Hurricane causes Bush to cut his vacation "short"

[pegkerr]

This just makes me insane. The hurricane hit on Monday morning. Hundreds of people killed, hundreds of thousands homeless, and he stayed on his ranch, what, cutting brush? Until today? (Edited to add: Oh, my mistake. He was off playing guitar.)

I keep on thinking I should try to find something good in this man, because damnit, yes, he is our President, and I want to model respect for the office to my girls at least, even if I cannot bring myself to respect the man. However, every time I try to find something to respect, he sinks to new lows.

Shame on him.

Comments

[windswept.livejournal.com]

Out of curiosity, what exactly would you suggest he do/have done?

[naomikritzer]

The news articles yesterday said over and over again that the Superdome had to be evacuated, but none said how, or to what location, and several said that FEMA was "considering" where to send these people. The news articles today say the same thing, except that they add that the situation in the Superdome is truly become horrid and that people CANNOT stay there much longer.

Ordinarily I think that decisions like this (where? how? by whom?) should be made by local authorities in cooperation with other local authorities. However, in a catastrophic failure of decision making and initiative that is putting thousands of lives at risk, this is an excellent time for a President to step in and show leadership. Things he could have spent Monday doing:

1. Calling up the generals and asking whether there are any closed-down or largely unoccupied military facilities that could be used for temporary housing of NO refugees.

2. Calling up the governors of Texas and other nearby states that were not hit by a hurricane to find out what help they can offer, and to lean on them to offer more than they might initially think they can do or spare.

Things he could have spent Tuesday doing:

1. Having aides call up cruise lines and ask that they help with the evacuation. No, he can't just commandeer cruise ships but if the request is made with the authority of the White House, it will at least be considered.

2. Issuing a call to cities near but outside the affected area to offer shelter and aid to the refugees, with a promise of federal support to deal with complications that might arise.

Could he have done all this from Crawford? Yeah. Why didn't he? Well, it's possible he did some of it -- I don't know. But this is the kind of disaster in which a president can significantly overstep his usual authority and no one will complain about it. Had he ordered the Greyhound station to re-open, nationalized all buses in the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan Area and ordered them to evacuate the carless, this would not have been legal, but (a) it probably would have happened anyway and (b) the owners of the buses would probably have been happy, in retrospect, to have had their buses driven to higher ground.

[nmalfoy.livejournal.com]

They're relocating some people to the Astrodome in Houston (at least it's airconditioned) and even some to where I live (College Station). And that should show how bad things are: Houston is filling up fast so they're sending people here, which is about 7 hours from New Orleans.

[sternel.livejournal.com]

Well, so far this week he's been photographed getting a guitar decorated with the presidential seal from some rockstar or other, and bike riding thru his ranch with Lance Armstrong.

Not that I don't think the President deserves some fun, but would it have killed him to reschedule for a date when his constituients weren't trying to survive in a flooded football stadium without working toilets? ::shrug::

I've given up expecting anything sensible from him.

[dejaspirit.livejournal.com]

OMGYES! *growls*

[janni.livejournal.com]

I'd love to have seen him actually go to New Orleans, whatever way he could, talk to people, offer some comfort, tell them he actually cares about what's going on there and what he's doing to make things better.

And then get back to the White House and do those things.

If the governor of Louisiana can visit the Superdome, there's no reason the president can't, too. Lots of other presidents would have.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

One of the most important things a President does is lead, by word and deed. Just being there, leading, is of enormous value.

B

[jimhines.livejournal.com]

He left for vacation on August 2, and was planning to return on Friday, which would be September 2. Man, I want a job that gives me an entire month of vacation time!

[jbru.livejournal.com]

Don't forget, this is the first vacation that he's had since April. He was probably banking his vacation time. </sarcasm>

[akamarykate.livejournal.com]

I know exactly how you feel--I'm so angry and disappointed I can't even look at the coverage of his reaction any more. I keep waiting for him to surprise me, please, just once...and yet it never happens.

