graceland's Diaryland Diary

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I hardly recognize today's America

It's fascinating, to watch the fall of a President. Particularly a fall of one who has had it coming. It's amazing he was able to hoodwink so many for so long, while another huge percentage saw him for the simple-minded, elitest that we believe he is. It's sad that so many had to die - both on our shores and abroad, for America to start to realize that we elected a man as President who is neither capable or deserving of the office.

God knows how he will clean this mess up, but he's got his Mom and Dad out there spinning. For the first time, I don't even think that's helping. I'm not sure if the Silver Fox has gone senile or what, but comments like 'these people were underprivileged to begin with, so for them, being here is marvelous' (paraphased) are simply bombastic to anyone with any degree of compassion and understanding for the plight of those citizens who are currently dislocated from their homes. As if being underprivileged makes living on a cot on the floor of a sports facility some sort of grand adventure. Jesus Christ, Barbara, I thought you were smarter than that. As if being underpriviliged means you don't have items that are of meaning and value to you. Items that are floating in stagnant, diseased water.

So Bush brought in Clinton's Director of FEMA as a consultant. It's amazing how the Republican party painted Clinton as the do-nothing devil and yet time and again, Bush taps both the ex-President and his former appointees.

And then there's Clinton himself. I sometimes wonder if being Clinton is somewhat like being Bobby Fisher and teaching someone to play chess. Do they both sit there and sigh, seeing the next move clearly that the novice can't recognize? I imagine Bill Clinton watching the news in his home and sighing frequently.

So Clinton came out and made some brief remarks. In a just few short moments he eloquently stated, "I should say that nothing we do can be an adequate response to the agony we've seen. I am grateful to all the folks who have given."

Perfect. Not a Bushy Pep Talk. The Nation didn't need pep last week, certainly not delivered with that smug smile (why is President smiling? Tell me, why is he smiling? Does he think this is funny?) - they need to know that the Federal government was going to move hell and high water to free thousands of people trapped up to their necks in diseased water. The nation wanted a plan. Three states desperately needed action. It took four days for the President to free up the resources that we have - that we own - to save our own citizens. MY GOD. How many people did this man leave to die with his passive inaction? Would this have happened if the storm had hit Florida? If Jeb Bush had called, would the 82nd Airborne and the Navy been made available earlier?

If it had been New York, my own state, where Wall Street money resides and is grown, where political party coiffers are filled, where wealthy, educated people abound - would the response have been quicker?

I think we all know the answer to that question. Whether or not we want to admit it because it is an ugly, scary truth. It puts a monetary value on our life; it says that the poor are dispensable.

I'm sickened and embarrassed at the George Bush's America. I was raised to understand that we are the "Home of the Free, The Land of the Brave." I didn't see much bravery last week as the President flew over the Gulf States and then came back to the disaster area - just to politic at a press conference limiting him to a fake set built at the polarized N.O. airport. I didn't see bravery within a FEMA that missed about 6,000 people waiting DAYS for rescue at the N.O. Convention Center. The Red Cross knew they were there - they were with those survivors working to sustain lives and maintain order. FEMA didn't know. They were probably following Hastert's brave suggestion to bulldoze the city and not rebuild, since it's below sea level and all.

I believe that with Freedom comes responsibility and I'm not seeing much responsibility from anyone, beyond a first time mayor with little Beltway clout, who - while perhaps underprepared for his disaster - bravely stood his post in the center of the political storm and shouted to be heard, only to have his battle cries drown unanswered in the water that destroyed his city.

God Bless America. We need it.

9:28 p.m. - 2005-09-06

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