McCain open to ‘tearing down’ Lower Ninth Ward.
McCain open to ‘tearing down’ Lower Ninth Ward.
As part of his “Forgotten America” tour, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is touring New Orleans today and speaking in the Lower Ninth Ward, the predominantly poor section of the city hit hardest by Katrina. According to CBS News, McCain said he was not sure he’d rebuild the neighborhood:
McCain says making FEMA an independent agency isn’t the problem. He said there needed to qualified people in the job. “The former head of FEMA was not qualified,” he said. “They haven’t always had a terrible record.”
He also told reporters he was not sure if he would rebuild the lower 9th ward as president.
“That is why we need to go back is to have a conversation about what to do -rebuild it, tear it down, you know, whatever it is,” he said.
On Tuesday, Pastor John Hagee, whose endorsement McCain sought out, said Katrina occurred because New Orleans was planning a “sinful” gay rally.
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McCain ‘not sure he would rebuild Lower Ninth Ward.’
“That is why we need to go back is to have a conversation about what to do -rebuild it, tear it down, you know, whatever it is,” he said.
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"Whatever it is"???????????? Huh? Geez, that's as bad as the time Mittens was asked about Iran and answered "some sort of bombardment" might be appropriate.
Why do these guys remind me of inbred English aristocracy after a while?
"Forgotten America Tour"?
Perhaps "He's Forgotten Everything Tour" might be a better name.
April 24th, 2008 at 12:38 pmJebus. What an assclown.
April 24th, 2008 at 12:40 pmWould Think Progress mind correcting spelling and syntax and logic errors before hitting the enter key?
April 24th, 2008 at 12:42 pmThis 'story' is a piece of trash because of sloppiness.
Why would he? His neo-nazi minister already damned all citizens of New Orleans. McCain has to ignore that city. Besides he needs to save his energy for beating his junkie wife.
April 24th, 2008 at 12:42 pm“The former head of FEMA was not qualified,” he said. “They haven’t always had a terrible record.”
Yeah, under PRESIDENT CLINTON, FEMA did just fine.
April 24th, 2008 at 12:45 pm>>According to CBS News, McCain said he was not sure he’d rebuild the neighborhood<<
Bullshit. They'll rebuild the neighborhood all right, just not for the people that used to live there.
See Naomi Klein's "Shock Doctrine" (or Chicago's south side) for Grampa Munster McCain and the GOP's "vision".
F***ing thieves.
April 24th, 2008 at 12:47 pmDana Perino is a really bad Liar. She might be cute but she's even dumber then Bush
April 24th, 2008 at 12:51 pmtorture talk
McCain:my friends, we SHOULD tear down the 9th ward, after all, they're only poor black people who have never had it so good since the hurricane, besides, they tend to vote for the Democrat party, and we sure don't want that to happen.
April 24th, 2008 at 12:51 pmThe more McCain keeps talking, the easier it will be to bury him in November...
April 24th, 2008 at 12:54 pmYesterday was the 11th anniversary of the Grand Forks, ND flood.
You may recall scenes of fire trucks mounted on huge machines, just to get downtown to fight the flames. Many thought the entire city would burn while flooded.
FEMA was there. Mr. Witt did a great job organizing resources, communicating in & out of the region and setting up assistance centers for people to register for emergency help.
It can be done.
New Orleans is symptomatic of putting political appointees in positions of skill. Not only do the recipients / victims suffer with their issues compounded, but administrators & managers lose all credibility.
The Bush Bubble: Due to explode, 1-20-09
April 24th, 2008 at 12:56 pmWhy did God punish the gays by flooding out the poor black people?
April 24th, 2008 at 12:57 pmI wish Hagee had joined McCan't in NO...that would have been fun watching NO residents calling that porkass out on his BS, eh?
April 24th, 2008 at 12:58 pmlokidog Says:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>According to CBS News, McCain said he was not sure he’d rebuild the neighborhood<<
Bullshit. They’ll rebuild the neighborhood all right, just not for the people that used to live there.
See Naomi Klein’s “Shock Doctrine” (or Chicago’s south side) for Grampa Munster McCain and the GOP’s “vision”.
F***ing thieves.
Thank you this is exactly what I was thinking when I read this....I'm almost done with the book (4 chapters left). I have to read it in spurts because the reality of it all pisses me off to a point where all I want to do is scream.
