Posted on 09/02/2005 2:31:43 PM PDT by Rummyfan
Mark Steyn on Hurricane Katrina
HH: Hi, Mark. Welcome to the program.
MS: Good to be with you, Hugh.
HH: Mark, there's a lot to talk about. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Let's start with the good. I'm glad you're joined in over at Steynonline.com. I'm impressed by how many people are willing to raise money. Do you think that the charitable capacity of America is up to this rebuilding effort?
MS: Well, I think that's not an issue, really. My little site, we've been giving the proceeds of book sales today, just for 24 hours. And when I checked this morning, we were up with a significant, five-figure sum, which rather took me aback by 6:30 in the morning. And not just from America. I mean, people complain about the lack of sympathy Americans are getting from around the world. But lots of people from Canada, to Australia, to South Africa, to Austria, to Germany, to Scandinavia have been contributing, at least at my site, which suggests that there is a genuine concern around the world for the situation down there.
HH: And I do believe that over the last couple of days, we've been telling people about Feed The Children, which is 888-58-CHILD. And that billions will be raised, eventually. Now let's get to the bad. The local and state government of Louisiana caught flat-footed. Now, there's a politicization of this going on. Are you shocked at how, well crass, really, the politicization of this disaster has become so quickly?
MS: Not really, because I think if you look at what happened on September 11th, for example, and September 11th, the federal government, every single federal agent, pretty much, failed catastrophically. And the local and state agencies, you know, the New York firefighters and the police department, and so forth, the local and state officials did very well. And what we've seen in Louisiana, particularly, and Mississippi is a slightly different situation. But in Louisiana, the city and state officials have not performed well. And you think to yourself, this was really the first big test of Homeland Security since September 11th. Imagine, for example, that Osama bin Laden had had a plan to blow a hole in one of these levees, and flood New Orleans.
HH: Right.
MS: Would the situation have been any better? And the answer is, no. And the reason is because the officials in New Orleans are out of their depth. I mean, literally. I mean, this poor woman who's the governor of Louisiana, and floundering away on TV, she'd be out of her depth even if her city wasn't flooded. I mean, there's a level at which at some point, you have to talk about the political authority. When you send in an inadequate police force, to relieve a stadium, where people have gone to take refuge, and instead they're being raped in there, and you send 80 police officers, and the police officers are being beaten back by the rapists, that's a poor political decision.
HH: Yeah, it certainly is, and that's the ugly part. The worst part of human nature. Even if it's only 3 or 5 percent, as people like James Q. Wilson estimates, is really preying on these victims in New Orleans.
MS: Absolutely. I mean, Robert Kaplan, when he talks about what's happened in failed West African states, calls it the re-primitivation of man. And that's actually what we're seeing in New Orleans. If looting were a question of stealing bread and milk, that would be one thing. But when you've got people who are firing on childrens hospitals, that is a slightly different level of societal breakdown we're talking about here. And yes, it is humiliating that the world's preeminent superpower can be reduced to a third-world basket case, within the space of 48 hours.
HH: Now, we will restore order. I actually think the tide has turned now, from what I can judge in terms of flooding the zone...not with water, but with National Guard, etc. But already, the media overkill...I've got to play you what for me is a Wellstone funeral moment. Jack Cafferty of CNN, melting down in his rage against George W. Bush, to the point where you have to wonder if CNN hasn't lost all credibility here. Let me play you a little clip from Jack Cafferty, oh, about an hour and a half ago:
09-01cafferty.mp3
HH: Mark Steyn, dropping sandwiches into the Superdome aside, that's just so stupid as to defy comment.
MS: Yeah.
HH: What's wrong with these people?
MS: I don't understand what that's meant to be about. The big lesson of September 11th, in fact, is in the end, the more the people are self-reliant, and take control for themselves, the more they're likely to be able to withstand these things. If you entrust yourself to the government, then you will be vulnerable. The people who had reviled SUV's, that the environmental want to get rid of and want to ban, they were able to drive away from the city. The people who were dependent on public transit, and did what the government did, and went into this appalling situation in the Superdome, they're the ones that have been failed by their governments. It's not a federal government issue. You know, the lesson of September 11th is that the president of the United States, when something bad goes wrong, the president of the United States won't be there, either up in the airplane, or down in the swamp to save you. All he can do is hold a photo-op afterwards, which is what Jack Cafferty was urging him to do, you know, to fly down there the day afterwards. That's pointless. You've got to have a situation where people are encouraged to be self-reliant, and exercise responsible choices themselves.
HH: I'll tell you. It's the best commercial for owning a gun I've ever seen.
MS: Absolutely. And I would say that the last thing...anyone who wants to talk about gun control these days, I'll tell you something. If I had property in New Orleans, and I was there, the one thing I'd want to do, when some of these people come a-callin' is make sure I was armed.
HH: Well, that recalls the Korean immigrants on the roofs of their buildings during the Los Angeles riots. And of course, the three days of utter carnage that raged in this city in 1992. Same sort of deal, except that the cameras couldn't get in as close, because people were shooting at them. Mark Steyn, the Coast Guard pilots, who have now rescued three thousand people...I mean, there are so many brave public service people out there working. When I hear a Jack Cafferty in a studio rant like this, I just think they must turn purple with rage at the studio second quarterbacks.
