NationStates Jolt Archive

I don't know if this has been posted or not but a quick search said it wasn't so here it goes.

Just a few minutes ago, I got done watching President Bush's speech regarding Katrina. It was well said and hopefully Congress will enact what he proposes.

I especially liked how he talked about poverty. I know what he proposes won't solve the issue but it is a good start.

I will provide a transcript.

Now what do you all think of the speech? That is if you watched it.

Nope, takes a bit for news to get to Japan. As soon as I get the sound bites, I'll be glad to tangle wth you about it. ;)

And how does he expect to PAY for all of this?

He didn't say anything about repealing tax cuts...

He didn't say anything about cutting spending elsewhere...

Oh, I guess we'll just take out another $200 billion loan from China. :rolleyes:

We're gonna get pwn3d, not by natural disasters themselves, but by the credit-card mentality towards rebuilding.

Nope, takes a bit for news to get to Japan. As soon as I get the sound bites, I'll be glad to tangle wth you about it. ;)


I believe it was on CNNj this AM, but I refused to watch it. I have better things to do with my time - like watch cartoons.

(This is in the grand tradition of my Nana, who made a point of reading MAD magazine during each televised State of the Union Address, giving them the dignity they really deserve)

I don't know if this has been posted or not but a quick search said it wasn't so here it goes.

Just a few minutes ago, I got done watching President Bush's speech regarding Katrina. It was well said and hopefully Congress will enact what he proposes.

I especially liked how he talked about poverty. I know what he proposes won't solve the issue but it is a good start.

I will provide a transcript.

Now what do you all think of the speech? That is if you watched it.
I did watch it and what struck me the hardest is that he is a really, really BAD reader.

It goes without saying that no president actually writes the words that they speak for addresses to the nation like that. But tonight just reignited the notion that the President isn't very good at talking to people, even when he's just reading cue cards.
At least his Dad could deliver a speech with a somewhat believable voice. Remember the "Thousand points of Light" speech? That was almost Oscar-worthy. Junior just doesn't have it. He makes us all look bad. We need another Reagan in the White House; a true actor who can deliver a monologue that stirs our hearts.

I believe it was on CNNj this AM, but I refused to watch it. I have better things to do with my time - like watch cartoons.

(This is in the grand tradition of my Nana, who made a point of reading MAD magazine during each televised State of the Union Address, giving them the dignity they really deserve)
I remember about 10-15 years ago, Comedy Central used to cover all presidential addresses. That was the best. They did it MST3K style. They really ought to bring that back. I think the Daily Show should be on call to provide commentary everytime the president speaks to the nation.

I did watch it and what struck me the hardest is that he is a really, really BAD reader.

It goes without saying that no president actually writes the words that they speak for addresses to the nation like that. But tonight just reignited the notion that the President isn't very good at talking to people, even when he's just reading cue cards.
At least his Dad could deliver a speech with a somewhat believable voice. Remember the "Thousand points of Light" speech? That was almost Oscar-worthy. Junior just doesn't have it. He makes us all look bad. We need another Reagan in the White House; a true actor who can deliver a monologue that stirs our hearts.
He can't read. Good one. Way to respond to the issues! :headbang:

He can't read. Good one. Way to respond to the issues! :headbang:

Good point. I, for one, was impressed that he got through the speech without peeing his pants.

Meh.

Much of his favorite catch phrases. He even managed to mention 9/11.

I wonder if developers are salivating over the prospects?

Do you think the displaced people will really return to New Orleans? I suspect they will get displaced by the development of new homes that will price them out.

I wonder how many lottery plots will be put out.

Time will tell. It could be great but I will take the "show me" stance....

He can't read. Good one. Way to respond to the issues! :headbang:In all fairness, he wasn't asked to respond to the issues; he was asked to respond to the speech, and if the speech was so badly read as to distract his attention from what he actually said, then that's a fair criticism.

