Are the Democrats making you proud by their handling of the crisis?

[Onlooker]

[mattclearing]

1. Too early to tell.

I think they are waiting this one out and asking people to help through their email lists, which is about the best they can do.

If they knock Bush, they look bad, and the news media is already doing that for them.

Time will tell, though.

[stilpist]

7. If they want to make me proud

they need to not wait. It seeme to me that everybody except the knee-jerk *lovers has seen what an incompetent loser is living in the Whitehouse. If they need a better opportunity than this to gain an advantage, they'll wait a long time.

[DistressedAmerican]

13. Waiting This One Out Gets People Killed! Fucking Unconscionable!

If I see another media image obsessed asshole from this party act like they are afraid of "looking bad", I will scream. I just want to slap some sense into every last one! These motherfuckers are not doing their job for fear that doing their job would get them unelected.

With voters like you saying stuff like this, it does not surprise me that they have no spines!

"Waiting this one out" while people die so that their image is not tarnished. Fucking cowards.

And you find that acceptable? Really?

I will work to vote everyone of their spineless asses out! They got us Iraq, The U.S.A. Patriot act and now this! They are as guilty as anyone here for not speaking up. Not to even mention that the congress did not even come back until a day after that asshole Bush!

Asking people to help go through their mailing lists "is about the best they can do"? Are you insane???

[mattclearing]

17. They are asking people to donate.

Would you rather they be dragged into that blame game with the pundits?

Right now the focus is on Bush, where it belongs. They are doing the right thing.

I have a lot of respect for you, DA, and know you are doing all you can to help the cause.

The time will come for reckoning and political reprisals. I believe that will be after the people who can be saved are.

In the meantime, politicians not directly involved in the rescue efforts should STFU.

[Drum]

15. But this is not about just knocking Bush...

...which feels the most gratifying after this long five years.

It's really about leading by example, but doing right things to expose the weakness and duplicity of they that do wrong things. It's about standing up for principles that this country was based upon once and that reached a zenith in the Roosevelt era: protecting and empowering all Americans to live free, taking care of the poorest among us, and keeping our government balanced and responsive.

The partisan strategies---and in the case of our hapless Dems, non-strategies---are sucking all of the oxygen out of the things we all want and need from governance in favor of stupid combat. I'm sick of people to the left of center, and even the centrists of being shouted down and then meekly sitting down, waiting to see which way the wind is blowing.

Get out there and LEAD instead of bickering over platforms, and maybe millions of somebodies (like me)will follow.

Failing that, the Dems should just give in and integrate their policies to be adjuncts of prevailing rule.

Evil flourishes when good men do nothing!

[mattclearing]

19. See my response to DA. Gore is doing the right thing.

If people can get in and help, I encourage them to. But I don't think it does anyone good to start complaining about the lack of federal response yet.

Case in point: Imagine Howard Dean issues a statement saying that President Bush failed, his FEMA is a disaster, and that his misappropriation of public funds for his failed elective war is directly responsible for the flooding of New Orleans.

All of that is true, but the second that hypothetical press release hit the airwaves, it would drown out the very real, very desperate situation on the ground.

I stand by my post.

[Drum]

25. tasteblind, I read that and quite agree!

Saw it before I replied to this, and I'm glad you posted it.

I couldn't agree more that Gore's fighting the good fight. What makes me maddest is that he isn't even an elected official anymore---that hurt badly enough in 2000!---but that there isn't a chorus of other angels like him doing prominent work and making prominent noise in other sectors.

Sorry to rant so. I think Dean is still our best hope, because he speaks up and speaks well and loudly. And I acknowledge the dangers of sniping, but I still think that even non-Katrina Democratic noise should be made, on issues central to our party.

I meant no offense to you, and appreciate your post.

[mattclearing]

27. Part of that is why he can do it.

He doesn't have to worry about what the pundits will say about him anymore, or how vulnerable it will make him in 2006 or 2008.

