Grover Norquist and the Battle of New Orleans

Anyone watching the tragedy resulting from Hurricane Katrina unfold in the New Orleans area and wondering why more wasn't done to prevent, or limit such tragic events, one only has to look at the people in the White House and those who helped get them there to get an answer.

Among the leaders on the right are Grover Norquist, who once said of government "My goal is to cut government in half in twenty-five years, to get it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub."

As a result of such anti-tax movement, and a folly of a war in Iraq, too little effort was put forward in preparing America for such disasters that befell the southeast. And just as the Administration was warned that Osama Bin Laden was determined to attack America, there were also warnings that additional funds were needed in the New Orleans area.

Editor & Publisher pointed out that "In early 2004, as the cost of the conflict in Iraq soared, President Bush proposed spending less than 20 percent of what the Corps said was needed for Lake Pontchartrain, according to a Feb. 16, 2004, article, in New Orleans CityBusiness."

E&P added that "The Newhouse News Service article published Tuesday night observed, "The Louisiana congressional delegation urged Congress earlier this year to dedicate a stream of federal money to Louisiana's coast, only to be opposed by the White House. ... In its budget, the Bush administration proposed a significant reduction in funding for southeast Louisiana's chief hurricane protection project. Bush proposed $10.4 million, a sixth of what local officials say they need."

What did they think? That the "private" sector would protect the city? So now instead of spending tens of millions the government and insurers will have to spend hundreds of millions or billions.

Yet another brilliant achievement for the gang who can't shoot straight.

NARAL's Nader Strategy

Based on the recent ads, one has to wonder if Ralph Nader is working for NARAL (formerly known as the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League).

In an effort to derail, or at least muddy up, Supreme Court Justice Nominee John Roberts, NARAL is running controversial ads about a legal interpretation. There is little or not chance this will change enough votes to derail Roberts, just as Nader's quest had no chance to win the presidency.

However, NARAL, like Nader, may end up hurting its cause. One can only wonder if distaste from ads like these will hurt liberals in upcoming battles on nominees or in elections, just as Nader helped put George Bush in the White House.

NARAL can claim what they want about the reasons they are taking this approach, just as Nader did for his candidacy, but it's doubtful NARAL will win many votes in the Senate or from the public, but they might do a lot of damage on other issues which will only advance Republican causes.

Peter Jennings, 1938-2005

Peter Jennings, the face many would say of ABC News, passed away this week following a battle with lung cancer.

Jennings had been off the air since early April but in late October 2004, in what must have been his last news trips on the road, Jennings was among those covering a John Kerry presidential campaign rally at the statehouse in Des Moines, Iowa.

While many on the right viewed Jennings as a liberal, to many others he was a reporter who developed a keen insight into the news. And in today's era of turning everything into a black or white issue it was refreshing to know that a few people still knew there could be many sides to an issues.

The last of the big three (Jennings, Rather & Brokaw) to retire he may be the one most missed.

The Other 2001 Anniversary

The Republican like to wave the anniversary of September 11, 2001 as a bloody flag against anyone who challenges them but there is another important 2001 date that will go down in history, but one George W. Bush would like to forget.

On August 6, 2001, Bush supposedly was briefed on a presidential daily brief entitled Bin Laden determined to strike in U.S.

The memo stated FBI information since that time indicates patterns of suspicious activity in this country consistent with preparations for hijackings or other types of attacks, including recent surveillance of federal buildings in New York.

Just over a month later Al Qaeda did strike and Bush, who was watching his popularity fall as one would expect of an illegitimate president, saw the public disregard their concerns and support him.

But rather than go after an enemy who attacked the United States, Bush tried to go to war on the cheap so he could pursue his policy of going after Iraq. Democrats missed a chance to say "Finish Afghanistan First" and instead saw Bush be "re-elected."

So today, four years later, one has to wonder if the Bush White House is marking this anniversary, for it possibly was just as important as September 11. If they had acted and stopped the attacks they might not have been given credit and lost the 2004 election. Instead thousands in New York, Washington, D.C. and soldiers from across the country might be alive today.

An anniversary to remember indeed.

Mr. Horrible Goes to the UN

Rather than give Congress a few documents to evaluate United Nations Ambassador nominee John Bolton, George W. Bush decided to wait until Congress left town so he could weakly appoint possibly the worst person in his administration to be ambassador to the United Nations.

Bolton, who even many Republicans believe is a bad appointment, will now be able to "represent" the U.S. at the United Nations. One has to wonder if the people at the United Nations will give Mr. Bolton the amount of respect he deserves.

Afterall, REPUBLICAN Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio said of Bolton "It is my opinion that John Bolton is the poster child of what someone in the diplomatic corps should not be."

The committed Republicans believe that he is just the sort of person the U.N. needs to lead the reforms. While that kind of talk may keep the Right in line it's doubtful it has any basis in reality. But then this past four years has been an unreal experience.