Der Chimpenfuhrer confronted by angry Katrina victims

[Ian David]

Bush confronted by angry Katrina victims

By Michael A. Fletcher
The Washington Post
March 02. 2007 8:00AM

In his first visit to the Gulf Coast in six months, President Bush said yesterday that he heard "loud and clear" the growing complaints in the region that the federal response to Hurricane Katrina has become ensnared in red tape.

But in a trip designed to highlight the progress that has been made in the 18 months since the hurricane devastated New Orleans and the Mississippi coast, the president insisted that "people's lives are improving and there is hope."

As billions of federal dollars have sat in state accounts untapped in part because of complex federal rules, Louisiana officials in particular have become vocal about what they called the Bush administration's wavering interest in the rebuilding process. The frustration came to a boil when Bush failed to mention Katrina during his State of the Union address, prompting Democratic Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco to observe that the "the pains of the hurricane are yesterday's news in Washington."

After a meeting with state and local officials in Biloxi, Miss., yesterday, Bush said he had listened as the officials described their "continued frustration with the slowness of federal response at times. It's important for me to hear that."

In Washington, House Democrats renewed their own criticism of the administration. They promised to move legislation - which has not been endorsed by Bush - to forgive some federal loans to disaster-wracked communities while easing matching fund requirements now tied to some federal aid.

"Hurricane Katrina was a natural disaster, compounded by a man-made disaster. It is now 18 months past time to get our response right," said a statement signed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland and Rep. James Clyburn, a Democrat from South Carolina.

More:
http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070302/REPOSITORY/703020391/1013/48HOURS

See prior thread:

JOIN THE KATRINA SURVIVORS’ REBUKE OF PRESIDENT BUSH
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=106&topic_id=30336&mesg_id=30336

[TheBaldyMan]

1. didn't Halliburton get a big, fat, no-bid contract to fix everything?

[jwirr]

3. I think they had the contract to clean up the original mess left by the

disaster.

[TheBaldyMan]

4. it's still a huge mess, what did Halliburton do with all that cash?

I still find it hard to believe that the richest and most powerful nation on earth can't get it's act together about Katrina.

It is all the fault of Bush and his administration, they were in charge, they are still in charge - even discounting Iraq - Bush should be impeached for the handling of Katrina's aftermath anyway. Every one of the incompentent fools should be dragged out of office.

I find it hard to believe a Gore or Kerry would have bungled this.

[badgerpup]

5. They had the contract before the rain quit falling.

I was following this as it was happening...can't remember feeling so sick and frustrated and ANGRYin my entire life. :nuke:

[jwirr]

7. To the *ss administration everything is an opportunity to steal a

little more money from the taxpayers to enrich their friends. They are real bastards.

[Straight Shooter]

2. "response to Hurricane Katrina has become ensnared in red tape"

Once again, Little Boots cannot take responsibility for his own actions and inactions.

You're the Decider, george. And you've decided to do nothing, let time wash everything away, as if we'll forget.

Go Cheney yourself. :grr:

[intheflow]

6. I want to know what's happening to the interest as the federal $$ sits in state coffers.

That's a lot of money that that's not even being discussed, much less acounted for. It's certainly not going to the coastal communities in Louisiana and Mississippi.