Clueless in Crawford >>>

[Stephanie]

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From Heart of Indonesia's Disaster, a Cry for Help
By JANE PERLEZ

Published: January 2, 2005

MEULABOH, Indonesia, Jan. 1 - A dozen towns that once thrived near here are gone. Some 10,000 people have been buried, local officials say, and the effort to collect bodies cannot keep up.

For seven days, the scale of the natural disaster that swallowed coastlines in southern Asia last Sunday has slowly unfolded, with death tolls doubling almost daily. But Meulaboh, just 90 miles from the earthquake's epicenter, remained almost beyond description since no one could get here and the destruction could be only imagined.
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On Saturday, the president of Indonesia flew in briefly and the examination finally began. It is a picture of grief and devastation beyond that of any other in the dozen countries hit. Apart from a few sturdy mosques and buildings, there is simply nothing left under the mountains of black mud and debris. The people the president met wept as they spoke. - NYT


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Survivors huddle in clearings without food or shelter above the water-damage line all along the tsunami-ravaged coast of Indonesia's Aceh province, and corpses float miles out to sea. A week after giant waves swamped parts of the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, on the northern tip of Sumatra island, the water is only just beginning to drain off to reveal the full extent of the horrific destruction and yet more bodies to count. This photo shows an aerial view of Meulaboh town on January 1, 2005, following recent quake-triggered tidal waves. (Stringer/Indonesia/Reuters) - link


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U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) chats with cheerleaders from Crawford High School as he prepares to depart Texas State Technical College Airport, January 2, 2005 in Waco.

link: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050102/ids_photos_ts/r2781803893 .jpg
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[Demit]

1. Yes, Bush is a cold, vapid, uncaring man. But are you suggesting his

responsibility is to visit Indonesia and travel around, same as the Indonesian president?

You've posted this (twice now) without comment. I'm curious what statement you are making.

[Stephanie]

3. I would certainly not have him go to Indonesia.

I would have him representing Americans' grief for the victims and support for the survivors of this unprecedented disaster. Five million survivors are currently in grave danger. 150,000 souls were just swept from the face of the earth. I don't think it's appropriate for the President to be clowning around with cheerleaders. Especially since it is his only appearance in public this week aside from the pre-taped statement on Wednesday. What message does that send?

[molly]

2. He doesn't have a clue nor does he care to

he is the same spoiled heartless brat as he was in all those private schools when poppy bailed him out. He knows he will never run again so why should he even consider what WE or the people that elected him think?

[celestia671]

4. What else do you expect...

from a guy who read a book about goats while thousands of Americans died?

[robbedvoter]

6. Or a guy whould intrerrupt a fundraiser to address the NorthEast of US

which was plunged in a blackout his buddies created?

[neweurope]

5. Stephanie: It doesn't matter any more at all. Since day one in Iraq.

I understand that Americans would like to be represented by somebody else. I wish they were. But in this case even if Bush had stepped up on day one and offered 1 Billion or 10 billion dollars: To the world it would not have made a difference.

The damage has been done. The fronts are well-defined.


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Remember Fallujah!

[Stephanie]

7. I know.

But just because it's too late doesn't mean I can let him off the hook. This is outrageous behaviour even for him.

[anarchy1999]

10. Welcome to DU, neweurope. I've been watching your posts and just

had to respond to this one. Thank you for joining up and giving us your thoughtful perspective from another country and thank you for knowing there are many of us that do care.

I agree with what you posted 100%. There are only a couple of things we can do right now to help to change world opinion and we are not doing them. Pull out of Iraq and end our uncompromising financial support of Israel and its policies towards Palestine. (Oh, and as we are doing the aforementioned, we can say we are sorry and please forgive us, (when pigs fly and hell freezes over)).

On edit:

I TAKE TREMENDOUS SOLACE IN KNOWING THIS MAN AND HIS FAMILY ARE NOT "TEXANS". They are nothing but Eastern Coast elites that came to exploit the oil industry. THE BUSH FAMILY ARE NOTHING BUT A "LEGAL" CRIMINAL GANG, much like the MAFIA, they go back generations, operating with other elites, we the masses, are controlled, worldwide.

Someday maybe.......

[neweurope]

12. Thank you for the welcome :) The only thing that's certain is that things

change. So we know that even this will change. The question is only which hardships you/we/the world will have to endure until then. *sigh*

I agree with what you sad about Iraq and support of Isaerl. And about the * family. But even this *mafia will cease to exist some day.

No pasaran! :)


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Remember Fallujah!

[Octafish]

8. The Coward of Crawford: "I was once a cheeerleader."

"In fact, thassall I know how to do."



"Set up a committee.
Figure out how to kick it back.
Get Jebthro in on it."

[Stephanie]

9. The Coward of Crawford

spent yet another week hiding out while the shit went down - now he shows up and what's the first thing he does? Poses with cheerleaders. As if nothing happened. Cheerleading is the only thing he really knows.

[anakie]

13. that would be at Andover Texas of course

what, you mean it is in Mass. I thought he was Texan.

[Neshanic]

11. Pickles, I need to wear something more slimming. Like this.

[Stephanie]

14. He's back in the WH finally

Not that it matters. The damage is done.


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President Bush (news - web sites) looks over as first lady Laura Bush says goodbye to cheerleaders from Crawford High School, Sunday Jan. 2, 2005 in Waco Texas.
http: //story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050102/480/tcra10101021627

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U.S. President George W. Bush greets supporters on the South Lawn upon returning to the White House in Washington, January 2, 2005.
http: //story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050102/ids_photos_ts/r1869266094.jpg

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