In total shock right now...

[WDWBetsy]

I'm so glad to hear you say that. Truly. Because there are some that won't acknowledge that at all.

I have acknowledged it. I'm not blaming this all on Bush. Just for the record

 

[sodaseller]

In related news, Benedict XVI abrogates the infallibility doctrine!

 

[bsnyder]

In related news, Benedict XVI abrogates the inafllibility doctrine!

Is that a typo or are you just showing off your vocabulary again?

 

[sodaseller]

The race angle is being misportrayed, as usual. No one is contending active, conscious, disregard for the largely poor black residents of NO because they were poor and black. The neglect, presuming it was that, never reaches that level of conscious thought.

In Catholic theology, we have the concept of "seeing the face of the other", which is supposed to capture the fact that you can empathize and see yourself in the face of the one suffering. Christ famously captured this teaching the Good Samaritan parable. Jews and Samaritan' were bitter enemies, and in response to the query as to who is our neighbor, he chose a deliberately provocative example.

It's a hard teaching that I would submit that none of us truly live up to, as evidenced by the not unreasonable sentiment that this cause was a greater claim on our empathy than the tsunami because it was at home. I'm not knocking that sentiment, because it's natural, which just evidences what a hard teaching this is.

To apply this to the political, the now outdated pejorative for liberals was that they were "bleeding heart". This presidency has been marked by governing from the base, and it sure seemed like those suffering in NO might not have the same claim on our sympathies as those we can "relate to." The question was never whether there was malevolent desire to see them die, but whether there was a subconscious failure to relate to them

 

[LoraJ]

I'm impressed that he took responsibility. It may have been for damage control, but it was better than nothing. I do think it's more important that all levels of government make the appropriate reparations.

Agree!

 

[sodaseller]

Is that a typo or are you just showing off your vocabulary again?

Typo. To paraphrase Churchill to Lady Astor, I can fix that deficiency with the edit function - your posts will still be nonsensical in the morning

 

[Robinrs]

I AM impressed! I agree that there are PR reasons for it, but then again, in politics there are ALWAYS spin doctors who know the right words to say and the right time to say it.

I agree that there were problems and responsibilities all around and that the local and state governments are responsible as well, but the chances that NO's govts will affect MY life are zero to nil. The chances that the federal govt and the President's decisions or lack of response will affect me are way more probable and that is why I see it differently. All in all the difference is if my neighbor made a mistake that affected my neighbor's house, I'd be uncomfortable, but if my PARENT made a mistake in MY house... well, you see the difference?

I don't hate Bush by no stretch of the imagination. His convictions and his commitment to God are very similar to mine. The difference is I have a hard time respecting him and his plans for me and my life. In any relationship, you have a need to feel warranted or important, then you need to feel safe in that person's jurisdiction. This is with a child, a spouse, a parent, a boss or any leader. Any lack thereof causes friction. I do understand those who do not have that friction, if I walked in your shoes I'd probably feel the same way. But I do not and I cannot. What I do is respect your ability to feel important and safe in the face of a man that I do not feel the same for.

God bless,

Robinrs

 

[Charade]

The race angle is being misportrayed, as usual. No one is contending active, conscious, disregard for the largely poor black residents of NO because they were poor and black. The neglect, presuming it was that, never reaches that level of conscious thought.

Not true. I heard about a poll last night that said 70+ percent of blacks thought that race played a role in the relief effort whereas only 20+ percent of whites thought the same.

 

[sodaseller]

Not true. I heard about a poll last night that said 70+ percent of blacks thought that race played a role in the relief effort whereas only 20+ percent of whites thought the same.

How does one contradict the other?

 

[poohandwendy]

The question was never whether there was malevolent desire to see them die, but whether there was a subconscious failure to relate to them

Oh come on, I think that is ridiculous. Now we are analyzing the subconscious of our president? Give me a break. He doesn't need to relate to them to do his job. And it is ridiculous to assume that the federal effort had anything to do with the victims or who could or could not relate to them.

That argument is just a very thinly veiled attempt at labeling him (and the rest of the federal govt, mind you) as racist (subconscious or not). I do not think there is any substance to those assumptions.

 

[poohandwendy]

I AM impressed! I agree that there are PR reasons for it, but then again, in politics there are ALWAYS spin doctors who know the right words to say and the right time to say it.

