The State of the Union 2006 . . . Something Happened in New Orleans?
I couldn't bring myself to watch it, but read the transcript:
The word count:
Terror, Terrorism, Terrorists: 20 times.
Freedom/Free: 19 times.
Iraq, Iraqi: 16 times.
Democracy: 10 times.
Iran, Iranian: 6 times.
New Orleans: twice--in the third to last paragraph of the speech, 30+ minutes into it.
Here's what was said in regards to New Orleans:
A hopeful society comes to the aid of fellow citizens in times of suffering and emergency -- and stays at it until they are back on their feet. So far the federal government has committed $85 billion to the people of the Gulf Coast and New Orleans. We are removing debris, repairing highways, and building stronger levees. We are providing business loans and housing assistance. Yet as we meet these immediate needs, we must also address deeper challenges that existed before the storm arrived. In New Orleans and in other places, many of our fellow citizens have felt excluded from the promise of our country. The answer is not only temporary relief, but schools that teach every child ... and job skills that bring upward mobility ... and more opportunities to own a home and start a business. As we recover from a disaster, let us also work for the day when all Americans are protected by justice, equal in hope, and rich in opportunity.
Thats it--all she wrote. Restating an earnest commitment to New Orleans and Louisiana and Mississippi? Nope, not quite. Three meager sentences dealing with the physical recovery caused by one of the largest natural disasters (and manmade disasters in New Orleans proper) in the history of the United States, followed by rehashed, recycled, and trite social commentary. Simply pathetic. When lapdog Republican Senator David Vitter criticizes and announces he's disappointed in the speech, I'd say there's a problem.
And about that alleged fuzzy math USD 85 billion . . . Read this.
And no mention about the forthcoming property foreclosures that the federal government is just going to sit back and let happen?
Check out the absolute honest assessment posted by People Get Ready . . . . And another by da po' blog.
posted by Seymour D. Fair @ 10:29 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
GWB: "In New Orleans and in other places, many of our fellow citizens have felt excluded from the promise of our country."
Shouldn't he have said "were excluded" instead of "felt excluded". Felt excluded makes it sounds like it's our fault that we feel left out. And wasn't this a promise by GWB, not the "country"? I just love how he deflects the blame and responsibility.
GWB: "The answer is not only temporary relief, but schools that teach every child ... and job skills that bring upward mobility ... and more opportunities to own a home and start a business."
How exactly is this the answer to us being excluded from Category 5 hurricane levees? Schools, Jobs, and homes wont mean shit if we get flooded again.
You know what? I think trying to bring "democracy" and "freedom" to Iraq is important. We should be trying to do that. It should be this administration's number-one priority.
Then, after George W. Bush brings "deomocracy" and "freedom" to Iraq, maybe he can try to bring them to the United States.
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