Remember when President Bush gave the old "let's help 'em" speech from New Orleans?

Jim Amoss, the editor of the Times Picayune had a great op-ed in the Atlanta Constitution (reg req'd).  Here are the first few paragraphs:

President Bush flew into New Orleans shortly after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city. His staff had to fire up giant generators to bathe St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square in floodlights, as a backdrop for his promise that he would ''do what it takes'' to rebuild New Orleans.

''There is no way to imagine America without New Orleans,'' he said, ''and this great city will rise again.''

Then the lights went out, and the president left. Vast swaths of the city have been in darkness ever since.

Yeah, no surprise there.  Our politicians have spent the last few decades learning about the importance of "playing to the cameras."  And it's become a very intricate process.  They not only get the best cameras, but they also have location scouts and lighting directors.  Hell, even if the optimal location is without power they can bring generators. 

Man, is this a great country or what?

Comments

[Allerera]

Yes, one of our members of Gumbo Public said that all rescuing of the people went on hold when the president went over. It was like you could hear a pin drop and then you heard the big helicopter fly overhead and you knew it was the president...instead of helping people, he halted the helping! Here is some info about Gumbo Public:

Gumbo Public is a community-based resource

group of Katrina survivors and local residents

who have gathered together to address the

needs and concerns of Katrina and Gulf coast

survivors.

Gumbo Public will hold a social gathering and discussion forum on December 3rd, 2005 @ 5PM.

Call for meeting place:

Phone # 719-459-2525
email: gumbopublic@yahoo.com

It is the intent and purpose of Gumbo Public to inform and help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. We intend to provide valid information and links to resources that will help remove the pain and discomfort of the relocation and dislocation that the storm brought about. We further intend that the injustices that are heaped upon the people are addressed and remedied. We hope to keep before the public the plight and hardships that are encountered.
Gumbo Public has a vested interest in seeing that the Katrina Gulf Coast survivors who were victimized by the Federal, State, and Local governments be compensated for the unjust removal from their homes, cultures, families and friends. Gumbo Public is actively seeking to address legal, medical and housing issues as they relate to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

[Aaron]

Yeah...anywho, getting back to responding to the post, it's definitely a tragedy that has been shoved to the backburner up in D.C. The only positive thing I can say about it is that we are still in the national spotlight - the Washington Post has had a story almost every day about New Orleans and the New York Times has one almost every other day as well as numerous AP stories that other regional papers pick up. It also defintely helps that LSU is ranked in the top 3 football teams in the country to keep the interest in Louisiana as a state constant.