President Bush said Tuesday that “I take responsibility” for failures in dealing with Hurricane Katrina and said the disaster raised broader questions about the government’s ability to respond to natural disasters as well as terror attacks.
“Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government,” Bush said at joint White House news conference with the president of Iraq.
“To the extent the federal government didn’t fully do its job right, I take responsibility,” Bush said.
The president was asked whether people should be worried about the government’s ability to handle another terrorist attack given failures in responding to Katrina.
“Are we capable of dealing with a severe attack? That’s a very important question and it’s in the national interest that we find out what went on so we can better respond,” Bush replied.
He said he wanted to know both what went wrong and what went right.
As for blunders in the federal response, “I’m not going to defend the process going in,” Bush said. “I am going to defend the people saving lives.”
I bet there are those on the left that never thought they would hear that! Let me guess, it’s not good enough!
I tried to read Bilbo’s War and Peace length dissertations, but I just couldn’t make it though all of it.
However I did see one valid point that didn’t occur to me until a week after the Hurricane hit. After 9/11 President Bush was supposed to prepare this nation to respond to a major terrorist attack. Yet some major fundamental issues were clearly not dealt with, and FEMA certainly didn’t seem better able to respond to any emergencies. I would think that 4 years after 9/11 such issues like how local, state, and federal agencies work together during an emergency would have been worked out. Clearly they still have not been worked out.
201, in the case of Louisana, the state and local people are so corrupt that any planning money was diverted to other uses like a new Mardi Gras fountain. That is not Bush or his administration’s fault. As soon as the Democrats get honest and stop politicizing everything, maybe we can agree to move forward.
201 – “I tried to read Bilbo’s War and Peace length dissertations…”
Anyway, did you notice how the big point you just raised was completely missed? Did you notice how it was distilled down to one ancillary line item that fits nicely into the “distiller’s” puzzle?
Then, the “distiller” turned around and accused the “other side” of doing that very same thing.
You never said that the LA gov’t wasn’t corrupt. You simply identified a responsibility of the federal gov’t that appears to have been unmet, which should be cause for concern to us all.
BTW, I’m not trying to win allies here. I honestly don’t expect that. I’m just glad to know that I haven’t entered a parallel universe.
194-Each time you so adamantly assert that I should do my research, you look that much more ignorant. I hope you feel as silly as you are vehement when you realize that what I’ve said is true.- Actually, what is ignorant is you telling a black man he doesn’t understand racism. That is when you lost all credibility.
201-Z- that is a good question, but have you checked with you state/local powers that be to find out what the plan is for a terrorist attack is in your area? The first responders are always going to be the state/local forces. In the case of NOLA, that didn’t happen because the Mayor/Governor failed their people. Shame, Shame
204 – Peejz, you’re worse than Sasha in that regard and actually distorting your/his own argument. You’re now agreeing with him that b/c he’s black he has some special understanding of racism that other people don’t.
What happened to all of your assertions about equal-opportunity racism? All that “blacks are racist too” talk? Is it only white and other people who can misundertand racism?
206- I suggest you take a step back and re-read what you just wrote to me.
207 – How about we not play this “Emperor’s New Clothes” game where you avoid making a point and pretend that you have some esoteric knowledge that you never reveal? Knowledge which supposedly trumps what I’ve said?
Instead, why don’t you break it down for me and just say what you mean? Why don’t you try just answering what I’ve said?
Like I been sayin’, Liberalism is a form of mental illness…
208- “Actually, what is ignorant is you telling a black man he doesn’t understand racism”-what don’t you understand about this statement?
For the past 150 posts we have been going back and forth. All of those communicating with you are understanding what it is that Sasha and I are saying. I guess I don’t understand what you are expecting though. Again, 150 posts later, and Sasha and I are still in agreement as to racism, but we have yet to figure out what it is that you have actually said.
208 – I’m almost certain that you missed my facetious tone, which makes me pretty certain that I know how you’re going to try to dissect my statement.
And, I’m certain that you won’t respond to what I actually said.
Typical.
211- and yet again you meantion that others are misunderstood.
210 – Are you STILL confused as to my position on racism? I really hope not after the number of times I’ve answered that directly.