He can't read. Good one. Way to respond to the issues! :headbang:
I believe the original post asked for responses to the speech itself, not the issues. But for the sake of argument, I'll play ...
OK. The issues then. Here goes: Bush said a lot of things that his speechwriters wrote about that he couldn't recollect tomorrow if you offered him Kingly Dominion Over the Entire Earth.
I missed the first few minutes of the speech during which I'm certain he apologized to the people of New Orleans and the entire nation for putting a man in charge in FEMA who, while he may know a lot about horses (or not) and be a good "friend of the family" had no business being in charge of any kind of national disaster response effort, terrorist or nature-based, by any stretch of anyone's imagination.
He blew a lot of smoke up a lot of people's asses and it's my humble opinion that at least 51% of the US population bought it and actually think everything will be hunky-dory from here on out. Only time will tell.
One thing is certain, a lot of companies are going to make a lot of money off this disaster during the forthcoming rebuilding stage. And I'm willing to bet the CEO's of said companies are going to be partying hard at the White House this weekend.
There. Is that any better?
P.S. I was looking for YOUR response to the issues, since you called my point into question. Perhaps I just need to refresh my browser? No matter.
Enter: Sandman
Time for bed.

In all fairness, he wasn't asked to respond to the issues; he was asked to respond to the speech, and if the speech was so badly read as to distract his attention from what he actually said, then that's a fair criticism.
Yeah! Thanks for backing up that point of fact.
And it's she. Just for the record.
Why don't we have a gender-neutral pronoun (besides 'IT") in this day and age of electo-anonymity? Jeez, someone coin it will you? I'm going to bed.

Yeah! Thanks for backing up that point of fact.
And it's she. Just for the record.
Why don't we have a gender-neutral pronoun (besides 'IT") in this day and age of electo-anonymity? Jeez, someone coin it will you? I'm going to bed.

I've actually heard of üb3rfeminists using "hir" on their blogs as an attempt to combine "his" and "her." But try to pronounce it and it'll come out like "her," making it difficult if not impossible to tell the difference in pronounciation, making such an attempt impractical at best.

Of course, there is a growing tendency to use "they" as a gender-neutral, singular pronoun in informal speech, though that is still recognized as grammatically incorrect...

I've actually heard of üb3rfeminists using "hir" on their blogs as an attempt to combine "his" and "her." But try to pronounce it and it'll come out like "her," making it difficult if not impossible to tell the difference in pronounciation, making such an attempt impractical at best.
Okay, I really didn't go to bed yet ...
plus the use of "hir" would confuse the urban youth of St. Louis where this term means "here" (Google: any song by Nelly)

Of course, there is a growing tendency to use "they" as a gender-neutral, singular pronoun in informal speech, though that is still recognized as grammatically incorrect...
Yeah, I'm a big fan of the English language, I would never be able to conscientiously use the term "they" in the singular. I'm looking for a completely new word here, like, oh hell, I guess we'll just use the masculine until we know otherwise. Why mess with tradition, right?

I dangle my testicles in the face of bush

i'm from new orleans and he fucking sucks

I dangle my testicles in the face of bush

i'm from new orleans and he fucking sucks
Very well thought out, 'you must be highly educated.

P.S. I was looking for YOUR response to the issues, since you called my point into question. Perhaps I just need to refresh my browser? No matter.
Enter: Sandman
Time for bed.
I didn't get a chance to see it. Thats why I looked in this thread. To get some intelligent perspective on it. But instead I get some retard saying "he can't read good" hahahahaha. You can see why I may have been a bit disappointed.
(note that "retard" is NOT gender specific!)

