tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10378975.post4950851169429707505..comments2023-11-02T05:08:39.540-07:00Comments on The RogueNation: Katrina Revisited: Walmart Wins! Part 2Randolphus Maximushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17390743776369358319noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10378975.post-37718467720874270762008-03-27T22:17:00.000-07:002008-03-27T22:17:00.000-07:00Snarkle - It's not as if Clinton didn't have his o...Snarkle - <BR/><BR/>It's not as if Clinton didn't have his own problems of bureaucratic incompetence to deal with. Ruby Ridge, Oklahoma City, WTC (the first time), and Waco come to mind at first blush domestically. Somalia was a black eye for Clinton internationally, enough so that his SecDef resigned in disgrace.<BR/><BR/>But even then, what I question and what Rockwell and Block's paper questions is whether or not FEMA should exist at all or if those tax dollars, instead of getting shoved into the bureaucratic black hole that is the Federal government, were instead used for something different, or even better, left with the taxpayers.<BR/><BR/>As the paper points out, companies like Walmart, Home Depot, and even individual private citizens were able and willing to provide relief. But it was the government that hindered those relief efforts.<BR/><BR/><I>"But that's what we get when people who believe that government's the problem get elected or appointed - they prove the maxim while profiting from it."</I><BR/><BR/>You won't get any argument from me as far as Bush being a failure at shrinking the government. No Child Left Behind, prescription drugs for Medicare, bailouts for banks, the list goes on and on. But do the Dems offer anything better? No, not at all.Randolphus Maximushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17390743776369358319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10378975.post-86627305721519594542008-03-27T15:15:00.000-07:002008-03-27T15:15:00.000-07:00"I don't fault Bush for the governments weak, inef...<I>"I don't fault Bush for the governments weak, inefficient, and incompetent response because Katrina could have happened on Clinton's watch and I'm pretty confident we would have gotten the same bureaucratic abortion that W presided over."</I><BR/><BR/>I gotta disagree. Strenuously.<BR/><BR/>Clinton's FEMA head was James Lee Witt, whose extensive background includes construction and safety. <BR/><BR/>His record as head of FEMA contradicts your assumption, and points to a fundamental problem with your line of thinking, namely that there are actually people out there who care about, and are qualified to provide, quality governance and services.<BR/><BR/>Bush's FEMA heads?<BR/><BR/>Joe Allbaugh, a political hack with no logistical skills or experience related to emergency management.<BR/><BR/>Mike Brown, whose sole qualification was as longtime friend of Joe Allbaugh.<BR/><BR/>But that's what we get when people who believe that <I>government's the problem</I> get elected or appointed - they prove the maxim while profiting from it.Rightwingsnarklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00008057973658098952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10378975.post-20096803958478380132008-03-27T14:00:00.000-07:002008-03-27T14:00:00.000-07:00But when the opportunity came for our government t...<I>But when the opportunity came for our government to make good on the marshmellowy promise of safety and protection during the hurricane, let's face it, the government swung and missed.</I><BR/><BR/>You're sugar coating it. The government didn't even swing and miss. They stood there at the plate with the bat on their shoulder. No, Bush doesn't deserve all the blame, but Jesus, there is more than enough blame to go around and he is included.The Swindlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14458636585463927254noreply@blogger.com