Bush to Offer Hurricane Aid Package – Yahoo! News
Rather than speak before a live audience, Bush planned to stand alone and broadcast his message directly into the camera from the evacuated city’s historic Jackson Square, according to a White House official speaking on condition of anonymity since the site had not been announced.
The square and its most famed landmark, the St. Louis Cathedral, were on high enough ground to avoid flooding but did not escape damage from Katrina’s 145-mph winds. Two massive oak trees outside the 278-year-old cathedral came out by the roots, ripping out a 30-foot section of ornamental iron fence and snapping off the thumb and forefinger of the outstretched hand on a marble statue of Jesus.
Um… does anyone else see this as a metaphor? Just me? Okay.
I read where Karl Rove was sick at home with kidney stones part of the first week of the Katrina disaster. No wonder the official Federal response was so tepid and disorganized – there was no one at the top directing the all-important image massagery, which would require a well-oiled rescue/recovery machine to short it up and make it plausible. It sucks for everyone concerned when the power behind the throne has to take a few sick days.
So I’m planning on watching tonight… possibly with the Anti-Hypocrisy Nerf Cannon at the ready. I hope someone has briefed the President not to pause for applause.
UPDATE: We watched the Jim Lehrer News Hour broadcast of the speech. Eh, it was better than I expected – almost painfully earnest and upbeat. You could have knocked me over when he said that the aftermath had brought the issue of poverty to the fore. I just wish I could trust that he and his pack of cronies could get it organized. I have no doubt that the will and the ability is there, but it’ll only happen if all the various aid groups get the kind of coordinated leadership that was totally lacking in the first week of the disaster.
Still, although he took some responsibility, he did not admit that FEMA’s disorganised and excessively bureaucratic “response” in the initial days was the biggest problem everyone faced. The state and local officials were so overwhelmed, they didn’t know what to ask for.
And by the way, where the hell were the buses?
Also? They turned the power back on around the area for the speech– and one hour later, it went back off.
Leads to wondering, don’t it?
It was all generators, I expect, but far enough away not to be heard. I was listening for them.
Still, it was creepy. I bet they hustled him the hell out of there fast once the speech was over.