Ms. Whitley, "many people died" because they did not have enough sense to get out of the rain...that and they decided to live in a hole by the sea where the only protection they had was a government built wall.
Go figure.

Hey everybody! Let's build a city below sea level and live there and when nature and gravity flood the city let's get really upset and blame other people for our problems and then ask all other Americans to spend 114 billion tax dollars to rebuild the city in the exact same place. This all makes perfect sense.

Hey everybody! Let's invade a sovereign nation, overthrow the government thereof, claim victory and then get upset when "others" cause the "victory" to wain all the while spending hundreds of billions of tax dollars to help what was a former sovereign nation rebuild. This all makes perfect sense.

Shalom

"At this second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, I am amazed that this disaster of multiple levels has not gotten as much attention as the Iraq war."

"I think the people on the Gulf Coast and especially in New Orleans deserve answers."

I don't think she got the memo that some parts of Mississippi were hit just as hard as New Orleans. Otherwise it wouldn't read "especially in New Orleans."

I haven't really heard anything about Mississippi since about the 2nd week after Katrina hit. Not that I'm complaining... I agree with neocon and J.C on this.

Duncan Hunter's speech at the Katrina Summit in N.O. a few of days ago:

"Two years ago, when I entered New Orleans with Rescue Task Force, the onslaught of flood and destruction dominated this great cit With Andrea Becks, former NFL cornerback Scott Turner, Yuma Mayor Larry Nelson and businessman Roy Tyler, we brought food, water and 1,000 beds to the folks who were in the city and the refugee centers.

With the aid of an airboat driver who could do everything but fly, we were privileged to be a small part of the rescue effort. In those days the headline stories were all about the failure of government – the bureaucracy of FEMA, the difficulty in handling the looting and the snafus of evacuation.

But I saw a different story. It was the story of the great National Guard troops who we found holding the city together, the law enforcement personnel, and the fireman and rescue workers from all over the United States who interrupted their lives to rush to help the people of New Orleans. It was the huge team of volunteers I saw at Houma who were operating the rescue center to clothe, feed and care for people. It was the huge room of clothes stacked so high, with a sign that said, “Please no more clothes are needed.”

Today, $116 billion has been appropriated to remedy the effects of Katrina. The rebuilding effort includes: $17 billion for housing and community development; $8.4 billion for levees and flood control; $10 billion for Small Business Administration loans; and, $3.5 billion for highways and bridges.

But more important than the government programs is the way the citizens of our nation shape and are shaped by this massive hurricane disaster and its aftermath. There are those who portray the people of New Orleans as permanent victims, to whom government owes lifetime entitlements. They view every aspect of Katrina as somehow a reflection of the need for bigger, stronger government, almost to the point to where one wonders if they won’t assign political blame for the winds and waters of the hurricane itself.

I don’t see it that way. I see a great future for New Orleans, based not on what government does for people but because of what free people do for themselves. For every cynic who sees only government as the answer I see people as the answer.

I see optimistic professionals and business people coming to New Orleans to meet the challenge and the opportunity now presented by the rebuilding.

I see young people who might have fallen into a hopeless cycle of dependency on government welfare, now finding fulfillment in the hard work of rebuilding New Orleans.

I see top notch school administrators and educators picking up the challenge of Americans in New Orleans, who have new education dreams for their children, 57% of who attend charter schools.

I see rising from the destruction of Katrina, a new and profound appreciation for freedom. The real story of Katrina and New Orleans is not the inefficiency of government. That is a truth we have always known. The real story of New Orleans and Katrina is the millions of Americans who responded from their hearts, for their fellow citizens who live in this city.

From the senior citizens who gave a part of their fixed income, to the school children who assembled food packages, to the doctors and nurses who volunteered, to the fellow citizens of this state who donated mountains of clothes and food — every nation of the world has a government that responds to its disasters, but no nation has as many citizens willing to share what they have with their fellow man as this blessed land called America.

In 1812, Andrew Jackson and his frontier militia blocked a small passageway of land between an enemy army and this great city. American determination carried that day and New Orleans survived. Since that day, more than 800,000 Americans have given their lives on battlefields around the world so that we may walk, worship and work in freedom.

We succeeded in protecting our nation because we had faith in God and confidence in the goodness of the American people. If we here in New Orleans ask the question, where is the success of our future; is it in government? The answer is and has always has been; no. The success of our future, my friends, is within us, individual people.

It is within our character, the American character of faith in God, of honesty, of hard work, the willingness to take risks, individual accountability and a heart for our fellow citizens.

New Orleans, based on these values, will stand, always."

OK hugh, what is the point of pasting that speech? He presents an opposing view of this Counterpoint writer. Does that make one right and the other wrong?