April 24th, 2008 at 12:58 pmOf course McCain wouldn't rebuilt it for all of those poor blacks who have no where to live. They would vote for the Democrats and he knows it. There goes his "I'll be the President of everyone" statement. How can he be the President of everyone while he wants to leave those people homeless? It's simple, republicans appeal to the worst type of Americans, ones who hate, mistrust, divide and turn their noses up to people they think they are superior to. I have two brothers in law one a doctor and the other a computer scientist, both are bigots and republicans.
What really pisses me off about them and people like them is they never serve a second in the military, but are flag waving false patriots. I am a veteran and I asked them to join the Air Force Reserve as a way of giving back and serving, but neither brother in law chose to serve. They are both pro war Chicken hawks like most cowards in their stupid party. The day when Republicans show me they are truly compassionate conservatives and they start serving this country and stop taking, then I'll join their party.
The only good Republican is a former republican. John McCain bying making this statement proves that he is actually a conservative. They hate anyone who isn't like them.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:00 pm>>Why did God punish the gays by flooding out the poor black people?<<
He was trying to "even the score" for giving Reagan Alzheimer's? Then he realized he'd only made the "score" lopsided, so he took out Falwell?
By my count, him and Jeebus still owe us about 3,415,000 GOPers and other assorted religious nuts.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:01 pmYeah, watch how responsive FEMA becomes once all the houses of those poor black people are replaced by casinos and theme parks.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:01 pmSounds more like the "Forsaken America" tour.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:03 pmTo be intellectually honest about this, it isn't clear from the underlying report and TP's post why McCain said that. Yet, oddly enough, TP wants everyone to jump to the worst possible conclusion rather than endeavoring to find out why McCain said that. And, TP is also trying to, once again, shut down debate instead of discussing issues in an honest fashion.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:04 pmThey should leave everything as is and declare the ward the George W. Bush National Monument. Just cut some paths through the debris and wreckage clear small rest areas with tables and porta potties.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:04 pmThey want to get rid of low-income housing and replace it with $500,000 condos. They want to turn a blue state into a red state.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:04 pmmultilee:
Great book - pass it around when you're done.
I guess I should update my "Jeebus and Dad Go Wild" post (#15) and add Uncle Miltie Friedman to God's hit list.
Thanks Jeebus!
April 24th, 2008 at 1:04 pmSo, if God punishes gays by flooding poor black neighborhoods, who is he punishing when he sends tornadoes to destroy trailor parks full of poor white Republican rednecks?
April 24th, 2008 at 1:09 pmYeah, because intellectual honesty is important to all you Republicans. Are you freakin' kidding me?
April 24th, 2008 at 1:09 pmlokidog Says: I guess I should update my “Jeebus and Dad Go Wild” post (#15) and add Uncle Miltie Friedman to God’s hit list
I prefer Kinky Friedman over Miltie & Tommy
April 24th, 2008 at 1:11 pm"You see, my friends, those former inhabitants of the Lower Ninth Ward are not my friends." - McBain
April 24th, 2008 at 1:11 pmDonkeyd1ck Says:
Mississippi had massive devastation, more deaths, more damage & more people affected, but they don’t seam to be having the same problem LA is having. Why do you think that is?
Yeah, Bush made darn sure that Trent Lott's house got rebuilt!
April 24th, 2008 at 1:15 pmIf Republicans build it, [non-African American] people will come.
This is one more gesture from the neonuts: Leave the disadvantaged in the streets living like animals. Then compound their hardship by labeling them thugs and bums. How human.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:16 pmI don't know DonkeyLicker, what about repairing the levees? Oh that's right, you rapepublicans don't believe in spending money on infrastructure. How's that working out for you?
April 24th, 2008 at 1:22 pmMcWars, the neothugs treat disadvantaged, white and black, just the way they treat veterans. They cost less money if they're dead. Let them drown, let them serve until they die. Whatever costs the least or makes us the most profit is all that matters to these sickos.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:24 pmDonkeyd1ck Says:
What’s the point of rebuilding? The levies are in no better shape than pre Katrina. If another storm hits the area again, we will have the same problem we did after Katrina.
