Bush Sees "Better Days" For New Orleans

President Tells City "We're Still Paying Attention" On Katrina's Two-Year Anniversary

(CBS/AP) 
"People are angry and they want to send a message to politicians that they want them to do more and do it faster," said the Rev. Marshall Truehill, a Baptist pastor and community activist. "Nobody's going to be partying."

The anniversary was a reminder of the desperation that filled New Orleans' flooded neighborhoods in the days after Katrina hit. Images of dead bodies, people in the flood zones calling from their roofs and waiting days for help, and of the thousands of evacuees packed into the grimy and damaged Superdome, are still fresh in many minds.

Politicians have used the date to pitch policy. Scholars and activists have released a steady stream of reports on the state of recovery.

Along Mississippi's 70-mile shoreline, harsh economic realities also are hampering rebuilding.

Many projects are hamstrung by the soaring costs of construction and insurance, while federal funding has been slow to flow to cities. Other economic indicators are down - such as population, employment and housing supplies.

Mr. Bush's Gulf Coast rebuilding chief, Don Powell, noted the federal government has committed a total of $114 billion to the region, $96 billion of which is already disbursed or available to local governments. But most of it has been for disaster relief, not long-term recovery. He implied it is local officials' fault, particularly in Louisiana where the pace has been slower, if money has not reached citizens.

Powell also said the president intends to ask for the approximately $5 billion federal share of the $7.6 billion more needed to strengthen New Orleans' levee system to withstand a 100-year storm and improve the area's drainage system. Though the levees are not yet ready for the next massive storm, they are slated to be strengthened by 2015.

But Powell said other areas - such as infrastructure repair and home rebuilding - are shared responsibilities with local officials or entirely the purview of state and local governments, suggesting that the federal government is absolved when those things don't happen.

Locals don't appreciate the insinuations.

"The federal government still seems to place a higher priority on troop surges in Iraq than on storm surges in our part of the world," New Orleans resident Walter L. Bonam wrote in an op-ed in Wednesday's Times-Picayune.

In Gulfport, Miss., Gov. Haley Barbour urged people to see the positive. About 13,000 of his state's families are still living in FEMA trailers, but that's down from a peak of 48,000, and he expects they could all be out of the temporary housing in a year.

Biloxi, Miss., Mayor A.J. Holloway said he was grateful for how far his city had come.

"God has been good to Biloxi and its people of the Mississippi Gulf Coast," Holloway said. "We have a new outlook on life and a new appreciation for what's really important in life. It's not your car or your clothes or your possessions. It's being alive and knowing the importance of family and friends and knowing that we all have a higher power."

In New Orleans, a candlelight vigil was planned in Jackson Square at dusk Wednesday, right around the time the French Quarter last year started getting tipsy with street parties and residents choosing to remember the anniversary in their own unique way.

[pcraven7]

I had to work the last two days and came back to see hte progress of this comments page. Sadly it deteriorated from general ignorance of the situation across the entire Gulf Coast to pure and simple HATE.
For those who prefer to blame everyone on the local level, God Bless You! May He keep you safe from harm and secure from ignorance and show you the path to glory and righteousness.
For those who prefer to blame Bush and Co., God Bless You! May He continue to give you hope for a better future filled with leadership from someone.
For those who live on the Southern Coast of the United States, God Bless You! May he continue to give us strength to change those things we can, peace to accept those things which we cannot, and the wisdom to know the difference between the two.

[oakishpines]

'' ... putting women in mens armys did not turn men into gardenets, it turned women into rapists of husbands and children ... putting children into armys does not turn women and men into gardenets, it turns children into parent rapists ... if men are to treat children with respect, then men are to start acting like children ... and are to start treating two year olds like two year olds ... ''

'' ... all the front pages would have been covered in photos of local children dancing get well feed world songs rallied around the sick beds drifting the farm trails, except a terrorist warned against it ... ''

[greybeardvet]

What a sad state of affairs. The suffering, loss of life, and loss of purpose must be overwhelming for the poor folks caught up in this mess. And then to have our trivial moron of a president visit for a photo op is too crass for words.

If you want to know what he really thinks just reflect back on the words of his bug-eyed old hag of a mother when she opined that some of the victims were better off than before the storm.

[j-whitman]

Biker-N-OH,,, Thanks again,,,,, "A conflict" is an understatment on the War of Roses in Iraq & Katrina progress.

[biker-n-oh]

J-whitman...Sir I can see that you recognize honor for those who haven''t served and you are very correct many cannot do that. You are one of the few. I''ve dealt with this issue numerous times in my employment. But nonetheless those who have served deserve the respect of every American citizen.

As for the rest of your post I can see where you are coming from and I understand your frustrations. I would not necessarily catagorize only this administration in the manner in which you have. Many other admins have put the shaft to the troops and veterans as well. The reason the spotlight is on this administration is because we are unfortunatly in a conflict. So what ever they do it is going to be critiqued.

But I say to you and all other Veterans........Thank you. Have a nice day.

[j-whitman]

Biker-N-OH,,, I hope you didn''t interpret me as not recognizing honor for those who didn''t serve... Frankly many can''t ------

-- But those who Flag Wave, pretend to be veterans or Fail to meet military obligations then become President while slaming those who have,,,, Have never past up an opertunity put the shaft to our troops & veterans Like this administration -
-- Flatly, they should be jailed for Dishonor to thier country

[j-whitman]

sblake63,,
I have said I don''t believe we bombed our Trade Center & never have ----

--- FYI, by Law,,, A Conspericay is when more that 2 plan to break the law -
-- There are many factual Conspericy''s such as Violations of our laws & Constitution,, War Profiteering & Treason (now being tried in courts),, Violations of Human Rights laws,, Bad leadership of the White House,,, Misuse of National Security,,, Violations of the Hatch Act.. etc.