I agree that there were problems and responsibilities all around and that the local and state governments are responsible as well, but the chances that NO's govts will affect MY life are zero to nil. The chances that the federal govt and the President's decisions or lack of response will affect me are way more probable and that is why I see it differently. All in all the difference is if my neighbor made a mistake that affected my neighbor's house, I'd be uncomfortable, but if my PARENT made a mistake in MY house... well, you see the difference?

I don't hate Bush by no stretch of the imagination. His convictions and his commitment to God are very similar to mine. The difference is I have a hard time respecting him and his plans for me and my life. In any relationship, you have a need to feel warranted or important, then you need to feel safe in that person's jurisdiction. This is with a child, a spouse, a parent, a boss or any leader. Any lack thereof causes friction. I do understand those who do not have that friction, if I walked in your shoes I'd probably feel the same way. But I do not and I cannot. What I do is respect your ability to feel important and safe in the face of a man that I do not feel the same for.

God bless,

Robinrs

Well said. I disagree with your thoughts about the president but I respect your stance and the way your present it.

 

[BuckNaked]

I'm so glad to hear you say that. Truly. Because there are some that won't acknowledge that at all.

 

[BuckNaked]

Typo. To paraphrase Churchill to Lady Astor, I can fix that deficiency with the edit function - your posts will still be nonsensical in the morning

Nice - glad to see that you are living that Catholic faith that you so often spout off about...

 

[bsnyder]

I have acknowledged it. I'm not blaming this all on Bush. Just for the record

I knew that before you went on the record, Betsy.

 

[yeartolate]

I applaud the President for admitting responsibility. I missed the telecast - did he admit he made mistakes or just accepted responsibility for the federal response?

I hope a "Katrina Commison" can pick appart exactly what went wrong - personal and policy failures. We need to learn from this.

 

[C.Ann]

He can make sure that all people in charge of protecting our country are experienced and knowledgeable to do their jobs. I am trusting that any official - local, state, or federal - who didn't act appropriately will be booted. I am not blaming the feds alone on this.

If I were president, I wouldn't appoint my computer programmer husband to head the Department of Defense just because he has experience in playing strategy war games on his computer. I wouldn't appoint one of my friends who happen to be a nurse to head up DHS just because she likes playing Operation. See what I mean? And I would make sure their resumes are fact-based and accurate so I wouldn't look like I didn't check references. Not all of his appointed officials are like this, however when you have the ones in power who don't necessarily know how to manage a crisis, that's dangerous. If an official is on TV saying all is well, and we see differently on our TVs, they tend to look like they're out of touch.

I expect those who are running our country - and who have been appointed by our leaders to be qualified. When we're talking about keeping our homeland safe from natural disasters or terrorist attacks, I want the most experienced people on the job. That means on all fronts.

---------------------------------------

Extremely well said! I agree with you 100%..

I'm also glad that he stood up and took responsibility.. I was getting very tired of having to get up and turn the television off every time his face was on there.. No "smirk" this time - and that's a good start..

 

[peachgirl]

Let's see...

The President of the United States is responsible for what happens on the Federal level, what a unique concept!

From this President it's a surprise to see him admit it, but it's a shame that it is.

Considering his numbers, he had to do something. Of course he can't run again, but all Presidents worry about their legacy.

 

[lbgraves]

Not true. I heard about a poll last night that said 70+ percent of blacks thought that race played a role in the relief effort whereas only 20+ percent of whites thought the same.

Then you have that intellectual on the news the other night cursing about everything and demanding $20000 for every person then comparing them being evacuated from NO to slaves being rounded up in Africa and shipped off to places without their consent. With that mindset the government, or whoever ends up in charge of this situation, is darned if they do and darned if they don't. They are being cursed for not getting the people out soon enough & cursed for getting the people out.

 

[dcentity2000]

It won't satisfy his critics; only the public at large who know that he is a good and caring president.

Minority Dawn, minority - his approval figures are well below 50%

Just wanted to make the current situation that bit clearer

Well done Prezzie Bush for having accepted responsibility - I now think higher of you or your spin doctors than I did 24 hours ago

It still raises the question though - why did you fail? Will it happen again?



Rich::

 

[dcentity2000]

Just... because



Rich::