As someone very cynical and psychotically skeptical, I see this as part of the propaganda campaign on the march toward 1930s Germany fascism. We have days of no federal help, we see newsfootage constantly of the chaos that happens when we're left alone, and then the feds come swooping in, our knights in shining armor. And if you don't have cable and are watching on CNN.com like me, every news clip is preceded by an add to join the army. This is one big opportunistic ad campaign for a militaristic patriotism.
After watching bush kiss one of the refugees on CNN like the Great White Compassionate God Just Off The Links I just don't have any coherent response anymore.
On Monday, I was reading a weather forecast from NOAA that might best be summarized as HOLY FUCKING SHIT THIS IS THE BIG ONE. Any minimally competent President, regardless of his political platform, could have started the movement of rescuers and supplies to the Gulf Coast then, if not sooner, so that he could be riding in on Marine One and photogenically passing out water bottles as soon as the rain stopped.
This crowd can't even do the lame political gestures right any more. Are they so full of hubris about winning (or fixing) the next election that they don't care about such things? Do they think that if they don't look at the impending catastrophe, it might not happen? (I used to do that with credit-card bills. It didn't work out too well.) Or is Karl Rove too busy talking to his lawyer to tell the boss which hand to wipe his ass with?
I think it's also a sign of how dangerously low on funds and manpower the US actually is at this point (and fronted by a government no one much cares to support, no matter how dire the situation is-- people might want to help the hurricane victims, but the military is scary low on recruits). The $30 billion we need to help these people not die? I think the economy is in far scarier shape than any of us can see at this point in time. All part of Bush's fabulous "don't tax, and spend anyway" plan.
I'm frankly shocked that he's going at all. How long did it take him to visit NYC after 9/11? He's not really known for actually being President-on-the-spot. Guess he's really worried about his plunging ratings.
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Date: 2005-09-02 05:32 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2005-09-02 05:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-02 05:39 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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From:Mission Accomplished!
Date: 2005-09-02 05:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-02 05:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-02 06:04 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2005-09-02 06:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-02 07:12 pm (UTC)On Monday, I was reading a weather forecast from NOAA that might best be summarized as HOLY FUCKING SHIT THIS IS THE BIG ONE. Any minimally competent President, regardless of his political platform, could have started the movement of rescuers and supplies to the Gulf Coast then, if not sooner, so that he could be riding in on Marine One and photogenically passing out water bottles as soon as the rain stopped.
This crowd can't even do the lame political gestures right any more. Are they so full of hubris about winning (or fixing) the next election that they don't care about such things? Do they think that if they don't look at the impending catastrophe, it might not happen? (I used to do that with credit-card bills. It didn't work out too well.) Or is Karl Rove too busy talking to his lawyer to tell the boss which hand to wipe his ass with?
no subject
Date: 2005-09-02 07:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-02 07:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-02 09:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-03 06:31 pm (UTC)