"The 35 Articles of Impeachment and the Case for Prosecuting George W. Bush"Editorials
A guest editorial on the Bush response to Hurricane Katrina:
The Results are Unacceptable
by Lynda L. Dalnodar, 9/13/05
I heard the President say: “The results are unacceptable.” Well, isn't that the responsibility of the man in charge? Perhaps, if Mr. Bush had cut short his vacation and gone to the area of devastation instead of playing golf the results may have been more acceptable. Perhaps, if Condoleezza Rice were in Washington DC, or God forbid to New Orleans, instead of in New York at Broadway play and shoe shopping the results may have been more acceptable. Perhaps, if anyone had even seen the vice president through all of this the results may have been more acceptable. (Does the entire White House vacation in unison?) Perhaps if the President had appointed a head of FEMA who actually had the credentials to do the job the results may have been more acceptable.
I heard the President say: “Trent Lott’s house has been destroyed and we will rebuild it” Gee, I feel so much better knowing that a rich politician will get our governments attention—it almost makes me proud to be an American knowing that our President looks: “forward to having a drink on the porch” of Trent Lott’s new government subsidized home, while people are dying.
I heard Rush Limbaugh (mouthpiece of right-wing rhetoric) ask: “why didn't these people get out?” and “why don’t these people have cars?” These questions seem reminiscent of Marie Antoinette’s response to the peasants having no bread—the old “let them eat cake” response. These people could not get out. They did not have the resources to do so, many too old or too sick or too poor to leave. Why did our government NOT facilitate the evacuation of this area? Surely the administration is aware that most large cities have poor residents; but then again judging by Mr. Limbaugh comments perhaps not.
I heard Mr. Bush say: “There should be no tolerance for law breakers” What would we do in the same situation? Watching our love ones die, seeing dead bodies around us being eaten by rats, not having food, water, shelter or sleep for 3 or 4 days—would we not be desperate? Who among us could say we not “loot” for food and water to keep our children and our parents from dying?
I see the headlines say: “Shoot to kill” and I ask: “where have the rights of America gone as our National Guardsmen fight for Iraq’s liberty?” I watch my television and am disgusted and dismayed by what I see. It seems our founding father hopes of “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness” is an eroding ideology in The United States of America under the current administration.
Yes—the results are unacceptable, but not nearly as unacceptable as the response of this government. President Bush needs to be held accountable for the administration’s inaction—or delayed actions. While it is doubtful The President will do the honorable thing and resign, I would ask the legislative bodies of this country to call for his impeachment. This is a disgrace and the people of this country deserve better.