[j-whitman]

sblake63 --- Some Christian you are, you are exactly what drove me away from the church in search of truth..
.. Thousands still in that area don''t have trailers, many that where not homeless now are -
--- The blame should be layed directly on our Federal Government & some local appointed officials.
.. With Your Logic --- Why educate children if they squander thier education like you have.
...

[biker-n-oh]

J-whitman....Sir, you are very welcome I wish I could have the honor of saying I''m a vet but I''m not. I come from a family of Marines and Navy all the way back to my great grandfather. I was diagnosed with a heart condition at a very young age and that pretty much ruled me out for the military. I did try though but they labled me as a liability. Nonetheless, pride, dignity and honor are still there. I''ve worked for the DOD for going on 20 years now.

I agree with you regarding the difference of political opinions because I beleive that we do have them. I enjoyed your conversation with chimneyfish. Simple reunions such as that are always enjoyable. But idiotic comments such as the one from sblack63 is just disrespectful and uncalled for.

[sblake63]

Lmao @ sjc_1

Thinking that most of the money went to MS because it''s mainly republican? What in the bloody hell? LOL??? I think it''s more a matter of prioritizing and placing the funds where they are most likely to succeed. What I mean is that vast areas of NO were bombed out ghettos way before Katrina hit (yes I have been there LOL). Why pay to rebuild something that out of control residents will in a few short years will tear down anyway?

The state of MS is by no means "upper class", but even it''s most red neck trailer park are in better condition (and lets not forget safer) than 90 % of the metro area of New Orleans pre Katrina.

I bet folks like j-whitman and sjc_1 are likely to believe in conspiracy theories like Bush and the Jews knew about 9-11 and it was allowed to happen so they would have a reason to start the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Remember the video floating around in 2002 that "proved" the Pentagon was hit by a US missile and not a hijacker''s plane? This is the kind of material passed around by the left to fool people into thinking our nation is "evil". Sad, even bordering on treason if you ask me.

Folks, we have a class of people living in our country that hate America and everything it stands for, perhaps they should join the terrorists over there in the mid east? At least they would be demonstrating consistency instead of masquerading as one of us!

[j-whitman]

Biker-N-OH,,, Thanks, ovbiously your a vet & a man of honor --- We could have different political opinions, but we share a common brotherhood..
.. He''s the second one I''ve met on this board, the other I served with on the same ship in 68

[biker-n-oh]

Notice the posters j-whitman and chimneyfish using this forum as a chat room all night LOL. One of them admitting to being drunk. Yet feeling that have the intellect to make judgments about wars, politics etc. People sitting on a computer (stoned) - And hating on conservatives, there''''s your typical democrat looking at the world through drug induced rose colored glasses !
Posted by sblake63 at 10:36 AM : Aug 30, 2007

Do you have the slightest idea of the chances of two veterans meeting on this board and sharing an experience from their military service? Very slim to say the least and you should show some respect for our veterans instead of being a complete jerk. It''s bottom of the bowl rust stains like you that give the conservative side a bad image.

[j-whitman]

sblake63 --- By the way,,,, The man you call Christ the one & only God ??? --- Prayed to his One & Only God...... Think you have a personal relationship with Jesus ???? -- Check his Green Card

[j-whitman]

sblake63,,, Great, another spell checker..
... You should be concertraiting on the definitions of Honor to our country,,, troops & the American People,
,, Military''s Stratetic Reserves Gone,,, Progress in Iraq being no better than to years ago,,, Failures to meet goals & islamofobia ----- It might lead you to a starteling Revelation

[sblake63]

You''re wrong about Christ dude. But you wont find out of course, until the day you die. Christ is alive and well, but it seems your all ready dead inside by looking at your postings.

Also it would be nice if you would learn how to spell Muslim LMFAO! So much for people who claim to be "moderate" or "liberal" being the more educated individuals LOL.

You liberals make my days at work pass much more quickly. Thank you for your moronic postings. I have a never ending supply of material to
contradict!

[j-whitman]

sjc_1,,,, Yep, our governement has either ignored the problems, or as demonstrated in many other vital areas extremely incompetent,
,,, There are also people in charge, not necessarly the Mayor, also making positive claims that simply don''t exist.

[sjc_1]

"We fully understand New Orleans can''t be rebuilt until there is confidence in the levees."

The Army Corp of Engineers has said that we can not have full confidence in the levies until 2011, so does that mean that they can not start rebuilding until after that? That would make it more than 6 years after the hurricane to start rebuilding. There might be another large hurricane between now and then.

I saw that they have spent more than $100 billion in the region, but where did not money go? PBS News hour interviews said that 90% of the damage was done in Louisiana, but only 50% of the money was put there. Why is this? Is it because Mississippi has a Republican Governor and Louisiana has a Democratic Governor?

[j-whitman]

chimneyfish,,,, Howdy bro, you brought back a flood of memories last night,,, Remember the Shamrock Bar on Hotel Street ????

[j-whitman]

sblake63,,,, By the way, 2 things to think about
1. The man you call Christ died a long time ago
2. Muslems also believe thier Messia will return to lead them to salvation.... They are just as wrong as you are.

[j-whitman]

sblake63,,, Christ would demand you tell the truth, demand you honor those who served. ------ Neither one of us said we where drunk,, I stoped drinking years ago -------- Your just spouting your hateful BS