Obama on with George S.............

[OneGrassRoot]

said the word "incompetence" and specifically used it with regard to "this administration."

And that there is an obvious disconnect....that the administration can't conceive of people not being able to get in their car and use a credit card to get a hotel and evacuate.

He talks about "anguished and angry" African-Americans. Not using the term racism but said there is a "passive indifference" which is as bad as "active malice."

He is talking like a politician, though.

He just said, "Race continues to play a part, class continues to play a part" in America.

[OneGrassRoot]

1. and..........

"Given his (Bush) immediate response during 9/11, it's puzzling that he didn't show the same empathy for these victims."

Talked about how he went to the Gulf states with Clinton. Wow, what a ticket those two would be....*sighs*

"How can we be so slow to respond when we've been spending billions of dollars on homeland security."

With regard to Rove telling Bush not to meet with Blacks in New Orleans, "I think that points to one of the big problems I've seen in this administration. They have excellent response when it comes to PR but less effectiveness when it comes to governing.....there was a terrific spin operation but not the kind of soul-searching I think you'd want to see from any administration, Democratic or Republican."

[OneGrassRoot]

2. ooooh, good line........

There's an "empathy deficit" in our government.

Regarding rejecting John Roberts (George shows clip of Dean talking about post-Katrina and Roberts), George asks if it's appropriate to link Katrina and Roberts:

"Roberts' resume indicates he has qualifications." We need to ask if he has "the heart, the breadth of perspective"....to look out "not only for powerful but for the powerless." "Katrina indicates we've got a lot of problems in our midst."

"The overwhelming response you saw from people towards this tragedy....underscores the degree to which the American people know we could do better. They were ashamed of what we saw last week. Part of our job - Dem and Republican....this gives us an opportunity to align America's deeper aspirations for our country with the way our government functions. That's a conversation that is overdue."

"I think there is an underlying concern that a judicial philosophy that ignores the possibility of racial or gender discrimination...that errs on the side of powerful instead of powerless, can exacerbate some of the problems we have in this country."


That's the stuff that stood out for me.

[WiseButAngrySara]

3. That, subtly (or not so subtly) nails Roberts.....Some "Gentleman!" to

quote B* descriptive of racist, neocon Roberts...

"I think there is an underlying concern that a judicial philosophy that ignores the possibility of racial or gender discrimination...that errs on the side of powerful instead of powerless, can exacerbate some of the problems we have in this country."

[WiseButAngrySara]

4. Thanks so much for the quotes...I'd missed it. Why don't you copy and

paste these comments to the other thread, where you posted this link? Would be helpful...just a suggestion.

[me b zola]

5. Obama didn't allow himself to be played against Dean

I was quite pleased that Obama did not distance himself from Deans's recent comments about the obvious disparity that exists in our country and the hideous economic policies that have intensified those disparities.

I was concerned that the more "establishment" Dems would once again allow for a wedge to be placed within the party by denouncing Dean's statements. I was pleasently surprised by Obama's statements.