Posted on 09/03/2005 8:13:57 AM PDT by 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
**But you have to ask --- of what kind of viewers? **
Everyone now knows that they will get a fair shake and the complete picture of the news by tuning in to Fox News Channel! So they do it in crisis situations, and then go back to their bias-left-leaning habits.
But in the crisis -- they tune in Fox News Channel!
Mary, I posted a little of it on post #12. I didn't listen to everything he said, just noted how he didn't attack any Republicans.
Thanks -- from what you say, if I had heard it, I would have been in too much shock to recall the details too! ;-)
Don't know if anyone supplied the name yet, but the Congressman who gave the Dem reply was Charlie Melancon (soft C). Don't know his district, but he has quite a few constituents affected. That said, I really didn't listen to him, I was just checking to see what his name is, when C-Span re-broadcast the radio address.
Sure I can.
Last night Geraldo was crying saying that people were stuck at the Convention center for 6 days with not help.
1) Hurricane hit MONDAY (Mon to Friday is 5 Days) with no immediate serious damage to New Orleans other than windows knocked out in Sky Scrapers and trees Down.
2) Levees Broke on TUESDAY (Tuesday to Friday is 4 days) causing flooding.
3) Up until Wednesday people were not going to the Convention Center but rather Superdome.
4) FEMA learned of people beginning to gather at Convention Center on Thursday Morning and on Thursday afternoon they had Food and Water delivered.
5)He neglected to mention that a great many of those people were saved from a certain death by the Coast Guard which has saved over 10,000 people at the rate of 100 per hour, 24 hours per day.
I could go on and on but I won't. He is SHOWING ONE SIDE and being dishonest saying those people at the Convention center were neglected.
The reality is there are people in New Orleans who are worse off than those at the Convention center and their right to rescue from certain death trumps the CC folks right to a bus ride to a more comfortable location.
***President Bush needs to add something new to the federal government's emergency response planning: what needs to be done when the local officials are completely incompetent and the first line of defense is nonexistent.***
It take a decision of the SUPREME COURT to override the present law on the government's emergency response when it comes to forcing a state governor to take action.
Man, Bush will never get re-elected now.
Assuming there's anyone left to occupy it
Fine it is the states fault but it isn't the time to point fingers. Come election time, you can point all the fingers you want. The dems are going to get the beat in LA. Now let's get help to these people first.
Another message. The federal government is not going to do it all for them.
I heard Nagin on Fox again, saying he told the President what to do. He wants to see the help keep coming.
At least Blanco has had the sense to keep her mouth shut for a bit.
Becki
Too late, the DEMS and their media have already told the world the George Bush killed black people on purpose because he was on vacation.
More slander of the US and its President.
I totally agree. But what's to stop the next nimrod from smoking a cigar while his/her city burns.
I'll tell you what I think will stop that. And only what will stop that. Freepers.
Management 101: When in a crisis, operate under the assumption that outside help will not be forthcoming anytime soon.
Geraldo has always been a liberal ~ the only good point he has is that he's pro-military and our troops.
Melancon's comeback was that the governor said they needed help, but she didn't dot the t's and cross the i's by putting the request in writing, so it's still the feds' fault.
Toward the end, his words descended into gibberrish.
I was truly amazed that the interviewer nailed him on the point.
Sarcasm/Off
"I was just happy to see that the Democrat response was a positive one...for once."
Maybe, just maybe they are ashamed of their grotesque incompetence.
Frankly, I prefer accurate and honest over this childish "fair and balanced" crap.
Have you found a place that delivers such news?
Thanks for your report, but I am referring to Melancon being the one to give the Dem response to today's radio address by President Bush. You are referring to an interview he gave. This thread was started for people to comment on the President's address (and the Dem response). Anyway, glad to know that the guy's spin fell apart during his interview.
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