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You are here: Home / Politics / Domestic Politics / Bush Not Fulfilling Promises

Bush Not Fulfilling Promises

by John Cole|  January 28, 20069:36 am| 30 Comments

This post is in: Domestic Politics, Politics

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The Katrina rebuilding is not occurring as promised:

Nearly five months after Hurricane Katrina swamped New Orleans, President Bush’s lofty promises to rebuild the Gulf Coast have been frustrated by bureaucratic failures and competing priorities, a review of events since the hurricane shows.

While the administration can claim some clear progress, Bush’s ringing call from New Orleans’s Jackson Square on Sept. 15 to “do what it takes” to make the city rise from the waters has not been matched by action, critics at multiple levels of government say, resulting in a record that is largely incomplete as Bush heads into next week’s State of the Union address.

The problems include the slow federal cleanup of debris in Mississippi and Louisiana; a lack of authority for Bush’s handpicked recovery coordinator, Donald E. Powell; the shortage and poor quality of housing for evacuees; and federal restrictions on reconstruction money and where coastal communities can rebuild.

I tend to agree with some of the ‘problems’ causing the slowdown:

New strains emerged this week when Bush aides rejected a plan by Rep. Richard H. Baker (R-La.) to set up a government corporation that would buy back the mortgages of storm-damaged homes around New Orleans. Instead, the government limited the use of $6.2 billion in grants to the rebuilding of 20,000 homes destroyed outside federally insured flood zones.

I don’t think we should be financing rebuilding in flood zones. I don’t want to have to pay for this again in 20 years, or, given the erosion of the coast and the natural protections coupled with the massive buildup in coastal regions, next year. However, it also appears that much of the problem is simply a lack of coordination, or, if you will, administrative incompetence. Gee- didn’t see that coming.

Read the whole thing.

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Reader Interactions

30Comments

  1. 1.

    charliedontsurf10

    January 28, 2006 at 10:57 am

    Shrub broke a promise! Gee, what are the odds.

  2. 2.

    JimAllen

    January 28, 2006 at 11:00 am

    Quel surprise.

  3. 3.

    ppGaz

    January 28, 2006 at 11:11 am

    However, it also appears that much of the problem is simply a lack of coordination, or, if you will, administrative incompetence. Gee- didn’t see that coming.

    No comment.

  4. 4.

    Paddy O'Shea

    January 28, 2006 at 11:13 am

    Just another example of how the Bush admin built its reputation for dynamic success.

  5. 5.

    Jill

    January 28, 2006 at 11:31 am

    Again, is anyone truly surprised? WORST! pRESIDENT! EVER!

  6. 6.

    The Other Steve

    January 28, 2006 at 11:41 am

    Actually this is pretty much typical Bush.

    Come out and declare “We will do such and such. That is our new commitment.”

    Just don’t fund it or divert resources to it.

    When people come to complain, what are they going to say? Bush said that was our new commitment. Are you saying he’s a liar?

    Seriously, this is all about good politics. He says the right things to make critics look like Bush bashers, he just doesn’t follow through with what he does.

  7. 7.

    Pb

    January 28, 2006 at 11:43 am

    Instead, the government limited the use of $6.2 billion in grants to the rebuilding of 20,000 homes destroyed outside federally insured flood zones.

    $6.2 billion divided by 20,000 = $310,000 per house on average. Sounds like Trent Lott’s porch is covered, along with 19,999 other big Republican party members/donors. And really, who cares about anyone else, right…

  8. 8.

    charliedontsurf10

    January 28, 2006 at 11:51 am

    Speakin’ of which, did ya ever notice how the only people in Mississippi who say anything good about recovery efforts in general and FEMA in particular are slime like haley barbour and other reptilian hacks?

  9. 9.

    Bruce from Missouri

    January 28, 2006 at 11:54 am

    You voted for him…

    We tried to tell you…

  10. 10.

    Jcricket

    January 28, 2006 at 12:37 pm

    I don’t think we should be financing rebuilding in flood zones. I don’t want to have to pay for this again in 20 years, or, given the erosion of the coast and the natural protections coupled with the massive buildup in coastal regions, next year

    What you say sounds reasonable, but that type of “government responsibility” (in the sense of being responsible with money) only seems to apply to Democratic areas. All the Republican-run south-eastern states and Florida get all kinds of Federal money to rebuild their flood-prone waiting-disaster areas. Can you imagine Jeb Bush ending up without money to rebuild homes in the Hurricane/Flood-prone areas in Florida? How about all the Southern states in “Tornado Alley”.

    John, I just don’t know how you can continue to support Republicans to govern when a fundamental plank of the party is that “government is the problem”. As you admit, it’s no surprise that no rebuilding after a natural disaster will go well, that entitlement programs will be administered poorly and fail to complete their mission, no regulatory agency will enforce the laws, etc. Hell, even the army is being run poorly (not enough armor, stretched to the breaking point, can’t meet recruiting targets). And when Republicans don’t like the conclusions drawn about their running of a section of government, they just dismiss the findings (see Rumsfeld’s response to the studies he commissioned about the army recently).

