I'm running out of words to describe this man, folks.
CNN Reports (at 11:30 am PT):
The mayor of NO says, "THIS IS A DESPERATE S.O.S. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SUPPLIES FOR 20,000+ PEOPLE. THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH BUSES TO GET THESE PEOPLE OUT OF THE AREA."
and here are the President of the U.S. main briefing points:
PRESIDENT BUSH SPEAKING (WITH DAD & CLINTON)...
- Working hard to fix breach in levees
- Much thanks to relief efforts
- Working hard, working hard, working hard...
- Met with Greenspan -- "temporary disruption in oil and gas".
- Folks must understand major refineries have been disrupted
- not enough American ships to move oil and gas: foreign ships may move gas and oil
- "Don't buy gas if you don't need it"
- Private money is needed: HW Bush & Clinton to head fund-raising efforts
- I am confident the American people will respond.
- Efforts to rebuild NO will make this a stronger place
- NO FORMAL REQUEST FOR INTERNATIONAL AID
>
God help your country. I'm scared for you guys!!!
More on official press conferences:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/1/131012/5680
No comment from either Bush Sr. or Clinton.
CNN's JACK CAFFERTY (paraphras):
I'm 62 and I have never seen anything so embarrassing, so disgraceful as the federal government's response to this attrocity.
Scott McClellan earlier at a press briefing:
Q People on the ground, though, Scott, are questioning why it's taken three days or more for federal help to arrive, notwithstanding all of the preparations. There's considerable bitterness in some places. We had one woman ask on camera last night, where's the cavalry? And then there's been editorial criticism across the country of the President for not acting sooner, or not coming back sooner. What do you say to all that?
MR. McCLELLAN: I can understand how frustrated people are in the region who have been affected by this. There are some immediate priorities that we must remain focused on. First and foremost, that is saving lives. And second, right along with that, is sustaining lives. That's why the federal government is working in close partnership with state and local authorities. This is a massive undertaking by the federal government. It is unprecedented. We continue -- remember, we pre-positioned assets in the region prior to the storm hitting. You have more than 50 disaster medical assistance teams in the region. You have some 28-plus search and rescue teams deployed in the region. Those efforts are ongoing.
I can understand people who have not received the help they need being frustrated at this point. It's going to take time to get help to some people. We've got to prioritize what the needs are, and that's exactly what the federal government is doing. And we are going to continue moving resources and assets into the region to help those who are in need. And we -- if you look at what the Department of Transportation, for instance, has done, they have moved I think approximately 1,000 truckloads containing more than -- nearly 7 million Meals Ready To Eat to the region. They have moved millions of gallons of water, 15,000-plus tarps, 10,000-plus rolls of plastic sheeting, 3.4 million pounds of ice that they have helped to transport to those who are in need of those supplies.
Q But none of that means anything to somebody who has been living on an interstate overpass for the last three days, without food or water, or any kind of assistance, local or federal.
MR. McCLELLAN: As we were passing over the region yesterday, Bill, we saw people that were standing on those highways, those highways that just disappeared into the water. We saw people that were on rooftops. We saw helicopters in the distance engaged in search and rescue operations as we were passing through the region.
Our concern, first and foremost, is with the people who have been displaced or affected otherwise by this major catastrophe. It is a major catastrophe and there is a major response to this catastrophe. And the federal government will continue working to do everything in our power to get help to those in need. But we certainly understand the frustration coming from people on the ground who are in need of help and we will continue working to get them the assistance that they need. We appreciate the efforts of all those in the region who are working round-the-clock to make sure that they are getting help.
FULL PRESS BRIEFING