Don't worry AssPecker. Once construction begins on those casinos and theme parks, McCain will make sure those levees are built to handle any storm.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:24 pmDonkeyd1ck Says:
Mississippi had massive devastation, more deaths, more damage & more people affected, but they don’t seam to be having the same problem LA is having. Why do you think that is?
Because they had a former head of the RNC (Haley Barbour) as a govenor? Think that had anything to do with the government response?
April 24th, 2008 at 1:25 pm>>So I can see how you do not understand the problem nor offer any reasonable solutions<<
How about fixing the levees so they DON'T break?
Duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh............
Nah, that makes too much sense for a Republiscum to comprehend, especially when they can't make money off of it and it tends to help those in need.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:28 pmshoeless Says:
Bush made darn sure that Trent Lott’s house got rebuilt!
Donkeyd1ck Says:
Typical progressive reaction to a statement that doesn’t fit their oversimplification spin tactics. When in Doubt Blame Bush!!
"Out of the rubbles of Trent Lott's house -- he's lost his entire house -- there's going to be a fantastic house. And I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch.(Laughter)""- George W. Bush
April 24th, 2008 at 1:28 pmDonkeyd1ck Says:
What’s the point of rebuilding? The levies are in no better shape than pre Katrina. If another storm hits the area again, we will have the same problem we did after Katrina. Why would you want that?
Trolls can be very stupid animals. This one is in a league by itself. He/she/it claims that because the levies are still broken, why re-build NOLA? It doesn't occur to he/she/it that maybe - just maybe - fixing things for the people might be a positive development. The levies are a FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITY. Any discussion of the failures of those levies and the poor maintenance of those levies has to be laid at the feet of the administration in charge.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:34 pmDonkeyd1ck Says:
Mississippi had massive devastation, more deaths, more damage & more people affected, but they don’t seam to be having the same problem LA is having. Why do you think that is?
Why do you think they call it the "Redneck Riviera?
April 24th, 2008 at 1:34 pmStratRat Says:
The levies are a FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITY. Any discussion of the failures of those levies and the poor maintenance of those levies has to be laid at the feet of the administration in charge.
Bush believes in faith based levees.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:37 pmPrytania Says:
Louisiana is a red state. We have the youngest Governor in the country. He is a republican. Vitter will be replaced with a republican and Landrieu is about to be replaced with a republican.
You say that like it's a good thing.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:42 pmDonkeyd1ck Says:
shoeless Says:
Why do you think they call it the “Redneck Riviera?
There you go making a generalized blanket statement. How do you separate yourself from the people you hate?
AssPecker, I didn't make up the name. As usual, you missed the point. I'll give you a clue. It's not call the Redneck Riviera because it is full of black people.
“Out of the rubbles of Trent Lott’s house — he’s lost his entire house — there’s going to be a fantastic house. And I’m looking forward to sitting on the porch.(Laughter)”"- George W. Bush
April 24th, 2008 at 1:46 pmDonkeyd1ck, your chosen name is very appropriate since you have the intellectual capacity of a donkeyd1ck. For those afraid to click on, it's name's link has a photo of Barack Obama with huge ears and "jackass" written across the photo. How elementary school of you.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:47 pmDumb Question: As McCain seems to be writing off the NOLA vote, can I assume that NOLA voted demo ?
April 24th, 2008 at 1:50 pmMapleStreet Says:
Dumb Question: As McCain seems to be writing off the NOLA vote, can I assume that NOLA voted demo ?
Yes. NOLA has long been heavily Democratic. As one of the trolls pointed out, the state has swung towards the GOP since Katrina. This is because New Orleans no longer has the population to balance out the heavily redneck upstate population.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:54 pmDonkeyd1ck Says:
shoeless Says:
AssPecker, I didn’t make up the name. As usual, you missed the point. I’ll give you a clue. It’s not call the Redneck Riviera because it is full of black people.
According to the U.S. censes Bureau Mississippi have a 37.1% Black Population. Higher than other state.
Not on the coast, AssPecker. The Redneck Riviera is lily white.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:55 pmShorter McCain: Sure, bulldoze the place. None of my eight homes is there.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:56 pmHey, McSame, you senile old coot - how are you going to repay the PEOPLE who lost land in the lower ninth ward?
April 24th, 2008 at 1:58 pmForty acres and a mule?
This is because New Orleans no longer has the population to balance out the heavily redneck upstate population.
