I have been watching closely the evacuations in Southern California because my big sister lives in San Diego. They have evacuated nearly one million people, the largest movement of civilians since the Civil War. So far, she is still in her apartment but says the air is so foul that you are afraid to breathe. It is not only full of smoke and ash, it is filled with insulation and all of the toxic materials that come from a burning house or building. Sadly for her, the air is about to get more foul as Bush drops everything to visit the scene of the disaster. He is determined that this not be another Katrina. Hmmmmm, is it because he has so badly failed the people of New Orleans and does not want that on his conscience again? Or could it be that Southern California is a rich Republican stronghold as opposed to the poor black Dems of New Orleans? The Bush administration has pretty much seen to it that there will be a lot fewer Dem voters in New Orleans. With their homes still in shambles, they are still scattered around the country.
Bush is canceling engagements to get himself out to California quickly to "oversee" the disaster. I loved what CA’s Lt. Gov. said on MSNBC last night telling Bush to stay away. He said he only makes matters worse because everything comes to a halt when he is around: clogging up roadways with his motorcades and everyone having to stop important work for photo ops with him. (how true!) He also said that this firefighting would have gone so much better if the CA Nat'l Guard with its equipment were not in Iraq!!!! We had Gov. Kathleen Sibelius make the same observation last spring when a tornado took away a whole Kansas town! KS Nat’l Guard is in Iraq with most of its equipment that could be utilized during a disaster of this sort.
So I guess Bush has learned lessons from Katrina. If it is a poor black Democratic area that is being ravaged, no big deal. However, if it is one of the few Republican areas in a big blue state, you’d better have a rapid response!