Very well thought out, 'you must be highly educated.
That's a great response to someone who has experienced firsthand the ineptitude of our great leader and those he has been allowed to empower with highly-paid government positions they don't deserve. Nice work. :D

I didn't get a chance to see it. Thats why I looked in this thread. To get some intelligent perspective on it. But instead I get some retard saying "he can't read good" hahahahaha. You can see why I may have been a bit disappointed.
(note that "retard" is NOT gender specific!)
Appreciate it. I get really aggravated when people think I'm a male retard as opposed to a female one. Is "retardette" out of the question? I guess I might offend some feminists who demand equal rights in terms of retardation.
In any case, you were looking for an "intelligent perspective" on a speech a sitting US president delivered on television? That's so cute. Let me know if I can help you out with the next Boy Scout fundraiser. I'm always in the market for some cheap crap made in China!
For what it's worth, "He can't read WELL."
There. Is that any better?
If you were disappointed by this thread, believe me, the speech itself would have hurt much more. Be thankful you didn't witness it. I think the collective IQ of the nation dropped at least three points by the conclusion.
:fluffle:

I've actually heard of üb3rfeminists using "hir" on their blogs as an attempt to combine "his" and "her." But try to pronounce it and it'll come out like "her," making it difficult if not impossible to tell the difference in pronounciation, making such an attempt impractical at best.



Actually, "hir" started up from people like Dr. Timothy Leary and Robert Anton Wilson back in the 1960's. It's pronounced, as I recall, "here", though I may be implanting some of my own opinion into that particular memory.

They had a few other terms for the situation, but I fail to remember them currently.


Sorry, was just randomly looking through General boards and caught this :D


I, ah, don't have TV, so I didn't pay attention to the Beasts' speech.

All of which was destroyed will be rebuilt-better than it was before. Most of the place was a ramshackle shanty to start with.
Thousands and thousands of people will be employed with jobs ranging from simple laborers up to heavy equipment operators. It will be likely the largest single reconstruction project in this country ever, possibly in the world.

And mealy-mouthed douche bags will still sit in their mother's basements taking jabs at the President's pronunciation or his "smirk", still trying desperately to find anything wrong with whatever is said or done.

All of which was destroyed will be rebuilt-better than it was before. Most of the place was a ramshackle shanty to start with.
Thousands and thousands of people will be employed with jobs ranging from simple laborers up to heavy equipment operators. It will be likely the largest single reconstruction project in this country ever, possibly in the world.

And mealy-mouthed douche bags will still sit in their mother's basements taking jabs at the President's pronunciation or his "smirk", still trying desperately to find anything wrong with whatever is said or done.
YEAH! Well said! You get a fluffle and 2 Very Happies! :D :fluffle: :D

All of which was destroyed will be rebuilt-better than it was before. Most of the place was a ramshackle shanty to start with.
Thousands and thousands of people will be employed with jobs ranging from simple laborers up to heavy equipment operators. It will be likely the largest single reconstruction project in this country ever, possibly in the world.

And mealy-mouthed douche bags will still sit in their mother's basements taking jabs at the President's pronunciation or his "smirk", still trying desperately to find anything wrong with whatever is said or done.

Lets hope that by rebuilding better they dont mean demolishing the French Quarter and building a mall in its place....

Oh by the way is it my own idea or is Bechtel going to rebuild the city?
Because having one of your former CEOs in a position of power in the government is a really good thing

I believe it was on CNNj this AM, but I refused to watch it. I have better things to do with my time - like watch cartoons.

(This is in the grand tradition of my Nana, who made a point of reading MAD magazine during each televised State of the Union Address, giving them the dignity they really deserve)


I think I like your Nana.

I'd just like to ask when Bush is going to take responsibility for ANYTHING?

No WMD's in Iraq.....not his fault.

Over 100,000 civillians dead in Iraq....not his fault.

Thousands dead, sick, or dying in Louisiana, who didnt get help in a timely manner....again..not his fault.

Scapegoats are made, like the former director of FEMA, and Bush makes a speech in order to cover his ass, and explain that he is going to spend an ass-ton of money to help rebuild.
Of course, he never mentions how he is going to pay for it.

