Reply #11: A couple of things. [View All]

First, lawlessness didn't "ravage the city"--hunger, dehydration, high winds and a hell of a lot of water did. New Orleans city officials estimate that 90% of the looters were looking for food, water, medicine and basic supplies in order to survive.

Second, if the entire city of New York was flooded, lost power, and was unable to provide even basic services for several days (or weeks--who knows?), you can bet your ass there'd be looting, rape, murder and mayhem. The situations are in no wise analogous--a few blocks of lower Manhattan were destroyed on 9/11; the relief effort was massive and immediate. All of New Orleans was paralyzed by hurricane Katrina, and about 80% of the city was under water; the relief effort was slow and insufficient. The RW meme that somehow NY under Giuliani was nobler and better than New Orleans under its Democratic mayor is nonsense--they're blaming the victims, most of whom happen to be poor and black.

On edit: as for "exploiting the deaths of thousands for political gain," what was Bush doing on his photo op "tour of the devastation," if not exploiting the suffering of thousands for his direct political gain? Those who point out the shortcomings of Bush and his DHS/FEMA appointees aren't going to gain a damn thing--Bush and the Republicans will still control all three branches of government, the war in Iraq will rage unabated (and unplanned), and the American people will continue to get screwed by the government that's paid to represent them.