New Orleans 2008

The wind had barely stopped blowing before Katrina and the storm's aftermath had become the latest front in the nation's political/cultural war. Bush critics are already undermining their own cause with overreaching, as they denounce the president as a racist for his alleged unconcern about the suffering of so many black people in New Orleans. But an administration whose FEMA director knew less about on-the-ground conditions in the stricken city this week than the average TV viewer has a real vulnerability.

It will only address that vulnerability with a performance in coming days and weeks that is more in keeping with the GOP's image as the "daddy party," the party of competence, the party that can be trusted in times of crisis. That is the main thing. But symbolism will matter too. No single step would go further to dramatize the GOP's commitment to rebuilding New Orleans than announcing now that the party's 2008 convention will be held in the recovering city. Such a move would signal the party's confidence in the Big Easy's renewal, and put it at the forefront of what should be similar commitments from private actors to do their part to help New Orleans come back.

Critics will call it a transparent attempt to burnish the party's image after the Bush administration "failed" with the initial relief effort. The gesture would, however, reflect the genuine sentiment of Republicans who, like all Americans, want to help a city facing such a bleak future. We heard similar complaints — easily brushed off — about the Republicans' coming to New York for last year's convention.

No doubt there will be logistical problems. There were logistical problems putting on big events in New Orleans even in the best of times. But the Republicans held their convention there in 1988, and should return 20 years later. They will go to a city that then will, no doubt, still be scarred by the catastrophe of the last week, but back on its feet, and a perfect venue for a testament to the American spirit.

From the Editors of National Review...http://www.nationalreview.com/editorial/editors200509031654.asp

Great minds think alike.

Eric The(YouHeardItHereFirst)Hun

Quoted: Eric, the city is gone.

The people are gone...for the most part.

The City remains...and will be rebuilt.

You can take that to the Bank.

Please accept this and move on.

There's nothing for me to accept, other than that some good old-fashioned rebuilding is in store for New Orleans.

What major City do you know of that has never been rebuilt?

Hirsohima?

Nagasaki?

Tokyo?

Mexico City?

Berlin?

If those folks have enough snap in their drawers to rebuild cities that make present-day New Orleans look like a walk in the park...then why wouldn't we rebuild New Orleans?

Enough of this 'defeatist' attitude.

You are in the United States now, and are talking about an American City.

An Historic American City....with more History on a single block than most states.

Eric The(Historic)Hun

Quoted: But can it be rebuilt in time for a convention?

Downtown and the French Quarter, heck, even most of the City, didn't suffer any great, lasting damage.

I would imagine that the Downtown area and the French Quarter will be up and running in 60 days or less.

Now, if they decide NOT to rebuild the less-than-historic Ninth Ward...I wouldn't cry a River.

ETA I know that it will be rebuilt.

The President said so!



Eric The(AlwaysOptimistic)Hun

Quoted: Even a rebuilt New Orleans is nothing more than a blackout away from another display of anarchy. (no pun intended)

Much like New York City is but another blackout away from a similar display?

You may remember, back in July, 1977?



It was in all the papers.

What would another such 'blackout' bring today? In New York City or any other large American City?

What's a rebuilt New Orleans going to look like?

Pretty nice, I would envision.

Probably a giant wall around the downtown and French Quarter sections.

Nonsense.

The City has been flooded before and no 'walls' around the historic areas and downtown were built.

Why now?

A big state park in the low lying flooded neighborhoods.

The City Planners should really examine what type of rebuilding should occur in the lowest-lying areas of the City, no doubt.

A parking lot where the Super Dome used to be.

Why would that be?

The Super Dome is very much intact. Replace a bit of roofing, and it would look like any magnificient stadium.

Why are you such an alarmist over something that will impact your own life, so very little?

One way, or the other?

And a stigma that will never be erased.

Only in the very small minds of some people.

But I tend NOT to dwell on what the small minds of some folks think....why should such matters be left to the clueless?

The thing that makes New Orleans different than any other city on Hun's list is it wasn't destroyed by an act of God or a foreign invader. It was destroyed by its own residents.

This City is not 'destroyed', in any sense of that word.

Toxic waste, a problem?

There were fears that Hiroshima and Nagasaki would be uninhabitable for hundreds of years...check out those cities...today.

Such imagined horrors spawned a generation of 'Godzilla' movies for kids...and adolescent-minded adults...but nothing more.  

This taxpayer isn't going to willingly sit there and watch billions of dollars poured into in a below sea-level flood plain 'protected' by dikes that cannot withstand the hardest punch that nature can deliver.

Well, get on a bus, Gus!

Carry a sign and predict that the 'World (in New Orleans) Ends Tomorrow', or whatever you wish.

But, please, do not get in the way of the construction workers.

They are kinda rough dudes down here...and are not easily trifled with by misplaced Midwesterners.

If there ever was a civil works project that needed a clean sheet of paper, it's this one!

Beginning with the Antiquities Act of 1906, the Feds have taken a very dim view of threatening sites of National Historic importance.

See the Historic Sites Act of 1935...the National Historic Protection Act of 1966... the Archeological and Historical Preservation Act of 1974....the Historical Resources Preservation Act of 1979...and add to that list a great many Louisiana State laws designed to prevent interference with any historic buildings.

So, uh, which historic buildings do you plan on razing?

I'll meet you there...with an injunction....and the Orleans Parish Sheriff!



Don't 'Mess With N'awlins'!

