Get Off His Back (Updated)

By Ben Stein

Published 9/2/2005 11:59:59 PM

***UPDATED: Sunday, Sept. 4, 2005, 2:13 p.m.***

 

A few truths, for those who have ears and eyes and care to know the truth:

 

1.) The hurricane that hit New Orleans and Mississippi and Alabama was an astonishing tragedy. The suffering and loss of life and peace of mind of the residents of those areas is acutely horrifying.

 

2.) George Bush did not cause the hurricane. Hurricanes have been happening for eons. George Bush did not create them or unleash this one.

 

3.) George Bush did not make this one worse than others. There have been far worse hurricanes than this before George Bush was born.

 

4.) There is no overwhelming evidence that global warming exists as a man-made phenomenon. There is no clear-cut evidence that global warming even exists. There is no clear evidence that if it does exist it makes hurricanes more powerful or makes them aim at cities with large numbers of poor people. If global warming is a real phenomenon, which it may well be, it started long before George Bush was inaugurated, and would not have been affected at all by the Kyoto treaty, considering that Kyoto does not cover the world's worst polluters -- China, India, and Brazil. In a word, George Bush had zero to do with causing this hurricane. To speculate otherwise is belief in sorcery.

 

5.) George Bush had nothing to do with the hurricane contingency plans for New Orleans. Those are drawn up by New Orleans and Louisiana. In any event, the plans were perfectly good: mandatory evacuation. It is in no way at all George Bush's fault that about 20 percent of New Orleans neglected to follow the plan. It is not his fault that many persons in New Orleans were too confused to realize how dangerous the hurricane would be. They were certainly warned. It's not George Bush's fault that there were sick people and old people and people without cars in New Orleans. His job description does not include making sure every adult in America has a car, is in good health, has good sense, and is mobile.

 

6.) George Bush did not cause gangsters to shoot at rescue helicopters taking people from rooftops, did not make gang bangers rape young girls in the Superdome, did not make looters steal hundreds of weapons, in short make New Orleans into a living hell.

 

7.) George Bush is the least racist President in mind and soul there has ever been and this is shown in his appointments over and over. To say otherwise is scandalously untrue.

 

8.) George Bush is rushing every bit of help he can to New Orleans and Mississippi and Alabama as soon as he can. He is not a magician. It takes time to organize huge convoys of food and now they are starting to arrive. That they get in at all considering the lawlessness of the city is a miracle of bravery and organization.

 

9.) There is not the slightest evidence at all that the war in Iraq has diminished the response of the government to the emergency. To say otherwise is pure slander.

 

10.) If the energy the news media puts into blaming Bush for an Act of God worsened by stupendous incompetence by the New Orleans city authorities and the malevolence of the criminals of the city were directed to helping the morale of the nation, we would all be a lot better off.

 

11.) New Orleans is a great city with many great people. It will recover and be greater than ever. Sticking pins into an effigy of George Bush that does not resemble him in the slightest will not speed the process by one day.

 

12.) The entire episode is a dramatic lesson in the breathtaking callousness of government officials at the ground level. Imagine if Hillary Clinton had gotten her way and they were in charge of your health care.

 

God bless all of those dear people who are suffering so much, and God bless those helping them, starting with George Bush.

 

****

UPDATE: Sunday, Sept. 4, 2005, 2:13 p.m.:

 

More Mysteries of Katrina:

 

Why is it that the snipers who shot at emergency rescuers trying to save people in hospitals and shelters are never mentioned except in passing, and Mr. Bush, who is turning over heaven and earth to rescue the victims of the storm, is endlessly vilified?

 

What church does Rev. Al Sharpton belong to that believes in passing blame and singling out people by race for opprobrium and hate?

 

What special abilities does the media have for deciding how much blame goes to the federal government as opposed to the city government of New Orleans for the aftereffects of Katrina?

 

If able-bodied people refuse to obey a mandatory evacuation order for a city, have they not assumed the risk that ill effects will happen to them?

 

When the city government simply ignores its own sick and hospitalized and elderly people in its evacuation order, is Mr. Bush to blame for that?

 

Is there any problem in the world that is not Mr. Bush's fault, or have we reverted to a belief in a sort of witchcraft where we credit a mortal man with the ability to create terrifying storms and every other kind of ill wind?

