What Dems say they are going to do about New Orleans

Cross-posted from Booman Tribune

Hat tip to Your Right Hand Thief.

I've often wondered what the Democratic candidates have in store for my beleaguered birthplace.  Ray in New Orleans has compiled a list of Dem candidates who have plans for the city in their platforms.

In terms of interest and "rough order of worthiness," they are:

1. Obama


2. Edwards


3. Clinton


4. Richardson


5. Dodd


6. Biden


7. Kucinich


8. Gravel

Ray cautioned that if you're only looking for substance, stick with the first three.

I leave it to you to come to your own conclusions about who would have the best plan to save the city, but its not much to go on, as Ray relates.

1. Obama's Katrina Fact Sheet (pdf)

Ray says

It hits a lot of the main points. Short on details on all of them. I'd like to see more details on schools, on insurance reform, on economic recovery.

2. Edwards' Katrina proposals

A quick read gives the impression that he's more thorough on the Katrina issues he does address, but he doesn't even mention the word insurance and he's the only one to not call for Category 5 hurricane protection (although he agrees 100-year protection is inadequate).

3.  And then we have Hillary's

Shorter and much vaguer than Obama's, although she at least mentions insurance reform.  More good info on Hillary's plan hyah and hyah.

These recovery plans only offer just enough to make them appear that they care. Lawd only knows what will occur when they sit in the Oval Office, and choose who will be at HUD, Justice and Homeland Security when the misbegotten reign of George Bush has finally ended (if it ends).  There is no try, only do, as I heard it said in Star Wars.  Or do not. Doing little or nothing hasn't gotten us very far. Dem words--like Bush's--will not have substance until there is Dem action to back them up.

Some people may be wondering, well, what about the other candidates?  Why not talk about their plans?  Because, seriously, according to Ray, there is little there-there. For instances, here's what Ray had to say about Dennis:

Dennis Kucinich is short. Short on any recovery plans or even any mention of the word Katrina. Unlike any other candidates, he does have a link to his local Louisiana campaign team's page, where you can learn how to register to vote in Louisiana and can be excited by the news that Sean Penn and Melissa Etheridge are supporters. Fuck Sean Penn, where's Uncle Lionel's support?

Apparently Kucinich's Louisiana team doesn't think Katrina recovery is a big election issue.

There is a link off the main page that says "Meet Elizabeth" which really got my juices flowing, but alas, it only lets you read about her.

BTW, Ray also tried to find the Republican candidates' recovery plans for New Orleans, but:

I looked at Romney and Rudy's sites, and so far both put out statements basically saying "Our hearts and prayers go out to the Katrina victims. Sucks to be you."

I think the GOP platform is "Not Our Problem, Dude", so it makes sense that they wouldn't have to outline their plan to do nothing.