One of these days, Bush is going to actually have to take responsibility for his inept leadership, and for the terrible job he has done with his two terms.
I just hope the entire country doesnt have to pay the price for his actions.

unfortunately the only way to get rid of the Bushes is Hillary being the next presidential government. Of course the Clinton familly is not far better than the Bush family, but still seing Al Gore as VP is far better than seing Dick Cheney or Condoleeza Rice in this place....

Jello Biafra, Rev Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Oprah Windfrey would be good candidates too.

Jello Biafra, Rev Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Oprah Windfrey would be good candidates too.
I just lost ALL respect for your opinion. Rev. Jackson?! :confused: Oprah?! :confused: Bruce freekin Springstein?! :confused:
I'd rather have Left wing Nazi murderer in office than Jesse "kill whitey" Jackson! (note-I wouldn't mind a black president, just not a racist)

The French Quarter isn't going to get destroyed.

As for paying for all of it, let the Congress decide that. :D We all know how good they are with money :D

As for referencing 9/11, that was also a disaster too with break downs of communication. We had breakdowns with Katrina too. Its not surprising that he brought it up.

The city will be rebuilt and the economy there will probably recover.

I still like how he talked about poverty though.

He sounded like LBJ declaring war on poverty..are you sure he's a republican ?

I just lost ALL respect for your opinion. Rev. Jackson?! :confused: Oprah?! :confused: Bruce freekin Springstein?! :confused:
I'd rather have Left wing Nazi murderer in office than Jesse "kill whitey" Jackson! (note-I wouldn't mind a black president, just not a racist)

Well having Jesse Jackson as a president of the states would be only a small retribution in order for us (white caucasians) to repay the wrongs we did to Africa over the last 30 years, if you put it that way. Still he is far better than Condi and Dickie boy:P

Another two that come to mind are Michael Moore and Woody Allen. Would be nice to have a prez that we Europweans actually like

Well having Jesse Jackson as a president of the states would be only a small retribution in order for us (white caucasians) to repay the wrongs we did to Africa over the last 30 years, if you put it that way. Still he is far better than Condi and Dickie boy:P

Another two that come to mind are Michael Moore and Woody Allen. Would be nice to have a prez that we Europweans actually like
You guys can have the racist (Jackson) the liar (Moore) and the pedophile (Allen) We'll gladly give them all visas to come you guys!

All of which was destroyed will be rebuilt-better than it was before. Most of the place was a ramshackle shanty to start with.

Rebuilt? Yes. Better than before? Don't be sure.

Thousands and thousands of people will be employed with jobs ranging from simple laborers up to heavy equipment operators. It will be likely the largest single reconstruction project in this country ever, possibly in the world.

