Bush Out With The Begging Bowl
- Thread starter Homer J
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Euronymous
Senior Jockey
Dubya should resign over this.
icebreaker
At the Start
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What is the problem with it? Bush has only suggested to fellow Americans that they make a contribution to the Red Cross or the Sally Army if they feel impelled to help out in the disaster. I don't see any moral contradiction in this.He hasn't asked you or me or our Government for any money!
Maybe you'll think I'm bonkers but I personally WOULD make a donation to any appeal if such existed over here. I give to various charity appeals for Africa half-knowing that most of the monies will end up in the pockets of corrupt dictators; I contributed to the Tsunami Appeal while suspicious that a sizeable fraction of the funds will be used to rebuilding hotels and tourist infrastructure. And Indonesia isn't a Third-World country the last time I looked. What is so reprehensible about giving something to relieve the suffering in New Orleans? Unless, of course, your objection would be based on a political anti-American platform.
So far, from what I have read, only two countries (Japan and Russia) have offered any assistance to the U.S. A case of double standards in the world if you ask me. Any small-scale misshap elsewhere and we all rush to send money, but when America is the victim of some disaster we tut-tut, look away and zip our purses closed. Strange that, when you consider that the U.S. is always at the forefront of aiding other countries when disaster strikes, and not always out of selfish self-interest.
Maybe you'll think I'm bonkers but I personally WOULD make a donation to any appeal if such existed over here. I give to various charity appeals for Africa half-knowing that most of the monies will end up in the pockets of corrupt dictators; I contributed to the Tsunami Appeal while suspicious that a sizeable fraction of the funds will be used to rebuilding hotels and tourist infrastructure. And Indonesia isn't a Third-World country the last time I looked. What is so reprehensible about giving something to relieve the suffering in New Orleans? Unless, of course, your objection would be based on a political anti-American platform.
So far, from what I have read, only two countries (Japan and Russia) have offered any assistance to the U.S. A case of double standards in the world if you ask me. Any small-scale misshap elsewhere and we all rush to send money, but when America is the victim of some disaster we tut-tut, look away and zip our purses closed. Strange that, when you consider that the U.S. is always at the forefront of aiding other countries when disaster strikes, and not always out of selfish self-interest.
Muttley
At the Start
I have heard that around 40 countries have offered help and that we are already sending stuff over to the US.
Ted
At the Start
I'm with Icebreaker on this, except that I would never give money to any charity unless I was pretty sure that it would go to the people I intended it to go to.
I think America's response to this disaster has been an embarrasment.
I think America's response to this disaster has been an embarrasment.
Diminuendo
At the Start
There are currently 30,000 people at least based at a convention centre in New Orleans, they have been there for 6 days, with no food or water. Most of them are elderly people and parents with children. They are dying and the place is scattered with dead bodies. The camera crews are there, so where is the help ? Ted you are right this is an embarrassment to the government. A total shambles.
Some of the scenes shown would make people think this was a third world nation.
Some of the scenes shown would make people think this was a third world nation.
Shadow Leader
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Yeah, and have a look at the correlation between the size & wealth of the US & the amount of money they gave to the Tsunami appeal compared with the size & welath of the UK & how much money they gave to the Tsunami appeal, for starters.
The US has got the money, they just don't have the wherewithal or organisation to distribute the aid needed. Bush is a tosser. What really made me laugh too was the guy interviewed on the news last night - in his southern drawl he said he'd lost everything but "Bush was so compassionate, he had tears in his eyes when we saw him today, we could tell he really felt for us"...blah blah blah. Why has he been dragging his heels then? Why did he not have the bottle to show his face in New Orléans? Where was the Home Guard when the hurricane hit, delaying aid getting to the affected area? [btw, answer to that is in sodding Iraq, in case anyone didn't know!]
I'm more with Homer on this one I'm afraid.
The US has got the money, they just don't have the wherewithal or organisation to distribute the aid needed. Bush is a tosser. What really made me laugh too was the guy interviewed on the news last night - in his southern drawl he said he'd lost everything but "Bush was so compassionate, he had tears in his eyes when we saw him today, we could tell he really felt for us"...blah blah blah. Why has he been dragging his heels then? Why did he not have the bottle to show his face in New Orléans? Where was the Home Guard when the hurricane hit, delaying aid getting to the affected area? [btw, answer to that is in sodding Iraq, in case anyone didn't know!]