Mary Landrieu is going to have to fight a GOP opponent who will say, "I can get federal funds and response, and she can't."

Little wonder she is forced to praise President Incompetent and then get knocked by Anderson Cooper in the middle of her desperation.

[Drum]

31. I guess my feeling is

that you cannot be in a fight without expecting to take a punch...worrying about a bruise keeps way too many Dems on the sidelines, far too often, worrying about clean uniforms. This hasn't indicated---to me---that they have much confidence in what the fight is about, besides pork, and that's a little depressing.

[mattclearing]

33. I used to think that until I saw Mary Landrieu beg for help on CNN.

Anderson Cooper tempted her to knock the nonexistent federal response, and all she could do is praise President Bush. It's like she was begging the master for help.

I think the Dems are a lot more powerless than we realize. It's worse than we thought when a President can literally ignore starving, dehydrating people by the thousands until Democrats beg him for help.

Edit: Of course, if she said what Kanye West said last night, he might have come running, so maybe you're right.

He did talk to Ray Nagin, who was incredibly vocal and now is apparently afraid for his life, and I haven't heard of him talking to her.

[SoonerShankle]

2. Forget politics

and stand up to do the humane thing. Landrieu was raked over the coals by Anderson Cooper because she was backslapping the administration and other politicians on air earlier this week. She jumped on the bandwagon pretty late here considering these are her constituents! Speak out for goodness sake! Demand action!!!

[DistressedAmerican]

3. WHAT HANDLING OF THE CRISIS!

[deutsey]

50. That's what I was going to ask....

[MADem]

4. The CBC has been REALLY out front on this, and good on them

And I don't think, ever since the GOP rep from OK left Congress, that there are any GOP types in that caucus...

[mzmolly]

35. Democrats who the media have given time to are: Al Sharpton/Jesse Jackson

the CBC - all of whom are DEMOCRATS.

Clark - Edwards - Kucinich (also Democrats) have already made statements holding Bush accountable.

[DemBones DemBones]

5. I voted "Yes" only because today I heard Carol Moseley-Braun

on television and read an article by Cynthia McKinney at Counterpunch.com. Also, I heard Al Gore is organizing some sort of relief effort. Oh, and yesterday I read comments from John Edwards' about how the Katrina disaster shows the Two Americas he always talked about.

[Big Kahuna]

6. How can Democrats "handle the crisis?"

They have no power.

[Deja Q]

12. Tell that to the governor of Louisiana...

She's a Dem.

:hide:

[shadowknows69]

8. There are Democrats?

Where, I heard about them.

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. The CBC and progressive caucus YES.. Pelosi.. NO.. and have mixed

feelings on many other dems. Not sure what to think of the Governor of La. and Mary Landrieu. Was glad to hear Wes Clark speak out and hear that Al Gore is right there and helping. And Nagin? He is spot on with everything he says, as are the Reverends Jackson and Sharpton.

I missed Carol Moseley-Braun. I wish I had caught what she had said.

-----------------------------------------------------
Save New Orleans, then save this country!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

[Deja Q]

Hell no. They're supposed to be the better party, right?

What if politicians are out for themselves and special interests first and foremost? :think:

[MadeinOhio]

10. No. I think I'm going to be sick!!!!!!

Joe Biden, Wes Clark and every democrat should be on every single TV station calling these fools out!!!!!!!

And they aren't!!!!!!! And I think the problem is the DLC, period. I think they have proven who they are really loyal to time and time again.........and until we get rid of the DLC it will continue!


Every single democrat in congress should be on TV at least!!!! Even Frist is on TV, yet not ONE profile democrat and I can't stand it anymore!

[rockymountaindem]

14. How can they get on TV?

It's not like people can just walk into the studio and say "I want to be on TV".

What do you think is going to get on TV first, scenes of disaster and suffering, or yet another politician? I know which one is going to get better ratings, and that's the one that going to be broadcast. Hint: not the politician.

