It’s Saturday morning here in the U.S. Ordinarily a slow news day, CNN has the thrill of two hot news topics, which it can wear out for days and days: Hurricane Gustav’s arrival in New Orleans and the Republican National Convention.
Whether one believes in a higher power in some incarnation or is of the view that “sh_t happens,” it cannot be denied that the likelihood that something fateful is about to befall the Republicans this week. When Hurricane Gustav arrives on the U.S. Gulf Coast sometime Tuesday, responders will have learned from their mistakes stemming from the Katrina disaster. However, the “human rights negligence” that has been committed by the Bush Administration since that catastrophe will rear its ugly head again. As CNN has reported, emblematic of the Bush Administrations ongoing failure to respond to this human rights mess is the fact that the U.S. Corps of Engineers expects levee failures should Gustav strike New Orleans.
The distraction of such a catastrophic event, whether it causes any harm at all will dampen the events at the Republican Convention this week. Republican hopeful John McCain and his number two, Sarah Palin will be upstaged by the super-delegate Gustav – the drunk at the tea party, so to speak.
Adding to this potential disaster, virtually any response by the Bush Administration will be offset by its continued failure to deal with the structural failure of the federal government to learn from its lessons and actually take care of post-Katrina problems. This is something that only the federal government can and should have done before and after Hurricane Katrina: adequately repair and strengthen levees around New Orleans, improve and repair pumping systems in low lying areas, secure temporary housing from damage, provide aid and security to American citizens. The list goes on and new disasters will be revealed as the current administration fumbles should this crisis occur.
If Hurricane Gustav strikes the Gulf Coast with significant destructive force, the Republican mantra of minimalist government with its “negligence as policy” approach will again be brought front and center in the
American political debate. John McCain and Sarah Palin will be challenged to differentiate themselves from the Bush Administration and the Republican Party in this regard. Their spin doctors will be working overtime on this problem.
From a human rights perspective, a more pressing question emerges regarding the Bush Administration’s continuing misconduct: Should gross negligence by the state – in this case, the U.S. government lead by George Bush – constitute a crime against humanity? The ideology of this administration that has cost lives, destroyed a vast mid-section of the American landscape and demonstrated a willful disregard for black Americans and those on the lower end of the economic spectrum has had a result not much different than actions by a third world despot victimizing his subjects.
Stumble It!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Brutus 08.30.08 at 6:37 pm
Has anyone considered what would happen if the levees hold and the federal response if fast and powerful? Wouldn’t that help erase the Katrina remembrances?
Also, who is better equipped to deal with a disaster like this…a Senator or a Governor?
John 08.31.08 at 11:25 am
If the levees hold that would be great. However, my point is that the Bush Administration has been grossly negligent with respect to the Katrina response. EVERYTHING they do is driven by ideology and rewarding their friends not what is good for the American people.
This negligence or really willful malfeasance rises to the level of a violation of the basic human rights of Americans. Suffice it to say this is something that we should not tolerate from our government.
In regard to your hypothetical about whether a governor or senator is better able to deal with a disaster, what you are getting at here is whether VP candidate Sarah Palin is qualified.
The answer is NO.
Unlike Barak Obama, who has been under the microscpoe for almost two years and subject to the scrutiny of voters in all 50 states, Sarah Palin was selected by one man – John MMcCain – and his decision was based on ideology, not on Palin’s strength of qualification to serve as the vice president. Sarah Palin is a darling of the conservative right who’s primary qualification seems to be her stand against a woman’s right to choose. While this may excite conservative voters, it has proven to be a failed strategy for the health and well being of America.
We don’t need ideology to be the primary qualification for high office. This got us Michael Brown, Bush’s FEMA Administrator and we know how well that decision worked out.
Diana 09.02.08 at 5:48 pm
I find it interesting that the Bush Administration is staying clear of the Republican Convention–trying to distance the bad PR from the candidates.
Beyond the Louisiana fiasco, there are a lot of other things for Americans to be upset about.