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Editorial

Waiting for a Leader

Published: September 1, 2005

George W. Bush gave one of the worst speeches of his life yesterday, especially given the level of national distress and the need for words of consolation and wisdom. In what seems to be a ritual in this administration, the president appeared a day later than he was needed. He then read an address of a quality more appropriate for an Arbor Day celebration: a long laundry list of pounds of ice, generators and blankets delivered to the stricken Gulf Coast. He advised the public that anybody who wanted to help should send cash, grinned, and promised that everything would work out in the end.

We will, of course, endure, and the city of New Orleans must come back. But looking at the pictures on television yesterday of a place abandoned to the forces of flood, fire and looting, it was hard not to wonder exactly how that is going to come to pass. Right now, hundreds of thousands of American refugees need our national concern and care. Thousands of people still need to be rescued from imminent peril. Public health threats must be controlled in New Orleans and throughout southern Mississippi. Drivers must be given confidence that gasoline will be available, and profiteering must be brought under control at a moment when television has been showing long lines at some pumps and spot prices approaching $4 a gallon have been reported.

Sacrifices may be necessary to make sure that all these things happen in an orderly, efficient way. But this administration has never been one to counsel sacrifice. And nothing about the president's demeanor yesterday - which seemed casual to the point of carelessness - suggested that he understood the depth of the current crisis.

While our attention must now be on the Gulf Coast's most immediate needs, the nation will soon ask why New Orleans's levees remained so inadequate. Publications from the local newspaper to National Geographic have fulminated about the bad state of flood protection in this beloved city, which is below sea level. Why were developers permitted to destroy wetlands and barrier islands that could have held back the hurricane's surge? Why was Congress, before it wandered off to vacation, engaged in slashing the budget for correcting some of the gaping holes in the area's flood protection?

It would be some comfort to think that, as Mr. Bush cheerily announced, America will be a stronger place for enduring this crisis. Complacency will no longer suffice, especially if experts are right in warning that global warming may increase the intensity of future hurricanes. But since this administration won't acknowledge that global warming exists, the chances of leadership seem minimal.

...BTW nobody has apologized for calling me a liar....not that I expected it....grow some skin.

When I engage in political discussions, I try my best to keep things in the 3^rd person as much as possible, especially since I try to promote mutual respect and tolerance. I find that even in the most oppositional debates, it helps keeps things more civil. I do not always succeed, and at times have been known to abadon that principal, especially when facing someone bent on personal attack or who is presenting ill-informed arguments. I have followed some of your other posts and know that you certainly do not fit that category. On close review, I notice I got a bit sloppy with the 3^rd person thing. I apologize if I came across as too presumptive, particularly since I cannot assume anything about your (or you family) in terms of being conservative or bigoted.

The 59 flea market is alive and well, although it is a bit of an anachronism by now. Don�t know about the crime, except to say that there is usually a patrol car within sight cruising that vicinity on the weekends. I used to go there all the time back in the day, but it is too hot and I am too old for that now. That�s why I frequent those modern day flea markets along Harwin which can be found in air-conditioned buildings.

Bellaire was relatively middle class when we moved there. It is its own city, so they have actually gone in the opposite direction and have gentrified the joint. over the last 10 years, give or take. Unfortunately, our post-war bungalows are rapidly disappearing and those obnoxious, abrasive McMansions are popping up everywhere. I suppose that�s progress to some, sad for me. We moved there after my parents divorced from Highland Park in Dallas, which is an elite place to be sure. The journey from �privileged� status to champion of the underdog makes for some interesting conversation�perhaps another day.

We are also bound to revisit the legal vs illegal immigration thing�it is not likely to go away anytime soon. I am more intrigued by your issues post above and hope to respond to it in a day or so, Dem turned independent, are you? Even though I stay pretty much left of center, and have been more radicalized further in that direction after 8 years of Bush, I hear ya. My issues with the party are not based so much on the candidate but rather lay with the party itself and the need to broaden our two-part system. Whether or not I like Obama (and I do), I would still be voting along party lines in spite of that, because I see McCain as an instant replay in many respects, particularly where the war is concerned. The "economy is not my strong suit" confession makes me rea nevous. I do respect your decision to pull out, though.

