President Addresses Nation, Discusses Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts (Radio Address)

White House ^ | 9/3/05

[Brian Mosely]

The Rose Garden

10:06 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Yesterday I saw the aftermath of one of the largest natural disasters ever to strike America. A vast coastline of towns and communities are flattened; one of our great cities is submerged. The human costs are incalculable.

In Biloxi I met Bronwynne Bassier and her sister, Kim. Bronwynne told me that the only earthly possessions she has left were the clothes on her back. I also met relief and rescue workers who are performing heroically in difficult circumstances. They've been working around the clock, risking their own lives to save the lives of others. Yet, despite their best efforts, the magnitude of responding to a crisis over a disaster area that is larger than the size of Great Britain has created tremendous problems that have strained state and local capabilities. The result is that many of our citizens simply are not getting the help they need, especially in New Orleans. And that is unacceptable.

During my visit I discussed these problems at length with Governor Riley of Alabama, Governor Barbour of Mississippi, Governor Blanco of Louisiana and Mayor Nagin of New Orleans. Each state will have its own set of challenges and issues to solve. Yet all of us agree that more can be done to improve our ability to restore order and deliver relief in a timely and effective manner.

This morning I received a briefing on the latest developments on the ground. Right now there are more than 21,000 National Guard troops operating in Louisiana and Mississippi, and more are on the way. More than 13,000 of these troops are in Louisiana. The main priority is to restore and maintain law and order, and assist in recovery and evacuation efforts. In addition to these National Guard forces, the Department of Defense has deployed more than 4,000 active duty forces to assist in search and recovery, and provide logistical and medical support.

Hour by hour, the situation on the ground is improving. Yet the enormity of the task requires more resources and more troops. Today I ordered the Department of Defense to deploy additional active duty forces to the region. Over the next 24 to 72 hours, more than 7,000 additional troops from the 82nd Airborne, from the 1st Cavalry, the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, and the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force will arrive in the affected areas. These forces will be on the ground and operating under the direct command of General Russ Honore.

Our priorities are clear: We will complete the evacuation as quickly and safely as possible. We will not let criminals prey on the vulnerable, and we will not allow bureaucracy to get in the way of saving lives.

Yesterday I also signed a $10.5 billion emergency aid package to fund our ongoing relief efforts. This is a down payment on what will be a sustained federal commitment to our fellow citizens along the Gulf Coast. I want to thank the Congress for their quick, bipartisan action, and I look forward to working with them in the days and weeks ahead.

I know that those of you who have been hit hard by Katrina are suffering. Many are angry and desperate for help. The tasks before us are enormous, but so is the heart of America. In America, we do not abandon our fellow citizens in their hour of need. And the federal government will do its part. Where our response is not working, we'll make it right. Where our response is working, we will duplicate it. We have a responsibility to our brothers and sisters all along the Gulf Coast, and we will not rest until we get this right and the job is done.

This week we've all been humbled by the awesome powers of Mother Nature. And when you stand on the porch steps where a home once stood, or look at row upon row of buildings that are completely under water, it's hard to imagine a bright future. But when you talk to the proud folks in the area, you see a spirit that cannot be broken.

The emergency along the Gulf Coast is ongoing; there's still a lot of difficult work ahead. All Americans can be certain our nation has the character, the resources, and the resolve to overcome this disaster. We will comfort and care for the victims. We will restore the towns and neighborhoods that have been lost in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. We'll rebuild the great city of New Orleans. And we'll once again show the world that the worst adversities bring out the best in America.

May God bless you, and may God continue to bless our country.

END 10:11 A.M. EDT

[msnimje]

And Fox News is starting to suck.

They are not living up to their MOTTO of "fair and Balanced" during this catastrophe.

[maryz]

I was just happy to see that the Democrat response was a positive one...for once.

Really? Could you fill me in on it? (I went out to do grocery shopping after the President's address, hoping to miss the Dem answer because I shuddered at the thought of what it might be.)

[Da Mav]

Based on what I am reading around the net the rhetoric has far from crested. The left is whipped up into a fury attempting to blame Bush everything from the storm itself (global warming), the break in the levees (which were never designed to handle a hurricane of this magnitude) to the inadequacy of the response. They are doing their best to play the race card in all this, condemning on the one hand the lack of national guard, and in the same breath claiming that black folk are being bullied by it.