This thread started as an attempt to define how racism in this country began. You and Sasha refuted that and took it all over the place about blacks being racist too, complicit Africans in the slave trade, etc. I agreed that all of that was the case, but said it didn’t discredit my initial assertion.
So, just what is your point, now?
And do you really not see the how your statement, “Actually, what is ignorant is you telling a black man that he doesn’t understand racism” contradicts what WE’VE ALL AGREED is the definition of racism?
Do you not see that it implies that a black man can’t misunderstand it (but someone else could)? You don’t see that you’re giving him the benefit of the doubt simply because he’s black?
Can’t believe you’re missing that.
212 – Peejz, I was wrong about that. You didn’t attempt to trivialize what I’d said in the way I thought you would.
I DID assume there and I apologize.
Retracted.
214- No problem
213- 1.This thread started with the post that I made. the POTUS took some responsibility for the failures in NOLA and then the thread was derailed around the 10th post.
2. No, Bilbo, we are all not in agreement on the issue of racism. You are in agreement with you. We still don’t agree on anything other than racism knows no one particular group.
3. Your whole arguement has been about the origin of racism, the definition of racism etc…you painted a picture of the black man having it far worse than the white man. Fair enough. So Sasha, a black man, comes along and gives you his take, questions your definition, and you told him that he doesn’t understand racism.
216 – 1. This is clearly a separate line of discussion, aka “thread”.
2. Clearly. You’ve verified that we’re not in agreement in 204, among other posts. Like it or not, your double-standard has been revealed.
3. My argument wasn’t about the definition of racism, just the history. YOU/Sasha posed the definition issue, to which I agreed.
Not sure which “picture” you’re talking about. I simply said that slavery was responsible for racism and slavery was economic. I also talked about how slavery was engineered to foster hate. Historical fact.
See that’s the problem: Both you and Sasha jumped all over it b/c you thought I was blaming “the white man” exclusively. That’s why you/he brought up the points about African complicity and black racists, etc. BUT, I never said “the white man” was solely the problem, just slavery. You were so quick to defend, that you assumed.
And that’s why I dubbed your arguments irrelevant. The system of slavery, with all of its responsible parties, was responsible for introducing racism into this country. To say blacks were responsible too doesn’t change what it was and what it did. Irrelevant.
But you never got that.
216 – “So Sasha, a black man, comes along and gives you his take, questions your definition, and you told him that he doesn’t understand racism”
That explanation still doesn’t discount the fact that you’re attributing some special “racism-understanding” powers to Sasha for being black. And in fact, only digs your hole deeper.
As if the black man can come along and his word is golden. “All disputes should end now, the black man has spoken. His word is unquestionable”.
But, I’m glad you’re revealing that you give so much power and authority to black people in understanding racism. Perhaps you’ll respect my new-found authority and I’ll recover the “credibility” you say I lost for implying that Sasha doesn’t understand racism.
You see, I’m black too.
Now, ain’t that a mother.
217-Again with what you perceive to be “the thread”. It is yet another example of your very sloppy communication skills.
As for the rest of what you just went on and on about, we gathered that is what you were saying, unforunately, a. I don’t agree, and be, had you said something such as that 120 posts ago, we wouln’t be here at post 218 discussing how everyone misunderstands you.
1 question for you..prior to the slaves being brought into this country..did all races of people get along in peace and harmony?
218-I sincerly doubt that. And as to a hole that’s been dug, I have just stood by watching you dig it. And it just got deepoer in 218!:roll:
Uh-oh, more bilge from Bilbo.
Where to begin…
In Comment 196, Bilbo says:
169 – Wow. I didn’t know it was possible to fit so much nonsense and hypocrisy into such a small area.
Bilbo doesn’t seem to realize #169 is his post!
Or maybe he does…
A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Sasha- go to 218! That is the best out of all of them!
193: That’s the crack talkin’. Zelda’s as dangerous as they come. And don’t get us started on the kids.
222: He’s either burned out bearing or skipped a needed dose.
Who on this board, in the couple of years I’ve been commenting, make accommodations for me because I’m black? That would be interesting, because we usually don’t pull our punches around here.
Now he’s so confoosed (sic) he’s berating himself. Or at least one aspect is berating the other.
