RSS Feed for This PostCurrent Article

Disaster Response–Obama versus Bush

By Larry Johnson on January 15, 2010 at 2:40 PM in Current Affairs

Boy, is Rush Limbaugh a partisan hack or what? (I know, that’s like admitting that the Sun rises in the East). He is ragging on and on about how Obama is responding incompetently to the Haiti crisis and why New Orleans was a triumph for Bush. Jesus Christ!! Can’t any of these guys have just a shred of intellecutal honesty and analytical objectivity?

Do you want to know why Obama’s handling of the response to Haiti is going so smoothly, despite the horror of the incident, and Bush dropped the ball? It is very simple.

Obama is following the standing plan and Bush did not. This does not require genius. Just the common sense to implement what you put in place to respond in the event a disaster strikes.

Obama’s plan was originally drafted at State Department and has been in place for years. This plan starts with the recognition that you will be operating in a foreign, sovereign environment. In other words, the United States is not “in charge.” The President’s principal coordinator is the Ambassador, by virtue of his or her status as the President’s personal representative. In the case of Haiti it is Kenneth Merton. (Note, this is the case regardless of who the President is.) All other components of the U.S. Government, including the military, are subordinated to the Ambassador. The plan is predicated on the notion that this is an interagency response. There is no one single agency or department that do everything.

In practice the actual onus for coordinating all of this falls to the Secretary of State. Secretary of State Clinton and Ambassador Merten are becoming fast friends and confidants. Clinton is well served by the fact that Merten is a career FSO and, despite the stereotype of the State Department as a haven for unctuous cookie pushers, is an accomplished professional with prior experience working on crisis response and consequence management operations.

From this point forward Obama does not have a lot to do. He’ll end up looking good just because the system is working.

Here’s why Bush was a boob. First, unlike the earthquake, his administration knew the hurricane was coming. Katrina did not just suddenly pop up. They had a few days to prepare. Second, Bush and his team FAILED–I REPEAT–FAILED to implement the National Response Plan that Bush had ordered drawn up in the aftermath of 9-11:

The National Response Plan was accepted and implemented by Bush Administration in December 2004. According to the PREFACE, President Bush, “directed the development of a new National Response Plan (NRP) to align Federal coordination structures, capabilities, and resources into a unified, all discipline, and all-hazards approach to domestic incident management. . . .The end result is vastly improved coordination among Federal, State, local, and tribal organizations to help save lives and protect America’s communities by increasing the speed, effectiveness, and efficiency of incident management.”

Yet, for some unknown reason, Bush and his team did not put the plan into action. Forget about arguing what the Mayor of New Orleans and the Governor of Louisiana did or did not do. If Bush and his team had only put their National Response Plan into action then the history of the Katrina disaster would have been different and Bush’s reputation not as tarnished.

There is no guarantee that Obama will carry the Haitian response through without a glitch. But here’s my prediction–as long as the Obama team have the common sense to let the professionals in the U.S. Government implement the plans that have been written and exercised then he will come out of this smelling like a rose. The secret is in the plan.

  • lark

    Obama needs to fight incompetence and remove the president of Haiti and dissolve their government. Then he needs to reasure the people of Haiti that their dignity will be respected and restore through a new form of government that is responsive and responsible to their civilian needs. 
     
    Oh wait, incompetent is what Obama’s administration is. Errase the above. 
     
    Obama needs to support the president of Haiti and promise him he will help him restore his filthy incompetent government so that he and his government can return to their vomit.

  • lark

    Obama needs to inform the UN and the OAS that he will be taking personal responsibility for the restoration of Haiti and that the territory will be set under the control of the U.S. military. 
     
    Oh no, that’s too much of a statesman character. 
     
    Obama needs to call Bill Clinton and George Bush to collect private donations from private parties to give aid to the people of Haiti and to preserve, prolong and maintain their dependency on charity.

  • tek

    I see both Rush and Robertson are getting a lot of blowback.  ’Bout time.  Some things just are not political.

  • tek

    This disaster is not about the politicians in Haiti.  It’s about 100,000 people who lost their lives due to an Act of God (to use the legal term).

  • Docelder

    Then again it helps to just be able to mandate the terms from which you are going to give aid to a foreign government. Contrast that with New Orleans where corrupt and incompetent city officials were in charge and Bush really had no standing to usurp them before the levees actually broke.

  • lark

    Obama is following the standing plan

    You are an idiot JL. Obama is being a complete incompetent fool precisely because he is following a plan. This catastrophy is nothing that any plan can foresee or could have forseen. You see. It is an unpredictable random ocurrence.

