A hint (Bubby - 8/29/2006 6:18:29 PM)
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From the Webb campaign, Jim delivers a major speech on the 1-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Aside from his stinging critique by the Bush Administration and Republican Congress, Jim talked about reinvigorating the labor movement in America and investing in infrastructure in Virginia and across the country. More details as they become available. Bolding added for emphasis. Go Jim!
(Virginia Beach, VA) +óGé¼GÇ£ Today, on the first anniversary of the landfall of Hurricane Katrina, Democratic Senate candidate from Virginia Jim Webb equated the failures in response to Hurricane Katrina by the Bush Administration to the same failures in the War in Iraq and pointed out a dangerous pattern of lack of planning, failure of leadership and absence of follow up on behalf of our nation+óGé¼Gäós leaders.+óGé¼+ôIf there is one single verdict that can be rendered on the six years of George Bush, Dick Cheney and George Allen, it is that they have been years of waste,+óGé¼-¥ said Webb. +óGé¼+ôWhen tragedy struck in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Alabama, the Bush-Cheney Administration used it as another opportunity to enrich its friends and gut protections for working Americans. We have squandered our wealth on misadventure and neglected to invest in our future as a nation. And Senator Allen has been part of the problem, not the solution.+óGé¼-¥
Speaking at the Virginia Building and Construction Trades Council Summer Convention, Jim Webb focused on three critical points that characterize a complete breach of national trust and leadership on behalf of President George Bush:
*Failure of Planning: The Bush Administration paid insufficient attention not just to preparation for disasters and emergency management capabilities, but also to the nation+óGé¼Gäós infrastructure needs and the kinds of investments that would have prevented or at least minimized massive problems when unpredictable events occurred.
*Failure of Operational Leadership: Despite warnings and briefings, the Bush Administration was unprepared for the challenge posed by a massive natural event coupled with an enormous break-down of critical infrastructure that literally brought a vibrant American city to its knees. The appointment of political cronies left the Federal Emergency Management Agency with incapable management. The reliance on the slow plodding bureaucracy at the Department of Homeland Security cost valuable time in the midst of overwhelming human need.
*Failure of Follow-Up: Rather than make a true investment in post-Katrina rebuilding, the Bush Administration followed the model in Iraq. Contracts were offered without a bidding process and the same contracts were implemented without sufficient oversight. The result has been massive waste and corruption.
+óGé¼+ôFailure of planning. Failure of operational leadership. Failure to follow up. Sound familiar?+óGé¼-¥ said Webb. +óGé¼+ôOf course it does. Because this is exactly the same pattern that we see from this Administration in Iraq and it reflects a failure of overall approach that needs to be remedied. A remedy to that is an independent voice in the U.S. Senate willing to fight for change.+óGé¼-¥
+óGé¼+ôIt+óGé¼Gäós time for accountability in America,+óGé¼-¥ continued Webb. +óGé¼+ôWhether in Iraq or in the Gulf Coast or in towns and cities across Virginia. It+óGé¼Gäós time for leadership, foresight, and judgment. It is time for a change.+óGé¼-¥
Let's Go Webb!!!
The effect is that not enough qualified procurement officials are working the disaster area. They are overworked, poorly trained, and unsupervised. Contracts are being awarded with crap specifications, by unqualified CO's. This is gross neglect and incompetence - one year on.
What a relief finally to have a clearcut attack on the godawful, treacherous Bush administration. And there was nothing about personal missteps (i.e., macaca) by the opponent, but a direct assault on what Bush-Allen stands for and what he's done--- completely outside the usual republican framing of the issue. Ha!
It would be wise for the Webb campaign to hammer home the concept of accountability at every possible opportunity.
Real leaders take responsibility for misjudgements & mistakes. We have no real leaders in this administration.
It's a hoot to see left wingnuts blaming the wrong governmental agencies for Ray Nagin's horrific failures.
But then again, Katrina was all GW's fault. Because he's stupid, and he hates poor people -- especially poor black people. Sorry... I almost forgot.
1)Mock- extra points for quoting out of context here.
2)Paste in a Neo-con talking point.
3)Taunt- remember to add condescention and references to dead philosophers, preferably in Latin.
4)If engaged by a liberal who attempts thoughtful interaction, quickly resort to Coulter tactics. Use name-calling, insults, smearing, guilt by association, and biting heads off of live bats.
On alternate days, work through these steps backwards.
Always remember that you don't need to research. If you say it often enough and loud enough, it turns into truth!
Don't try to use big words, in a vain attempt to sound educated and moderately intelligent, if you can't spell them.
At the very least, direct your browser to m-w.com or dictionary.com, and look them up.
There were failures at every level. The area was overwhelmed by problems resulting from the enormity of the storm and the logistics of moving so many people in a short time.
Blaming local officials doesn't begin to explain the failure of the US Federal Government to respond effectively.
I cannot understand why there is not a bigger outcry over the ongoing waste and neglect involved in the recovery effort for the area.
There was failure at all levels, no doubt. But the shameful lack of a response from our president, and from FEMA head Mike Brown, is a black mark upon them, and our country. The president should've been among the first people addressing this issue, rather than wasting days before he flew over the devastation.
He's the g--damned president. The most powerful man in the world. He has the ability to GET THINGS DONE. Why didn't he?