[magicwoman.livejournal.com]

I've long since given up on trying to find what he does good. If he couldn't have done anything since Monday - he could at least like he as doing something for this disaster that has struck our country. It seems like he's oblivious half the time. How many more days before I can vote again???

Susan

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Though, if not for his penchant for taking his vacation damnit no matter what else is going on, then Cindy Sheehan wouldn't have had such a good effect. She has the entire White House press corps hanging on her every word mostly because they are stuck in Crawford and don't have anything better to do. Talk about taking advantage of a situation.

[next-bold-move.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you don't WANT to be incensed, but this link has a pretty good point on yet another cost of this damnable war: money that could have been spent on disaster/hurricane aid.

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2005/08/bush-took-new-orleans-disaster-funds.html

[magicwoman.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link.

[kokopoko.livejournal.com]

Yeah I was a bit surprised he didn't cut the vacation short earlier especially when the levees broke. Jerk.

[pameladean]

My mother is very concerned about respect for the office as well. I never have really gotten that, but in any case, I think Bush has tainted and defiled the office, just as he has wrecked the reputation of the United States. The office is a stinking mess til he's gone. Maybe it will be possible to demonstrate how it can regain respect in the future, but now? The lesson has more to do with how any office depends on the integrity of the person occupying it as much as it does on history.

P.

[psychic-serpent.livejournal.com]

I want to model respect for the office to my girls at least, even if I cannot bring myself to respect the man.

The office is only as worthy of respect as the person holding it, which is what the men knew who signed the Declaration of Independence, although that "office" was the Throne of England. Fortunately we don't need to pretend, in this day and age, fealty to a leader whom we feel doesn't deserve it. We reserve our loyalty for our country instead.

We don't pretend, to our kids, to hold political opinions that we don't. They know how we feel about Bush. We don't sugar-coat it (except for using better language around the kids). They knew how we felt about Clinton, which was far better, and about the possibility of Gore or Kerry being elected. If they develop different politically from us that's their choice, but we're not going to pretend we're supportive of someone we don't think should be in office and who we think is doing a horrendous job the vast majority of the time.

Frankly, he's given me such low expectations of his performance at this point I'm surprised he didn't just finish out his vacation to its scheduled Sept. 2 conclusion. This is damn near altruistic and enlightened for HIM. ;)

[jbru.livejournal.com]

The office is only as worthy of respect as the person holding it, which is what the men knew who signed the Declaration of Independence,

I don't of course, speak for Peg, but what I'd want young people to learn is some of the traditional respect that is given the office. Things like: one always addresses the President as "Mr./Madam President," when talking to him or her and that one stands in his or her presence until given leave to sit.

[psychic-serpent.livejournal.com]

This may be an issue of semantics, but that is, I believed, properly called "protocol." And very few people in this country of nearly 300 million ever need to worry about the correct protocol when in the presence of a Head of State, although one should of course observe it if the occasion arises. To observe correct protocol is not quite the same as respecting the person of the President.

[dichroic.livejournal.com]

I don't know. He was in my city Monday. I work for a major aerospace company. The idea of him visiting us doesn't seem all that farfetched. I keep wondering, if he did, whether it would be better to avoid him at all, or to go hear any talk he might give and then, if there were a receiving line, administer what Miss Manners calls "the cut direct" and refuse to shake hands, or to say, politely, "Mr. Bush, you are an evil and contemptible man". I don't think I could bring myself to spit on him, and it probably wouldn't be good for job prospects anyway.

Yeah, just a fantasy - but not an entirely unlikely one, and anyway a girl can dream.

[psychic-serpent.livejournal.com]

Protocol is usually only an issue at the White House itself or in other formal venues, such as an embassy, an official dinner, etc. When a President is pressing the flesh and doing a meet-and-greet his Secret Service agents are worried about security, which is different yet again from protocol, and even if Bush is being seen by a crowd of hundreds an extremely small percentage will ever get to actually speak to him; it's a more informal occasion and protocol tends to fly out the window at such times. (Supporters might yell out encouraging things, for instance, which would be highly inappropriate if they were standing in the Oval Office being formally greeted by the President and First Lady.)