    These are 9 million people. Don’t you have any compassion for them. The government they have is the government Colling Powell help to restore and it is completely incompetent and unresponsive to the needs of their citizens. The only solution to these people’s plight is for the U.S. to take over their territory, extend to them the garrantees of the U.S. Constitution, and provide them a time frame upon which they can have a referrendum to see if they would like to join the U.S.A. as a Commonwealth.

    Otherwise it is going to be missery after missery after missery with a dependency of charity that is indignant and shameful for those proud and resilient people.

    9 million people with a beautiful piece of property that I am sure they would like to share with the U.S.A. and we have plenty to share with them.

    Obama is incompetent because he is as far as statesmanlike as Peewee Herman.

  • lark

    The secret Mr. JL is a hands on President. He looks like a sorry ask of a president because he has no idea what he is doing there and has not been trained in decision making and leadership.

  • Tricia

    Bill and Hillary are doing a great job and deserve a lot of the credit.  I just donated to Bill Clinton’s foundation.  When I hear him speak about what needs to be done and what he is doing, I can tell that he fully understands the process, priorities, roadblocks, and how this effort needs to work.

  • TeakWoodKite

    Lark, Obama could be the hunchback of Notre Dame and still get this one right. As you said , there are nine million people involved. Prey tell what was the population of Katrina pre-Katrina?

    My point is, BO is not the one in front of this, although from a PR stand point you know he is like a toon and ca’t resist an obvious oppertunnity to “show” leadership.

    It is in the SOS’s ballpark now and I dare say watching the Former POTUS Bill Clinton on the tele being interviewed about a country he has been involved with for some time, makes me think it will work out ok. I do pray for all the people involved having experienced a 6.9 which I will never forget.

    I would not but wonder at the Irony of it, if it were not for the destruction and loss of life in Haiti.

  • Yttik

    Quite simply, Larry Johnson, the reason Obama is handling the relief operation so well is because he isn’t handling it all. It is in the hands of Hillary at the State Dept and Bill Clinton at his foundation.

    All Obama has to do is pretend to be president. I disagree with you about Obama winding up “looking good.” I suspect he’ll fail because I think what the American people really want is some leadership, to feel some pride in America, to feel like their president is competent and that he cares. So far all he’s really delivered is some pretty emotionless teleprompter reading. If the relief effort goes well which I hope and pray for, people won’t credit Obama because he doesn’t feel engaged to them. It’s not really somebody’s actions or the title they hold that molds public opinion, its how they make you feel. Obama feels emotionless and disengaged from this tragedy.

  • Guest

    Beg to differ with you but Joe Biden says just the opposite.  It was the Bush Administration that was the most incompetent in the history of the nation.  VP Biden has also said that Dick Cheney was the most dangerous VP in the history of the nation.  Obviously you arn’t paying attention. 

  • Steel magnolia

    Larry – Obama MUST be out front and center on this one.  Rahm is telling him that this is a crisis that CANNOT be wasted!  Furthermore, he absolutely can’t allow Bill or Hillary to win in the PR Department on this one.  It would be the death penalty for his re-election campaign.  He’s being told that the MUST get this one right!  That’s why so much effort is being put into this massive response.

  • foxyladi14

    you said it… :-D

  • Cindy

    Steel—-Yep! There’s no better incentive to “git ‘er done” than low polling numbers.

  • Susan

    @ Guest

    In my opinion the most incompetent award goes to none other then
    ” President Jimmy Carter “. The Iran hostage mess along with allowing the Shah to come to the US for medical treatment inflamed the muslim street. That situation as you can see has not gotten much better.

    The 21 % interest rates sucked also.

  • hattip

    Larry, it is you that lack intellecutal honesty and analytical objectivity.

    Spare us the lefty agitprop surrounding Katrina. It is all a pack of lies.

    What nonsense. Obama is no different that the crooks who have run Haiti all these generactions. He is just another Papa doc, just another Mac Daddy.

    If Obama and the Democrats had their way this nation would go the way of Haiti. That is what happens we a nation is ruled by a corrupt, one party poltical machine hiding under populist and redsitributionist rhetoric.

    The real trueth here is that the Demcorats will attempt to use this tradgey down there as cover to get their agenda through Congress up here. Pleae do not tell me that the Democrat leadership cares a bit about anything but power. One does nt have to look anty father than, well, Katrina to see the truth of this.

    Rush is quite right and is showing great intergrity and intellectual honesty. It is you who prevaricate and posture.

  • Hokma

    Limbaugh is a jerk for saying what he said.
     
    “Do you want to know why Obama’s handling of the response to Haiti is going so smoothly, despite the horror of the incident, and Bush dropped the ball . . . Obama is following the standing plan and Bush did not . . . Obama’s plan was originally drafted at State Department and has been in place for years.”
     
