Why aren't the Dems in New Orleans?

[CoffeeCat]

Why aren't the Dems making a presence in the South and in New Orleans? I've barely heard
anything from any Democrat on Katrina.

Is anyone as mystified and upset by this, as I am?

The Dems have a perfect opportunity to spotlight BushCo failures and to spotlight how
BushCo abandoned hurricane victims and has dragged his feet on the recovery. However,
they sit in silence, allowing Chimpy to saunter across the coastline, with a wistful
look in his eye--talking about the progress he has made.

The Dems should be screaming from the South--that Bush's actions are indefensible.

I just don't get it. Junior gets to stand at the epicenter of his own failures--and wax poetic--while the Dems do absolutely NOTHING to counter this bullshit.

They have the truth on their side. Where are they? Why are they silent?

[myrna minx]

1. Read this...the Dems are down there...

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/thesunherald/news/special_packages/renewal/long_beach/15386000.htm

What happened to you challenged the conscience of our country," House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told a crowd of several hundred people at Our Lady of the Gulf Community Center on Monday.

Pelosi, who would be in line to become Speaker of the House if the Democrats regain control of the chamber, was the highest ranking member of Congress at the town hall meeting called by U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor.

The meeting, titled "Wind vs. Water: The Insurance Industry's Handling of Katrina Claims," drew gasps from the 17 lawmakers from around the country, including Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, and Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.

"Shouldn't there be truth in advertising when you purchase your insurance?" asked Pelosi of the crowd. Afterward she said in an interview that Democrats, who are unveiling a Katrina-response plan Wednesday in New Orleans, want to emphasize their "different approach."

However, Pelosi acknowledged her party members could make the most progress on their agenda if they take back the House. "If you get the power, you can do it," she said.

[CoffeeCat]

8. I applaud Pelosi for doing something...

..and for saying what she is saying.

I've been home all week with CNN on all day. I've heard nothing about Pelosi's remarks or
any other Dems countering Bush. Also, Pelosi's remarks are mainly about insurance-company
wrongs, not specifically about Junior. I'm wondering why their absent during Junior's
"Katrina" revival.

I realize the media is a big part of the problem.

However, what I see missing is a massive, concerted effort--by the Dems--to get in
the ring and start controlling the message.

A group of them should have gone down there this week, made their own speeches and
organized their own press conferences---to showcase Bush's failures and to make
a mockery of him. They wouldn't need to be mean or vindictive. If they just show
the truth and interview those who initially suffered--and those who are STILL waiting
for trailers---they could demonstrate what a liar Bush is.

I'm bothered that Junior is allowed to prance around and lie--with absolutely no
opposition.

[myrna minx]

18. I understand what you're saying.

I just believe that the media just won't cover their pressers.

[jsamuel]

2. They are, the media defies them and refuses to report on it.

[me b zola]

4. Yep. The only reason that I knew that they were there is c-span

[CoffeeCat]

12. Wow...so which Dems are in the South?

This is unbelievable.

Are you saying that there are Dems in the South--discussing Katrina
and giving their opinion--and the media has a total blackout on it?

What Dems were shown on CSPAN?

Maybe we should write CNN...I'd like to know what/who they didn't cover
so I could write a staunch letter to CNN.

[me b zola]

20. Pelosi and some other House Dems

I came in on the end of their event, so I didn't see who all was there, but I did see Pelosi speaking. Sorry that I couldn't be more helpful.

[CoffeeCat]

9. If there are Dems down there...

...giving speeches and attempting to counter Bush's marketeering--then
that is disgusting.

As I said, I've been home alone all week--with CNN on 24/7. I've seen no Dem
doing this in the South.

[MaineDem]

3. They are there; they have been there

Democrats have been speaking out - and working on this - for a year now.

Saying the Dems have done "absolutely NOTHING" is just plain wrong.

[CoffeeCat]

5. I understand that the Dems...

...have spoken out during the year. We both agree on that.

I'm talking about this week---during the pResident's PR bonanza. He's shamelessly
converting his failures into beautiful moments--with several gimmicky speeches,
appearances and speeches.

I'm wondering why the Dems don't have a strong presence down there, countering
the pResident's bullroar. I wonder why they allow him to roam free--lying his
ass off--with no opposition.

As I said in my initial post, I might have missed something. However, I do not
see any Dems in the media---making speeches and calling Junior on the carpet for
his hypocrisy and shameless distortions.

[OzarkDem]

7. They do

its just not being covered by the corporate news media.

[CoffeeCat]

13. Wow...other DUers are saying that too...

...this is just sickening.

I think we all need to write CNN and complain.

The MSM coverage of Katrina is so glossed over. They do
talk about the reality of Katrina. However, I haven't heard
one thing about the total death toll. The stories about people
trapped in their houses and dying of thirst are not given the
attention that they deserve.

It's amazing (and sickening) that there are Dems down there, and
I haven't heard one peep on CNN.

:eyes: :grr:

[frustrated_lefty]

23. Truth for a sec

"The stories about people trapped in their houses and dying of thirst are not given the
attention that they deserve."