I listen to CNN and Fox, mostly with my teeth clenched. I think Lou Dobbs' obsession with the immigration is a bit inflammatory and counterproductive (no suprise there) in terms of reaching a viable bipartisan consensus, but I will say this much for him. For the most part, he presents himself in a respectable and respectful manner. He raises some interesting points that have made me question some of my more radical views on other issues. I do think he is the type of person that could engage and promote bipartisan cooperation, so in that respect, when I watch his show, my jaw is more relaxed! Anyway, I think that a write-in vote is a great way to resolve any disenchantment you may have for the other 2 candidates.

as we're likely to get an apology from PK and the other trolls. Let it go. The thread has been hijacked, so we'll slip away and let them have their temper tantrums. When they find out no one is listening they'll crawl back under their bridge and/or troll their other haunts. The other solution is that is adults here could just ignore them and continue on with our conversation. It's your call

One great thing about this country is our freedom of speech. A good thing for me too as in another country I might be beheaded or something as I'm pretty outspoken about things I believe in strongly. Also, anyone has the right to agree or disagree with either of us and that is partly what makes this country great, I think.

I would love to hear of your life's journey. I came from near poverty....my dad was a farmer, both parents uneducated....their goal was to make a better life for their children through education. I made it all the way to upper middle class which is good enough for me. I traveled many a rocky road though during my life.

I used to love going to the 59 flea market but like you, I now prefer my comfort over flea marketing outdoors. One thing I can say is since I left Houston in 1990, it sure has changed. My husband, a Chicago native, and I were visiting the kids once and we were going to drive back to my daughter's house in Tomball to spend the night from my son's house in Magnolia. Well, not being so familiar with the Magnolia/Tomball area from living there....except for the famous chicken fried steak place in Tomball...forget the name right now, we missed a turn. I'm about half night blind and after we drove around for quite awhile looking for something I recognized, finally saw the street sign for Gesner so I knew exactly where I was, right? Wrong. Didn't realize they'd opened up Gesner half way to Conroe. LOL We finally got to my daughter's house after a couple of hours, she and my son were about to send out a search party. We didn't have a cell then.

Sorry for involving everyone in what turned into a personal confrontation. In stepping back as some of you have suggested, I examined my feelings and I do feel badly. I took it too personally and I should not have, though when someone says "you this" and "you that" it is hard not to take it personally. It is hard not to take it personally when someone calls you a bigot, ignorant...and many other not-so-nice names. I got my back up...but that is a human reaction in my opinion. I jus should have shut it down sooner, I agree.

In GW's defense, I think she is very frustrated with the immigration situation because of incidents close to her, understandable, and I became the personification of all she hates about Republicans, conservatives etc., in effect, the object of venting. Again, I should not have taken it so personally and tried to understand more where that hatred was coming from.

So, I apologize to GW, I apologize to all of you, that I let it get out of hand. Hard as it may be for some of you to believe, I am not a confrontational person. Every one of us, at some point, gets all we can stand and feel like we have to stand up. I just should not have kept it going so long. We were beating a dead horse and we should have stopped...both of us.

So...sorry, GW. I know we do not agree on many things and never will. However, I am as responsible as you for it going on for so long. And for that I apologize, to you and to others on the board.

And I appreciate the wise moderator who just let it play out.

Cooling myself off. :)

Instead of all the governments playing patty cake with these radical leaders, we should just take them out once and for all.

While O is trying to reduce our defense abilities, these leaders are building up theirs. When is the world (including our country) going to realize you can't deal with leaders like this in a rational manner? "Speak softly but carry a big stick" is the motto we should be following.

The Security Council must apologize for infringing on the North's sovereignty and "withdraw all its unreasonable and discriminative resolutions and decisions" against the North, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.

Otherwise, the regime "will be compelled to take additional self-defensive measures," including "nuclear tests and test-firings of intercontinental ballistic missiles," the ministry said.

I know it's hard for you, but try to pay attention. Sheesh!

It would be so nice if you weren't here. SM

In fact, I DEMAND an apology for falsely accusing any of us, after the moderator already told you, that we did not contact her. An article about Presidente Bush being clinically insane would definitely appear to violate the rules of the board, as posted REPEATEDLY. How dare you, sir! To quote your hero, Olberman.

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Sharpton_Post_editor_insulting_public_with_0219.html

Ironically (LOL), when I read some posts on this board denying this is blatant racism by the Post, the mental image I get is this (hoping it prints):

Please remember this country and its founding Christian principles were legislated by slave-owners, a practice that was condoned for another 100 years in this country, along with the near-annihilation of this country's indigenous peoples.

Theme of RNC. Sarah Palin was member of a group who advocated Alaska seceding from United States. Who first? Wno on second?

Truly caring about your country needs no apology....

Waiting for a Leader

I know it's hard for you, but try to pay attention. Sheesh!

It would be so nice if you weren't here. SM