    What does that have to do with Katrina? Since when does the State Department draft response policy for domestic disaster response? “The National Response Framework” clearly stipulates that “a basic premise of the Framework is that incidents are generally handled at the lowest jurisdictional level possible.”
     
    During the Bush Administration there were 37 worldwide natural disasters. Among them were the El Salvador earthquake in 2001 and the tsunamis that hit southeast asia in 2004. In addition, there were over 25 hurricanes (other than Katrina) that hit the U.S. coast during his administration. In 2004 there were three major hurricanes that slammed Florida within a month of each other. In addition there were over 20 massive wildfires and there were 6 earthquakes in the U.S. that measured at least 7.0. With all there was no criticism of Bush’s handling.
     
    Even with Katrina, the storm also slammed into the gulf coast of Mississippi. So why was the Federal response effective in Mississippi and not in New Orleans?
     
    The left wing media supported to finger pointing at Bush even though Mayor Nagin’s incompetence was glaring and Governor Blanco waited 24 hours to call in the feds. Conversely, Mississippi did not experience those problems.
     
    If the Katrina response was entirely Bush’s fault then that problem would have been repeated in Mississippi as well as in prior hurricane situations.

  • Hokma

    Limbaugh is a jerk for saying what he said.  
     “Do you want to know why Obama’s handling of the response to Haiti is going so smoothly, despite the horror of the incident, and Bush dropped the ball . . . Obama is following the standing plan and Bush did not . . . Obama’s plan was originally drafted at State Department and has been in place for years.”  
    I don’t see what that has to do with Katrina? Since when does the State Department draft response policy for domestic disaster response? “
    The National Response Framework” clearly stipulates that “a basic premise of the Framework is that incidents are generally handled at the lowest jurisdictional level possible.”  
    During the Bush Administration there were 37 worldwide natural disasters. Among them were the El Salvador earthquake in 2001 and the tsunamis that hit southeast asia in 2004. In addition, there were over 25 hurricanes (other than Katrina) that hit the U.S. coast during his administration. In 2004 there were three major hurricanes that slammed Florida within a month of each other. In addition there were over 20 massive wildfires and there were 6 earthquakes in the U.S. that measured at least 7.0. With all there was no criticism of Bush’s handling.  
    Even with Katrina, the storm also slammed into the gulf coast of Mississippi. So why was the Federal response effective in Mississippi and not in New Orleans?  
    The left wing media supported to finger pointing at Bush even though Mayor Nagin’s incompetence was glaring and Governor Blanco waited 24 hours to call in the feds. Conversely, Mississippi did not experience those problems.  
    If the Katrina response was entirely Bush’s fault then that problem would have been repeated in Mississippi as well as in prior hurricane situations.

  • Hokma

    Limbaugh is a jerk for saying what he said.  
     “Do you want to know why Obama’s handling of the response to Haiti is going so smoothly, despite the horror of the incident, and Bush dropped the ball . . . Obama is following the standing plan and Bush did not . . . Obama’s plan was originally drafted at State Department and has been in place for years.”  
    I don’t see what that has to do with Katrina? Since when does the State Department draft response policy for domestic disaster response? “
    The National Response Framework” clearly stipulates that “a basic premise of the Framework is that incidents are generally handled at the lowest jurisdictional level possible.”  
    During the Bush Administration there were 37 worldwide natural disasters. Among them were the El Salvador earthquake in 2001 and the tsunamis that hit southeast asia in 2004. In addition, there were over 25 hurricanes (other than Katrina) that hit the U.S. coast during his administration. In 2004 there were three major hurricanes that slammed Florida within a month of each other. In addition there were over 20 massive wildfires and there were 6 earthquakes in the U.S. that measured at least 7.0. With all there was no criticism of Bush’s handling.  
    Even with Katrina, the storm also slammed into the gulf coast of Mississippi. So why was the Federal response effective in Mississippi and not in New Orleans?  
    The left wing media supported to finger pointing at Bush even though Mayor Nagin’s incompetence was glaring and Governor Blanco waited 24 hours to call in the feds. Conversely, Mississippi did not experience those problems.  
    If the Katrina response was entirely Bush’s fault then that problem would have been repeated in Mississippi as well as in prior hurricane situations.

  • stodghie

    we sure as heck don’t need another baby at the tit. sorry! let the world work as a group to help haiti. geezzzzzzzzz!

    obama is letting bush and clinton head this. so let them! they have done this before and very well too i might add.

