Katrina Redux: Iowa Under Water; Bush M.I.A.
"I know there's a lot of people hurting right now and I hope they're able to find some strength in knowing that there is love from a higher being."
President George W. Bush offered these comments to Midwest flooding victims Sunday outside a church in Paris as he neared the end of his week-long European farewell tour.
As the president enjoyed an early-morning bicycle ride in a Paris park, more than 400 city blocks were under water in and around Iowa.
As the president and Mrs. Bush worshipped at the American Cathedral of the Holy Trinity near the Eiffel Tower, the chapel at University of Iowa was submerged in floodwater, along with the campus' art museum, theater and music buildings and research labs.
As President Bush continued his tour in England, water continued to rise 9 feet over flood stages, putting one-third of Iowa under water and the state on emergency alert.
David Paulison, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency told CNN on Sunday that "it's some of the worst flooding I've seen since (Hurricane) Katrina." The known death toll resulting from the floods reportedly stands at 17, but officials estimate there are more.
Paulison's observation aside, the similarities to Katrina go beyond the water. Thankfully, FEMA has responded quickly this time, but once again, the nation's leader is uninvolved. Bush's decision to continue his European tour, instead of going where he is needed speaks volumes about his so-called "conservatism."
During his first campaign for president, Bush preached the virtues of a "compassionate conservative" ideology and spoke of rallying the "armies of compassion" to action. Eight years later, compassionate conservatives are going where they're needed, but Bush is not. The president has utterly failed conservatives and -- worse -- he continues to ruin the positive message of conservatives as he continues to show poor judgment when it comes to dealing with national nightmares.
For some reason, when it comes to water, Bush just can't seem to get it right.
Iowa Photo © Scott Olson/Getty Images
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Comments
Iowa- No looting, rape, killings, tax dollar debit cards, famaldahyde trailers.
I love the folks of the uppermidwest.
This is dispicable. Bush needs to be IMPEACHED NOW! First, an illegal war, secondly incompetence during Katrina, now no response to Iowa? WHAT ARE WE DOING PEOPLE. This man does not represent us in any way shape or form. He needs to be humbled and impeached. I feel like I am going to vomit. Bush is disgraceful.
I am in Iowa. I have been affected by the flood. But, I have to ask, what is President Bush supposed to do other than what he is doing? You people take every disaster, military action, or other adverse event and find a way to blame it on our president. I bet he can’t wait for his term to end because of people like you. (yea, yea, you can’t wait either, I know . . . )
Katrina vs. Midwest. No looting…perhaps because help came in a timely manner. No killings…people died because no help came thanks to slow federal and state responses. Tax dollar debt cards….failure of the levee system built by the Army Corp of Engineers. Does the government of these people? yes and last…formaldehyde trailers built to HUD specifications. Once again…a federal agency specification. Everyone in development and construction knows the risk of formaldehyde yet HUD does nothing about it.
Last, if the president wants is to know he cares, he needs to ACT like he cares. He did not show up to New Orleans until 12 days after the hurricane. That is unacceptable.
I guess this is what The New York Times Company considers “conservative”. Or perhaps this is what the NYTC wants its readers to believe is conservative thought.
Better than Barack Obama’s response: Blame, blame, blame, white man’s fault, blame, throw two billion dollars at the problem.
Interesting that people compare the midwest floods (MF) to Katrina (K). I would too also. Lets see, during K people were strongly urged to leave by local authorities. They didn’t. The MF people were urged to leave, they did. During K they had local, parrish/county, state and federal plans, none of which were logical, nor coordinated. And were not used/didn’t work. During MF in Cedar Rapids (my home)there were local, county, state and federal plans. ALL of which were coordinated (and WORKED). The rest of the MF area seems to be doing about the same. During K the federal govt prepared like they always did, waiting to hear from local and state agencies for what help they needed and where. Of course, they got 0 info from the local and state authorites. Which delayed federal help. During MF the locals coordinated with the county and state, and the state coordinated with the feds. And it worked. Amaaaazing. And of course I will grant, that when it floods in MF we know we can just drive up the closest hill and abandon the house. When you live in a bowl below sea level that is harder to do.
Oh and lets compare crime whilst I am on a roll. During K there were reports of armed robbery, looting and rape. And hundreds of deaths due to drowning. In MF so far I read about 1 armed robbery, 1 murder and less than a dozen drownings. And of course, I can’t pin the “murder” onto the flood, could have been over a girl for all I know.
And I would like to publicly say that I am proud of the locals in my community, who all stepped up to help. I am proud of the local govt for all their efforts. I am proud of the state govt that has been looking out for everyone. And I am proud of the federal govt for being there as a backup. I don’t blame the president for our bad luck.
But you won’t hear ANY of the main stream media making these comparisons. And in 2 weeks they will all have forgotten about the flood of 08. Why? Because the people affected by the MF won’t whine about it for the next three years. We will pick up, clean up and get on with our lives. Unlike the people most affected by K. Who are still sitting in a bowl below sea level and don’t have the sense to leave.
Actually there has been looting and crime has been on the rise as well. If the scale of the disaster matched Katrina I think the crime would be similar.
Don’t let that get in the way of a good anti-New Orleans rant though.