Monday, September 05, 2005

I don't think George Bush is a racist, and I have no reason to believe that of Chertoff, either. Might the relief efforts have shown more urgency if we were dealing with, say, an avalanche that covered Aspen? Perhaps: rich people have clout and access. But to suppose that the failures of our government were race-related seems unfair and off-point. This guy, though, is a stone racist. And in the comments at Allen Johnson's blog, we've got a guy ranting about "welfare-purchased Escalades" -- I've asked him to clarify that remark, can't wait to see the answer... 6:19:10 PM   permalink   comment []

At Carolina Christian Conservative, Alexander Samuels challenges the notion that God punished wicked New Orleans:  "Jesus is teaching that you should be careful in assuming or proclaiming that others are suffering because their sins are so great. We all deserve punishment in the eyes of a Holy God. We must be consistent in dealing with our own sins first. During such times we should minister the Gospel faithfully and be a witness of God's mercy to those who are suffering." And of course as many have noted, the bad bad French Quarter was not flooded. 5:55:01 PM   permalink   comment []

I'm angry. I feel betrayed by my government. The appointment of an unqualified crony to head FEMA at a time when disaster response is supposed to be a national priority, the buck-passing in the face of botched relief efforts, and at the heart of it all, the shameful ineffectiveness of the federal response as thousands suffered. People need to be held accountable. 1:46:24 PM   permalink   comment []