Letter to Bush from Michael Moore

[Blonde Stranger]

Just curious, but shouldn't the governor of Louisiana and the mayor of New Orleans get hammered too? At the very least they should have had some kind of emergency plan in place. Apparently their "plan" was to wait until after the storm was over then start whining.

Exactly. I think there is blame at all levels of government, not just at those controlled by republicans.

[12vmanRick]

Just curious, but shouldn't the governor of Louisiana and the mayor of New Orleans get hammered too? At the very least they should have had some kind of emergency plan in place. Apparently their "plan" was to wait until after the storm was over then start whining.

Exactly. I think there is blame at all levels of government, not just at those controlled by republicans.

The bad part is the democratic party is trying to shun their responsibility and point fingers. Basically it has become nothing but a campaign strategy to them.

[SweetMelissa]

I'm sorry - but I like this and unfortunately there is truth in much of what is said here.....because I am all about sarcasm



Friday, September 2nd, 2005


Dear Mr. Bush:



Any idea where all our helicopters are? It's Day 5 of Hurricane Katrina and thousands remain stranded in New Orleans and need to be airlifted. Where on earth could you have misplaced all our military choppers? Do you need help finding them? I once lost my car in a Sears parking lot. Man, was that a drag.



Also, any idea where all our national guard soldiers are? We could really use them right now for the type of thing they signed up to do like helping with national disasters. How come they weren't there to begin with?



Last Thursday I was in south Florida and sat outside while the eye of Hurricane Katrina passed over my head. It was only a Category 1 then but it was pretty nasty. Eleven people died and, as of today, there were still homes without power. That night the weatherman said this storm was on its way to New Orleans. That was Thursday! Did anybody tell you? I know you didn't want to interrupt your vacation and I know how you don't like to get bad news. Plus, you had fundraisers to go to and mothers of dead soldiers to ignore and smear. You sure showed her!



I especially like how, the day after the hurricane, instead of flying to Louisiana, you flew to San Diego to party with your business peeps. Don't let people criticize you for this -- after all, the hurricane was over and what the heck could you do, put your finger in the dike?



And don't listen to those who, in the coming days, will reveal how you specifically reduced the Army Corps of Engineers' budget for New Orleans this summer for the third year in a row. You just tell them that even if you hadn't cut the money to fix those levees, there weren't going to be any Army engineers to fix them anyway because you had a much more important construction job for them -- BUILDING DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ!



On Day 3, when you finally left your vacation home, I have to say I was moved by how you had your Air Force One pilot descend from the clouds as you flew over New Orleans so you could catch a quick look of the disaster. Hey, I know you couldn't stop and grab a bullhorn and stand on some rubble and act like a commander in chief. Been there done that.



There will be those who will try to politicize this tragedy and try to use it against you. Just have your people keep pointing that out. Respond to nothing. Even those pesky scientists who predicted this would happen because the water in the Gulf of Mexico is getting hotter and hotter making a storm like this inevitable. Ignore them and all their global warming Chicken Littles. There is nothing unusual about a hurricane that was so wide it would be like having one F-4 tornado that stretched from New York to Cleveland.

No, Mr. Bush, you just stay the course. It's not your fault that 30 percent of New Orleans lives in poverty or that tens of thousands had no transportation to get out of town. C'mon, they're black! I mean, it's not like this happened to Kennebunkport. Can you imagine leaving white people on their roofs for five days? Don't make me laugh! Race has nothing -- NOTHING -- to do with this!



You hang in there, Mr. Bush. Just try to find a few of our Army helicopters and send them there. Pretend the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast are near Tikrit.



Yours,



Michael Moore

MMFlint@aol.com

www.MichaelMoore.com



P.S. That annoying mother, Cindy Sheehan, is no longer at your ranch. She and dozens of other relatives of the Iraqi War dead are now driving across the country, stopping in many cities along the way. Maybe you can catch up with them before they get to DC on September 21st.



WE CAN ALL AFFORD TO DONATE SOMETHING, PLS VISIT www.redcross.org click on DONATIONS

That drives me nuts! It's not like all the presidents before him didn't know this was a possibility as well. For god sakes New Orleans didn't sink to below sea level this year, it's always been that way! Everyone knew it could happen and no one else did anything either. Dumbass Moore

[dawgfan]

That drives me nuts! It's not like all the presidents before him didn't know this was a possibility as well. For god sakes New Orleans didn't sink to below sea level this year, it's always been that way! Everyone knew it could happen and no one else did anything either. Dumbass Moore [/quote]


Well said SM, good job

[redwinemaker]

The level of hurricane activity WORLDWIDE has remained roughly constant since the 40's. Somtimes there are more in the Indian Ocean, sometimes more in the Atlantic etc. To proclaim that global warming has anything to do with Katrina, and to further proclaim that it is somehow Bush's fault shows either a complete ignorance to the facts at hand or shows that it really is all about politics. Never let the truth get in the way of a good Bush-bashing...