 

Where did the idea come from that salvation comes from hatred and criticism and mockery instead of love and co-operation?

 

 

Ben Stein is a writer, actor, economist, and lawyer living in Beverly Hills and Malibu.

 

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nice...

No. His administration's approach to this disaster has been a disaster itself and many people on both sides agree on this. The WH is not getting a free pass here. Sorry Stein.

No. His administration's approach to this disaster has been a disaster itself and many people on both sides agree on this. The WH is not getting a free pass here. Sorry Stein.

931682[/snapback]

 

It would be fair to say the Federal Gov't was slow to react and perhaps could have sped relief to the area a few days sooner. But to say their approach is a disaster is a bit of an exaggeration. The Federal Gov't did not cause this disaster and they are doing all they can to assist the States affected. It's fine to debate the fine points of who could have or should have done what and when. But to suggest the fine people in FEMA, the Marine Corps, the National Guard and all other agencies are not doing all they can is wrong, very wrong.

I got a C on a Calculus test week, it's unacceptable. This administrations approach to education is pathetic. F***ing Bush caused me not to have an A in the class. :banghead

No. His administration's approach to this disaster has been a disaster itself and many people on both sides agree on this. The WH is not getting a free pass here. Sorry Stein.

931682[/snapback]

 

they were late and I blame them for that, I'm not blind. But they are handling the situation well now and it seems under control. What worries me is the long term well being of the victims. Hopefully they will be more competent handling that

:lol

 

this article makes me giggle

Shocked, yes SHOCKED I am that Ben Stein would write an article like this.

 

:whistle

IMO Bush is getting pressure from two main groups:

 

-People who hate him and want another reason to hate him.

-People who were devasted from the hurricane and have no one to be mad at. They certainly can't go yelling at the hurricane. I'd look for someone to blame if I were in such a situation too.

 

Sure Bush didn't do everything he could, but we shouldn't putting all the blame on Bush on a failure on so many levels like this was. Even after the storm, many in the media thought New Orleans had been spared.

In my view it is Nagin and his government who should take responsibility for the disaster in New Orleans. Nagin is doing all he can to deflect the blame onto the Federal Government.

 

Just compare the situation to what we experience almost every year here in South Florida. The local governments establish the emercency prepardness plans. The local governments give the evacuation orders. The local governments set up the evacuation shelters with ample food, medical supplies and volunteers. This has never been, and never will be the responsibility of the Federal Government.

 

The City of New Orleans was well advised of the dangers if a major hurricane impacted the city. The City of New Orleans had decades to develop an effective emergency plan. The City of New Orleans, led by Nagin, opened the SuperBowl and Convention Center as evacuation shelters. The City of New Orleans did not provide ANY food or medical supplies to support the tens of thousands of evacuees in these shelters. The City of New Orleans did not plan for the certainty that power and water supply would be cut-off and install portable lavatories in these facitilities. The City of New Orleans did not provide adequate security to these shelters. The City of New Orleans received warning from the National Hurricane Center and Federal Government several days before the disaster of the impending danger and waited until less than 24 hours before to issue the mandatory evacuation order.

 

The Governer of Louisiana was slow to order the National Guard into New Orleans and continues to refuse to allow the Federal Government to take over the security lead. The State of Louisiana shoulders every bit as much, if not more, of the blame for slow response than FEMA.

 

This whole nonsense of trying to put the whole blame on Bush is really irritating. Sure FEMA could have acted quicker if it wasn't so bogged down in bureacracy. But their role is to help provide relief as soon as possible after the event. It is the local government's responsibility to provide for the welfare and safety of their citizens before, during and after the event. Any help from the Federal government is above and beyond.

This whole nonsense of trying to put the whole blame on Bush is really irritating.

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I don't think there is anyone who is doing what you just said. No one puts the whole blame on Bush, that's ridiculous. But to suggest that he shouldn't share in the blame is also ridiculous.

you want to play the blame game...

 

 

75% state and local idiots

 

25% federales

 

 

i find it absolutely entertaining how the local gummit in NOLA is whining at every stop along with those on the state level. Now that is entertainment. Gotta love the passing of the buck.

This whole nonsense of trying to put the whole blame on Bush is really irritating.

