# I pit the substandard governmental response to the situation in New Orleans. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 2, 2005, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-substandard-governmental-response-to-the-situation-in-new-orleans/319747 "2005-09-02T16:04:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-substandard-governmental-response-to-the-situation-in-new-orleans/319747/181 "2005-09-04T00:05:58Z")
> [@Updike](#): > > I’m still waiting for **monstro** or anyone else to provide evidence that the authorities, at any level, WANTED people to die. so you won’t answer my question. I don’t know why the officials refused the help. I don’t know they wanted people to die- however it seems fucking likely their actions caused deaths. That, certainly to me is more important, and more vile than **monstro’s** post. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-substandard-governmental-response-to-the-situation-in-new-orleans/319747/182 "2005-09-04T00:07:42Z")
> [@Updike](#): > > I’m still waiting for **monstro** or anyone else to provide evidence that the authorities, at any level, WANTED people to die. How about the results of his actions ? Either he wants to kill as many people as possible and is evil, or he doesn’t and is an utter incompetent. Hell, his entire presidency is a litany of nastiness; I find it hard to blame _all_ of it on incompetence instead of malice. As far as motive is concerned, frankly he’s always been an arrogant, uncaring, sadistic bastard. I find it perfectly believable that he would condemn thousands to death for the sheer fun of it. No, I don’t have any proof, but I’d hardly expect him to write a book titled _Killing is Fun ! Elect Me_. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-substandard-governmental-response-to-the-situation-in-new-orleans/319747/183 "2005-09-04T00:10:19Z")
> [@Updike](#): > > I’m still waiting for **monstro** or anyone else to provide evidence that the authorities, at any level, WANTED people to die. This is not a court of law. No one is on trial here. Why be so defensive? ---
**Author:** ![kinoons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kinoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kinoons)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-substandard-governmental-response-to-the-situation-in-new-orleans/319747/184 "2005-09-04T00:19:01Z")
**kinoons** , its very easy to argue why something can’t be done. I suspect thats what went on during the early days of the disaster at FEMA HQ. "Helicopters to airdrop water to the Superdome? Can’t be done. Why not? Well, here a ten different reasons, and the figures to go with it. Its not worth it, its just **a drop in the bucket** , and we can use those helicopters to do something else anyway… " An experienced Director may have made a different call. Your posts, if your figures are correct, show that an airdrop was entirely possible, using the hypothetical conditions we arbitarily imposed on our scenerio. [/QUOTE] Again, if I have not clearly stated it, let me do so. Yes, this relief mission has clearly been fucked up. I’m not trying to make any justification on why we are 5 days into this relief mission and things are not going with any semblance of organization or direction. What I am trying to show is that it is unreasonable to expect a significant amount of relief within the first 48 or maybe 72 hours. After that I have a hard time cutting a lot of slack. Helicopters are great, but they do not carry a large amount of supplies. Those supplies that they do carry have to be trucked to a central location. Getting everything needed on one central location, close enough to allow for flights, takes time. I don’t know about yourself, but I’d rather not bet the well-being of myself and others on bunkers, hoping my food does not get flooded out, burned down, looted, or otherwise destroyed. In the example of the superdome (which is an arbitrary example with speculated numbers, I will freely admit and agree to that fact) Using one helicopter making non-stop round trips (Which may or may not be possible) could likely need twenty four hours to get two days worth of water into the area. This does not include any food, clothing, blankets, medical supplies, or sanitation needs. Given the possible number of helicopters (again, a number I just tried to make a reasonable guess at, I could be wayyyyyy off.) and the vast area that has been affected, expecting to be able to air drop supplies into the area in a large enough supply to make a big difference is unreasonable. No one has given any argument to the statement that you probably need to have some law and order in place on the ground prior to dropping those supplies to avoid similar outcomes to past events in Africa dealing with UN food convoys. Now, should those helicopters just be sitting there, pilots with their thumbs up their butt, because a little water wont make a difference, so we won’t do it? No, of course they should be flying. Three thousand people saved is better than none. If I gave that impression I was not clear in my arguments. What does seem to be taking place (just through outside observation via the media) is the federal government attempted to make the “perfect decision” with people who were not sure what the perfect decision is. I wonder if they were ever told that in some cases a good decision right now is better than the perfect decision three days later. ---
**Author:** ![kinoons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kinoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kinoons)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-substandard-governmental-response-to-the-situation-in-new-orleans/319747/185 "2005-09-04T00:20:40Z")
Sorry for the bad coding. My post was in response to Banquet Bear’s post. ---
