New Orleans Katrina Summit Full of Information and Debate (Duncan Hunter vs. Hillary/Edwards!)

Bayou Buzz ^ | 08/28/2007 | Stephen Sabludowsky

[Ultra Sonic 007]

The Katrina and Rita “Hope and Recovery Summit” in New Orleans hosted by US Senator Mary Landrieu on Monday had an almost surreal texture to it.

Aside from the mixture of University Presidents, law enforcement agents, housing advocates, business leaders, President Bush’s Gulf Coast Coordinator, Don Powell, participating in the all-day event, it included an element of political show business—rock star Presidential candidates running for the top position in the land, and yes, talking about Katrina. The Presidential discussion was peppered with questions by Soledad O’Brien of CNN.

Without doubt, the Presidential forum was not the sole substance of the program but, indeed, was the crown jewel.

Throughout the day, the experts discussed Katrina-plus two. Wednesday will be the second anniversary of Katrina engulfing New Orleans. There was plenty of business on the table such as high crime, low housing, weak levees, and questionable federal commitments.

But, the fireworks and the glamour really started when the Presidential candidates—Democrats Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Republican Duncan Hunter took the sole stand facing O’Brien.

Former Republican presidential hopeful, Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee had spoken earlier during the day and was not a part of the Presidential candidate face-O’Brien evening discussion. Huckabee argued that Katrina could occur anywhere in the United States through the form of many types of natural disaster and was not limited to New Orleans or the Gulf Coast. He mentioned that Arkansas had its own disaster risks and the universality of disaster and response mechanism was critical in American government.

Without doubt, the Presidential focus upon New Orleans was a show full of spice and hot sauce.

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Candidates Clinton and Edwards were somewhat predictable in their responses since they have presented them recently at different forums in New Orleans. Both candidates were substantially critical of President Bush, his administration and the Republican Congress for their responses post-Katrina. The GOP had been in power of the federal government since the beginning of 2007.

Unquestionably, Hunter took the most heat as he attempted to focus upon the importance of self reliance and de-emphasized the need to rely upon the federal government. That philosophy obviously did not sit well with the moderator, O’Brien or with the audience.

In many respects, there was a dichotomy between two republicans, Huckabee and Hunter, two individuals who personally provided service to the Katrina victims. While Huckabee focused upon the devastation quality of nature, Hunter, to the dismay of many in the crowd and seemingly to Soledad O’Brien--engaged in a debate with the CNN moderator over the philosophy of rebuilding New Orleans and the type of hurricane protection needed. Hunter implied that the federal response should be dependent upon the number of people needing protection and said that government, in general, was incompetent.

In many ways the Presidential candidate discourse underscored the division among Republicans in Congress and the total disdain that the leading Democratic Presidential candidates have for President Bush and his Katrina policies

The superstar forum also underscored that-- like Iraq--New Orleans has no easy answers. The political volley, in many ways, might define the Presidential debate and Primary season over matters dealing with homeland security, natural disasters and infrastructure.

Hillary Clinton implied that New Orleans needed “hope, recovery and results”. In this very political season, it is obvious that the solemnity of Katrina anniversary of 2006 has evolved into the politics of begging for solutions and needed money during this second year post-disaster.

The Hope and Recovery Summit provided solitude to some and questions to many. It also established a format where New Orleans, disaster recovery and US infrastructure gets greater light--even in a venue that was under murky water, for weeks.

[normy]

I could but it would take a while and I doubt I would do it for a cry baby whiner like you. Go beg for your supper.

By the way, while your waiting for me to get you information and the federal government to get you money, maybe you could get out of your FEMA trailer and do some digging yourself.

[Uncle Sham]

Your response appears to indicate that you form your opinions based upon your own immature predjudices rather than factual conditions. That’s how children are before they grow up. I haven’t whined about anything. I simply asked you to back up your rhetoric with facts. You are the one who is whining and name-calling, just like a child would do.

[normy]

Gotcha. You are simply one person hiding behind your keyboard. Good for you. You are the one whining about federal dollars. I do not know how thats divided except the state capital gets the money and gives it where its needed. I do know Louisiana is an incredibly corrupt state governed by Dems, but I guess its Bush’s fault once again.