[Crazy Navy Flyer]

First, michael moore is a total idiot. His statements have no basis in fact.

There is no scientific evidence that Global warming, if it exists, has any effect on the intensitity or number of hurricanes.

The Red Cross was ready with water and food for NOLA the day following the storm but were denied access to the Super Dome and Convention Center by the Lousiana State Department of Homeland Security, as directed by the governor's office. The reason given was because if all that food and water were available at those locations the locations would become a magnet for other residents of NO and it would be too much for the officials to handle. This was reported by a senior representative of the Red Cross on the Brit Hume show yesterday. It has not been a major story on the news because because it's more fun to blame the President.

Look to the mayor and governor's offices if there is blame to be assigned. Lousiana, and especially New Orleans, have an unbelievable amount of political corruption, levee rebuild money has been diverted by the govenor's office for many years.

[redwinemaker]

Re: Levee repairs; The Levee in the one canal that had the biggest break in it had major repairs just seven years ago and was therefore NOT on the current list of levees to be repaired anyway, regardless of what funds were/werent spent by the Feds in NOLA

[SweetMelissa]

That drives me nuts! It's not like all the presidents before him didn't know this was a possibility as well. For god sakes New Orleans didn't sink to below sea level this year, it's always been that way! Everyone knew it could happen and no one else did anything either. Dumbass Moore

Well said SM, good job [/quote]

Thanks buddy!

I usually keep my mouth shut about anything political or religious, but this was just so ignorant I couldn't help myself.

[iuparrothead]

Re: Levee repairs; The Levee in the one canal that had the biggest break in it had major repairs just seven years ago and was therefore NOT on the current list of levees to be repaired anyway, regardless of what funds were/werent spent by the Feds in NOLA

And I wonder just how many legislators argued that levee repair and upkeep expenses in the budget was just pork and should be cut... I'm assuming many. I don't think there are a lot of politicians out there campaigning to 'Save the Levees'.

[redwinemaker]

Re: Levee repairs; The Levee in the one canal that had the biggest break in it had major repairs just seven years ago and was therefore NOT on the current list of levees to be repaired anyway, regardless of what funds were/werent spent by the Feds in NOLA

And I wonder just how many legislators argued that levee repair and upkeep expenses in the budget was just pork and should be cut... I'm assuming many. I don't think there are a lot of politicians out there campaigning to 'Save the Levees'.

I bet there are in NOLA

[jackiesic]

LOL.. rantings of an idiot amuse me

You're kinder than I

[jackiesic]

Moore has become such a cartoonish figure, that even when he's right, you just don't want to pay any more attention to him

Again, well said.

[jackiesic]

Just curious, but shouldn't the governor of Louisiana and the mayor of New Orleans get hammered too? At the very least they should have had some kind of emergency plan in place. Apparently their "plan" was to wait until after the storm was over then start whining.

Here's the opinion of the Wall Street Journal
http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110007219

[BananaWinds]

Just curious, but shouldn't the governor of Louisiana and the mayor of New Orleans get hammered too? At the very least they should have had some kind of emergency plan in place. Apparently their "plan" was to wait until after the storm was over then start whining.

Exactly. I think there is blame at all levels of government, not just at those controlled by republicans.

The bad part is the democratic party is trying to shun their responsibility and point fingers. Basically it has become nothing but a campaign strategy to them.

I call BS
come on, if the rolls were reversed the same would be happenning,
and you know that is true...

[krusin1]

Here's the relevant part from the Wall Street Journal...

The actions and inactions of Gov. Blanco and Mayor Nagin are a national disgrace due to their failure to implement the previously established evacuation plans of the state and city. Gov. Blanco and Mayor Nagin cannot claim that they were surprised by the extent of the damage and the need to evacuate so many people. Detailed written plans were already in place to evacuate more than a million people. The plans projected that 300,000 people would need transportation in the event of a hurricane like Katrina. If the plans had been implemented, thousands of lives would likely have been saved.

In addition to the plans, local, state and federal officials held a simulated hurricane drill 13 months ago, in which widespread flooding supposedly trapped 300,000 people inside New Orleans. The exercise simulated the evacuation of more than a million residents. The problems identified in the simulation apparently were not solved.