Short, painful story, and then some thoughts. An older gentleman in a cot next to me at the Levi shelter in San Antonio lived in a home which was one of the earliest to flood. Single parent, he brought his two children to the attic and the waters kept rising. He chopped through the freaking roof with an ax he had been prepared to have in the event it was necessary. He pushed his 2 daughters through the hole he'd made so they wouldn't drown, and by the time he was able to get through the hole himself, the wind had blown both kids off the roof. They were nowhere in sight, and he got to spend the next 3 nights sitting on an empty roof living with that. The man was a fucking zombie the last I saw of him.

People don't want to hear about that. You can't fix that. Ah, somebody lost their home, crap like that, well, you can donate and at least know you're making a difference. Somebody loses a job, or is displaced, or needs some medical help, there is actually something concrete you can do to help remedy that.

Some of the losses which were experienced there are just not things you can put a bandaid on.

What TOTALLY sucks, in all truth, is I think the vast majority of America really wants/wanted to help in real, substantial ways. And, they have done so. But, they are stymied by bs politicos and a shortsighted media. So, forget those unpleasant stories, what is Paris Hilton wearing tonight? There should be a shitload of info regarding Gore evacuating Charity Hospital, imo. It should cover every major media outlet.

[marmar]

6. There's a big delegation of Dems touring the Gulf Coast...

They were all over CSPAN yesterday - Barbara Lee, Jim Moran, Nancy Pelosi etc etc. They've been in NOLA and Mississippi, actually talking about real issues and not putting on pathetic dog-and-pony shows.

[MaineDem]

10. About 25 members of the Democratic Caucus

Actually looking at what needs to be done and how they can help. That's not as press worthy as this fake event. :eyes:

[RedStateShame]

11. Maybe they're waiting to see if the SuperDome wil hold up...

...long enough to house the convention. If the RNC wants to use 9-11 as a selling point, we should use New Orleans as a reminder of what they really think of the non-elites.

[ComerPerro]

14. Because whenever they do, its called "pandering" by the media

same reason Dems can't easily embrace religion.

[AndyA]

15. Lots of Dems have been on the Gulf Coast since Katrina - the difference

is the Dems were actually down there to help. They weren't there for photo ops, they actually got down and dirty. And since the right wing media wants to cater to the right wing, it would not be to their advantage to show coverage of Dems hard at work helping, while the talking heads of the GOP are busy staging events to make Bush look good.

There is no substance to the GOP, just a lot of fluff.

[BlueCentrist]

16. They're there

They aren't getting blessed by priests or parading for photo ops though.They're actually working to help people.
I guess thats's not as interesting as the farting AWOL cowboy making the rounds.

[tnlefty]

17. As others have mentioned a delegation is there and this time they're

paying for this trip themselves. I saw quite a few of them on c-span yesterday as they were taking turns appearing with a talk radio host, "Spud" someone, and c-span had their cameras there. Loved seeing the Dems, but I didn't care too much for "Spud".

typo

[eagler]

19. The Dems aren't that strong in the South anymore.

nt

[Cobalt-60]

21. A page from the Hizbolla book

The Republicans have established beyond all doubt that they want New Orleans to sink into the sea.
Nothing they say or do now will change that.
If Democratic forces were to get in there and start cleaning things up, it would cast our fascist foes in an even worse light.
Even the most fanatical freeper will have to reconsider his vote when it was the allegedly godless Democrats that restored their home.

[wiggs]

22. This is a question that goes well beyond Katrina

Based on the last six years, I would be surprised if dems appeared to take FULL advantage of any issue in terms of informing the public, setting the record straight forcefully and clearly, ensuring that their voices are heard, making smart political moves, exposing administration deception and incompetence, showing outrage commensurate with misdeeds, and taking their role of opposition party seriously.

I just...haven't seen it yet.

[MaineDem]

24. Maine congressman: Government should do more for Gulf states

One of our Dem Congressmen just returned from the Gulf. Here's the local news story...

AUGUSTA, Maine — U.S. Rep. Tom Allen said Thursday that pictures and statistics don´t convey the magnitude of the devastation in the Gulf States that were hit by Hurricane Katrina just over a year ago.

Allen, speaking in the State House, said he saw "mile after mile after mile" of destroyed homes during a recent three-day visit to the New Orleans area and Mississippi.

"The devastation is beyond belief," said Allen, D-Maine. "The housing situation is incredibly precarious."

The congressman traveled to the devastated region with other House Democrats to view, at their own expense, the storm´s aftermath and meet with state and federal disaster relief personnel, local officials, business owners, community leaders and residents.

http://news.mainetoday.com/apwire/D8JRJ0T00-242.shtml

[pitohui]

25. because the mayor is at war with them

mayor nagin endorsed the republicans, george bush, and especially bobby jindal for governor

he spends most of his time attacking and trying to tear down governor blanco

the lady is doing what she can, as is mary landrieu but it's hard when you have the mayor of a major city stabbing you in the back at every opportunity and putting his foot in his own mouth when he isn't too busy stabbing you

plus the media being what it is -- when the democrats do something, like al gore sending planes to rescue people when * wouldn't -- it's put on the back pages of the newspaper

you don't know half of what they're doing

also a popular congressman, william jefferson, is under attack by the fbi, so that makes it difficult too