[MadeinOhio]

18. Be like Howard Dean and be controversial. They always get on TV.

Howard Dean simply pays for the TV spot and gets on, then broadcasts to the whole population.

Its that simple. Any democratic leader who wants to can get on TV, yet almost always its the shills like Hillary!!!! We need a real leader on there for the last time!

[rockymountaindem]

51. Buying ad time is expensive

and being controversial is a risk we don't need to take right now.

[FrenchieCat]

21. Watcha talking bout? You've must have missed it about Wes Clark......

Not that I want to toot his horn or anything, (but you asked for it) But most know that I don't mind doing it (that's for shore!)....

Clark was the first Dem (early Thursday morning)....and I mean the first (before Kucinich, Edwards, etc...) to denounce how Pres. Bush was handling Katrina!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2051179

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1747557

Politics
In Iowa, Clark declares Bush mishandled storm

By JOLENE STEVENS
REGISTER CORRESPONDENT
September 2, 2005
Sioux City, Ia. — Retired Gen. Wesley Clark, traveling in Iowa on Thursday, was sharply critical of the Bush administration's preparation for and response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster.

"I think it's awful that we left 100,000 people stranded in New Orleans," Clark told reporters at a Sioux City news conference.

He said federal officials had plenty of warning and should have been more prepared.

"First of all, we all saw the storm coming. This did not come in the middle of the night like a terrorist attack. It was very clearly presented for hours before it struck," he said.

"We should have mobilized a joint task force, pre-positioned the National Guard, and lined up the evacuation assets," Clark continued.

"We can do much better than this in our country," he said.

Addressing the high gasoline prices in the wake of damage to the oil industry on the Gulf Coast, he said that "assuming we can get the materials out and ease supply restraints," he would support a move to tap into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve at this point to ease gas and oil prices.

For the longer term, he advocated an alternative energy policy, including using ethanol, to ease the country's reliance on fossil fuels. http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050902/NEWS09/509020383/1056

[MadeinOhio]

23. Why isn't Clark calling for any investigations?

He still thinks we are fighting terrorism.....most of the country knows it was about oil though!!!

So why isn't he calling for investigations? Resignations? Impeachment? There are so many things happening here I don't have any faith in someone like Clark!

[FrenchieCat]

29. Sounds like your fucking problem then......

If the man that speaks up first and loud doesn't earn your faith...then you are faithless and maybe your ass needs to be out in the N.O. streets hauling bodies! You are like one of those whiners who wants everything yesterday....and since you don't have it, you willing to swing at whomever is around. That's cowardly.

You need to chill out and give credit to those who have earned it....and be more specific in your rants.

Clark holds no elected position (and the way that you sound, you sure in the fuck didn't pull any levers for him) and yet you are demanding that he does the job of your elected officials. How so spoiled "white" of ya'!

And since you want to talk OT in reference to Terrorism, read Clark's fucking OP-Ed dated 9/14/01 (written 3 days after 9/11) to understand the manner in which he would have fought terrorism...and would have been waaaay smarter than what we ended up doing....
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=108x122187

(I get pissed with those who are uninformed and won't give just dues unless all is done according to his demand! :eyes:)

[MadeinOhio]

32. That doesn't help and isn't what I'm talking about. Clark isn't congress?

I didn't know he wasn't an elected official. What I do know is there needs to be more than just Clark on television talking about this and there isn't, it just seems like an entire vacuum of missing leadership. I don't want to hear any exscuses, I want to know why they aren't over there!!!!!

And damn right I'll demand it, that's what the people are supposed to do.

[FrenchieCat]

38. Like I said.....get specific with your rant.....

It's like the White folks who were asking why Black people weren't marching during election 2004 to protest against the results. Some are always turning to the same front line soldiers that always do the heavy lifting and demanding that they do more. :shrug:

WesClark is doing all that he can in his capacity....apart from speaking loudly via the press....so you need to pull your finger and point it elsewhere!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1750389&mesg_id=1750389

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1750389&mesg_id=1750392

[MadeinOhio]

39. Where is Charlie Rangel and the rest?

There is no exscuse for their inaction! It needs to be on TV.