This Counterpoint writer notes, "During the hurricane and its aftermath, I constantly watched the news and read reports to see if I could find information on my mother, father or brothers in the chaos." So it seems that this writer has some first hand familial experience. Did/does Duncan Hunter (whoever he is)?

And for anyone to say that the Hurricane Katrina disaster was not a fiasco had not read the stories.

Does that mean I think that the people of NO should be given "lifetime entitlements," NO! Do I think that there should be assistance given through the government agencies that are in place to offer same, YES!

Has this been done in an effective and timely manner, I would say a resounding NO!

My question to all of the naysayers above, "If you were one of the people of New Orleans and you had experienced what these people have, how would you feel and what you you expect?"

Shalom

"If you were one of the people of New Orleans and you had experienced what these people have, how would you feel and what you you expect?"

I'd feel terrible... who wouldn't? However, I wouldn't be sitting around 2 years later complaining that the government didn't give me enough money to get back on my feet.

I've been through situations that have left me dirt poor with nothing but the clothes on my back. I can empathize with Katrina victims, but I don't feel sorry for the ones who haven't even made an effort to do for themselves.

Anybody can do anything (despite the odds against them), they just have to put their minds to it.

Darryl,

There's plenty of blame to spread around and there were failures at all levels of government. Why does the press focus on solely on that?

It is an insult to the thousands of rescuers who performed admirably post Katrina whom are by rule, ignored by the Media.

The greatest rescue mission in the history of the Coast Guard warrants more than the continual criticisms of Katrina rescue that are reported by the press.

If you want to be political about it why are recovery efforts gaining by leaps in bounds in neighboring Mississippi. That are was obliterated by wind and storm surge.

Significant portions of Dade County in Florida were erased by Hurricane Andrew 13 years ago. I don't remember the press attacking the speed of recovery efforts there.

I am sure that all the commenters to this article must have first hand experience to those first few weeks following Katrina, right? Obviously not, how dare you show such ambivalence to the plight of fellow Americans? What gall and impudence is shown from such ignorant and un-informed criticisms of the suffering of fellow Americans.

Ms. Whitley plainly states that she was looking for family members in the aftermath. I daresay none of you have the emotional investment she has in the welfare of the people of New Orleans. It's oh so easy to pass judgement when it isn't your mother or father whose homes have been destroyed, what would you feel if a tornadoe ripped through the heart of Greensboro and leveled the city you gre up in?

For those who think it's witty to criticize appropriating $114 million (of which half has been dispersed primarily to large commercial properties in the city center and virtually a pittance to ordinary citizens) to rebuild a city built below sea level? Remind me of those numbers the next time a hurricane hits a costal North Carolina city. What spend money on a city that has been there for 300 years and refuses to move from the coast? Hypocrites.

How many of you critics have EVER volunteered with the Red Cross to help the victims of ANY natural disaster? No it's easier to ignore the facts and believe the emperor has clothes when he's buck naked.

And low and behold we don't hear of Mississippi any longer having problems, you know Governor Haley Barbers state, the ex- Chairman of the RNC, gosh did he get his funds quickly. Even Trent Lott got to have his house rebuilt? you remember Trent right?

Atta boy Brownie, you did a heck of a job, I can hardly wait for 2008.

My question to all of the naysayers above, "If you were one of the people of New Orleans and you had experienced what these people have, how would you feel and what you you expect?"

If the city I lived in was below sea level and a hurricane the size of Katrina came through; I would "feel" like I was not very smart and I would expect exactly what NO got.

Darryl,

I appreciate the plagiarism above. You know imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Also, I had a side bet with someone about whether you or DD (I mean TLC) would bring up Iraq first on a letter about NO. I lost. You were Johnny (I mean Darryl) on the spot.

"It's oh so easy to pass judgement when it isn't your mother or father whose homes have been destroyed"

My relatives are smart enough to live above sea level.

"What would you feel if a tornadoe ripped through the heart of Greensboro and leveled the city you gre up in?"

Somebody else with a what would you "feel" question. It's called life. Thinking your way through it is much more productive than feeling your way. Tornados strike in minutes. Katrina took days to get to NO and the people were still there. The people that did not leave must have been "feeling" nostalgic about their city instead of "thinking" about getting their backsides out.

"Remind me of those numbers the next time a hurricane hits a costal North Carolina city. What spend money on a city that has been there for 300 years and refuses to move from the coast? Hypocrites."

I don't live nor have a home on the coast. Nothing hypocritical for me.

"And low and behold we don't hear of Mississippi any longer having problems, you know Governor Haley Barbers state, the ex- Chairman of the RNC, gosh did he get his funds quickly. Even Trent Lott got to have his house rebuilt? you remember Trent right?"

Bush hates black people.

Any more questions?

