Bush: The Only President to Lose an American City

Remember when no WMDs were found in Iraq and Bush responded with some stupid clowning by looking behind his chair, etc? This time, he's lost an American city but doesn't seem to remember. There's no bad joke looking behind his chair this time. There's just dead silence. It took Democrat Jim Webb to remember New Oreans the night Bush gave his State of the Union. New Orleans is the state of the union, a staggering symbol and reality of Republican indifference.

Here's Eugene Robinson of The Washington Post:

More infuriating than anything George W. Bush said in his State of the Union address was what he didn't say. Congress and the nation heard nothing, zilch, nada, not a single, solitary word about New Orleans, the Gulf Coast and the devastation that remains from the worst natural disaster in United States history.

A disaster that happened on his watch. How nice that the White House has been able to move beyond the trauma of September 2005 -- wind and water, death and destruction, poverty and race, "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." Too bad the people of New Orleans, St. Bernard Parish, Pass Christian, Biloxi and the rest of the coast will never have the luxury of forgetting.

(snip)

What kind of president can see one of the nation's greatest, most historic cities ruined and not make its rebirth his highest priority? What kind of president gives a State of the Union and doesn't even mention New Orleans?

I've known decent Republicans all my life but I don't know these Republicans that run things in Washington who can't be bothered to lift a hand for their fellow Americans. What they did to New Orleans, they can do to any American city. If they can be that indifferent to New Orleans and a good part of the Gulf, it doesn't take much for them to be indifferent to tens of millions of Americans. There's something wrong in America and it begins in the offices in the West Wing of the White House where power counts more than the voice of the American people.

Senator Webb Sounded More Presidential Than Bush

Bush has made many promises in the last seven years and delivered on very few of them. He has made many assertions to the American people that have proven to be false. His accomplishments are few and his presidency can be described as one step forward and five steps back. He has not served the American people well.

Let me note one major omission by Bush and it sums up the fundamental indifference he has towards a majority of Americans and their concerns: he didn't say one word about New Orleans. After major promises and assertions in his last speech a year ago, his performance continues to be dismal.

And let me note that Bush continues to peddle fear when it comes to his failed foreign policy. I was amazed that at this late date he's still peddling his right wing ideology when it comes to foreign policy. That will forever be emblematic of his flawed vision of the world.

Nevertheless, this year we have a president who now leaves some openings concerning health care, Global Warming and energy so that the implication is that perhaps he can work together with Democrats on at least some issues. I hope it comes to pass but the record of the last six years is not a good one and does not encourage me to believe Bush will do much to salvage his failed presidency. We'll see.

And then I listened to Senator Jim Webb of Virginia and he sounded like a leader. He mentioned New Orleans, he spoke the truth, he's a moderate who liberals like myself can listen to, respect and easily work with. My respect for the senator grew tonight. He impresses me as someone who knows how to get things done.

I reserve judgment on Bush's speech, which after all, for someone like Bush, is simply an extension of his continuing photo ops presidency, and will simply note that he has given fine-sounding speeches in the past that did not survive close inspection, or subsequent events. Let's see what Bush actually does and whether he can break his unforgiveable pattern of the last six years.

Senator Webb Shows How It's Done

One of the problems with Congress in the last six years has been the tendency by Republicans to rubber stamp the president's position. Neither Republicans nor Democrats should ever merely rubber stamp a president. Congress is a coequal branch of government and has a responsibility to the American people to discuss the issues and hold the administration accountable when the answers aren't acceptable. Hearings under Republicans became friendly games of soft ball rather than serious examinations of our nation's issues and needs. Take a look at Jim Webb's statements courtesy of Barbin Md on Daily Kos. Senator Webb isn't putting up with public relations kind of statements on serious issues.

Senator Webb Stands His Ground

When most politicians work a room, they're just meeting people and getting themselves better known. I've never liked the way Bush works a room. He acts like he's learned all the tricks from a Dale Carnegie executive training course, particularly the chapter on assertiveness (to put it politely). One of his gimmicks, among several I've seen, is to grab someone by both arms in greeting and hold on to them until they make eye contact; the message is simple: I'm dominating the encounter here.

Senator Webb chose not to play the game. Here's the story from Michael D. Shear of The Washington Post (hat tip to Mahablog who has her own take):

At a recent White House reception for freshman members of Congress, Virginia's newest senator tried to avoid President Bush. Democrat James Webb declined to stand in a presidential receiving line or to have his picture taken with the man he had often criticized on the stump this fall. But it wasn't long before Bush found him.

"How's your boy?" Bush asked, referring to Webb's son, a Marine serving in Iraq.

"I'd like to get them out of Iraq, Mr. President," Webb responded, echoing a campaign theme.

"That's not what I asked you," Bush said. "How's your boy?"

"That's between me and my boy, Mr. President," Webb said coldly, ending the conversation...

Note that Senator-elect Webb did not seek out Bush, but like others who had just been elected, he honored the occassion with his presence. President Bush may have simply wanted to greet Webb and he may have simply shown his thin skin when Webb replied to the question about his son and Bush became rude. But I have watched Bush work a room. It would not surprise me that Bush noticed that Webb was avoiding him and decided to 'assert' himself. Normally, I believe people should respect the office even when they strongly disagree with a president. But Bush does not respect any number of traditions associated with being president nor does he appear to have much respect for the US Constitution. I applaud Jim Webb. His answer was a civil one given the circumstances. The president is a man, not a king or a dictator. Even the president has to remember who he is.