    The only “working” the government does when run by Republicans is “working” as a piggy-bank for pork-barrel projects in Republican officials’ home states

    Whatever the faults of the Democrats, at least they believe in government. I’m happy to have a debate about services the government should provide. As you put it, I don’t think the government should bail out for-profit companies in the auto, air or steel industries. I don’t think the government should pay to constantly rebuild in flood, hurricane or tornado zones. I’d bet that some other Democrats would agree. But Republicans only have agree when it comes to helping Democrats or poor people. That kind of fundamental dishonesty, as a party, is endemic to the modern-day GOP. The last 5 years are perfect evidence of that (as Republicans control nearly everything).

  11. 11.

    Angus

    January 28, 2006 at 12:44 pm

    In a similar vein to the “I don’t want to have to pay for it if they build in flood prone areas”…

    Solid to leaning red states like Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and the red portions of Southern Ohio and Southern Illinois never seem to have this problem when the Mississippi-Missouri-Ohio river systems overflow and wash out their towns and homes every 12-15 years.

    It’s OK for the federal government to rebuild for them in the exact same place, I suppose, because they are white and vote Republican.

  12. 12.

    Mac Buckets

    January 28, 2006 at 1:05 pm

    While the administration can claim some clear progress, Bush’s ringing call from New Orleans’s Jackson Square on Sept. 15 to “do what it takes” to make the city rise from the waters has not been matched by action, critics at multiple levels of government say,

    So critics (read, “partisan Bush-haters”) go back to bashing Bush about Katrina in an election year — even though “clear progress” has been made — and that’s a news story to the WaPo (well, no surprise there), and to Balloon Juice? Really. You know, since all government construction projects happen at lightning speed (like the Big Dig in Boston, which was finished in 15 minutes and only cost $12!) Or is this just more red-meat whining to keep the site’s leftian visitors happy, John?

    It’s been five whole months — why isn’t New Orleans rebuilt yet? Waaaaaaaah!

    Jeebus, remind me never to take a car-trip with you whingers. As soon as we get out of the driveway, you’ll be crying “Are we there yet? Why aren’t we there yet? If I were driving, we’d be there already! Are we there yet?”

  13. 13.

    Mac Buckets

    January 28, 2006 at 1:16 pm

    John, I just don’t know how you can continue to support Republicans to govern when a fundamental plank of the party is that “government is the problem”.

    This may be the dumbest sentence I’ve ever read here, so I’ll assume JC meant something else. I mean, to propose that only those that crave more power can be trusted to wield power, and that those who don’t want more power shouldn’t be allowed to have power, is absolute madness. You couldn’t have really meant that.

  14. 14.

    mycat

    January 28, 2006 at 1:34 pm

    All along the Eastern Seaboard people have built homes for vacation or their retirement. Everrytime there is a bad storm their homes get damaged. Everytime their homes get damaged they collect federally -subsidized insurance to repair and rebuild. Also the taxpayers pay for bulkheads and other projects to protect homes built too near the water.
    All along the edges of the National Forests of the Rockies people have built vacation and retirement homes. Every time there is a forst fire us taxpayers pay to protect their property. Not only that, but the National Forests are mismanaged and natural fires surpressed to the detriment of the forests’ health to protect their property.
    I don’t mind withdrawing financial support from people and businesses that build in problematic areas. I do mind if the withdrawal of support is based on political bias or some other unfair arbitrary factor so that some get support and some don’t.
    Given the fact that people wealthy enough to build on the beaches and forest edges will continue to suck up our tax dollars,I think we have to rebuild New Orleans.

  15. 15.

    Shalimar

    January 28, 2006 at 2:05 pm

    In addition to the lack of response on Katrina rebuilding, it also seems like Bush has responded to the criticism for not having enough National Guardsmen available after the storm by REDUCING the number of National Guardsmen nationwide. Brilliant.

  16. 16.

    The Other Steve

    January 28, 2006 at 2:40 pm

    I have to agree with the other guys. If we aren’t going Honestly the people living in Florida just baffle me. If I lived in a spot where hurricanes come through once every 4-5 years and wipe out your house… I’d build my house out of fucking concrete. It’d look like a bunker.

    I think insurance was intended to protect you against unexpected disasters. It’s not intended to encourage you to live somewhere which is fucking insane.

  17. 17.

    Pooh

    January 28, 2006 at 2:53 pm

    Presidential Mad Libs.

    Other Steve, that’s fine. But don’t promise to rebuild and then just not. Yes, fine, it’s good politics, but it’s bad personhood.

  18. 18.