  • Steve1

    Spot on LJ!  Under the leadership of SOS Hillary Clinton, “Help is organized and on its way!” Methodical and systemic humanitarian assistence has arrived in Haiti  As time goes by Mrs. Clinton will get the job done.  She is amazing and should be nominated for a well deserved Nobel Humanitarian medal!  She along with Bill Clinton and the Bushes, are making us proud!  President Barry Soetoro can continue to read his teles regarding all the progress these workhorses are doing!

  • stodghie

    yeah, this tragedy will be used by the callous on both sides. obama will use it like he does everything else.

  • getfitnow

    I agree with you, Larry, but I listeed to Limbaugh today. He certainly didn’t blame Bush, but neither did he say NO was a triumph for Bush.

  • Jackarooty

    Our girl is headed to Haiti.  Oh, think of the potential photo ops of Bubba, Hil and Dubya in Haiti while Barry has to go to MA to stump for a losing candidate.  After all, he really was a big help to Corzine.

  • stodghie

    Bush started off badly but he ended well on the katrina tragedy. in fact the katrina victims got 100% more support than the victims of any hurricane since then. many are still on aid for housing in the houston area. there are always two sides to a story. I hate to say this but today these stories like the climate change dog and pony show are used by people including obama.

    people will open their pocket books but i guestion will really get the money. i see that question being asked in the media. the usa has thrown a lot of money haiti in the past and has nothing to show fot it.

    now this is a great tragedy and well deserves our support, but i don’t care for the way the media covers things nonstop. it is another story to hype for them for the most part till another tragedy. our media has made me a cynic.

  • Peggy Sue

    Limbaugh is a partisan gas bag.  I’ve heard he’s told people not to contribute relief funds because this is a moment where Obama is trying to make himself look like a humanitarian and solidify black support. And please!  Any attempt to say that New Orleans and the Katrina response was a victory for GW is to walk with the loons.

    I have no doubt that if the rescue goes reasonably well, Obama will get credit because he’s the POTUS.  Bush was blamed for the poor response and all those images we watched for the very same reason.

    I don’t like Obama but I’m still hoping things go well for the sake of the people in Haiti.  Anything less is irresponsible and inhumane.

  • Rex

    Hokma – you are exactly correct.  Plus – anyone that lives remotely close to New Orleans knows that it was a ticking time bomb.  The levies were known to be inferior, money had been established to have them repaired, but the corrupt government in LA misused these funds.

    However, I do think it’s time to put politics aside right now and help these poor people – I just can’t imagine.  I was in the earthquake of 1989 that hit the San Francisco area – same magnitude – very frightening.  But we have better infrastructure….prayers are with all that are there and helping……

  • stodghie

    hokma, that’s right i was very angry when i found that our former mayor white planned on using funds to pay off debts and fix credit for some buyers to quality for home loans while the people from ike were begging for help and living in tents. excuse me if i don’t join the band wagon on this one. i was there!

  • Docelder

    One thing is for sure, if the center of that hurricane had hit say Pensacola, or Tampa there would be no lingering analysis of how Bush handled or mishandled anything about it. Domestic crises are different. Local and state governments were in control up to and until the levee break. The mayor of New Orleans is in charge of evecuating the city. He left town for himself. That about says it all. He is still there, that says even more. You can’t help people that are too stupid to help themselves. Read their city website home page. It sounds just like hopenchange. All talk.

    http://www.cityofno.com/pg-35-1-mayors-office.aspx

  • amirosa

    I certainly feel saddened and sorry for the suffering of the people of Haiti.  That said, I do not doubt for a second that Obama is there in the hope that his presence there will improve this sagging ratings here at home,  I do not recall any instance in which an American president heads off to a foreign country during a disaster–that is why we have the Secretary of State and other envoys.  So this time, I agree with crazy Rush!

  • Objective Analysis

    Larry, you are giving the Usurper too much credit here.

    I don’t agree with Rush Limbaugh lambasting anyone right now.  But, Karma is a bitch.

    The best person to testify is Wyclef Jean WHO IS ON THE GROUND PICKING BODIES WITH HIS WIFE AND FAMILY.

    Check this out….

    WyClef Jean’s pleahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM8j7wYjzto&feature=player_embedded  There is a thing called LIP SERVICE and actual actions b/c time is of the essence.  Neither BUSH nor the Usurper are good at either one of them.I would rather see how Clinton would have responded just like after the Tsunami occurred.What Government needs to be is conduit to find out what best way to address the situation.  Haiti is not in the U.S. and the Usurper Obama is spending more time addressing it on tv like it is a state of the U.S.Coordinated efforts with other countries need to take place and put a UNITED EFFORT ON TV not just Obama talking about it for 3 press conferences on tv.

