September 15, 2005
President Bush is to address the nation from New Orleans tonight.
The subject will be Katrina, the government’s response and what is ahead.
The president should set the record straight.
Much of the media and most democrat politicians have blamed the Bush administration exclusively for the disaster along the gulf coast.
The president should inform the public about state and local authorities and their inadequate response.
He should talk about the nursing homes and hospitals where people died because officials refused to take advantage of help that was offered.
He should talk about how New Orleans ignored its own evacuation plan.
And he should say something about how, because of its location below sea level, New Orleans was a disaster waiting to happen.
He should further address why big and costly federal government was so slow to respond and what reforms should be made.
Chief among them should be less and more streamlined and responsive government.
Like many of you I will be watching the president tonight.
I’m Cal Thomas in Washington.
Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.