The Bush adminsitration used katrina the very same way they used 9/11: To re-do things in the country which didn't benefit them enough. The 'old' NOLA was decidely democratic. Remove the democratic neighborhoods and fill them with GOP insiders and viola! - fewer dems in NOLA. Remember: Bush put Karl Rove in charge of re-building NOLA. Rove is a political hatchet man. Why would he have any skills which could benefit the victims of Katrina? He didn't, but he had the skills as a GOP assasin to move out the dems, move in the friends of bush.
April 24th, 2008 at 2:06 pmIn 2001, FEMA warned that a hurricane striking New Orleans was one of the three most likely disasters in the U.S. But the Bush administration cut New Orleans flood control funding by 44 percent to pay for the Iraq war.
In early 2001, the Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a report stating that a hurricane striking New Orleans was one of the three most likely disasters in the U.S., including a terrorist attack on New York City. But by 2003 the federal funding for the flood control project essentially dried up as it was drained into the Iraq war. In 2004, the Bush administration cut funding requested by the New Orleans district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for holding back the waters of Lake Pontchartrain by more than 80 percent. Additional cuts at the beginning of this year (for a total reduction in funding of 44.2 percent since 2001) forced the New Orleans district of the Corps to impose a hiring freeze. The Senate had debated adding funds for fixing New Orleans' levees, but it was too late.
The Bush administration's policy of turning over wetlands to developers almost certainly also contributed to the heightened level of the storm surge.
Bush had promised "no net loss" of wetlands, a policy launched by his father's administration and bolstered by President Clinton. But he reversed his approach in 2003, unleashing the developers. The Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency then announced they could no longer protect wetlands unless they were somehow related to interstate commerce.
http://dir.salon.com/story/opinion/blumenthal/2005/08/31/disaster_preparation/
April 24th, 2008 at 2:15 pmAs this week's "Forgotten Places" tour of America shows, John McCain doesn't merely represent a continuation of George W. Bush's tenure in the White House. He's planning on traveling the same road to get there. Facing an American electorate which overwhelmingly rejects his policies across virtually every issue, John McCain is running as a "different kind of Republican." And that makes him no different from the Republican George W. Bush of 2000.
For the details, see:
April 24th, 2008 at 2:17 pm"McCain Turns to Bush 2000 Formula."
Prytania Says:
“Repay”? For what?
April 24th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Only a racist would assume that none of the families who lived in the Ninth Ward owned their homes.
April 24th, 2008 at 2:19 pmAssFace,
I notice the black population of those counties is much lower than that of the rest of Mississippi, and much, much lower that the pre-Katrina black population in the 9th Ward.
BTW, AssFace, why did you change your handle.
April 24th, 2008 at 2:19 pmDonkeyface Says:
shoeless Says:
you didn’t answer my question? What is the black population where you live?
100%. I live on Trent Lott's property. Around here, we all work for Massah Lott.
April 24th, 2008 at 2:26 pmWhat's the matter AssFace? Why do you hate so much?
April 24th, 2008 at 2:29 pmI'm sure John Sidney McCain III would be very inclusive.
He'd have the residents demolished along with their former homes.
April 24th, 2008 at 2:30 pmHagee told him the poor got that way because of their sins.
McCain continues to demonstrate that his cerebral levees cannot be breached or topped by any storm of facts, truth, compassion, or reality.
April 24th, 2008 at 2:32 pmSachem Says:
Hagee told him the poor got that way because of their sins.
Hmmmm. Did he say if they also got black because of their sins?
April 24th, 2008 at 2:35 pm#60,
April 24th, 2008 at 2:38 pmDid you know that Bush cut billions of dollars from NOLA levee improvements to pay for his invasion of Iraq?
Donkeyface Says:
I can’t hate ignorant people.
That's good AssFace. Self-loathing can be very destructive.
April 24th, 2008 at 2:41 pmYes. I live in the 9th Ward of New Orleans. But, we used to have lots of brothas and sistas around here.
April 24th, 2008 at 2:52 pm“That is why we need to go back is to have a conversation about what to do -rebuild it, tear it down, you know, whatever it is,” he said.
I cannot bear the thought of another round of this brand of eloquence.