    GTinMN

    January 28, 2006 at 3:44 pm

    This may be the dumbest sentence I’ve ever read here, so I’ll assume JC meant something else. I mean, to propose that only those that crave more power can be trusted to wield power, and that those who don’t want more power shouldn’t be allowed to have power, is absolute madness. You couldn’t have really meant that.

    DougJ has apparently taken to posting as MacFukwit, or else that’s just the dumbest and most ironic spin I can recall seeing posted at BJ.

    Republicans as selfless public servants? Solely and humbly dedicated to the common good? Bipartisanship and the spirit of comprmoise evident in the discharge of their duties? Perhaps actually a bit embarrassed by the power accorded to their offices, striving always to leave things better than they found it, reluctant to hang on to their power, certainly not motivated to overstep or overstay?

    Unfortunately, nothing could be further than the truth. Do they pay you to write this crap?

  19. 19.

    ppGaz

    January 28, 2006 at 3:57 pm

    This may be the dumbest sentence I’ve ever read here

    Are you sure you’ve gone back and looked at all of yours?
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    Sorry, leave the infielders back like that, somebody is going to drop a little bunt down the third base line on you. Get your head in the game, man.

  20. 20.

    ppGaz

    January 28, 2006 at 4:12 pm

    Yes, fine, it’s good politics, but it’s bad personhood.

    LOL.

  21. 21.

    ppGaz

    January 28, 2006 at 4:59 pm

    Clueless George

    Nothing can be added here, except maybe this.

  22. 22.

    Bob In Pacifica

    January 28, 2006 at 8:33 pm

    How’s reconstruction of Trent’s veranda coming along?

  23. 23.

    Angus

    January 29, 2006 at 12:40 am

    I think insurance was intended to protect you against unexpected disasters. It’s not intended to encourage you to live somewhere which is fucking insane.

    So, don’t live:

    On the East or Gulf Coasts, they get Hurricanes.

    On the West Coast, they get Earthquakes.

    On the Great Plains, they get Tornados.

    Near a large river system, they Flood.

    That leaves a strip of land from Arizona to Montana that we can all try to fit into.

  24. 24.

    Mac Buckets

    January 29, 2006 at 1:48 am

    Sorry, leave the infielders back like that, somebody is going to drop a little bunt down the third base line on you. Get your head in the game, man.

    A puny bunt is a good discription of your non-responsive “I’m rubber, you’re glue” retort. Unfortunately, since the bunt only went six inches, Brad Ausmus was able to pick it up and tag your runner before he got out of the batter’s box. One away.

    Pitchers and catchers report in two weeks — ohhhh, yeah!

  25. 25.

    Blue Shark

    January 29, 2006 at 2:33 am

    …and of course we should abandon the entire West Coast (earthquakes and volcanos), the midwest (all those nasty tornados), all of the Gulf (rotten hurricanes), the Northeast (Terrorist Bait)

    …Anybody for the United State of Montana here?

  26. 26.

    ppGaz

    January 29, 2006 at 9:23 am

    That leaves a strip of land from Arizona to Montana that we can all try to fit into.

    You just described the most beautiful country in North America.

    Why live anywhere else?

  27. 27.

    charliedontsurf10

    January 29, 2006 at 3:02 pm

    Vermont will do just fine. Nice red sunsets without the rednecks.

  28. 28.

    charliedontsurf10

    January 29, 2006 at 3:09 pm

    Jeebus, remind me never to take a car-trip with you whingers. As soon as we get out of the driveway, you’ll be crying “Are we there yet? Why aren’t we there yet? If I were driving, we’d be there already! Are we there yet?”

    Nice try, mac nitwit. More like talkin’ won’t get us there, porgie. You’re gonna have to actually put it in gear and back outta the driveway.

    You can ride in the trunk Billy Bats style. The shovels and the lye are in there waitin’ for ya.

  29. 29.

    Stormy70

    January 29, 2006 at 7:47 pm

    But as the state lobbies Washington for more money to rebuild ravaged towns and cities, citizens are realizing that Louisiana’s well-earned penchant for dirty politics has exacted a steep price: It has badly damaged the credibility of the recovery effort.

    “Frankly, the reputation in Washington is, if we send money down there, it will just get stolen,” said political handicapper Charles E. Cook, a Louisiana native who has worked in the nation’s capital for more than three decades. “It is a caricature of Louisiana politics that is not entirely undeserved but is grossly exaggerated. No one cared about it much before Katrina. But right now, it’s hurting the state enormously.”

    I wonder why noone wants to give any politician in Louisiana any money? It is too corrupt.

  30. 30.

    Glen

    January 30, 2006 at 8:41 am

    The part that jumped out at me was that, somehow, Bush’s “ringing call” equals “progress.”

    If that’s the new standard, then every Miss America baton-twirler who also wants to work for “like, you know, world peace” is a potential Nobel Prize winner.

    Ugh.

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