When Hurricane Andrew smashed through Southern Florida in the summer of 1992, it did more than topple trees and level homes.
The natural disaster caused political havoc for then-President Bush, who was in the middle of a tough re-election campaign and was harshly criticized for his administration's sluggish and inadequate response to the deadly storm.
Almost a decade later, Bush's son, now in the White House, may have gleaned a few lessons from his father's problems with natural-disaster management.
Faithbased journalism at its best, The Houston Chronicle
Sunday morning we knew what was coming. Fox had graphics expalining why New Orleans could be doomed. CNN carried the the Mayor's news conference ordering all citizens to flee the city. The
frontpage diary by DarkSyde on this very site spoke to the urgency:
Urgent Warning Thread: Hurricane Katrina Strength Unprecedented
....
11:00 AM UPDATE: KATRINA STRENGTHENS** & NOW TRACKING SLIGHTLY EAST OF NEW ORLEANS. LANDFALL PREDICTED MONDAY 10-12 AM [CDT] AT HIGH TIDE. SURGE COULD TOP 25 FEET W/WINDs > 190 MPH. MANDATORY EVAC!!! LEAVE ALL NEARBY COASTAL AREAS NOW! LEAVE NEW ORLEANS IMMEDIATELY OR SEEK HIGH SHELTER!
Where was the urgency in Crawford? Was Bush too busy not meeting Cindy?
For 18 hours after the mayor of New Orleans ordered everyone out, we heard about people who didn't have the means to get out.
Yes, they did. Whether the troops in the guard were not available or just not activated doesn't explain why Bush's pride and joy -- the Department of Homeland Security -- ignored the people stranded in a still intact city.
We shall see what amounts from the federal effort to help save the drowning residents of New Orleans. We shall see whether they can plug the levees. But, wouldn't it have been a lot easier and humane to make the same effort before people started dying?
We have the technology and the demonstrated ability to PREDICT what may happen, but Bush once again can only RESPOND. Throw money at the problem after-the-fact is the true "Bush Doctrine."
If Bush's faith in meterologists and engineers were as strong as his faith in God, maybe the poor residents of New Orleans wouldn't be standing on their own private islands awaiting rescue.
Finally, a few thoughts from the guys at Newsmax:
Bush Aims to Be Unlike Dad in Storm Response
NewsMax Wires
Monday, Aug. 16, 2004
After Hurricane Andrew left thousands homeless in August 1992, the first President Bush's administration was roundly criticized for moving too slowly to deliver food, water and troops.
The son apparently did not want to repeat history. Even before Hurricane Charley struck, the second Bush White House was poised to act. Hours after Hurricane Charley made landfall, federal aid was flowing.
As emergency crews and National Guard troops swooped in to help residents across the state, Floridians were showered with promises, assurances and lists of toll-free numbers they could call for help, according to a story in the LA Times.
"While this is a day of complete devastation and real tragedy, and there's a lot of sadness in people's hearts right now, I'm absolutely convinced that, in a shorter period of time than we experienced in Hurricane Andrew, people's hopes will be lifted," Gov. Bush said.
The state's lieutenant governor, Toni Jennings, a Republican and a former state senator from Orlando, addressed reporters in her hometown. "We were better prepared than we've ever been before," she said.
The lesson Bush has learned from his father? How to fuck-up better.