What I do hope is that that the echo chorus on places like Free Republic will come to an end and people will take a careful look at the facts as they emerge. It is my impression that Bush acted pro-actively on this, was hamstrung by local officials who did not plan or execute well, and was finally forced to step in personally and take charge. It's hard to understand what kind of problem people will be able to find with that.

Imagine if Bush had taken "personal command" the first day. People would have been screaming about fascism and seeing black helicopters on every corner. He simply did not have the authority to override local officials and wisely IMO did not attempt to exercise it until it became clear that they were not getting the job done.

I am a Bush supporter, but hardly an uncritical one, and I have disagreed on many occasions with this President. But this is not one of them. And if we do not speak up in support of how he handled this, the default will be to hang the entire crisis around his neck. That is neither fair nor wise.

[Cindy_Cin]

Fox has become as big a disappointment as the moderate GOP leaders. More and more Fox seems to be straying from the cutting edge conservative news that set them apart. Lately. they are just a different variation of the same cookie cutter MSM . Alas

[msnimje]

The state governments need to wake up and realize that is THIER responsibility

Do you think a reporter is ever going to call the Mayor or the Governor on this like they have the President and the military?
Also, I believe they will both be voted out of office (Blanco and Nagin) unless they step up to the plate, admit their failures and promise to improve the lives of those affected.

[Fudd Fan]

Yes I completely agree.

[advance_copy]

The tasks before us are enormous, but so is the heart of America. In America, we do not abandon our fellow citizens in their hour of need.

That is very true. Also, God bless Houston, TX. The people of that fine city are true heros.

[listenhillary]

Where is the venom in the media for the mayor and govenor?
Anywhere?

Lexis-nexus 95-5? Bush bashing?

[snowsislander]

Hour by hour, the situation on the ground is improving.

That's right, and that's where we need to keep our focus. The corner will turn, things will be better -- and often these turning points can be hit far faster than one might think, even dramatically so. Even if in this case it is turns out to be a slower version, it will happen.

[upchuck]

we will not allow bureaucracy to get in the way of saving lives.

It's a crying damn shame, but it already has. Governor Blanco of Louisiana and Mayor Nagin of New Orleans are the pluperfect examples of the ravages of the Peter Principle*.

For a couple of RATS, their collective performance has been, classical, typical, illustrative and exemplary.

*The Principle states: In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence.
The Corollary states: In time, every post tends to be occupied by an employee who is incompetent to carry out its duties.

[go-ken-go]

I think all the criticism from every corner yesterday, must have been direct from Democrat talking point. It was being spread by every channel.

I think there was aid available, it just didn't get coordinated.

[Digger]

More and more Fox seems to be straying from the cutting edge conservative news that set them apart.

IMO Fox was never designed to be a conservative network. The fair & balanced is still much more to the left overall even from its beginnings. I have never understood why an all conservative network has not evolved but then again this "Two-Party Cartel" in Washington, indirectly run by the elites, has no desire to see a truly conservative agenda flourish. Think of the bucks an all conservative network would make. They would get 50% of the viewership. So money isn't the motivator in this regard.

[squarebarb]

I saw a report that said Fox had actually gained 34%

But you have to ask --- of what kind of viewers?

Are the mentally-lazy consumers of the 'Girls Gone Wild' sort of programming turning to Fox, and the people who want real information turning away?

[Real Cynic No More]

I'm begining to think that the ONLY reason it has crested is because the Democrats are finally realizing how incompetently the state and local Dems in Louisiana responded to this disaster.

Can anyone really doubt that if Bush had jumped into the fray on Tuesday, that the CBC and other dems would have jumped his case big-time, accusing him of stealing the spotlight from local officials and trying to usurp local authority?

[Salvation]

Was it former Senator Landrieau? Mary's father?

[Salvation]

**A black lady on Fox was just holding a sign with Ray Nagin's name on it, as she tore him up.**

This is great that the people are also understanding how Blanco and Naggin (my spelling) did not heed the evaucation orders!

[Salvation]

Can you give specific example?

I think they have done a great job of showing the good as well as the bad.

(No other station is doing that!!!!)

[Salvation]

** It is my impression that Bush acted pro-actively on this, was hamstrung by local officials who did not plan or execute well, and was finally forced to step in personally and take charge. It's hard to understand what kind of problem people will be able to find with that.**

Fairi and Balanced observation!

[Salvation]

**That is very true. Also, God bless Houston, TX. The people of that fine city are true heros.**

Absolutely!

[World'sGoneInsane]

Was it former Senator Landrieau? Mary's father?

No, I didn't see him. It was a man with black hair, probably in his 50's-60's.