MS: Well, you know, one of the interesting things about this...if you compare it with the tsunami, in some respects, the U.S. Navy had an easier time getting aid to some people in the tsunami, than it did here. And you have to ask yourself why that is? Well, it is to do, a lot of the time, with political choices.
HH: Yeah.
MS: The way each levee in New Orleans, and they failed, these levees. They weren't over-flooded. They weren't over capacity. They failed. They broke. They didn't work. These levees are all run by different levee authorities. You think to yourself well, isn't that New Orleans' responsibility, instead of a make-work job, public service program. Why not have one that actually is there to do the job it's meant to do? Why is this...you know, it was a close election for governor in Louisiana last time. You think to yourself, when you're electing a local official, imagine them standing up the morning after a September 11th or a hurricane. Who do you want up there? It's not just about political partisanship. You've got to think about what leadership, and effective political leadership means.
HH: Now Mark Steyn, you drove into Fallujah the week after the war ended. Would you have rather taken your chance in Fallujah the week after the war? Or New Orleans the week after the levee breaks?
MS: Oh, no question. I'd go with Fallujah, because I think what you're dealing with there is human failings. You can read the situation in something like that. What you're witnessing in New Orleans is the combination of a tremendous force of nature, exacerbated by poor political decisions. And as I've said, by this depravity of a sub-section of the population, that has taken advantage of the situation. That's a combination of factors that's actually far worse than the Sunni Triangle.
HH: But the good news is, I don't think Americans are going to let their generosity to be stifled by that lowest element. I think they're going to realize the number of people that have devastated. Last question, Mark. We haven't seen much from Mississippi, because there just aren't any ways to get trucks and cameras in there. 90,000 square miles. What do you think we're going to be talking about a week from today?
MS: Well, I think one of the things that will be interesting, is that Haley Barbour has been much closer to a Giuliani figure, in Mississippi. Somebody said something very interesting to me a few weeks ago. They were talking about Haley Barbour as a possible presidential candidate. And I hadn't paid that much attention to him, and I did say that I thought, generally speaking, Mississippi was one of those states that people outside Mississippi didn't pay a lot of heed to. And I think from what I understand of what's gone on down there, he's certainly been much more forceful on TV. He's been much more forceful on the question of looters.
HH: Yeah, he's been very much in charge. Mark, we're out of time. I want to send everyone to Steynonline.com. Take advantage of the book offer.
Posted at 4:25PM PST
MS: Absolutely. And I would say that the last thing...anyone who wants to talk about gun control these days, I'll tell you something. If I had property in New Orleans, and I was there, the one thing I'd want to do, when some of these people come a-callin' is make sure I was armed.
Take note all you gun-grabbers in the Dem Party!
Interesting - Thanks for posting it.
I heard this yesterday via the internet and it was excellent.
I heard this yesterday via the internet and it was excellent.
Steyn is a brilliant man. And funny to boot.
I have a new slogan: "If you outlaw guns, only Democrats would have guns"
Oh, they have. I do not think it too much of an exaggeration to say that many on the left of the party would prefer a looter be armed than a property owner. "Social justice."
The anti-gun nuts are going to cite the possession of firearms by the gangs as proof that more gun control is essential to the safety of the citizenry in time of crisis. In other words they will get it exactly backwards (no surprise there).
I watched the story of the 22 Virginia policemen who were turned back after their help had been begged for.
When they got there they were told that the governor would have to approve it, which she did not do. They were told that there was no facilities for them.
They had brought their own tents and supplies.
After they got back home the dim wit Louisana Governor cleared the way for them.
At this point if I were them I would tell governor blanco to go to hell.
I didn't realize her name referred to her mental acuity.
>>> I have a new slogan: "If you outlaw guns, only Democrats would have guns"<<<
Only liberal 6th 7th and 8th generation Welfare recipiants, Drug dealers and those that are hired by Politicians to protect themselves from their constituants.
Insensitive, Flamed and probabaly not here on FR for long
TT
That was Jesse Jackson Jr!
http://www.radioblogger.com/images/09-01cafferty.mp3
See also THIS thread:Mark Steyn: ...You've got to have a situation where people are encouraged to be self-reliant, and exercise responsible choices themselves.
Hugh Hewitt: I'll tell you. It's the best commercial for owning a gun I've ever seen.
MS: Absolutely. And I would say that the last thing...anyone who wants to talk about gun control these days, I'll tell you something.
If I had property in New Orleans, and I was there, the one thing I'd want to do, when some of these people come a-callin' is make sure I was armed...
Looking for advice on a gun for self defense in the case of roaming gangs of looters.
personal notes | Sep 2, 2005 | putupjob
Posted on 09/03/2005 5:42:27 PM PDT by putupjob
I see from New Orleans that when the social order breaks down, we are responsible for our own defense. I am planning on getting a firearm with the correct training that will be stashed away in a crawl space, never to be used unless a dire situation arises. The scum looters can come for me, that's fine, but I am going out in a blaze of glory.
I am seeking advice on what I should get. A handgun, a rifle? I'm sure there are big time gunners on freep and I could use some solid advice. Thanks...
CLICK HERE for the rest of that thread
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