Hugh:

You don't "recall the press attacking the speed of the recovery efforts" after Hurricane Andrew? Just as it did for Bush the younger, the hurricane for Bush senior exposed FEMA as a political backwater and sinecure. Federal troops did not arrive in Florida for several days after the disaster and the agency was roundly criticized ( see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FEMA#Hurricane_Andrew_.E2.80.93_1992 ). Although Bush won Florida in 1992, FEMA's horrible response was credited with putting the state in play.

One of Pres. Clinton's early appointments was James Witt to head FEMA. Clinton used the appointment of an emergency professional to contrast with previous administrations' use of political hacks.

One thing I've learned about Wikipedia editors is that they always find a way to take cheap shots at Bush I and II anywhere they can.

Back to the point, We hear nothing about people suffering from Andrew 13 years later but, IMO, 13 years from now we'll still be hearing about the hardships of Katrina survivors.

`

Oh how the right wingers love to villify the poor and down trodden while running to the defense of Trent Lott, Haley Barbour etc. If it wasn't so sad, it would be hilarious.

Stupid Quote of the Day:
" haven't really heard anything about Mississippi since about the 2nd week after Katrina hit. Not that I'm complaining... I agree with neocon and J.C on this."

No, you haven't heard about Mississippi because they got the funds, the equipment and the relief---FIRST. Bush has already "rocked on Trent's porch" just like he promised. Republicans ALWAYS have time to help rich white people. That's why it is so predictable for neo and others to point toward those on the margins as their targets.

This administration has taken cronyism to a new level--when another major hurricane hit N.O., LBJ was out in the night, in a row boat with a flashlight!! He was at ground zero of the storm....and NOT days later..but ASAP! LBJ was not a pussy like "W". For the "apologists" the truth hurts--then again, they probably think Larry Craig is doing a "heckuva job" in the Minnesota Airport men's room!

Oh, and did you notice that when "W" was in N.O., the GOP Senator, David Vitter, was nowhere to be found!!! WHY?

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/16/vitter/index.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/07/09/national/main3037338.shtml

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,288740,00.html

Oh those good old GOP FAMILY VALUES!! As far as the Bush family goes, the apple didn't fall far from the tree!

Heckuva Job indeed.

`

"My relatives are smart enough to live above sea level."

One of the least intelligent things I've seen you post JC. Had your grandparents or great-grandparents lived in NO all their lives, I suspect your relatives would have been there with the rest of the folks whose relatives have lived there for generations.

It may behoove you all to remember just because x amount of dollars were appropriated doesn't mean the average joe has received any money. Judging from your posts, most of you have assumed a lot. And most of your assumptions show little integrity.

If gobal warming is going to put NO under water, why spent one dime on it? Seems you Al Gore people doubt there is gobal warming.

"One of the least intelligent things I've seen you post JC. Had your grandparents or great-grandparents lived in NO all their lives, I suspect your relatives would have been there with the rest of the folks whose relatives have lived there for generations."

Well you see that where we differ Yvonne. See my reference to nostalgia above and you will understand what I mean. At some point one of my relatives lived in a clay hut with a thatch roof with a fire inside. As time has progressed I now live in a brick home with a shingled roof and electricity. I see living above see level as part of that progression. In this case as with many others in life, just because grandma did it "this" way does not make it right or intelligent. Having relatives in NO would not change my position on this at all. To me it is intelligent to live above sea level regardless of levees and the like. If my grandma lived there I would tell her the same thing.

"....I suspect your relatives would have been there with the rest of the folks whose relatives have lived there for generations."

Who is making assumptions Yvonne.

As always, while we disagree I enjoy your input Yvonne.

Ludicrous Canadian,

My point is that nobody made a big deal out of Mississippi when it's a fact that some parts were hit just as hard. If you recall, Mississippi is where the brunt of the storm's force hit. Knowing that, just how the @#$! is my comment stupid?

Oh, that's right it's not a news story unless your state and local governments are too incompetent to manage the disaster properly. I'll admit FEMA made some mistakes, but are you so blind that you can't see the folly of Kathleen Babineaux Blanco or C. Ray Nagin?

You are seriously deluded if you believe that Mississippi and Alabama received considerably more funding than New Orleans, or got that funding "FIRST." In 2005, the Mayor of New Orleans declared that the city would be spending $3 billion (yeah with a B) in capital projects alone.

Trent Lott only received 20% of what his home was worth (no federal funding). I have a friend who lived in Gulf Port Mississippi (He's a doctor) who received less than half what his home was worth (consequently NONE of that was federal money).

I've got news for you Ludicrous Canadian, New Orleans received far more federal funding than Mississippi and Alabama even thought about receiving.

It's not that Mississippi and Alabama got MORE funding "FIRST." it's that the funds they did receive were allocated properly by their state and local governments. You're quick to forget that the Governor of Louisiana took her sweet time even declaring a state of emergency. Don't blame me because Mississippi and Alabama's government managed the disaster properly.