The laborers will be paid pitiful wages. The indictment for companies holding government contracts to pay the prevailing local wage has been lifted. This means either a) qualified workers will be sorely underpaid but take the work because they have no other option or b) the work will be shoddily done because the people willing to work for the bare minimum will be marginally (or not at all!) qualified for the work.

~~~~~~~~~
As for the original topic of the post? I didn't watch the speech live. I can't watch our President speak; it turns my stomach. When I find the transcript, I'll be glad to read it and then comment about what was said -- but watching that man speak is actually painful to me.

He has little public speaking ability, he lacks sincerity and (probably due to nerves) has the bad habit to grin as he discusses even the most dire and tragic circumstances. I realize my criticism is all about his ability as an actor which does not necessarily translate to his ability as the leader of the free world. That's why I no longer watch him. Instead of focusing on what he is saying, I end up focusing on how he says it. Reading the speech after the fact is a far better choice, for me.

Well having Jesse Jackson as a president of the states would be only a small retribution in order for us (white caucasians) to repay the wrongs we did to Africa over the last 30 years.

"Us" White caucasians? I don't remember ever going to Africa, and I certainly don't remeber cutting womens breasts of and raping them in violent ethnic cleansings. Don't fucking blame me for the problems of Africa!

You guys can have the racist (Jackson) the liar (Moore) and the pedophile (Allen) We'll gladly give them all visas to come you guys!
wow now you sound like a reallife white supremacist to me

bring out the white capes

wow now you sound like a reallife white supremacist to me

bring out the white capes
Thats the dumbest statement I've ever heard. By calling someone a racist, I'm a racist? :upyours:

"Us" White caucasians? I don't remember ever going to Africa, and I certainly don't remeber cutting womens breasts of and raping them in violent ethnic cleansings. Don't fucking blame me for the problems of Africa!
I dont blame you mate for the problems of Africa... But shure as hell I can blame you and me and everybody I know for tollerating the multinational companies that loot africas wealth mate.

Thats the dumbest statement I've ever heard. By calling someone a racist, I'm a racist? :upyours:

dont know mate.
But most of the time I hear these remarks from members of the american far right.

I dont blame you mate for the problems of Africa... But shure as hell I can blame you and me and everybody I know for tollerating the multinational companies that loot africas wealth mate.


That doesnt make him a rascist anymore than it makes you Crocodile Dundee.

dont know mate.
But most of the time I hear these remarks from members of the american far right.


Wich are a small minority, not the majority of americans.

Indeed
But still they are able to hold positions of power, or somehow their voices are more heard here in old europe.

For those of you who seem to have skipped Economics 101 and question where the money will come from, here's a quick lesson. When you alleviate the tax burden, you stimulate spending, which creates more jobs, which increases tax revenue. It's a matter of drawing tax revenue from a larger base. The reconstruction effort that Bush proposed will be the largest government sponsored project ever. To get an idea of how well it might work, take a look at FDR's New Deal:

http://www.bergen.org/AAST/Projects/depression/successes.html

With sacrifice and hard work we can achieve anything.

As for Bush's speaking abilities, he isn't a great orator for sure. He'll never compare to one of the greatest orators of the 20th century....Adolph Hitler.

As for Bush's speaking abilities, he isn't a great orator for sure. He'll never compare to one of the greatest orators of the 20th century....Adolph Hitler.


No, Bush will just have to emulate him in other ways.

For those of you who seem to have skipped Economics 101 and question where the money will come from, here's a quick lesson. When you alleviate the tax burden, you stimulate spending, which creates more jobs, which increases tax revenue. It's a matter of drawing tax revenue from a larger base. The reconstruction effort that Bush proposed will be the largest government sponsored project ever. To get an idea of how well it might work, take a look at FDR's New Deal:

http://www.bergen.org/AAST/Projects/depression/successes.html

With sacrifice and hard work we can achieve anything.

As for Bush's speaking abilities, he isn't a great orator for sure. He'll never compare to one of the greatest orators of the 20th century....Adolph Hitler.
Couldn't have said it better myself!

I dangle my testicles in the face of bush

i'm from new orleans and he fucking sucks


You know...I'm from Louisiana too, and it's people like you who give this state a bad name. Not everybody from this state is fucking degenerate trash, which is a category you probably fit in very well. Bush had nothing to do with this damn hurricane, blame that shit on the city, who knew it could happen for years.....and on idiots who don't know what MANDATORY evacuation means!! To everyone else on this site......what you see on TV is a small sampling of the worst of the worst in this state, it is definately not representative of the general population here.

Indeed