**Author:** ![Frankenstein\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@Frankenstein\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frankenstein_Monster)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-substandard-governmental-response-to-the-situation-in-new-orleans/319747/186 "2005-09-04T00:49:53Z")
“Malice” sounds not too far from the truth. Consider the following. Start with [This guy from DailyKos:](http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/3/193425/6665) > [@](#): > > FEMA is not operating as it might because it, like other parts of government under Bush, is designed not to work properly. The intent is to make the government not work on behalf of the public. > > This seeming incompetence is designed into the government Bush built. It is an intrinsic part of a plan to alienate the public from the government, to set the public against its government and justify further cuts in all budgets of government except defense spending, and to shovel the country’s collective misery into the too-small hands of private charities - as was the case in the Gilded Age. …as evidenced by the strangling bathtub quote. However, this is not the half of it. If these guys hate government so much, why do they line up around the block for these plum political appointments? The answer is because they see it as an opportunity to _profit_ off of the limitless streams of money sloshing around in government. Their conscience certainly won’t bother them. Halliburton? You know, they defended the no-bid contracts by stating that Halliburton was uniquely qualified to perform that work in those difficult circumstances, blah blah. I’m sure they believe their own spin. It is well known that the worst breakdown with the government aid effort in the Katrina disaster was the breakdown of communication. All communication among the government agents had broken down. (Of course, it was all on national television… people made phone calls from hotels… a guy even [blogged](http://www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/) it over multiple Internet connections… but that doesn’t count…) Now here’s the real shame in this sorry episode. The government had in fact recently spent enormous dollars **[on a sparkling new fancy-ass communications system!](http://www.geointelmag.com/geointelligence/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=143254&pageID=1)** > [@](#): > > After planning and deploying the technology — which leveraged Web services, wireless networks, the Global Positioning System, geographic information systems, real-time weather data, and sensitive information-sharing technology — the consortium staged a mock terrorist response in early October 2004. During the exercise — planned and coordinated in part by the Louisiana National Guard 62nd Civil Support Team and the South Louisiana Economic Council — local agencies activated their own emergency response plans, which provided a realistic backdrop against which to evaluate pilot technology performance. > > … > > Louisiana proved ideal for the LA-RECON pilot. First, the technology demonstration addressed clear-cut needs, particularly in the industrial southern area of the state. Second, a culture of cooperation exists among state and local public-safety agencies because of their year-round preparation for the hurricane season. Third, as evidenced by its development of a statewide fusion center, the Louisiana State Police has taken the lead in seeking and adopting innovative technology solutions to enhance the security of the state’s industrial base. **In short, LA-RECON was a resounding success and provides myriad lessons on which the nation can now build.** > > _The LA-RECON pilot program technologies were fielded by Northrop Grumman Corporation, SAIC, RAINS, ESRI, AvinStream LLC, NuParadigm, Inc., AES Corporation, and Apogen Technologies._ And remember that a similar situation existed on 9/11. It goes beyond incompetence. They do it on purpose. It’s a consequence of having government run by a class that sees it as nothing more than a source riches, ripe for the taking. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-substandard-governmental-response-to-the-situation-in-new-orleans/319747/187 "2005-09-04T01:28:24Z")