There were reports where folks in New Orleans received checks of $15,000 or more when their houses weren't even damaged (I'm not talking about rich white folks either). It's folks like that who are stealing money away from those who really need it. You want to blame somebody? Then get your facts straight so you can put the blame where it really belongs.

`

"One thing I've learned about Wikipedia editors is that they always find a way to take cheap shots at Bush I and II anywhere they can."

"My relatives are smart enough to live above sea level."

Arrogance + Ignorance = Bush/Cheney supporter

`

`

Bishop,

As a coastal property owner, I know the pitfalls of federal flood insurance AND the lack of good coverage under the N.C. "Beach Plan". As an aside, I do not think the feds should be supporting the coastal flood insurance for people like me. I am able to afford private insurance, if made available, but poor people living in areas NOT deemed posh tourist spots, do not have the same luxury.

You, however, in pointing out Mississippi's "quick" recovery are not putting ALL the facts out there. You and others love to use Ray Nagin as your "whipping boy" while embracing the unimpeded pipeline to the treasury, used by Haley Barbour, Trent Lott and others. Seeing the incompetence, Barbour, Lott and other GOP operatives, sidestepped FEMA going directly to the administration. They continue to suckle at the teat of Bush.

Tell us WHY you defend the Bush administration's response, when all the facts point in a different direction??????????

How can you continue to support incompetence??????

Heckuva job indeed!

~

~

Bishop,
Seems you are whistling in the breeze...

http://mediamatters.org/items/200708300010?f=h_topic

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aG1fHyzJA56A&refer=home

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003632881

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070813/katrina-luxury-condos/

So, where's the beef big boy????

`

Wow, the truth seems to really be painful. When truth is revealed, personal attacks abound. Thanks JC, et. al!

Shalom

Who have I attacked and to what truth do you refer Darryl? All kidding aside I really have no idea what you are talking about.

Ludicrous Canadian,

How many times do I have to tell you I'm not a Bush supporter? You seem to be pretty dense when it comes to being able to remember that. It's always red and blue states with you, isn't it? If I�m not with you, I must be for Bush and Company. Because I can see the incompetence of both FEMA and the Louisiana/New Orleans government I must be out of my mind? Is that your mentality?

Am I to take from your retort that ONLY Mississippi and Alabama governments engaged in anything remotely corrupt regarding the distribution of funds to Katrina victims? You think Mayor Nagin isn't guilty of corrupt things in his city? Nagin used Katrina funds to send New Orleans police officers on vacation to Las Vegas. New Orleans was corrupt before Hurricane Katrina. If he's guilty he's guilty� that's not turning him into a "whipping boy."

You're deluding yourself if you think the mishandling of funds is solely the fault of "the evil republicans."

http://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110007312
http://www.jouster.com/cgi-bin/guntalk/config.pl?noframes;read=22898
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewSpecialReports.asp?Page=%5CSpecialReports%5Carchive%5C200510%5CSPE20051017a.html

Not to put all the blame on Nagin, lest you accuse me of using him as a �whipping boy� again. Why not try these on for size? Didn�t you get the memo? I�m not the only one who questioned Blanco� ability to lead

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1476451/posts
http://federalism.typepad.com/crime_federalism/2005/09/katrina_and_dem.html
http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2007/03/blanco_abandons_re-election_effort_blames_gop

At least Barbour had sense enough to realize FEMA was incompetent. He did what he had to do to get the funds needed to rebuild infrastructure. He didn't send cops on posh vacations with Katrina aid money. The fact remains that cities like Gulf Port are now functioning not because they got MORE funds FIRST like the liberal rags you like to quote from, but because the funds were simply asked for. You make out like it's a crime to get your state and city infrastructure going again.

I'm not saying (and I never have said) that the Republicans/GOP did everything right in the aftermath of Katrina. However, it's completely biased to blame everything that ever went wrong with Katrina on those bad o'l Republicans. Why not try seeing things for what they are? How about admitting that both Democrats and Republicans made mistakes? You love to point the finger, as long as that finger is pointing to a Republican. Try getting your head out of your ass, and seeing that just about every governmental entity involved with the Katrina fiasco screwed up one way or another; Democrats and Republicans alike.

Oh, and to quote you:

"Arrogance + Ignorance = Bush/Cheney supporter"

Seeing as how you're one of the most arrogant and ignorant people I've come in contact with; according to your logic, you must really love Bush and Cheney.

"As a coastal property owner,...."

Gives us a new perspective about how Demented Deekie always has his head stuck in the sand, doesn't it?

``

Will someone PLEASE go read Blubba's blog!!

He can't get any attention over there, so he's TRYING to troll for it here.

Bubba: "PLEASE READ MY BLOG!!"

Sorry fella, your blog, like you, is just not worth the time.

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