with the force it did, and we're just NOW getting food and water to these suffering people?!? The President can get there in 2 hours, but the things people need to survive take 4 days (and by some measures, a week)? Give me a goddamn break.
<more ranting after the break>
Why weren't all available resources (of which there are plenty) called to duty IMMEDIATELY after the storm had passed? By the way, New Orleans was clear of all hurricane and tropical storm force winds by early afternoon on Monday. Why wasn't there food and water being carted, AT LEAST, to the Superdome BEFORE the hurricane hit?
It's one thing to pursue war on the cheap. It's another to attempt to rescue tens of thousands of stranded people on the cheap. How did we miss the boat on this so terribly?
And a few more things... why is it that the President met with the Governors of Alabama and Mississippi (both Republicans) but wouldn't meet with the Governor of Louisiana (a Democrat)? Why was he trumpeting the Republican Senators of Mississippi but not a peep about the Senators of Louisiana (one of whom is a "Democrat")? Why was he having a photo op in front of National Guardsmen and women and two National Guard helicopters while people in New Orleans could have used those folks and helicopters for help?
Just what is our national duty? To serve the President? Or the people? Why do the directors of FEMA and Homeland Security keep telling us that they've got everything under control and enough people in New Orleans when it's quite obvious to any living, sentient being that nothing could be farther from the truth? Who do they serve? The President? Or the people? Why were those helicopters and National Guardmembers standing at attention for the President? Do they serve him? Or us?
Might I also add... why is "Operation Blessing," a Pat Robertson "non"-profit, one of the top organizations listed on FEMA's website for organizations to donate to? And why are gay people and their annual "Southern Decadence" being blamed by right-wingers as the reason for this hurricane? Is that why it struck Biloxi? Or Gulfport? Is that why Katrina blew out bridges all along the Gulf Coast? And why is the GOP determined to undo the Estate Tax on the day after Labor Day, eight days after the worst hurricane strikes our shoreline? Where is the decency? Where is the shame?
I am pissed. Yeah, I've donated money, but that's what my tax dollars were supposed to pay for - ensuring our national stability and security, not paying for an unnecessary war wreaking havoc and creating international instability and costing us billions every week. Is it still too callous to ask the richest among us to pay their fair share - for goddamn sake finally? Is there no reason for our nation to be called to sacrifice, now that our ranks of homeless have grown by one million in one week? Why is it up to the Mayors of New Orleans and Houston to ask for help? Where is our national leadership on this? Why doesn't our President finally for freak's sake level with us??