  • Docelder

    Bush was a doofus, but he didn’t do anything wrong with Katrina. he inept mayor evecuated himself instead of evacuating the city in time. New Orleans thanked him by re-electing him. People can feel sorry for New Orleans five years later if they want, I don’t. If somewhere like Tampa had been hit instead of New Orleans we wouldn’t be having this talk five years later. Tampa would have moved on years ago.

  • creeper

    Aw, hattip, you had me till you cited Rush.  That was one provoke over the line.

    Note to all Repubs:  You do your party no favors when dealing with independents by citing Rush Limbaugh.  We long ago figured out what he is and when you invoke him you make us want to run for the exits.

  • SeriouslySickOfObama

    So, basically what your saying is that manchildnchief in working off a script, kinda like the teleapromtor to do the job? LOL!  If he had to make the decisions without a planned script, he would be worse than bush’s katrina moment bc he has no CLUE have to govern! So, really he isn’t leading, he is following someone’s plan for these acts of God that was in place bf he was sworn in, so once again he is using someone else’s words/plan/agenda!  Thank you, LJ for the following information bc now we know it wasn’t his IDEA and giving us the knowledge that the US does have a plan for others in need and I am guessing as long as everyone does their part, our efforts to help these victims will be successful.  My heart breaks from the photo’s coming out of that country!

  • Objective Analysis

    People need details.  They remember Katrina and Tsunami in Asia Pacific.  Peole are struggling right now financially.

    They need to know what in the world you are doing with their money.  You don’t send out an email asking for money when you are not detailing what you are doing.

    That is what the Usurper does not understand.

    http://www.floppingaces.net/2010/01/15/extraordinary-us-military-central-to-haitian-relief-efforts/#more-32969

    Check out this article Larry, if the Usurper would start stating what he is doing with our military effort in DETAIL and not just teleprompter talk, I would have a little inclination to respect his efforts.

    But he is busy bussing his ass to MA to help coakley out to save Obamacare.  Sorry, wrong priorities.

  • Docelder

    Every hurricane season the talking head weather guys nearly always brought up the worst disaster scenarios imaginable. These included a direct hit to New Orleans and a direct up the bay hit of Tampa. Probably folks who don’t live in the hurricane areas didn’t really watch or remember them. People knew. They just gambled with the levee money and lost.

  • bamaLV

    anyone notice obama did not say he’d “give’ haiti 100 million dollars. he said he’d “make an investment of one hundred mil.”  what exactly is he using our money to “invest” in?.  becoming president of haiti? i will sure donate to that campaign.

  • EWard

    Peggy Sue

    Rush may be a political hack, but he never said to his viewers not to give aid to Haiti.  It is another lie being spread by the lap dog media. 

    This is the 4th day of the tragedy and the relief is not getting in because of the incompetence of Haiti’s government and their weak infrastructure.  Obama gets no kudos from me.  His policies are bankrupting this country and he’s rewarding his friends/groups that assisted him into power.  By the end of his administration, the US will need aid from China.

  • Docelder

    Corrupt governments and weak infrastructure is exactly right. That is going to hurt Haiti just like the same combination hurt New Orleans. It doesn’t matter who is the U.S. president.

  • Peggy Sue

    If Rush L.  didn’t say that on the air then I stand corrected.  I read this particular report, didn’t hear it.  Although the times I have listened to Limbaugh, he is Mr. Gas Bag personified, IMO.

    I’m not personally givng Obama credit for anything, E.  I’m simply saying that if the relief effort goes well, Obama will no doubt get credit.  In the same way that GW was thrown the blame.  Although I do think trying to twist Katrina and New Orleans into a “victory” for the Bush Administration is absolutely idiotic.  It’s one of those “don’t trust your lying eyes” moments.

    Do I think Obama’s policies are bankrupting the country?  I think we’re already bankrupt, insolvent for all practical purposes.  It didn’t happen overnight; it’s been decades in the making.  Although in the last nine years, we’ve been on fast forward.  Obama? He’s making things all the worse.  And the happy talk from this Administration, the economists and the toe-sucking journalists drives me wild.

    The country deserves better, much better.  And lying is not going to change the grim truth: we’ve been robbed and the criminals are still running around claiming we’ve turned the corner and taking fat bonuses, while their colluding friends, the politicians and lobbyists line their own pockets and smile like crocodiles.

    Obama is absolutely to blame.  And so are many, many others from both sides of the aisle.

  • JustMe
  • JustMe

    LOL

  • morris1030

    The word “inestment” got to me too. Either it’s a poorly framed sentence or an out for immediate $$$ or some other future helphe intends.