> [@Updike](#): > > I’m still waiting for **monstro** or anyone else to provide evidence that the authorities, at any level, WANTED people to die. My evidence is that someone turned away FIVE MILES of SKILLED HELP. You still not have ponied up an alternative explanation that makes ANY kind of sense! ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-substandard-governmental-response-to-the-situation-in-new-orleans/319747/188 "2005-09-04T01:38:12Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > My evidence is that someone turned away FIVE MILES of SKILLED HELP. > > You still not have ponied up an alternative explanation that makes ANY kind of sense! Utter incompetence. That’s really the point I was trying to make; that if the motive _isn’t_ malice, then the people in charge of the “relief effort” are utter incompetents. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-substandard-governmental-response-to-the-situation-in-new-orleans/319747/189 "2005-09-04T01:49:20Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#): > > This is not a court of law. No one is on trial here. Why be so defensive? He’s defensive because someone like **Updike** is a _truster_. He believes in the System. He doesn’t think the government or those individuals running the government could _ever_ have malicious intent. Hearing about someone turning away FIVE MILES of SKILLED HELP does not make him angry, but hearing someone attribute malice to the government responsible for this decision does. Having faith in the government is more important than holding it accountable. An incompetent act can be so horrible, so incomprehensible, that it might as well be one of malice. I know if I had been treading water while that idiot (whoever he is) had waved away all that preciously needed assistance, it wouldn’t matter what the hell his intent was. My anger would still be the same. Eventually, after hearing so many “oops, we goofed!” stories, my mind starts to wonder if perhaps all these “goofs” are happening on purpose. I have no control over what my mind does. Ever since this thing began to unfold, the doors of my mind have been blown open. I’m not going to be able to close them for a very long time. ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-substandard-governmental-response-to-the-situation-in-new-orleans/319747/190 "2005-09-04T01:54:50Z")
This showed up on one of my email lists: How SHOULD the President have handled this disaster? History shows plenty of examples to people who actually LEAD… In September 1999, Hurricane Floyd – a category 3 – was bearing down the Carolinas and Virginia. President Clinton was in Christchurch, New Zealand - meeting with President Jiang of China (you know, actually working). He made the proclamation that only Presidents can make and declared the areas affected by Floyd “Federal Disaster Areas” so the National Guard and Military can begin to mobilize. Then he cut short his meetings overseas and flew home to coordinate the rescue efforts. This all one day BEFORE a Cat-3 hit the coast. That is how you do it. How about this dope’s own father during Hurricane Andrew? Once again, President Bush (41) – August, 1992 – was in the midst of a brutal campaign for re-election. Yet, he cut off his campaigning the day before and went to Washington where he martialed the largest military operation on US soil in history. He sent in 7,000 National Guard and 22,000 regular military personnel, and all the gear to begin the clean up within hours after Andrew passed through Florida. 'Cause, you know, those people and their stuff was actually where it belonged, rather than being used for insurgent target-practice halfway around the world in a vain effort to make Iraq safe for Iranian takeover. In August of 1969 when Cat-5 Hurricane Camille hit roughly the same area as Katrina, President Nixon had already readied the National Guard and ordered all Gulf rescue vessels and equipment from Tampa and Houston to follow the Hurricane in. There were over 1,000 regular military with two dozen helicopters to assist the Coast Guard and National Guard within hours after the skies cleared. Bush 43 - August 2005 - Cat-5 Hurricane Katrina bears down on New Orleans and the Mississippi gulf. Both states are down nearly 8,000 National Guard troops because they are in Iraq – with most of the rescue gear needed. Bush is on vacation. The day before Katrina makes landfall, Bush rides his bike for two hours. The day she hits, he goes to Johnnie McCain’s birthday party; and lies to old people about the multi-billion-dollar pharmaceutical company welfare boondoggle. People are dying, the largest port of entry in the United States (and fifth largest in the World) is under attack. Troops and supplies are desperately needed. The levees are cracking and the emergency 1-1/2 ton sandbags are ready, but there aren’t enough helicopters or pilots to set them before the levees fail. The mayor of New Orleans begs for Federal coordination, but there is none, and the sandbagging never gets done. So Bush – naturally – goes to San Diego to play guitar with a country singer and lie to the military about how Iraq is just exactly like WWII. The levees give way, filling New Orleans with water, sewage, oil and chemicals. Ten percent of all US exports, and 50% of all agricultural exports ordinarily go through this port. It is totally destroyed. Bush decides he’ll end his vacation a couple of days early – TOMORROW –BECAUSE HE HAS TICKETS TO A PADRES GAME! He goes back to the Fake Farm in Crawford, with every intention of doing something on WEDNESDAY about this disaster that happened starting last Sunday night. ---
