Here's what I sent my local paper, The Daily Times in Salisbury. I tried to stick to facts, and use as many governmental sources as possible:
Dear Editor:
As a citizen of the United States and the 1st District of the State of Maryland, I am calling upon Rep. Wayne Gilchrest to prepare articles of impeachment for President George W. Bush for dereliction of duty as Commander in Chief.
President Bush's inaction in the past week has led directly to the deaths of thousands in New Orleans. His inability - or unwillingness - to order US Army troops, FEMA resources and the full resources of the National Guard until 5 days after the storm passed represents the most callous disregard for fellow citizens in the history of this republic.
MORE IN THE JUMP...
The governor of Louisiana made her request to the federal government for all available aid and resources on Sunday, Aug. 28th. President Bush promised such aid with a statement on August 26th, two days prior. Governors from several states, as well as mayors such as Richard Daley of Chicago, were offering aid as early as that same Sunday, only to be told by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that their services were not necessary.
FEMA itself issued an order to all first responders to stay ina their home states until FEMA requested their services. Wal-Mart donations of water and food for Jefferson Parish were stopped by FEMA. Approximately 300 ambulances were told to stay in Florida by FEMA. The director of FEMA, Mike D. Brown, admitted on CNN his agency did not know about 15,000 people in the New Orleans Convention Center until Thursday morning - three days after their arrival.
Offers of help from other countries - even Jamaica - were refused until Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice returned from her New York City vacation on Friday. And the American Red Cross is still not allowed to enter the city, under the orders of FEMA.
Pres. Bush was derelict in his duties when he said no one could have known about the levees breaking or the scope of the disaster. His own National Weather Service issued a warning on Friday, Aug. 26th that "as most power poles will be down and transformers destroyed, water shortages will make human suffering incredible by modern standards." This was issued before a drop of rain ever fell on New Orleans or Mississippi or Alabama. FEMA issued a report in 2001 detailing this exact scenario, labeling it as one of the three most-likely disasters the country faced.
Pres. Bush is derelict in his duties when his subordinates say FEMA has to wait for state requests to offer aid - the Department of Homeland Security's own website states "In the event of a terrorist attack, natural disaster or other large-scale emergency, the Department of Homeland Security will assume primary responsibility on March 1st for ensuring that emergency response professionals are prepared for any situation. This will entail providing a coordinated, comprehensive federal response to any large-scale crisis and mounting a swift and effective recovery effort."
It was President Bush's job to save the people of New Orleans on Monday. And Tuesday. And Wednesday, when he finally returned from vacation and a fundraiser in California. And Thursday, when no meaningful federal aid was in place and National Guard and US Army units stood by, awaiting orders.
President Bush deserves to be impeached for dereliction of duty as commander in chief.
Bill Duck
Salisbury, MD
LINKS FOR EDITORS:
Louisiana Governor's request for aid
http://gov.louisiana.gov/Disaster%20Relief%20Request.pdf
Pres. Bush's statement of aid:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050827-1.html
Mayor Daley's offer of aid refused:
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/local_story_245211449.html
FEMA: First Responders stay home:
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18470
Jefferson Parish President:
Meet the Press, Sept. 4, 2005
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9179790/
300 Ambulances refused:
http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0509/03/ltm.05.html
FEMA unaware of Convention Center refugees:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0509/01/pzn.01.html
Jamaica aid offer refused:
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20050901T000000-0500_87388_OBS_THOUSANDS_FEARED_DEAD__NEW_O
RLEANS_TO_BE_ABANDONED.asp
Dr. Rice in New York, booed by audience members
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/342712p-292600c.html
Red Cross not allowed into New Orleans
http://www.pjstar.com/stories/090305/TRI_B7F07KL4.012.shtml
National Weather Service alert:
http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KLIX/0508282139.wwus74.html
FEMA 2001 report - "No one can say they didn't see it coming."
http://www.salon.com/opinion/blumenthal/2005/08/31/disaster_preparation/
ALSO
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/editorial/outlook/3335758
DHS statement of primary responsibility:
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/theme_home2.jsp