Yes, the Feds could have moved faster. Yes, the National Guard (maybe) could have taken control of the city quicker. BUT... local officials are supposed to have plans and carry them out. I dunno if the mayor and governor just lack guts, or leadership ability, or what, but something is seriously wrong with how they handled this thing. There was definitely no Rudy Guiliani in control of this one...

[krusin1]

BTW, one more thing.

Michael Moore is an idiot, blinded by hate of G.W. Bush, concerned more with re-inserting his name into the body politic than actually checking facts.

Embracing MM is a major reason the Democratic party is losing elections and thrashing about with no clear ideology, ideas, or even suggestions.

I'm not a Democrat, but I would sure welcome the return of some men (or women!) with the integrity and backbone of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. I don't necessarily agree with their beliefs, but at least they could hold up their end of the intellectual political discussion that this country sorely needs. Currently, Joe Lieberman is about the best we have, and he's a lone voice of reason in a room full of shouters who have nothing to say.

[Brown Eyed Girl]

Re: Levee repairs; The Levee in the one canal that had the biggest break in it had major repairs just seven years ago and was therefore NOT on the current list of levees to be repaired anyway, regardless of what funds were/werent spent by the Feds in NOLA

And I wonder just how many legislators argued that levee repair and upkeep expenses in the budget was just pork and should be cut... I'm assuming many. I don't think there are a lot of politicians out there campaigning to 'Save the Levees'.

I bet there are in NOLA

There are in Cali too...and those of us who depend on the levees to keep the Delta out of our homes are reaaaaaaaallly glad. BTDT, don't want to go thru it again.

[prrthd1987]

How bout Michael Moore just shuts up and eats another breakfast burrito? He's not making any of this easier for anybody to deal with, he's just complicating matters

[Sam]

Like it or not Moore is nothing but an obese self promoting political left wing idealist figure.
For all the proud accusations he has made....just where was he??? How many helicopters and food,water, and other supplies did he bring in? Not just to NOLA and surrounding area....what about to the needy people in Mississippi and Alabama??? Michael Moore's cash is rated at how many millions? Just how much has he donated along with actual time??? I mean Opra and other famous people could do it...It was on tv for everyone to see.... where were you?? Why not you Moore?
You were probably to busy eating and drinking food and water that those people desperately needed and fighting off the whale rescue people, that were trying to drag your sorry beached carcass off the beach, and back into the water in hopes of saving your life....when some saw you and mistakenly ( maybe not) called and reported a whale on the beach that turned out to be you.

Again why did the Mayor wait so long and ignore the RECCOMMENDED ORDER FOR MANDATORY EVACUATION ??? Why did the Governor ingnor such reccomendations?

Why did the Mayor FAIL to commendeer school buses??? An 18 year old kid figured out how to start one and saved alot of people....just what did "His Honor the Mayor" and the Governor do besides sit and twiddle their thumbs while waiting for the strike?

Facts show President Bush DID ORDER AND SIGN for emergency teams to be authorized to be put in place and go on a moments notice BEFORE the storm hit.
Just when did The Mayor of NOLA and Governor of La....send a request for federal aid or declare the city a disaster area???

Is there problem with people failing to understand a killer storm is coming and fail to leave the area? They are even refusing to leave as of now. I suppose you want to bash President Bush for that as well....

There were oher areas and cities devasted, wiped out. There are only so many resources available. It was CLEARLY up to the Governor ro activate the state national guard....just when did she put them on alert and actually activate them? When did the Mayor make his request for Federal aid?

I heard no such commentary from you about Clinton when such was going on and the delays in people recieving aid...don't even bother to say there were none...

Michael Moore please tell me how much you made off of your so infamous documentaries you spent on helping these people or are willing to spend....or were you too busy on your see food diet eating everything and drinking everything you were going to send them? I mean how many people could you have saved just for using your body as a life raft?
What were you spending at that "diet clinic" in Fla to lose a few pounds???
Wasn't it something like $3,000.00 a week??? You want to slam someone...do something unusal....lay the blame in the proper place...YOU, the Mayor, The Governor... but I doubt anyone will ever see that happen in ANY "documentary" that you produce. After all your honesty or lack there of, was quickly proven in a counter documentary to your creative and selective editing, called "FarhenHype 911" being
proven and shown. Too bad it did not get the media attention that your "magic moment" got.

BTW...it is not and was NOT President Bush's fault....nor the pseudo science of "Global Warming" and the Kyoto protocols....no matter how you edit it in your documentary on it.

[prrthd1987]

Woooo Hoooo Sam!
I could have never found the words to say that, and it is VERY well said. I could not agree more.