    It’s a fuzzy choice of words.  But Hillary C will have more to do with helping Haiti along with  Bill than NODrama, and the implementation of this if good will help Obama who will not hesitate to steal Hillary’s thunder.

  • nickoury

    Hey lark, check out the following site and the accompaying comments, very informative.

    http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/01/satellite-photos-of-haiti-before-and-after-the-earthquake/

    You’ll have a much better appreciation of the conditions.

  • EWard

    Peggy Sue

    To me Obama is a Marxist.  If you follow Alinsky’s book “Rules for Radicals” his speech denouncing the banks is a typical Alinsky tactic.  He always has to have new villains.  He is practicing class warfare and this is our President?  I don’t remember Bush or any other recent President doing this.  Scott Brown is ahead in MA because the Democrats and Independents are jumping ship.  They are scared of Obama care. 

  • Sassy

    I’ll reserve judgement until the results are in.
    Bush did a fly-over on his way to a fund-raiser. BO is headed to MA. to try to salvage the Kennedy seat.
    I guess the real match-up is Hillary against “heck of a job Brownie” and my money is on the “Pro”!

  • EllenD

    Larry doesn’t have knee-jerk reactions. He calls them the way they are.
    There is a shocking lack of professionalism at all levels in all fields these days. In my opinion it is because the experienced guys that understand the situation aren’t given promotions to take advantage of their know-how. Experience is trumped by kiss-ass promotions and bringing in people at the top who don’t have a clue. Larry is simply applauding that an actual plan is being followed, no matter whether it is Obama or anyone else who is doing it.

  • Animal Control

    Agree with you EllenD, but there sure are a lot off other knee jerks around.

  • Brodie

    I also donated through Bill’s foundation. Bill totally gets it & can articulate clearly what needs to be done. I’m hoping that Hillary’s presence there will help the logjam of aid to get moving to where it needs to go. We also need more military at the airport to manage the logistics & put a lid on the gangs, bullies & ignorant fools.

  • PortiaElizabeth

    The thing that makes me crazy – and I don’t know who’s to blame – is that those homes in New Orleans were built on land that was below sea level. If that isn’t a recipe for disaster, I don’t know what is. You don’t have to be a genius to figure out that in hurricane areas that’s just stupid.

  • PortiaElizabeth

    I don’t think BO will be going to Haiti. Instead he’s sending Hillary and Bill. He’ll be going to Massachusetts to shmooze.

  • Why

    not blame Bush for all hurricanes?  They know when hurricanes are coming but the velocity is constantly changing and they don’t know where it will hit or how severe it will be until it hits.  The damage from Katrina covered hundreds of square miles not just New Orleans.  Nagin could not organize his own city and did not do a damn thing.  Those who stayed in New Orleans when they knew they could be potentially hit were idiots. 

  • Hokma

    I agree. I was hoping that the silver lining after Katrina is that the rebuilding of New Orleans would use innovation and imagination rather than patch it back together which is what they are doing – making it vulnerable to another major hurricane.

  • Only $100 million?

    Why not make it $100 billion?  It is not Obama’s money, it is our money.  It is easy for that jerk to spend our money while he lives high on the hog off our money.  Let’s see Obama pledge 50% of his wealth now and for the rest of his life to Haiti.  You want to spread the wealth, Obama, then put your money where your mouth is. 

    Obama wants pizza, he won’t call Domino’s like normal people, he just picks a pizza chef and flys him in from 1,000 miles to make him a damn pizza.  Obama just wants to play golf and go on lib television and give himself a B+. 

  • ogee

    I was wondering when someone was going to say something about Rush’s comment on this. Rush missed the mark on this one. He has his talking points whether they are true or not. Oblamey has nothing to do with the Haiti decision. He’s going along to get along. It’s that way with every damned issue, that’s why he changes his mind so much. He’s trying to please his cronies all the time. Depending on whcih cronie he’s trying to please that’s what his decision will be for that day.

    <blockquote>”In practice the actual onus for coordinating all of this falls to the Secretary of State. Secretary of State Clinton” </blockquote>

    DITTO

    LOOK WHO REALLY WON

  • Prime Obot

    Wow. This is the kind of community member you have fostered here, LJ. This is the level of rhetoric. This is the ideological brand that finds its home here. Congratulations. 

  • FranSC

    Yttik – I agree 100% with your assessment, especially when you say, “the reason 0bama is handling the relief operation so well is because he isn’t handling it at all.”  I keep noticing that many of the commenters are saying 0 asked Presidents Clinton and Bush to head up this effort.  Bill C began his efforts to help Haiti with his Global Initiative resources and the Clinton Foundation days before 0 gave him ‘permission’ which was no doubt Bill’s idea to begin with.  BC understands that it is better to at least appear as tho you are working in a partnership with the POTUS.  I believe that is one of the sticking points he still harbors about Pres Carter.  Carter was globe- trotting on his own in official capacities it seemed and Bill C didn’t appreciate it.  I’m sure Bill got W involved when his Dad couldn’t make it – it would never have occurred to clueless 0bama to do that. 