**Author:** ![Frankenstein\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@Frankenstein\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frankenstein_Monster)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-substandard-governmental-response-to-the-situation-in-new-orleans/319747/191 "2005-09-04T02:59:34Z")
Here’s a Kos diary making the case for [“Intentional withholding of aid”](http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/3/131934/7503). In any case, lots more anec-data. > [@](#): > > As a flooded New Orleans sinks further into despair, up to **500 Florida airboat pilots** have volunteered to rescue Hurricane Katrina victims, transport relief workers and ferry supplies. But they aren’t being allowed in. And they’re growing frustrated. > > … > > Mayor of Chicago Richard Daley offered 36 firefighters and technical rescue teams, 8 emergency medical techs, search-and-rescue equipment, 100 police officers, 2 boats, a mobile clinic and 140 streets and sanitation workers with 29 trucks. All self-sufficient. And the FEMA response? ‘Just send one truck.’ > > … > > They have turned generators away from us. They´ve turned fuel away from us because they determine, or the driver determined, that it wasn´t the correct spot to put it. The generators … oh, the site hadn´t been inspected yet. We´ve gotta bring an inspector to see where the thing is going. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-substandard-governmental-response-to-the-situation-in-new-orleans/319747/192 "2005-09-04T03:09:25Z")
**Archergal** , that is one hell of a powerful post. Thank you for putting Bush’s lack of action in perspective. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-substandard-governmental-response-to-the-situation-in-new-orleans/319747/193 "2005-09-04T03:21:43Z")
I now will predict that the Bush gang of distractors will urge us to spend the Sunday talk shows conversing over [the passing of Supreme Court Chief Justice Rehnquist.](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050904/ap_on_go_su_co/renquist) Preemptively, I will say that it is unfortunate that he has died at a time during which we may not give his life and work the appropriate attention it deserves. I hope that the elected officials and policymakers who see this cataclysmically bunged response from the president who was going to make us safer through the Department of Homeland Security, a new attention to disaster preparedness keep the pressure on and don’t allow this story about the cronyism in the FEMA appointments, poor response, and planning for this disaster to move off the front page. ---
**Author:** ![Frankenstein\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@Frankenstein\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frankenstein_Monster)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-substandard-governmental-response-to-the-situation-in-new-orleans/319747/194 "2005-09-04T03:22:48Z")
_Another_ new piece of… substandard response. The mind boggles… and boggles… and boggles… [You’re on your own, Britain’s victims told](http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1562517,00.html) > [@](#): > > British families trapped in New Orleans last night claimed that US authorities had refused to evacuate them as Hurricane Katrina approached the city. > > … > > Gerrard Scott, 35, spoke to his brother Peter from the Ramada Hotel in New Orleans where he has been stranded without assistance with wife, Sandra, 38, and seven-year-old son Ronan for the past six days. 'Those that didn’t fit their criteria were told to help themselves. The police said they were evacuating Americans, and took away the majority. > > ‘The British who were left all thought the police would come back, but nobody has. They have just been left,’ said Peter Scott last night. > > … > > There is a payphone in the hotel lobby, but US operators have been refusing to accept collect calls from stranded Britons. ‘Some of them are just hanging up even after they have explained they are trapped in New Orleans. It’s like - what emergency?’ said Scott. ---