I'm more with Homer on this one I'm afraid.
BrianH
At the Start
And they are nearly all black
icebreaker
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That's fair enough, SL, ............. in fact it is an opinion rapidly gaining credence in many quarters. B) (Frankly, I think Bush's performance in this tragedy leaves a lot to be desired.)
But, this thread as I understood it, was about "Bush out with the begging bowl". Respectfully, I would suggest that he most definitely was NOT! He hasn't asked any country for money, neither has he asked the American public for money. He did recommend that if people felt inspired to help, that they donate to the R.C. or S.A. Furthermore, the thread originator stated that: "I would rather lose money on Ladcrooks FOBT's". This had me momentarily puzzled. Why I wondered was this the case in the context of the New Orleans tragedy when I would venture that the same poster would never dream of making a similar statement with regard to the Tsunami Appeal or in conjunction with any of the myriad appeals for Africa.
BrianH
At the Start
Perhaps he is a bit upset that the president of the USA cancelled plans made four years ago to protect the Louisiana seaboard against such storms because the money was needed to wage war in Iraq?
Yes, there's always, always a War Chest, but if I read the Mayor of New Orleans right, he'd been crying for years for some $80m to improve and maintain the levees and pumping stations. Apparently, he'd recently been awarded $30m, but no work had yet begun, since it's the Army's job to build and repair the flood defences. I think I've got that right?
The sights are as pitiful as anything the tsunami threw up, but are made all the worse for knowing that the deaths now occurring seem to be largely down to a total lack of coordination between states and agencies. It seems to be that if you want fast, effective relief from disaster, you DO call on the well-organized international charities to help you - don't rely on your government.
The sights are as pitiful as anything the tsunami threw up, but are made all the worse for knowing that the deaths now occurring seem to be largely down to a total lack of coordination between states and agencies. It seems to be that if you want fast, effective relief from disaster, you DO call on the well-organized international charities to help you - don't rely on your government.
Euronymous
Senior Jockey
I wonder if Bush will accept the help being offered by this guy:
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBIUB545DE.html
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBIUB545DE.html
About the Castro and Chaves affair.
It is a joke, these 2 clawns are very happy with what has happened and their help is not needed.
They should use those doctors with the jailed people they have becasue they dont think as both dictators do.
It is a joke, these 2 clawns are very happy with what has happened and their help is not needed.
They should use those doctors with the jailed people they have becasue they dont think as both dictators do.
BrianH
At the Start
sunybay - take the blinkers off. You and I would be unable to think of any western European democracy that would not have handled the rescue and care of the hurricane's victims more speedily and efficiently. This has nothing to do with ones's political beliefs, it's all about rampant incompetence.
Here is just one example: On Thursday New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin told CNN "The government in Washington didn't know about the people in the Convention centre until today."
Don't they watch f***ing television?
Here is just one example: On Thursday New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin told CNN "The government in Washington didn't know about the people in the Convention centre until today."
Don't they watch f***ing television?
Merlin the Magician
At the Start
I watched a news summary on Friday and the guys a fcuking idiot he was obviously reading from a script(but could not do that correctly either) as regards the gasoline shortage and the pipe lines... I cant remember word for word but he made a real balls up about this too, has he got any sense at all or is he just a war monger????????????? 
BrianH
At the Start
I know Spain a little and I don't believe that the Spanish government would still have dead bodies lying around and live people unrescued without food and drink one week after the event. I don't believe that the Spanish government would fail to differentiate between looters stealing televisions, jewellery and the like and those who were getting food and water to share out among the hungry and thirsty (though, to be fair to many of the US police forces, they were ignoring central governments instructions to treat them all the same). I don't believe that Spain would have waited six or seven days to mobilise enough troops to help out in the disaster area. And I certainly don't believe that King Juan Carlos, the Spanish head of state, would have stayed away on holiday while chaos reigned.
BrianH
At the Start
And I can't think of a European country where this would have happened:
You're on your own, Britain's victims told
Mark Townsend
Sunday September 4, 2005
The Observer
British families trapped in New Orleans last night claimed that US authorities had refused to evacuate them as Hurricane Katrina approached the city.
Although assistance was offered to US residents, British nationals were told they would have to fend for themselves. According to those who remain stranded in the stricken city, police had visited hotels and guest houses on the eve of the hurricane offering to evacuate Americans, but not Britons.