But still they are able to hold positions of power, or somehow their voices are more heard here in old europe.
Well maybe "old Europe" should get its head out of its ass and not rely so much on the media for info.

I dangle my testicles in the face of bush

i'm from new orleans and he fucking sucks

Anybody else noticed how so many of the survivors from NO are flooding onto NS, creating nations, and attacking Bush and his administration? You would think they would have more important things to do right now. Huh. Go figure.

Tebbonia, since you're from NO, refresh my memory for me. I was a guest at a very nice 5 star hotel at the corner of Bourbon & Canal last year. What's the name of it?

As for Bush's speaking abilities, he isn't a great orator for sure. He'll never compare to one of the greatest orators of the 20th century....Adolph Hitler.[/QUOTE]

Yet he is compared to Hitler from time to time, though the second didnt have his daddy lend a hand when he was elected...

IRONIC?

No, Bush will just have to emulate him in other ways.
Thats gettin really old. Hitler=Bush We get it already. Funny how Hitler hated Jews, yet Bush gets blamed for being too pro-Israeli. HHHMMmmmmmmm

Thats gettin really old. Hitler=Bush We get it already. Funny how Hitler hated Jews, yet Bush gets blamed for being too pro-Israeli. HHHMMmmmmmmm


Well, the big difference is that Hitler was an evil shithead.
Bush is just a dumbass.

I like to compare the two, becuase it makes me feel better.
But in all seriousness, anyone who cant see direct correlations between America today, and Germany of the 1930's...is either fooling themselves, or simply doesnt know history.

I dont blame you mate for the problems of Africa... But shure as hell I can blame you and me and everybody I know for tollerating the multinational companies that loot africas wealth mate.
Loot Africa's wealth? What wealth? The governments there are so incredibly corrupt that nothing even resembling a corporation bothers with most of them. On top of that, the entire continent is shot through with violent tribalism and a warlord mentality. Stop buying into bullshit propaganda.

Loot Africa's wealth? What wealth? The governments there are so incredibly corrupt that nothing even resembling a corporation bothers with most of them. On top of that, the entire continent is shot through with violent tribalism and a warlord mentality. Stop buying into bullshit propaganda.

Africa has significant wealth, De Beers are rich from their diamonds, other Western companies are rich from their uranium and ther metals, still more use the human resources for cheap labour. Just because the people of Africa are not rich doesn't mean that the coninent does not contain massive wealth.

Well, the big difference is that Hitler was an evil shithead.
Bush is just a dumbass.

I like to compare the two, becuase it makes me feel better.
But in all seriousness, anyone who cant see direct correlations between America today, and Germany of the 1930's...is either fooling themselves, or simply doesnt know history.

Being of Jewish heritage and having lost relatives in the camps I grew up hearing about Hitler and his regime. I probably have a pretty good grip on the dynamics and politics that led to the holocaust. Please clarify the correlations that you propose.

For those of you who seem to have skipped Economics 101 and question where the money will come from, here's a quick lesson. When you alleviate the tax burden, you stimulate spending, which creates more jobs, which increases tax revenue. It's a matter of drawing tax revenue from a larger base. The reconstruction effort that Bush proposed will be the largest government sponsored project ever. To get an idea of how well it might work, take a look at FDR's New Deal:

http://www.bergen.org/AAST/Projects/depression/successes.html



So, given that GW HAS alleviated taxes over the past four years, care to explain why your overly simplistic textbook answer doesn't account for the fact that unemployment rates are not a whole lot better in the US than they were BEFORE the tax breaks?

the New Deal was MORE than just a new tax structure, it was the creation of an entire new concept regarding the responsibilities of the government in providing a social safety net. The government understood then that if you allow people to fall too far, it became almost impossible for them to lift themselves back up into productive tax-paying consumers, and that by providing mechanisms to soften the fall the costs expended were minimal when compared to the gained revenue as people recovered more easily.

The rebuilding program is NOT a new deal. it is a one-off project with a limited time span. Taking a poor, uneducated person and giving him an undercut laborer's wage for a couple of years will indeed put a roof over his head and food in his mouth for the duration of the project, but if it doesn;t translate into proper job skills training that they can then translate elsewhere afterwards then the person hasn't gained a whole lot for the long term. After all, the need for unskilled labour WILL end as the rebuilding eventually winds down.

What then will this plan have done to alleviate the systemic poverty of the region?

With sacrifice and hard work we can achieve anything.


A nice, sloganized platitude that is very easy to say from anywhere outside Louisiana, Mississipi, and Alabama...


As for Bush's speaking abilities, he isn't a great orator for sure. He'll never compare to one of the greatest orators of the 20th century....Adolph Hitler.

Not going to touch that one with a 20-foot pole.