Do you sense a Linda Blair episode coming soon? Complete with head-spinning and pea soup a-spewin’?
219: Now he’s going to try to make you accept his definition of “thread” instead of admitting he was “mistaken” from the beginning.
224- We never fight or call each other names. This is one big love fest. Zelda is the den mother and Mike is her big ole teddy bear!:razz:
225- That was the last straw for me:mad:
227: Reminds me of Gore for some strange reason.
The lies, made up facts, obfuscation. If memory serves, dg was good at that as well.
Oh yes! Maybe a relation?:wink:
229: I see many similarities.
219 – Ok, are you seriously upset b/c I used the word thread in a different context? I hope you can get over it.
“As for the rest of what you just went on and on about, we gathered that is what you were saying…had you said something such as that 120 posts ago, we wouln’t be here at post 218 discussing…”
What? Do you hear what you’re saying? You “gathered” that’s what I was saying (i.e., you knew what I was talking about) and therefore WHY your points were irrelevant, just as I charged. So, why on earth did you keep making them and feigning ignorance? That is what kept the thread going.
I mean, why are you saying that I should’ve said that 120 posts ago WHEN YOU ALREADY KNEW? What sense does that make?
And, I practically begged Sasha to explain specifically why he thought his points were relevant and he couldn’t/didn’t do it.
You assumed something I specifically did not say and you’re faulting me for your assumption? Even after I spell it out for you and you admit that you understand? The correct response, Peejz, is “my bad”.
“a. I don’t agree”
That’s the smartest thing you’ve said yet. It’s simple, to the point and respectable.
“1 question for you..prior to the slaves being brought into this country..did all races of people get along in peace and harmony?”
No.
218 – You seriously doubt what? That I’m black? Now that’s a scream. And why is that, Peejz? Because it makes you and your previous assertions look silly?
Ok, if you want to say “you’ve got a hole too”, with absoulutely no rationale, then cool. I’ve got a hole.
221 – “Bilbo doesn’t seem to realize #169 is his post!”
Sasha, you can’t be serious. After all that, the best you can do is to point out that I accidentally referenced the wrong post? And you even added an exclamation point. That’s sad.
“A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
Are you deliberately trying to make my point regarding the fact that you make abstract assertions, but can’t form a concrete argument?
224 – “Who on this board, in the couple of years I’ve been commenting, make accommodations for me because I’m black?”
Uh, Peejz just did. Trouble reading again? That’s the point. Maybe it’s unprecedented. So what? It’s pretty clear.
“Now he’s so confoosed (sic) he’s berating himself. Or at least one aspect is berating the other.”
That’s peach coming from you. But if you read very, very closely, maybe you’ll understand that post and why it was phrased the way it was. Maybe.
233 – Hmm, sounds like dg must’ve ripped you guys a new one too.
Actually, what’s laughable is that you’ve been taken completely apart and don’t fully understand how or why.
Anyway, I sense Peejz searching for a new irrelevant point with his last question in 219, so it’s a good time to push on.
I’ll let you guys get back to celebrating your ignorance. I’ve got what I need anyway. Thank you all for helping me with my “research”.
Uh…right…whatever. Bilbo, you’ve made yourselves look silly. The Internet can be a very dangerous playground for you and your many personalities. You’ve probably spawned several more personalities to protect yourself from your own delusions.
Please push away from the desk, take your meds as prescribed, and report to the men in the white jackets.:roll:
Now it turns out, after 200 emails posted here, that Bilbo is black. Well that revelation apparently is his trump card; he is now presumed to be right, and has won the argument…in his own mind, that is.
Bilbo is stuck on stupid.
236- nope just chased his tail and went round in round in circles just like you.
238- Exactly Robert. Never mentions it when Sasha brought it up, or when he was called every name in the book. He mentions it when I bring up a point that shows his lack of arguement and viola…he is black too. Just toss his bone into the next yard.
238: Robert, he thinks he correct simply because he spoke. Reminds me of that character on Cheers. The mailman, Cliff.
240: And after the last time he popped up here, we sliced, diced and shredded him so badly that he hasn’t been since.
I do hope he’s okay…
239: PCD, I love that saying.
238: The “brotha personality” must have just recently manifested itself.
well something manifested itself:razz: