Cissy-Chan
...I'm pretty sure that the President doesnt decide what the budget for a state or a city are...and Bush did declare Katrina a national disaster a few days before it even hit. He isnt responsible for the decisions of the people or government of Louisiana/New Orleans, just like Obama isnt responsible for the oil spill in the gulf. Its how a President reacts and shows his support after a national disaster thats important.
The Prez doesn't directly control state financing, no. But this wasn't state financing. The organization in charge of the levees was actually the US Army Corps of Engineers. Guess who the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces was? So yes, Bush directly controlled financing for maintainance of the levees.
Factcheck.org
In fiscal year 2004, the Corps requested $11 million for the project. The President’s budget allocated $3 million, and Congress furnished $5.5 million. Similarly, in fiscal 2005 the Corps requested $22.5 million, which the President cut to $3.9 million in his budget. Congress increased that to $5.5 million. “This was insufficient to fund new construction contracts,” according to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ project fact sheet. The Corps reported that “seven new contracts are being delayed due to lack funds”.
And from before the disaster
Army Corps of Engineers:
"In Orleans Parish, two major pump stations are threatened by hurricane storm surges. Major contracts need to be awarded to provide fronting protection for them. Also, several levees have settled and need to be raised to provide the design protection. The current funding shortfalls in fiscal year 2005 and fiscal year 2006 will prevent the Corps from addressing these pressing needs."
And also from before the disaster...
Walter Maestri, emergency management chief for Jefferson Parish:
"It appears that the money has been moved in the president’s budget to handle homeland security and the war in Iraq , and I suppose that’s the price we pay. Nobody locally is happy that the levees can’t be finished, and we are doing everything we can to make the case that this is a security issue for us."
Cissy-Chan
Has Obama at least put out a statement about the tornado's? I could give him credit if he had at least done that. Scheduling is crazy, but if he hasnt said anything at all, well, its his own image he's hurting...
Oh yeah, he's talked about it. He declared it a
disaster, lauded a
local hero. He also
grossly overstated the human toll. But yes, he's been talking about it plenty.