[FrenchieCat]

45. OMG!

:wtf: are you smoking?

Like I said, you need to read a newspaper or two before you point your stinky finger and do all of this hollerin'! :eyes:

Again, always asking for the same folks to contineously do the heavy lifting! :shrug:

BUSH POLICIES ARE TO BLAME
FOR HURRICANE CATASTROPHE
By Representative Charlie Rangel
WASHINGTON - Just as in Iraq, President Bush's policies and unbelievable mismanagement on the domestic front have brought pain and suffering to American people.

Thousands of people may have been killed by hurricane Katrina and many more could die in its aftermath because of the President's refusal to heed the calls of governors for help in repairing the infrastructure in their states.

In Louisiana, everybody knew that the levees that hold back flood waters were in disrepair. But instead of listening to the governors, the President cut funding for this purpose.

The President's policies in Iraq contributed to the slow response of federal troops who should have been on alert even before the hurricane struck. Now, as bedlam reigns in New Orleans, 35 percent of Louisiana's and 37 percent of Mississippi's National Guard troops are in Iraq, The hurricane is clear evidence of how the war directly affects the domestic security of our country.

The President is destroying the fabric of America with a combined policy of war, tax cuts for the wealthy, and reductions in spending for domestic needs.

These policies are supported by the Republican-dominated Congress. Even so, it was shocking to read reports that Dennis Hastert, the Speaker of the House, said that rebuilding New Orleans made no sense to him.
More.....
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ny15_rangel/CBRStatementHurricaneKatrina09012005.html

[FrenchieCat]

47. Charlie Rangel is one of the founding member of the CBC...Doh....

and they have done more than all of those others....as usual!

Black Lawmakers Angry Over Relief Response

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050902/ap_on_go_co/katrina_black_lawmakers

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1125686915423_20/?hub=World

http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20050903-123600-4735r

http://www.house.gov/cummings/press/05aug31a.htm

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/09/02/black.lawmakers.ap/

on CSPAN - 9/2/05
Congressional Black Caucus on Response to Hurricane Katrina (09/02/2005)
http://www.c-span.org/

[MadeinOhio]

52. I'm sorry but I was not talking about him I meant Charles Schumer.

Where was Charles Schumer, Frank Lautenberg and everyone else now? It really does seemn like only the CB Caucaus was down there doing something.

[Raksha]

46. I devised a very simple litmus test for myself.

On Wednesday night I decided that the FIRST Democrat to call BushCo on their criminal incompetence was the one I would support for president. Got up Thursday morning, logged onto DU and discovered it was Wesley Clark. The funny thing is, I wasn't a big Clark fan before and I still don't know very much about him! I voted for Kuchinich in the primary and Kerry (of course) in the general election.

[FrenchieCat]

49. Well let me know what you want to know about, and I'll get you

the info.

He's gets it...Grassroots and all!

Here's his son posting on DKOS (the whole family's like this)!

Dear Miles O'Brien - FUCK YOU
by WesClarkJr
Sat Sep 3rd, 2005 at 08:04:55 PDT
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/3/11455/89024

[RandomUser]

54. Looks like the son is following in his father's footsteps

Wow, that deserves to have it's own thread, Frenchie. I would have missed it if I hadn't caught this post, and I think may people who follow Clark on DU would be interested. Way to go, Wes Jr! No mincing words from either of them. (Reminds me of the time Wes Jr. told someone off on DU using the exact same words :))

[bemildred]

11. Democrats? What Democrats? nt

[Oeditpus Rex]

16. I didn't vote

People are making me proud. I didn't ask their political affiliation.

