(To the Columbus Dispatch)
Dear Editors:
The Bush administration has made two things clear in recent days:
- Now is not the time to play the "blame game."
- Blame New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin.
But I notice a hole in this logic. What if a natural disaster or a WMD terrorist attacked occurred here in the Midwest, devastating several states, and perhaps destroying a major American city? Would this be the responsibility of a someone in New Orleans? I think not. Clearly the person in charge would be Columbus Mayor, Mike Coleman.
And for that reason, I write him this letter.
Mayor Coleman. As the primary government official in charge of national defense and disaster preparedness in the northeast U.S., I implore you to take your job seriously, as follows:
First: According to Newsweek Magazine, President Bush's staff delayed telling him about hurricane Katrina because they feared triggering a temper tantrum if they mentioned the need to cut short his vacation. So, apparently, he was one of the few Americans outside of psychiatric wards who was unaware of the hurricane's approach.
This verges on the unacceptable. Please appoint someone from Columbus City government to accompany the President at all times and call out news headlines. If the White House staff prevents this, have your representative stand outside the White House or the vacation location with a bullhorn and read a newspaper very very loudly.
Second: I have read that the Bush administration has virtually hollowed out FEMA (because government is not the answer), including appointing unqualified cronies to five of the top eight FEMA position. Please use the powers vested in you as Mayor of Columbus to appoint qualified persons to head FEMA. (Hint: Arabian horse stampedes is probably not a major national danger priority.)
Third: I have seen news stories citing Bush cuts of $100 to $140 million from levee and flood preparedness in New Orleans. And I have seen estimates of $100 to $200 billion as the cost of this disaster. This means, for EVERY $1 of the $100 million or so "saved" for Bush's tax cuts, we are now going to have to provide $1,000 to $2,000. Please send someone from our city auditor's office to hand out calculators to every person in the White House, Senate, and House; and also to anyone who voted for Bush. You might also tell them to factor in mass fatalities and an ecological catastrophe, but do so quickly, before FEMA forbids mentioning it.
Thanking you in advance!