    If the Clintons and W’s efforts start looking too impressive, don’t be surprised if 0 cancels his Coakley appearance and goes to Haiti to look like he is in charge and directing the underling former POTUS and his own SoS that he supposedly also directs.  Right!  What a complete and total loser this jerk is. 

  • FranSC

    Sorry, Creeper, but I don’t agree with you on Rush.  I never seriously listened to anything RL had to say UNTIL 2008.  I still pick and choose what I agree with RL and even Glenn Beck on these days, but I think both have 0bama’s number, and I usually agree with their assessments. 

    That is one thing 2008 did for me after years of mindless agreement with liberal policies.  I at least listen to the conservative view now and interestingly find myself agreeing with much of it.  I don’t think I can ever return to just the liberal view.  Independent is where I fit at this point.

  • lark

    You obviously have a closed mind made up of stereotypes and cliches that prevent you from having new thoughts.

  • BBF

    Ashley Smith…writing in CounterPunch.org

    First the Bush administration and now the Obama administration have used the coup and social and natural crises to expand the U.S.’s neoliberal economic plans.

    Under Obama, the U.S. has granted Haiti $1.2 billion in debt relief, but it hasn’t canceled all of Haiti’s debt–the country still pays huge sums to the Inter-American Development Bank. The debt relief is classic window-dressing for Obama’s real Haiti policy, which is the same old Haiti policy.

    In close collaboration with the new UN Special Envoy to Haiti, former President Bill Clinton, Obama has pushed for an economic program familiar to much of the rest of the Caribbean–tourism, textile sweatshops, and weakening of state control of the economy through privatization and deregulation.

    (SNIP)

    Thus, as previous U.S. presidencies have done before, the Obama administration has worked to aid Haiti’s elite, sponsor international corporations taking advantage of cheap labor, weaken the ability of the Haitian state to regulate the society, and repress any political resistance to that agenda.

    ########

    NOTE:The Obama administration has not lifted the ban against Aristide’s return to Haiti, or the ban on his party, Fanmi Lavalas, from participating in the electoral process.

  • Usually silent

     I agree with you. He does deserve congratulations. His site is one of the few that allows an exchange of ideas from vastly diverse viewpoints with minimal flaming.
    There is more light than heat here, which is quite rare these days.  Thank you, Mr. Johnson

  • lark

    Hillary should accept President’s Garcia Preval if he wants to resign and ask then for him to dismiss his cabinet. Then she should ask Obama to name an interim military governor from the U.S. Navy.

    Hillary then should address the people of Haiti and let them know that the U.S. is taking over their territory but keeping their legislatave bodies in place as an advisory council to the new governor.

    She should reassure Haitians that there would be new elections and a referendum giving them the opportunity to select between entering into a Commonwealth with the U.S. or staying as a sovereign country.

  • lark

    I have a feeling that the existing government of Haiti would like to abdicate and resign. I think that is the reason Hillary Clinton is going to the region. Otherwise I don’t see why she would have to go there at this time.

  • EllenD

    Lark, as much as you want the U.S. to kick out the Haiti government, it is a foreign sovereign country. We, as with the other countries of the world, have to accept that we are not able to dictate to them what they must do.

  • Docelder

    Yes well the stimulus was an investment too. This is just salesman speak to substitute “cost” with “invest”. I swear that guy that writes his speeches must sit around reading books on NLP and how to mind control and manipulate people.

  • lark

    EllenD, what I am saying is that ours is not the America of our grandparents and the America of previous decades. We have no interest in problem solving but in patching problems. That is why instead of spending millions we now spend billions and trillions. Our country today is so inneficient all it knows is to spin. As you can see clearly, all Obama, Hillary, Bill and many others are doing is spinning the Haiti catastrophy. None as such, including Hillary and Bill Clinton are statesman, and that is a lot to say, because I have a lot of respect for both of them since I know they are sincere, entrepreneurial and effective. But they are incapacitated by political correctness.

  • lark

    EllenD, all I am doing is showing you how we are not doing much for the people of Haiti. For whatever reasons, probably racisism, we just want to put this tragedy behind us. Indugence. Our efforts, as LJ clearly explains are all by the book, not by the heart.

