Via Scout Prime at First Draft, I discovered this story comparing how the reconstruction of New Orleans compares to the rebuilding efforts in Asia after the Tsunami:
Tsunami relief workers shocked by 9th Ward tour, say they expected more signs of recovery
05:10 PM CDT on Friday, June 23, 2006
Bill Capo / WWL-TV Eyewitness News Reporter
Two leaders of the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights who have spent the last 18-months helping victims of last year’s Tsunami took a walk through the Lower Ninth Ward Friday.
Their reaction was one of shock, because they said they expected to see more signs of recovery from Hurricane Katrina.
“We think of America as being this fabulous, powerful superpower, and it’s exactly like Third World situations,” said Tom Kerr.
“In my personal opinion, I think you should have done much, much faster. It should be much better than what I have seen today,” said Samsook Boonyabancha. […]
“The fact that the relief and the support for people who live here is so minimal even though there is so much money in this country, it’s really shocking,” said Kerr.
Yes, George “the Compassionate” Bush, and his GOP friends in Congress have done a bang up job when it comes to helping others less fortunate than themselves. By screwing up the Katrina relief effort they have given hope to all the third world countries devastated by natural disasters. No matter how difficult it may be for their people to recover from the effects of such catastrophes, at least they are doing no worse than the World’s Only Superpower when it comes to helping its own citizens in time of need.
I can’t say enough how grateful I am to our President for making our country no better than any two bit, tin horn, slum ridden dictatorship when it comes to providing for the general welfare of our people. Just think of the morale boost that has to give all those poor down trodden developing countries. Mr. Bush, I salute you. It seems you really do believe that all people should be treated equally, after all.
I know it’s too late to give Our Leader the UN’s Global Humanitarian Award this year (curse you Angelina Jolie for all your good deeds!), but its never too soon to start the ball rolling on his nomination for 2007. Karl, you listening?
Finally, a post for the visually challenged.
Remember the Mississippi flood of 1993? That’s when Bill Clinton hugged the crying woman. That’s what he referred to when he said, “We feel your pain.” Of course we remember that Republicans could not take those words seriously.
Remember the Mississippi flood of 2001? Can you remember the initial response of the new administration? It went something like, “It’s not our problem. You people need to move out of flood zones.” The public’s reaction was, “We can not believe you just said that. You better come back with the right answer.” The new administration’s second response was, “We were just kidding. Of course we will do all we can to help.”
Something has happened between then and now. Something is different.
Tag not closed? Everything’s in bold.
Hope it’s fixed for you now.
yes
Steven, for the life of me I can not understand why 30 some odd percent of the country gives anything GW says any credibility at all. If he didn’t use it up on 9/11, or In March of 03, or at Gitmo, or in the blunders in Iraq since March of 03, or over the classy campaign he ran in fall of 04, or the great Social Security nationwide tour early last year, or when he returned early from a Crawford vacation to sign the Terry Schiavo bill, or when the Motorcade kept right on going past Cindy Sheehan last August, or when he kept vacationing when New Orleans drowned last September, or when he informed us that the U.S. Constitution was just a piece of paper, or over the domestic spying, or about his saber rattling against Iran, or his failure to take a meaningful stand against the religious right, or his failure to follow through on his comments concerning getting rid of anyone in his administration who leaked the identity of Valarie Plame/Wilson, or concerning the inability of his Administration to balance a budget, or his unwillingness to create a sane energy policy,….. then when will he??
Het, Dubya felt Trent Lott’s pain. Doesn’t that count? <snark>
In a word Steve, ….NO!
What’s even more amazing is how life is back to normal in many parts of the city. Of course, these are the parts of the city that have never cared about areas like the 9th ward. And these are certainly the parts of the city that don’t care about thousands of public housing residents who are still unable to have access to their homes.
followed by malign neglect. That’s what it was, and is.