It's hard to know what to think. Tonight in the State Of The Union, Pres. Bush is going to announce that the next annual meeting of North American leaders -- Canada, U.S. and Mexico, will be held in New Orleans. He says the reason will be to highlight New Orleans' rebuilding.
http://www.wdsu.com/...
I'd like to know your thoughts on this. I have some, but maybe I've become an old cynic.
The Prez wants a legacy. He's already known as the guy who took it easy, flew over, and gave us that tough love approach we needed so much ... just see what you've done by settling within these federal levees and electing a Democratic governor, folks. Just stew in the muck awhile, and I'll get back to ya!
And now he has a way to turn our memories around, a new Republican governor to throw a party at Mardi Gras World and show the visiting leaders around all the rebuilt McDonald's.
The construction that is ongoing and has been finished has been accomplished thanks to the strongest desires of Orleanians to bring back their homes, their businesses and their cultures, and despite the reluctance of the bureaucracies to 1) simply apologize straight out for the levee disaster and 2) do what was needed to set people right without the necessity of unbelievable squawking from every level of public representation, especially Kathleen Blanco, Ray Nagin in his own psychedelic way, and Mary Landrieu.
Our new governor, Bobby Jindal, was a congressman through the recovery period, and accomplished little in that position. Thus, the official party will celebrate, and this is the natural course of politics, those who did the least, the retiring Bush and the fortuitous Jindal.
I think the public response to this visit should be to welcome it, and to thank the leaders who we feel have surely done the most for our city. I picture banners and billboards saying O Canada, O Mexico, we salute you and appreciate your support and hard work on our behalf.