Here's what Bush said about New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in the State of the Union speech:
Tonight the armies of compassion continue the march to a new day in the Gulf Coast. America honors the strength and resilience of the people of this region. We reaffirm our pledge to help them build stronger and better than before. And tonight I'm pleased to announce that in April we will host this year's North American Summit of Canada, Mexico, and the United States in the great city of New Orleans. (Applause.)
Clap, clap, clap.
Indeed, it is the strong people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast and the "armies of compassion", the volunteers, who give so generously of their time and talents, who do the major work of recovery in the areas affected by Katrina and the federal flood.
There were bets around here as to whether Bush would allude to the Gulf Coast at all in the SOTU, since he did not speak of the area at all in his speech last year. He did mention it, and I'm pleased that he's setting the North American Summit in New Orleans. That will throw a few bucks to New Orleans and help their economy.
I wonder if he will be just a tad embarrassed that so many areas remain totally devastated. Will he be ashamed to show the visitors from Mexico and Canada around those devastated areas? Will he limit the tour to the areas that look pretty good? Since Bush spoke the words, will he speed up the implementation of his "pledge to help them build stronger and better than before"?
From the Baton Rouge, La. Advocate:
“He mentioned revenue sharing in Iraq but failed to mention revenue sharing at home,” said [Sen. Mary] Landrieu, D-La.
U.S. Sen. David Vitter welcomed Bush’s continued commitment to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Vitter, R-La., is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has made several visits to the battle region.
Sen. Vitter, what about the home front? What about the continued commitment to the people in your own state, citizens of the United States of America?
Meanwhile, Landrieu said, the planned economic summit will mean the eyes of the world will be on the state.
“At least Louisiana and the Gulf Coast were mentioned,” Landrieu said. “This conference puts us in the international spotlight.”
For better or for worse.
Hmm. I'll be watching.
ReplyDeleteme, too.
ReplyDeleteMe, too. That makes three.
ReplyDeleteTalk is cheap, isn't it, Mimi?
ReplyDeleteLapin, talk is cheap, especially Bush's talk. I could not bear to watch him for very long. Bush and Cheney in the same frame were too much. And the odd little motions that he does with his lips and his facial expressions totally put me off.
ReplyDeleteHis speech is not worth reading, because, no matter what he says, he will do as he pleases, or as God tells him. Let's hope that God doesn't tell him to start another war before he leaves office.
356 days left and counting. That's a long time.
Maybe you could add a countdown clock to your page?
ReplyDeleteAaaaaaargh.
ReplyDelete"Tonight the armies of compassion continue the march to a new day ......... honors the strength and resilience of the people of this region" is, in fact, pure Stalinist rhetoric, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteLapin, "the armies of compassion" that Bush refers to are (I believe) the many volunteers who have helped the local people do the work of recovery in the Gulf Coast. Without the volunteers, such as our friend Kirstin, who come in and work and carry the word back home about the needs of the people of the area, much less would have been accomplished. Thank God for the volunteers, for where was the government, which exists to serve the people and has failed them so miserably?
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could add a countdown clock to your page?
ReplyDeleteLapin, I've found that the more "stuff" I add to my page, the longer it takes to load. I realize that it's pretty busy already, but I try to restrain myself from loading up too much more.
As for the countdown, it creeps along at a very slow pace.
I didn't watch. I can't watch him. However, my boyfriend Jon Stewart watched for me.
ReplyDeleteIt's worth it! You will laugh and feel marginally better for a few minutes.
PJ, you're a promiscuous lass, aren't you? So many boyfriends! I watched your BF Jon, and it was worth it.
ReplyDelete