I wouldn't even say, if I got the chance, Mr. Bush, you are an evil and contemptible man," because that's sure not going to get any message across except a dislike for him. I'd say, "Mr. Bush, I hope that you will finally do the right thing and make a public statement supporting..." and name issues that Bush DOESN'T support.

No, I don't actually have any respect for the man, especially as he seems to do whatever his funders want him to do, even if that means contradicting his own beliefs. As an individual he's appeared to be very gay-friendly, for instance, but he'll do pretty much anything the Radical Right tells him to do and so he seems to be perfectly in line with them. In the end his being personally gay-friendly doesn't do gay people any good if he's not willing to walk the walk. THAT'S the sort of action from this president that would incur my respect instead of his constant hypocrisy. The office has been sold to the highest bidder, pure and simple. There is nothing to respect about that although that doesn't mean I'd be rude to him if I did meet him. I'd very politely, within the bounds of protocol, express my wish that he might someday do the right thing, even if I have very deep doubts that that is ever likely to happen.

[dichroic.livejournal.com]

I have done similar things to what you suggest with otherr politicians such as our state legislators. With Bush, I think the only thing my comment would do would me to make me feel better, and possibly to let him know those supportive filtered crowds that are most of what he sees aren't representative. It might just be worth it for the relief to my feelings, especially as, not being a rich oilman, I can't imagine anything I'd say would have any impact on him.

Anyway, hypothetical.

[pixelfish.livejournal.com]

I just love the propaganda pictures of him looking at a report or staring at a TV screen. While he has the benefit of information that I bet I don't have, I feel like I must have a much better appreciation for the magnitude of disaster: Frankly, if being President had been my job, and I knew about the hurricane, I would have said, OK, Vacation, yer gonna have to be put off a few weeks. Because frankly, we needed more leadership out of that man than the weak anemic sentences he put in from his ranch.

I had a dozen ideas for evacuating people--why didn't he? Why didn't he work with the governors of Mississippi and Louisiana to coordinate help from the national level? I know he's the President, so he doesn't take charge of things wholesale, but he can delegate, he can grab the attention of the people who need to be on the spot. Is he not the president for the poor people who couldn't leave NOLA because they had no means? Argh.

[nmalfoy.livejournal.com]

Check this out: http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001051313

[pixelfish.livejournal.com]

I had totally forgot that the President takes most of August for his vacations. BLECH. Didn't the man learn ANYTHING after 9-11?

[nmalfoy.livejournal.com]

Makes you wonder if the soldiers in Iraq get month-long vacations.

They don't? Oh. My bad.

[odyssea.livejournal.com]

I live in Texas, which is almost virulently pro-Bush (I just love being in the minority). Today, someone who has always supported Bush told me that they were disgusted that he had been on vacation for a month and thought that the sacrificial air of "cutting short his vacation" greatly upset them. I whole-heartedly agree with them.

As for the girls, perhaps you can show them respect for the presidency using history. Maybe some books or things about some of our great presidents can show them the good things that someone holding that office can do.

[nmalfoy.livejournal.com]

Read my latest post. It'll make you mad. Possibly preventing this devastation in New Orleans wasn't important a year ago--the war in Iraq needed all our funds, of course because it's a righteous war and all that--and now that the thing they all feared and could have avoided has come to pass, now he cuts his vacation short. Sorry, Georgie. You lose.

[cynthia1960.livejournal.com]

Last night when I saw the picture of W playing guitar after the hurricane hit, I let loose with a torrent of non-work-safe, non-child-safe language. It was a very good thing that only my cat Snickers heard that. I know what you mean about showing respect for the office, but I find it harder and harder each day W is there. January 20th, 2009 cannot come soon enough for me.

