(no subject)

[alonewiththemoon]

If you weren't already feeling as low as you thought you could feel about the aftereffects of Hurricane Katrina and the way it was handled, this Salon article about FEMA will take care of that.

Days before Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, the city of Chicago drew up a list of resources it was willing to make available for relief efforts in areas that might be hit by the storm. Chicago told the Federal Emergency Management Agency that in the event of disaster, it could spare more than 100 Chicago police officers, 36 Fire Department personnel, eight emergency medical experts, more than 130 staff from Chicago's Department of Public Health, 140 staff from the Department of Streets & Sanitation, dozens of trucks and two boats. These teams, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley told federal officials, could work in affected areas independently, bringing their own food, water and other supplies with them. But FEMA apparently wasn't interested. Despite the host of resources Chicago offered, and despite the televised lack of resources in New Orleans, as of late last week, FEMA had requested only one thing from Chicago -- a single tanker truck.

Even Celine Dion is talking all militant and stuff, and I didn't think she noticed the world. She yelled, even.

Comments

[spitcurl.livejournal.com]

My favorite snub?

Castro has offered 1,200 Doctors and other medical personnel from Cuba, who were (as of yesterday I think it was) stationed, packed and ready to go help. But the US has COMPLETELY IGNORED Cuba's offer of aid. Medical aid -- which is astonishing and going to continue to be needed for awhile. It was on NPR. Cuba said let's not let politics come between humanitarian need, etc...

[jasonlizard.livejournal.com]

This administration puts politics before everything.

[spitcurl.livejournal.com]

Aie yie yie...

And is it just me, or is this the first president we've ever had who's had to bring in both previous ex-presidents to work as his fundraisers and international diplomacy team? (And possibly as criticism buffers?) With his dad I understand, but with the 3 of them up there for both the Tsunami & Katrina fundraising...its odd. Like he knows he does not have enough support worldwide to do so on his own. Have other former presidents ever done that so deliberately?

[jasonlizard.livejournal.com]

Yes, I believe Clinton tapped both Bush I and Carter for some humanitarian thing or another but I can't recall what it was and I don't think he tapped them both at the same time. On the one hand, it's something of an honor to be called back into service for your country. On the other hand, if you've so horribly mismanaged something to begin with, it looks more like a bail-out.

If anyone knows who to call to get things done, I imagine Clinton would and would be quick about it. The question remains if they'd actually do something. Both Bush I and Clinton would have no actual authority over the organizations they could call. On the fund-raising side, I can see them both pulling in some pretty good donations.

Bush Jr. picked a pretty funny time to get too proud to accept help from other countries.

"Hi, yes we know what the media has been saying, but, no thanks, we really don't need your help. We're fine, actually. We take care of our own. Wait, you say they're poor? We really don't want your help, now. How do you ever expect us to rid ourselves of poor people if you want to help them?"

I should stop, now.

[alonewiththemoon]

"Besides, my mom says they're much better off now then they were before!"

[rojagato.livejournal.com]

Bush I and Clinton were tapped for tsunami aid and AIDS in Africa. They're becoming like an old comedy team.