[msongs]

20. what handling? I musta missed it. nt

[mom cat]

22. When they start screaming like Nagin, then I will be proud!

[FrenchieCat]

26. You mean like this?

"Then just this morning, the President claimed that no one could have anticipated the levee breaches we've seen in New Orleans after Katrina hit. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4204754.stm

That's not leadership, that's an excuse.

In fact, people have predicted this kind of disaster for many years, including President Bush's own FEMA in 2001, when they ranked hurricane flood damage to New Orleans among the three likeliest, most catastrophic disasters facing America. Instead, funding was significantly cut back, leaving key engineering projects on hold.

Instead, this Administration focused on the war in Iraq, tax cuts, and private sector economic growth without asking the American people to make needed sacrifices for the good of the country.

Again I ask you, where is the leadership?"--WES CLARK

http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/9/1/123536/7907

and

"there was at least 36 hours notice that a major hurricane was going to hit the Gulf Coast, including likely a devastating blow to New Orleans, which certainly came to pass.

The President continued with his regular schedule on Monday and Tuesday in California, Arizona, and Texas to hold some staged Medicare events and enjoy more vacation time, while finally returning to the White House yesterday.

The joint task force including National Guard set up by the Pentagon failed to be on the scene in New Orleans in a timely manner to stop the looting and assist in the evacuation.

Where is the leadership?"--WES CLARK

http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/9/1/123536/7907

[mom cat]

36. Damned good. You should go give them dudes some voice lessons.

[magellan]

24. What the hell have the Dems done to handle the crisis?

As usual, the only Democrats who've spoken out are those within the Congressional Black Caucus. Within that group are our true and ONLY Dem leaders. The rest are a miserable, silent waste of space.

[doc03]

28. The only ones I have heard speak out on this was the

Black Caucus and that only feeds the fuel to the Repugs, now they can say the blacks are claiming racism again. We can always expect Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to show up where there is a camera. Where in the hell are our white leaders such as the Clinton's. Oh I forgot Bill spends his time with the Repugs now we can't expect him to say anything.

[Raksha]

48. Of course they will try to smear the CBC! They always do

But it so happens that the CBC is the ONLY group that has consistently stood up for the people on EVERY issue, beginning with election fraud in Ohio. We can always remind the freepers of that when they start playing the race card.

[doc03]

53. I agree but every Repug that I know was saying

that the blacks will be claiming the NOLA situation was all racism. I have heard more criticism from the Repugs about Bush's handling of NOLA than I have heard from any Democrat. When Bill Clinton was President he would have been in NOLA on tuesday morning handing out water to those people in person, now the SOB is Shrubs best buddy.

[mzmolly]

30. Are the Greens?

Neither are in a position to handle this crisis.

[elehhhhna]

34. What Dems? What Handling? What crisis?

[Emit]

37. Stephanie Tubbs Jones was great this morning on CSPAN n/t

[Field Of Dreams]

40. Kucinich, Clark, Congressional Black Caucus

have made me proud so far.

[Raksha]

41. Any Democrat who cautiously waits to test the political waters

before making a public statement gets NO respect or support from me. If we can see the criminal neglect streaming into every living room from every TV screen in America, SO CAN THEY, dammit! And they damn well better say something about it fast or their credibility will go down the tubes right along with BushCo's.

Edited to add: It might not be a bad idea to e-mail this thread to all the high-profile Dems, especially the presidential contenders, just to make sure they know which way the wind blows. Although if they had any brains at all they'd know already.

[mtnester]

42. What handling? The silence from MOST of them is DEAFENING

eom

[Mass]

43. How can the Dems handle the crisis? Are there in power?

[AlGore-08.com]

44. Gore is definitely making me proud

As soon as he could get clearance, he flew over 100 of the most critically ill out of NOLA to Tennessee hospitals. He paid for it himself, as well.

[Moderator]

55. Locking

Since "the Democrats" aren't handling the crisis (other than the Mayor and Ms. Blanco) this poll is merely flamebait