**Author:** ![Updike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@Updike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Updike)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-substandard-governmental-response-to-the-situation-in-new-orleans/319747/195 "2005-09-04T03:54:22Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > He’s defensive because someone like **Updike** is a _truster_. He believes in the System. He doesn’t think the government or those individuals running the government could _ever_ have malicious intent. Hearing about someone turning away FIVE MILES of SKILLED HELP does not make him angry, but hearing someone attribute malice to the government responsible for this decision does. Having faith in the government is more important than holding it accountable. > > An incompetent act can be so horrible, so incomprehensible, that it might as well be one of malice. I know if I had been treading water while that idiot (whoever he is) had waved away all that preciously needed assistance, it wouldn’t matter what the hell his intent was. My anger would still be the same. > > Eventually, after hearing so many “oops, we goofed!” stories, my mind starts to wonder if perhaps all these “goofs” are happening on purpose. I have no control over what my mind does. Ever since this thing began to unfold, the doors of my mind have been blown open. I’m not going to be able to close them for a very long time. Thanks for telling me what I believe. :rolleyes: This is getting way beyond ridiculous. Do you think President Bush is gleefully rubbing his hands together, wanting babies, especially black ones, :rolleyes: to die? He’s Satan, is that it? Because that’s what you said, that the authorities wanted people to die. ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-substandard-governmental-response-to-the-situation-in-new-orleans/319747/196 "2005-09-04T04:10:46Z")
> [@Updike](#): > > Thanks for telling me what I believe. :rolleyes: > > This is getting way beyond ridiculous. > > Do you think President Bush is gleefully rubbing his hands together, wanting babies, especially black ones, :rolleyes: to die? He’s Satan, is that it? > > Because that’s what you said, that the authorities wanted people to die. Why do you think FEMA turned away five miles of help? That’s not a rhetorical question, I want to know what you think the explanation is. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-substandard-governmental-response-to-the-situation-in-new-orleans/319747/197 "2005-09-04T04:11:12Z")
Looks like the state of Louisiana had a good evacuation plan, too bad it wasn’t very well utilized. [Louisiana Evacuation Plan](http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/plans/EOPSupplement1a.pdf) Public transportation was supposed to be used for those with no means Hospitals and Nursing Homes were supposed to have a plan for evacuating their patients as part of their state licensing ---
**Author:** ![Floyd13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@Floyd13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floyd13)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-substandard-governmental-response-to-the-situation-in-new-orleans/319747/198 "2005-09-04T04:11:35Z")
> [@Updike](#): > > Thanks for telling me what I believe. :rolleyes: > > This is getting way beyond ridiculous. > > Do you think President Bush is gleefully rubbing his hands together, wanting babies, especially black ones, :rolleyes: to die? He’s Satan, is that it? > > Because that’s what you said, that the authorities wanted people to die. Well…have you heard about that little war we started that claimed quite a few lives? At this point we all know he’s a complete fucking piece of shit with no conscious to speak of. Ever since he took over lots of fucking people have died. While people were jumping out of burning buildings, he read a book about a goat. While people were starving and drowning, he had a barbeque and went to a baseball game. So…why should we believe otherwise at this point? Fuck him ---
**Author:** ![Updike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@Updike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Updike)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-substandard-governmental-response-to-the-situation-in-new-orleans/319747/199 "2005-09-04T04:16:04Z")
> [@Tracy Lord](#): > > Why do you think FEMA turned away five miles of help? > > That’s not a rhetorical question, I want to know what you think the explanation is. Well, according to monstro, et al, it’s because they WANTED people to die. Do you not see how silly that is? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-substandard-governmental-response-to-the-situation-in-new-orleans/319747/200 "2005-09-04T04:19:15Z")
> [@Updike](#): > > This is getting way beyond ridiculous. > > Do you think President Bush is gleefully rubbing his hands together, wanting babies, especially black ones, :rolleyes: to die? He’s Satan, is that it? > > Because that’s what you said, that the authorities wanted people to die. What’s so implausible ? Do you really think that bad people don’t exist ? He’s the head of a party notorious for racism and for hating the poor; they have a chance to kill a great many poor, black people without personally getting their hands bloody. I’ve never seen any evidence that he or his friends have any form of ethics or compassion; I see no reason for them _not_ to enjoy whats happening. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-substandard-governmental-response-to-the-situation-in-new-orleans/319747.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-substandard-governmental-response-to-the-situation-in-new-orleans/319747.md?page=11)