[pinkfinity.livejournal.com]

Aaron told me yesterday that I shouldn't call Bush a "dickweed" in front of our kids. I said, fine, I'll call him an idiot.
I don't care enough to model respect for "authority" when said authority does nothing to deserve it, and the kids certainly heard me praise the local officials who've lost everything and are still helping their communities, the men & women in Iraq who are coming home to utter devestation this weekend assuming their tours aren't extended at the last minute, and those involved in airlifting the refugees out of town. They don't need to respect this figurehead who cares nothing for suffering. He saw what a Cat 3 will do last year here in Florida - has he forgotten already? Did he pay no attention in 1992 when it took his father days to send relief to the people of south Miami? Does he just not give a damn?

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/005325.php

B

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Even people who used to praise him are getting fed up:

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2005/08/manchester-union-leader-bush-and.html

B

[(Anonymous)]

I believe the president was giving a previously scheduled speech at a naval base in honor of V-J Day. That picture with the guitar was taken at a concert there.

He declared LA and MS disaster areas before Katrina hit, so that FEMA could mobilize resources BEFORE hand. He has given the appropriate people authority to act in their areas of expertise. For the commenters who want him 'helping' - lets leave it to the experts, please. Frankly, I prefer he stay away from the disaster areas since his presence is likely to hinder rescue efforts. It would be heedless of him to distract emergency workers by his presence - and that is why his staff recommend he NOT go there now.

I wish people would leave their politics out of disasters. Suffering doesn't care if its a red state, blue state, conservative or liberal.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Pretty much anything a President is political, whether he likes it or not. To insist that is shouldn't be is, I think, idealistic but unrealistic.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking about this since I posted my first reply, and I think I need to respond again, refuting your point even more strongly. I wasn't objecting because Bush was acting like a "conservative" vs. a "liberal."

Look. Politics do figure in disasters, like it or not. And here's why: the President is called the Chief Executive. An Executive is someone who executes--who gets things done. And people need to see that he's getting things done. The President may think he may be able to manage things by pulling strings long distance--a call to FEMA here, a declaration of disaster area there. But the Americans who are gathered around their TV sets watching in shock, or with the phone glued to their ear because they're frantically trying to learn whether Aunt Minnie got out before the tornado hit, or she's dying of thirst in a hot attic or floating and decomposing in toxic sludge--well, you'd better believe they're not going to be satisfied to see Mr. President going for a bike ride with Lance Armstrong. In order for people to support their governments, they have to believe that there is a stake in it for them, that the government gives a damn about them, whether they are rich or poor, black or white, rural or urban. Why should they pay their taxes or fight in this country's wars if they don't believe that there is a social contract here, that we are all in this together?

George Bush's actions this week practically shouted that he isn't one of us, that he didn't care about the people who were fighting to just survive.

You better believe that is political.

[(Anonymous)]

The severity of the damage became known throughout the day on Tuesday, and as it became known, people in positions of responsibility began to act. The president made his decision to return to DC as that severity became known. He gave a news conferences from DC yesterday. He met with people all day. I am unclear as to what more you want him to do? His job is to make sure that the experts and professionals have the authority to do what needs to be done. He has done that. Frankly, he is not that eloquent and I would just as soon not listen to too many more speeches. I want to hear the facts that he's unfettered any group that needs his leave to act.

It sounds like your dislike of the man is clouding the reality of the situation. Watching the horrors unfold has made minutes seem like hours and hours like days. I cannot even imagine what it feels like to those who are living through this hell. But the timeline of this is that as the magnitude of the devastation became known, the president changed his plans and returned to DC.

Diasasters are not meant to be political. I don't care if the governors are republican or democratic. This is not a partisan issue - its about people. We are all Americans, not enemies. Directing anger at the president detracts from the real issue: what can we each do to help our fellow Americans, our neighbors in need?

Lets save blame and recriminations for much later.

[graygirl.livejournal.com]

I think he's an utter ass. This only confirmed it.