  • lark

    EllenD, we are at war with terrorism because it can kill a few of us. But we are not at war with missery and death if it is the other who is misserable and dying. This is not the America of our fathers. We have changed. And with Obama, is change we can believe in.

  • onnhl

    We also supply Professional hair straightenersCeramic,ghd mk4 ghd straighteners,ghd iv salon styler,ghd the limited edition high gloss ghd iv dark styler is now available as part of the ghd dark or pure campaignCHI flat iron,ghd iv dark styler ghd hair keywords: ghd iv dark styler,ghd iv styler , ghd iv styler straighteners,CHI Hair Straightenersand provide kinds of GHD hair straighteners.shop online with cheapest 4-7 day speedy ship time.GHD Hair Straightenercreates the look you want.Hair straightenersprotects your hair while styling.We offer cheap GHD,GHD straighteners whichever path you choose,fashion GHD Hair straighteners,perfect hair and loads of style await. this type of ghd iv dark styler had good look,girls are tend to love the beautiful and fashionable things which would make them have a good mood in a daywholesale CHI hair products,they are some specail useful features about this ghd iv dark styler brandHair straighteners,kinds of GHD Hair straighteners.If you want to buy a professional hair straightener or just looking for some good quality flat hair irons,then check out our shop. http://www.straighteners-chi.com/

  • onnhl

    Dear friends from all over the world,We are a professional and reliable supplier of series of innovative,authenticand CHEAPIve written a letter of NFL JERSEYS,The Cincinnati Bengals of NFL receiver is being fined for his latest stunt donning a poncho and sombrero after scoring a touchdown this weekend a person in the NFLMLB JERSEYS,by the NFL for pretending to bribe an official a dollar.WhiNBA JERSEYS,was being reviewed during CincinnatiNHL JERSEYS.Dear NFL League Office being great means having fun n celebrating. apology to yall. This fine comes about a month after Ochocinco was docked and on Nov. 8 Ochocinco held a dollar bill in his right hand at his official,We supply all kinds of jerseys andWHOLESALE JERSEYSreprimanded le one of his catches 17-7 victory over Baltimorewith good priceandside but did not give it to thegood quality,welcome to buy and enjoy thegreatest benefits. http://www.onnhl.com/

  • halian

    we are Professional? with the highest quality service.on-line manufacturer supplies that wholesales all kinds ghd hair straighteners ,GHD Hair Straightener is the world’s famous brands and chi hair straighteners. Our CHI FLAT IRON,To give consumers convenient,at the same time care of everyone’s hair.CHI hair straightener,?Its use is very simple,in case of leakage will automatically power off to protection of everyone’s personal safety.GHD straighteners are popular all over the world with high quality, ?When the temperature reaches a maximum,it will not stop flashing the lights, reminding everyone.competitive price,In addition, the design was very nice, very lightweight.fast delivery.Dry autumn, is the hair of the most vulnerable physiological periods.shop online for genuine & authentic hair straingtener,Welcome to visite our website. http://www.hairupstyler.com/

  • halian

    Avatar is a 2009 American science fiction film written and directed by James Cameron. The epic is set in the year 2154 on Pandora, a fictional Earth-like moon in a distant planetary system. Humans are engaged in mining Pandora’s reserves of a precious mineral, while the Na’vi—the sapient and sentient race of humanoids indigenous to the moon—resist the colonists’ expansion, which threatens the continued existence of the Na’vi and the Pandoran ecosystem..www.ghdhairon.com for Shopping CHI®&GHD® Hair Styler OnlineThe film was released in traditional 2-D and 3-D, as well as IMAX 3D formats. Avatar is officially budgeted at $237 million;other estimates put the cost at $280,310 million to produce and an estimated $150 million for marketingThe film is being touted as a breakthrough in terms of filmmaking technology, for its development of 3D viewing and stereoscopic filmmaking with cameras that were specially designed for the film’s production. http://www.ghdhairon.com/

  • lark

    Enough about Haiti, lets return to read about Angelina Jolie and her next movie.

    All smiles is doing a great job in Haiti since she arrived the President of Haiti is much reasured and she made sure that the room for the UN official is done to perfection.

    Obama talked to Garcia Pervez and was able to get a committment from Pervez on the finest No. 9 Iron that he can get for him for his next golf tour.

  • lark

    Do you think Sec of State Hillary Clinton cleaned well and fixed up the room in an acceptable manner for the Sec of the UN visit today? If the bed was not done exactly right and the soap is not in the right place Ban Ki-moon is going to call Obama and Bill Clinton and between them both are going to give Hillary a real bad spanking.

    Obama just sent Ban Ki-moon a customer service evaluation card for him to return to Obama for an evaluation of how Hillary did with his room.