April 24th, 2008 at 3:14 pmmisshusseinmolly Says:
The more McCain keeps talking, the easier it will be to bury him in November…
I agree. The best bet would be for his handlers to put a sock in his mouth.the minute he went up 1 point in the polls.
April 24th, 2008 at 3:17 pmThe best bet for HIM is what I meant.
April 24th, 2008 at 3:18 pmmultilee Says:
Thank you this is exactly what I was thinking when I read this….I’m almost done with the book (4 chapters left). I have to read it in spurts because the reality of it all pisses me off to a point where all I want to do is scream.
I just finished the chapter about the post-tsunami, disaster- capitalist land-grab in Sri Lanka. I also have to read it in small doses to keep my blood pressure from blowing out my arteries.
April 24th, 2008 at 3:21 pmZooey Says:
Shorter McCain: Sure, bulldoze the place. None of my eight homes is there.
However, I could build my 9th house there.
April 24th, 2008 at 3:30 pm#69,
April 24th, 2008 at 3:37 pmDid you know that Bush had promised “no net loss” of wetlands, a policy launched by his father’s administration and bolstered by President Clinton. But he reversed his approach in 2003, unleashing the developers on the coast of Louisiana. The Bush administration’s policy of turning over wetlands to developers almost certainly also contributed to the heightened level of the storm surge.
moondancer Says:
Why would he? His neo-nazi minister already damned all citizens of New Orleans. McCain has to ignore that city. Besides he needs to save his energy for beating his junkie wife.
So moondancer, are you a "concerned troll" sent here by the RNC to pretend you are a progressive while saying vile things that will then end up on the right wing websites as an example of how "hateful" the progressives are? If you aren't, watch your mouth. You sound a lot like a Republican the way you worded your criticism of McCain.
April 24th, 2008 at 4:05 pmPrytania Says:
Louisiana is a red state. We have the youngest Governor in the country. He is a republican. Vitter will be replaced with a republican and Landrieu is about to be replaced with a republican.
Last time I saw, Vitter is a Republican. So you are saying that a Republican will be replaced by a Republican. Or are you trying to imply that Vitter is a Democrat because of his sex scandal?
And you can wish all you want. There's a good chance that Vitter will be replaced and Landrieu will still be around.
April 24th, 2008 at 4:14 pm"McCain said he was not sure he’d rebuild the neighborhood"
Well, Mr. McCain. While you are trying to make up your mind... GET OUT OF OUR WAY. New Orleans is being rebuilt. Including the lower Ninth.
We'll do it too! As long as no other small minded politicians get in our way and the Army Corp of Engineers does its job.
April 24th, 2008 at 4:17 pmJohn McCain is the 8th richest Senator. He has 9 houses worth over $13 million. He says economic problems are "psychological," and that Americans should deal with recession by "working a second job."
April 24th, 2008 at 4:28 pm#74,
April 24th, 2008 at 4:59 pmDid you know that by 2003 the federal funding for the flood control project in New Orleans essentially dried up as it was drained into the Iraq war?
Prytania Says:
I stated above that 80 percent rented. That would mean that 20 percent owned Zooey.
April 24th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Then why would you ask such a stupid-assed question as this?:
Prytania Says:
April 24th, 2008 at 5:05 pm“Repay”? For what?
April 24th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Zooey Says:
Then why would you ask such a stupid-assed question?
Zooey, I think we all know why.
April 24th, 2008 at 5:13 pmWhat was I thinking...?
April 24th, 2008 at 5:15 pmZooey Says:
What was I thinking…?
It's not your fault. It is difficult to figure out what goes on in the mind of stupid-asses. I have wondered about this before. Do they just think less than the normal person, or do they think just as much, but they think poorly?
I don't know the answer, and I really try not to think about it too much.
April 24th, 2008 at 8:16 pmYeah doesn't suprise me. Lets see: first they made African-Americans live in the worst slums in the cities. Then they tore them down and made them live in housing projects that had been abandoned by middle-class. They let the cities rot for 40 years while the middle class kept fleeing further away from the cites. Then in the 80's & 90's they began to tear down projects. The poor who couldn't affford middle class housing then had to buy houses (Often old houses & condos in bad condition) in poor areas for inflated intrest rates. Then a storm hits and destroys there houses and the govt says oops bad luck. Yeah funny logic the Repugs have!
December 25th, 2008 at 12:35 pm