Kerry: Leave no American behind: Lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina

[kerrygoddess]

Words from John Kerry — Leave no American behind: Lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina
September 12th, 2005
In the Chicago Defender, John Kerry writes:

“The lesson of Katrina is simple. We must always be honest about the challenges we face, and never reserve our compassion only for disasters. People must not allow the Administration to continue sugar-coating the true state of this nation.”

As I read these words, I was overcome, again, by the simple clarity of this man’s thinking. He understands separation, he understands race, he understands death.

And he understands life. And what it takes, from all of us, to account, and be responsible for, the gift of our time here on this earth.

We are all in this together.

Leave no American behind: Lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina
by, Sen. John Kerry
September 12, 2005

The evidence that our nation was unprepared for hurricane Katrina is undeniable. Thousands of our fellow citizens losing their lives not to wind and water - but thirst and starvation. Rescue attempts failing to materialize days on end, leaving mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, to perish in ways embarrassing to fathom in this society: children running out of medication; elderly too long without dialysis; patients whose oxygen tanks went empty or respirators went offline. When people were stuck on those roofs, they weren’t just cut off from the floors beneath them. They were cut off from the world, including the nation that pledged to protect them.

The failure in Washington was indeed undeniable and embarrassing, and time will continue to expose the scope of the injustice exacted on the people of New Orleans. In the meantime, we must honor those lost in the hurricane by making a strong commitment to the survivors. And our first responders should be commended for their bravery in the face of countless dangers.

MORE - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=524

[blossomstar]

1. OMG a man with a truly presidential attitude!

How could anyone in their right mind NOT have voted for John Kerry after watching the debates? I'll never figure that one out. Anyone with a shread of intelligence who watched the presidential debates KNEW that Bush was not up to the job and was in way over his head. God help the people that voted for GWB because the blood of thousands of innocent people is on THEIR hands. THEY KNEW.

[kerrygoddess]

3. He's the Real Deal!

He was during the election cycle and he is now!

[blossomstar]

6. He most definitely IS.

[LittleClarkie]

5. I could cry sometimes when I look at him

I wanna cry when I see Chimpy too, but for a different reason.

Sometimes I can't help but look at Bush and think "fraud" and I can't help but look at Kerry and think "president."

[blossomstar]

10. I do cry.

[LittleClarkie]

14. I often do too. I cried like somebody died after Nov 2

And I will still cry in just that way sometimes. You know, like when you've lost someone and you're fine for a while, and suddenly you're NOT fine? I will sometimes go around sobbing like a baby. It only happens once in a while now. But it still happens, esp when Bush and Company has just done something esp. stupid and awful.

[jillan]

2. The more I read about what Kerry does and says....

the more I believe in voter fraud!

I refuse to believe that this America, the ones who opened their hearts and wallets and homes to the victims of Katrina voted for **.


Thanks for posting the article!!

[kerrygoddess]

4. I hear that...

Me too!

[ClayZ]

12. Me too.... I will never believe otherwise.

Same for Al Gore! Both of them are my president.

Those fools can think bu$h is the president but he never was and never will be.




:kick:

[politicasista]

13. Mine too.

All the Kerry vs. Gore comparisons need to stop. They are both doing good deeds.

[kestrel91316]

7. There WAS NO "VOTER" FRAUD!!!!!!! There may very well have been

election fraud, or vote-counting fraud, but no way in hell was there VOTER fraud.

One of my pet peeves.

[zulchzulu]

8. Thanks for posting this...

..and all the other posts.

:bounce:

[LittleClarkie]

9. Rats. I already posted my one diary over at Kos

or I'd go and post this one.

I posted the two line "Overdue. Too little too late" statement from before, because I thought it belayed nicely the usual "he's a blowhard" meme.

Now I wish I hadn't blown my wad.

[kerrygoddess]

15. My pleasure...

I always know that there are some here who appreciate JK! You're one of them.

[meow2u3]

11. Bush: Leave no American Alive

except for his cronies. :evilgrin: couldn't resist

[Dr Fate]

16. Good Op-Ed

I am all for op-eds- people still read the papers...

www.chicagodefender.com/index.cfm

[Angry Girl]

17. Shut up, Kerry! With ALL that evidence of fraud in 2004

and you just concede? You did not protect my vote! What kind of leader is that? Piss off!

Nightweed's Hurricane Katrina Aid Organizations

[Mass]

18. ? Not sure how to take that?

[Mass]

19. deleted

[Angry Girl]

21. He's all talk - when it came down to what really counts, he walked

[Mass]

22. Thanks, that's clear

and typical of whining on DU, unfortunately.

[Angry Girl]

25. well, i'm damn sure not going to hail him as a hero!

[Mass]

26. Who is asking you that?

You're entitled of your opinion. If you feel better thrashing positive threads rather than ignoring them, please do.

Hope you feel better.

[ginnyinWI]

23. that's okay

You are entitled to your opinion. Senator Kerry will continue to work on your behalf, too, as he is for all of us.

[TayTay]

24. Bite ME Too!

How dare you do your job as a sitting US Senator. Why, I hate it when people do that. How dare you speak up on the greatest disaster in the history of the US.

Gosh, I just hate it when Senators do their jobs. I much appreciate it when Senators just sit and shut up and say nothing and let the Rethugs get away with everything. Ask any angry boy or girl and they will tell you, our Dem Sens shoudl just shut up.

:sarcasm:

[Angry Girl]

27. talk is cheap and i'm not impressed - prove me wrong

All Kerry is doing is joining the crowd. Big deal. Easy to talk when so many are in agreement with you. But he sure shut up when he could have supported Conyers or Slaughter and contested the Ohio election results.

So what's your reasoning as to why he's such a great guy? I mean, maybe you know something I don't but, right now especially, he's nothing special to me.

And just because he's not the anti-Christ, doesn't mean I should be so thrilled with him. In fact, I'm not thrilled with much of what passes for Dem leadership right now. What has Kerry said about Roberts' nomination anyway? Is he protecting our country against a rabidly rightwing Supreme Court?

Nightweed's Hurricane Katrina Aid Organizations

[Mass]

28. He has been talking about that since Roberts has been nominated

for Associate Judge, saying that privacy issues were essential and asking for Bush to release the documents.

[Mass]

20. KG, thanks for posting that