931772[/snapback]

I don't think there is anyone who is doing what you just said. No one puts the whole blame on Bush, that's ridiculous. But to suggest that he shouldn't share in the blame is also ridiculous.

931779[/snapback]

 

Just spend a few minutes reading the Michael Moore article if you need one example. There are many others.

 

I agree the Federal Gov't should share some of the blame, but to try to put it on Bush is ridiculous.

 

According to some of the statements in the media you would think Bush had some kind of divine powers to will a Cat 4 Hurricane attack the Blacks of New Orleans.

Al Sharpton is a worthless human being. He has no redeemable qualities. The less he talks, the better things are, he is as the article tip-toes around a bigger racist than anyone else that comes to my mind.

 

And there are young girls getting raped in the Superdome? I never heard about that.

Al Sharpton is a worthless human being. He has no redeemable qualities. The less he talks, the better things are, he is as the article tip-toes around a bigger racist than anyone else that comes to my mind.

 

931792[/snapback]

Irony?

 

/a**hole

 

And I don't know where you've been but the rapes have been reported.

Al Sharpton is a worthless human being.? He has no redeemable qualities.? The less he talks, the better things are, he is as the article tip-toes around a bigger racist than anyone else that comes to my mind.

 

931792[/snapback]

Irony?

 

/a**hole

 

And I don't know where you've been but the rapes have been reported.

931796[/snapback]

 

Whats ironic and why am I an a-hole? And I dont watch the news very often, that article was the first I'd heard of it.

Al Sharpton is a worthless human being.? He has no redeemable qualities.? The less he talks, the better things are, he is as the article tip-toes around a bigger racist than anyone else that comes to my mind.

 

931792[/snapback]

Irony?

 

/a**hole

 

And I don't know where you've been but the rapes have been reported.

931796[/snapback]

 

Rapes were reported in the Super Dome but unsubstantiated. It has morphed from women being raped to young girls. I suppose the latter is more sensational, and thus more newsworthy.

I saw a contingent of armed trucks heading down I-10 West past Tally. I think the reaction might have taken a bit too long, but the effort is noteworthy...

Let me ask people this. What if the opposite were true? What if FEMA and the immediate agency reaction was outstanding and lives were saved? Wouldnt Bush take any credit?

 

I think a reaction some are having toward Bush is what if this were a terrorist attack. Bush gets a lot of credit for strong leadership, especially during the "war on terror." If this were a terrorist attack and a major metropolitan city was under seige, shouldnt we be worried?

Let me ask people this. What if the opposite were true? What if FEMA and the immediate agency reaction was outstanding and lives were saved? Wouldnt Bush take any credit?

 

I think a reaction some are having toward Bush is what if this were a terrorist attack. Bush gets a lot of credit for strong leadership, especially during the "war on terror." If this were a terrorist attack and a major metropolitan city was under seige, shouldnt we be worried?

931841[/snapback]

 

 

supposedly the dept of homeland security is 100% focused on terrorism and 0% focused on their other jobs such as natural disasters.

 

but ya a bit worrisome to say the least.

Let me ask people this. What if the opposite were true? What if FEMA and the immediate agency reaction was outstanding and lives were saved? Wouldnt Bush take any credit?

 

I think a reaction some are having toward Bush is what if this were a terrorist attack. Bush gets a lot of credit for strong leadership, especially during the "war on terror." If this were a terrorist attack and a major metropolitan city was under seige, shouldnt we be worried?

931841[/snapback]

 

What you are failing to recognize is the magnitude of the disaster and the logistics involved to bring all the resources to bear on New Orleans. It isn't like an order is made and then poof two days later all of the thousands of refugees are airlifted out of the city.

 

This isn't ten square blocks that were decimated by a terrorist attack like in NYC. The first responders in NYC were the local EMTs, firemen and police....and their infrastructure was completely intact. The opposite was true in New Orleans where the local infrastructure was in total disarray. Access to the areas is severly disrupted and local hoods shooting at rescuers is only inhibiting their efforts further.

 

And I'm sure Bush would praise all the volunteers and rescue personnel just as he has done in this situation. He didn't take credit in NYC and he isn't taking credit for all the outstanding efforts now.

It's about time someone demonstrates common sense. Sheesh, I really hope the president does something about the snow in Michigan this winter. :plain