The order meant UK holidaymakers without cars were left helpless in the face of the hurricane. Some have been trapped in hotels and guest houses since the hurricane struck at 7am local time last Monday.
One family from Liverpool, trapped in a flooded section of the city, told relatives yesterday of their bewilderment when they realised US citizens would be offered preferential treatment.
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. Among the 30 or so people still inside the Ramada Hotel is a woman recovering from breast cancer who had been confined to a hotel room by herself because of fears over her immune system.
Last night Peter Scott described how the family survived by locking themselves inside a tiny windowless bathroom on the fifth floor of the Ramada. 'They were lucky that it was a substantial hotel and that they were quite high up,' said Scott.
Other Britons are, apparently, stranded in the hotel. However, contact with the outside world remains haphazard.
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. He added that conditions in the lobby were described as atrocious, with sewage up to knee level last night.
Most of those inside have not dared to venture downstairs for fear looters will spot them and ransack the hotel.
Last night victims trapped inside the Ramada were making plans to escape after food and water supplies neared exhaustion. Scott explained how they earlier ransacked the hotel kitchens for food, while water was found in its storage tank.
For the Scott family, the arrival of Katrina was particularly cruel. The trip to Louisiana was a family treat after years of economising to enable Sandra to attend the University of Liverpool to study modern languages.
Throughout the week, Gerrard and Sandra had kept their son's spirits up by convincing Ronan that their predicament was in fact an adventure. His father had, in turn, kept himself upbeat by asking his brother how England were performing in the cricket.
'Overall the mood among those trapped is good,' said Scott. 'It's a real league of nations, but they have all bonded.'
You're on your own, Britain's victims told
Mark Townsend
Sunday September 4, 2005
The Observer
British families trapped in New Orleans last night claimed that US authorities had refused to evacuate them as Hurricane Katrina approached the city.
Although assistance was offered to US residents, British nationals were told they would have to fend for themselves. According to those who remain stranded in the stricken city, police had visited hotels and guest houses on the eve of the hurricane offering to evacuate Americans, but not Britons.
The order meant UK holidaymakers without cars were left helpless in the face of the hurricane. Some have been trapped in hotels and guest houses since the hurricane struck at 7am local time last Monday.
One family from Liverpool, trapped in a flooded section of the city, told relatives yesterday of their bewilderment when they realised US citizens would be offered preferential treatment.
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. Among the 30 or so people still inside the Ramada Hotel is a woman recovering from breast cancer who had been confined to a hotel room by herself because of fears over her immune system.
Last night Peter Scott described how the family survived by locking themselves inside a tiny windowless bathroom on the fifth floor of the Ramada. 'They were lucky that it was a substantial hotel and that they were quite high up,' said Scott.
Other Britons are, apparently, stranded in the hotel. However, contact with the outside world remains haphazard.
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. He added that conditions in the lobby were described as atrocious, with sewage up to knee level last night.
Most of those inside have not dared to venture downstairs for fear looters will spot them and ransack the hotel.
Last night victims trapped inside the Ramada were making plans to escape after food and water supplies neared exhaustion. Scott explained how they earlier ransacked the hotel kitchens for food, while water was found in its storage tank.
For the Scott family, the arrival of Katrina was particularly cruel. The trip to Louisiana was a family treat after years of economising to enable Sandra to attend the University of Liverpool to study modern languages.
Throughout the week, Gerrard and Sandra had kept their son's spirits up by convincing Ronan that their predicament was in fact an adventure. His father had, in turn, kept himself upbeat by asking his brother how England were performing in the cricket.
'Overall the mood among those trapped is good,' said Scott. 'It's a real league of nations, but they have all bonded.'
Brian
You have a very different opion of my countrie than mine.
Our Goverment would not differenciate the robbers than the good people, they would not mind of the criminals stealing in shops.
We would not have spent 6 days to movilise the troops because is a smaller countrie nd mainly because we dont have it.We dont have many helicopters either.
About King Juan Carlos
first say he does not have any relevance in what the goverment does and about the holidays, he does not have 5 weeks like Bush he has 6 months a year and nobody cares what he has to say in this kind of situation, his specialties are sailing,skiing,going to the beach,hunting,cars and of course women.
I dont know if you know what has happened in Barcelona this year in El Carmelo and how we are resolving the situation.....