Eric The(Adamant)Hun

Quoted:

'Rebuilding' New Orleans in its present location proves the old cliche about doing the same thing twice and expecting different results is a sign of stupidity!

Actually thinking that this City will NOT be rebuilt is stupid.

Realy stupid.

ESPN is reporting that the owner of the Saints wants to move the team permanently to San Antonio.  Smart move since the market is gone.  Without a team, it will be very difficult to get funding at a reasonable interest rate.  Rebuilding the dome is going to be a low priority when schools, hospitals, etc. need funds too.  The owners of the dome will probably take the insurance money and run.

And, if this occurs, what would be the difference?

Other cities have lost professional teams, and their sports arenas are still used in some manner.

So, what's the big deal?

Did you pay for the original Superdome?

Nope, the good citizens of New Orleans (directly) and Louisiana (indirectly) paid for its construction.

Oh, and a great many Midwesterners, as well, who visited (hotel tax).

Thanks!

(If you came.)

'Small minds' worldwide, millions and millions of them, watched while local incompetent elected leaders allowed their city to turn into a third world hell.

Settle down, Sonny. The worst is over.

You can crawl out from behind your sofa, now.

Rivers of blood are on their hands.

Now, now, that's a bit of a stretch, isn't it?

Y'all reckon anyone will be charged with having 'rivers of blood' on their hands?

That is a stain that isn't going to be cleaned as long as they or their minions are in power.  Trust is nearly impossible to restore once it has been lost.  How many generations will it take to elect new leadership that doesn't have its roots in the old?  Images, much more so than pages in a book, are powerful things and the images aren't going away.

You know, I am quite certain that when the true story is told, if any local officials were derelect in their duties, then they will be thrown out of office in the next election cycle.

Say, you're not a DEMOCRAT, are you?

You surely sound like a DEMOCRAT!

The money for reconstruction is going have to come from Midwesterners, Easterners, Westerners, and Southerners.

Just as it is with any other National Disaster!

Indiana folks received ...hmmmm....more than $700,000 in federal money was appropriated for flood rehabilitation work in Indiana.

In 1937!

That's in 1937 US Dollars!

Want to discuss the Great Midwest Flood of 1993?

I bet not.

And I don't recall any Louisianans pizzing, moaning, and bitching!

Not everyone is so ignorant that they think investing billions of $$$ in a below sea-level flood plain is a good idea.  If Louisiana had the money to rebuild, I'm sure the construction workers would be busy.  And when they come to the rest of the country, hat in hand, there must be a  plan that guarantees they won't be coming back again.

Ignorant would be thinking that New Orleans, and its excellent River Levee, that allows millions of Midwestern farmers to live on their farms along the Mississippi River and its tributaries, and to produce food for this country and others, should be abandoned for this singular event.

You do know that Midwestern farmers have already lost more than $2 Billion dollars from the events in South Louisiana?

And that was almost 4 days ago...wonder what the amount is now?

We are either in this together, or we should go our separate ways.....

And the last time that Louisiana tried that...it got, uh, voted down, so to speak.

The looters didn't believe this threat! LOL

I wan't there.

I will be next time.

History is full of accounts of great cities that were destroyed and never rebuilt.

Ancient history is replete with such accounts...but not very many.

Now which modern City has been allowed to perish?

And which American City has been allowed to disappear?

Some Midwestern cat got your tongue?

New Orleans will join the list.

No, it will not.



The United States will NOT let that happen.

Louisiana would NOT allow that to happen.

Hell, New Orleans will not allow that to happen,

Good thinking men would not allow that to happen.

Midwesterners with no clue, might....try.

Life goes on.

Big wheel keeps on turnin'

Proud Mary keeps on burnin'

Yeah, right.

Eric The(Historical)Hun

Quoted: While I agree that it sends a good signal, I don't think I agree with rebuilding the city. It's going to cost BILLIONS upon BILLIONS of dollars to do it and what do you get?  A city that is BELOW SEA LEVEL along the coast of the GULF OF MEXICO waiting for the next storm (and remember, they WILL be getting worse during this next 40 year cycle). Fine.  If someone wants to move back and rebuild, that's their choice but they can't have a SINGLE dime of my tax dollars to do it.  Let them gather the funds privately and create a self-insurance system for the NEXT TIME it happens. I'm damned if I'm going to pay for someone to be so stupid that WANTS to live below sea-level in the path of hurricanes. Please no "We can make it better so it will never happen again" talk.  Bullshit.  While theoretically possible the cost would be enough to colonize the moon instead and there would be huge economic benefits from that, not restocking a socialist welfare city, sucking the rest of us dry in the process. (that's just my opinion... I could be wrong)

I've always maintained that the costs of rebuilding the residences of New Orleans should be principally borne by the folks building such residences...and it should cover the appropriate costs for helping to provide for their protection from the Lake.... but maintaining the Mississippi River Levee is everyone's business!

Well, every American's business!

Eric The(AllAmerican..OrNothing)Hun

Quoted: Pompeii A town of, what, 70,000? Buried under 50 foot of ash? Is that the picture you have of New Orleans? If so, you've been watching the test pattern on your television, too long. ETA: all the cities you mentioned had human causes for their destruction....That's probably an important point IMO. No. All those cities had serious economic reasons to be rebuilt. As does New Orleans. But frankly I do think they'll rebuilt it anyway.

Who really doesn't think that it will be rebuilt/

Even those in this thread know that New Orleans will be rebuilt.

They are just engaging in a little 'anything Southern sucks' melodrama.

Eric The(SouthernBorn)Hun