5 Key Resources Documenting Bush's Culpability in Katrina Disaster

[NAO]

A friend of mine asked me today if I could back up my assertion that Bush, through his policies, had contributed significantly to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

In response to that request I printed 5 articles and did a little cover letter with links, which is below:

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Documentation for “Bush is to blame for the devastation of Katrina”

This is just a tiny fraction of the material that is out there in the archives of the mainstream news organizations. There is also an abundance of analysis available on blogs, detailing how the pieces fit together and showing how the various factors contributed to the magnitude of the disaster.

Here is a brief description of the enclosed pieces:

1. Molly Ivens: Why New Orleans is in Deep Water
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0901-26.htm

This piece is the best overall because it drives home the central point that government polices really do matter and really do impact our day to day lives. I have never seen a more compelling and concrete case for the link between ordinary life and government policy. Ivens references an article in the New Orleans CityBusiness dated June 6, 2005, about 8 weeks before Katrina hit NOLA.

2. New Orleans CityBusiness Article dated June 6, 2005
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4200/is_20050606/ai_n14657367

This article is eerily prescient: “The cuts mean major hurricane and flood protection projects will not be awarded to local engineering firms. Also, a study to determine ways to protect the region from a Category 5 hurricane has been shelved for now.” The article also mentions that some of the areas hit by the budget cuts are flood control measures, drainage improvements, and plans to reinforce levees.

3. FactCheck.org: Is Bush to Blame for New Orleans Flooding?
http://www.factcheck.org/article344.html

The Annenberg Political Fact Check is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. FactCheck.org is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, "consumer advocate" for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. They monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players.

IMHO, they sometimes serve the interests of the Bush Admin by taking statements at face value – in this case the statement by the Corps of Engineers that exonerates Bush. It is well known that Bush pressures agencies to “massage” data to fit his agendas. Still, they uncover quite a bit of dirt on Bush.

4. Blog Analysis and Commentary: When the Levee Breaks
http://www.pnionline.com/dnblog/attytood/archives/002331.html

A concise analysis of the factors and how things fit together. The original post is followed by hundreds of comments from both sides.

5. Talking Points Memo (blog) - Katrina Timeline
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/katrina-timeline.php

A timeline to see what happened in what sequence. There is much valuable discussion on Katrina and all aspects of public policy at Talking Points Memo, one of the top 5 political blogs.

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Now this is just something I whipped up for a friend but I do think that this is the type of information that needs to be widely disseminated to raise public awareness of the disaster that is *.

[Nothing Without Hope]

1. Recommended. I would also include the DHS National Response Plan's

unambiguous language placing primary responsibility for emergency planning and management in the hands of Bush and Chertoff. For example:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4668155
thread title: The Buck Stops Here: NATIONAL RESPONSE PLAN

Chertoff did not even declare the Katrina disaster a "national incident" - thus theoretically unleashing full federal oversight and action - for DAYS. This is proven through his own memo. This important Sept 13 Knight-Ridder article discusses this and also has links to a pdf file of the Chertoff memo - note the date - and also a pdf of the National Response Plan itself:
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/12637172.htm
Title: Chertoff delayed federal response, memo shows
Note that Chertoff and Bush, NOT Brown, had primary responsibility, and they betrayed it. The media has largely let them get away with scapegoating Brown and washing their hands of responsibility. This must stop. In fact, to this day people throughout the Katrina region have not received the aid they require from the federal govt and unknown thousands died because of lack of food and water, abandoned as they waited for rescue that never came.

Bush also refused foreign and civilian aid for DAYS until eventually forced into it. Meanwhile, people continued to die. This was another direct choice of Bush.

The National Hurricane Center expert Max Mayfield briefed Bush and the others before landfall; despite their lies to the contrary, they were told EXACTLY what to expect when Katrina hit. (Including the vulnerability of the New Orleans levees.):
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/08/30/State/For_forecasting_chief.shtml

The Wikipedia timeline is quite thorough, though the last time I looked it didn't include Blanco's second, Aug 28 letter to Bush (link to pdf file of 2nd letter in this post: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2064469&mesg_id=2067532 )

The fine Wikipedia Katrina timeline, which supports Bush's primary responsibility and shows just how craven his self-serving lies have been, is here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Hurricane_Katrina

The Wikipedia timeline also documents another Bush move, trying to blackmail Blanco into allowing federalization of Louisiana Nat'l Guard and martial law in exchange for allowing federal aid in the disaster. This also shows a primary goal of the Bush Administration: use of this disaster to push for greater powers for the POTUS and a move to easy access to federal martial law on the president's whim. Read more about the back story and documentation of this here, both in the OP and especially in the articles linked to in the replies:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4790112
thread title: Missing A KEY POINT in *'s speech: POWER GRAB FOR POTUS AND MILITARY

[ladylibertee]

2. Right on