President's California Visit...Useful or Just a Distraction and a Photo-Op?

@anniepa (27955)
United States
October 24, 2007 6:19pm CST
Well, President Bush is set to visit fire-ravaged California tomorrow and the Lieutenant Governor of California is a bit skeptical about how much "good" that visit will actually do. I mean, who can forget "Heckuva job, Brownie"? The point is, the money and man-power that will be used for Bush's visit could probably be put to better use, all things considered. Also, ironically many of the state's National Guards and equipment are in the Middle East. So, what do you guys think about this "photo op"? Annie
4 people like this
10 responses
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
25 Oct 07
A while ago you were complaining that Bush did not do enough for California and now that he plans to show up, you complain that it is just a publicity stunt. He has to see the damage. For all he knows, the people in the worse torn areas may not have gotten the help because the Malibuites and the other wealthy hogged all the help. As I said, National Guards are not firefighters. If you want them to be, petition a bill that all National Guard members get firefighter training. I doubt if the States had a democratic government, that you would do all this ranting.
• United States
25 Oct 07
Well, let's say the fall out from Hurricane Katrina undoubtedly has something to do with Bush showing up for this one ao promptly. But I doubt whether the money and man-power around his visit is particularly significant. For some people, I'm sure his presence will be inspirational, and for the others, well it's the price to pay for the federal relief. The equipment and personnel deployed in Iraq does seem to be an issue when these domestic disasters occur. I can just imagine some conservatives thinking, let it burn.. all those Hollywood liberals, and all. Or am I doing them an injustice?
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
25 Oct 07
Sadly, VERY sadly while you may be doing most conservatives an injustice - or I HOPE so - I've heard some say things like that with my own ears in the past. About Hollywood and about New York following different disasters and events. I'm not sure how much it will actually cost for his visit or how significant it may or may not be, all things considered, but just ensuring his safety will certainly will be a distraction from the tough work at hand. I'll confess my anti-Bush feelings are at work here but I just can't seem to help it...lol! Annie
• United States
25 Oct 07
I know what you mean. But it could be said of any president, right? They kind of have to show up for the photo-op. I can't imagine it's much more than a distraction, however, for the fire-fighters.
1 person likes this
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
25 Oct 07
That was rather sick Brave. No rational person wants anyone injured in all of this.
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@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
25 Oct 07
This just goes to show that you liberals aren't happy unless you are ragging on Bush. He didn't visit after Katrina and you liberals called him unfeeling. Now he is going to visit California because of the fires and you call it a photo op and a waste of money and manpower. You liberals don't know what you want, and you aren't happy unless you are bashing Bush or some other conservative. Don't tell me, let me guess, some talking head from MoveOn or some other liberal show said something about it and now you are repeating it like a good little liberalbot.
1 person likes this
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
25 Oct 07
Senator Feinstein, Boxer and the Lt Governor all wanted the National Guard back from Iraq to fight the fire, as if a few more bodies standing infront of the fire would have stopped it. The President made the Marine at Camp Pendleton available for fire fighting duty, but with the winds it was not safe to sent more people to fight hthe fire. They had to wait until the winds changed or calmed down. Fortunatally California has an excellent Commander of the National Guard. While everyone else was Bashing Bush he called a mandatory drill for the units that would be fighting the fires. This allowed the troops to get their equiptment and personal ready so that when the winds changed they would be ready. The other "leaders" first thought was how can we blame this on President Bush. If the presidents visit could be distracting why was the Lt Governor taking time out to go on National TV and his main point was this is the fault of the War in Iraq and the President. It sure seem that getting the Democratic talking points was more important that checking what was needed by the people suffering from the fire. It seems that Mrs Obama was right - at least with the Democratics and Liberals that there is an empethy deficit amound them.
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Oct 07
Maybe he has a lot on his mind to worry too much about something that he can't change, and that there are government departments whose job it is to handle things like this. The only reason people say that he is out of touch is because he doesn't stick his finger in the air to see which way the wind of public opinion is blowing before he makes a decision like his predecessor always did. His only job is to make the decisions required as president, and not check to see what people think of his decisions. He is doing his job, whether people like it or not.
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@anniepa (27955)
• United States
25 Oct 07
Actually the "talking head" whose words I'm repeating is the Lieutenant Governor of California. And, I'm sorry, but when the U.S. President has to be "persuaded by aides" to view video coverage of a disaster such as Katrina doesn't he deserve a bit of ragging? I don't know if he's unfeeling or just so totally out of touch that he can't really help it. Annie
@Springlady (3986)
• United States
26 Oct 07
Maybe he went because he cares and to offer support and comfort? I don't understand why so many people are bashing President Bush. I think he is doing a good job and I highly respect him.
1 person likes this
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
31 Oct 07
Right, and if he didn't visit you would be on here admonishing him for not caring enough to visit the scene. Come on annie, your better than that, that's absolutely nothing but mindless, trivial critisism. All you've done is create a no win situation for the administration and an opertunity to take pot shots.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
31 Oct 07
I got the idea for this discussion after seeing the interview with the Lieutenant Governor. I was only repeating what he had said, and I assumed he knew what he was talking about when it came to the equipment and manpower because he IS the Lt.Gov. Don't worry, I know I'm the one in a no win situation here when I post or respond to any discussions about Bush. His approval rating may be low but apparently all the supporters he has are here on myLot and are taking care of my rating! To the earlier post that said I wouldn't be ranting if there were a Democrat President, if he or she were as incompetent as the current leader I sure would be! Annie
• Romania
26 Oct 07
Many times when a disaster happens a lot of politicians came there they say "to help" but the only thing is in their mind is to have some photos and nothing else....
1 person likes this
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
25 Oct 07
The people expect the leader to be there to lend support. Remember in Katrina Mayor Nagan was bashing Bush from Batten Rouge where he had been since before Katrina hit. Mayor Nagan and the Governor finally went to New Orleans when Bush arrived. He put his trip off to avoid distracting people during the inital search and rescue and the media jumped all over him, but let the Mayor and Governor off. Remember the governor of LA complained about the same thing and then it cam out that she had not activated the construction units that would take care of the storm clean up. The Gorernor of Nebrasks or kansas complained about the National Guard and the equiptment needed being in Iraq, when in fact they had nothing in Iraq that wasneeded for snow removal. The Bush Administration had to explain that the Governor had to ask for the help and had to call up the National Guard. Maybe if President Bush didn't have to explain the duties of their job to all the people who are complaining about him he would have time to get his job done.
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
25 Oct 07
What good does it do when a president shows up to look at a disaster anyway. I have never understood that. I really wont care one way or the other about his photo shoot out here.
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
25 Oct 07
Arnie is a Great Governor! Its a shame he can't run for President! Bush has Sh!t his pants, but he'll be there for the photo op. I'm wondering if he will try to show the world he can do better in California than he did in New Orleans. I doubt he can do anything right. He's certainly screwed up the country!What A Lame Duck!
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
25 Oct 07
So how about other Presidents of the past visiting disaster areas? Was that useful, just a distraction, wasteful or a photo-op? The presidents visit disaster sites it happens. Plus even though Katrina was pretty hairy, the powers that be had 30 years to correct the situation or at least relocate the town and people. But no...that would require sense and the country doesn't function on that. Crazy, semi-founded nonsense half the time, and "its okay for now, deal with it later" for the other half. -_- Plus the wildfires are occurring in specific places conducive to fires, so why were houses built there in the first place? Oh wait. Sorry, forgot about the sense rule. My mistake. -_-
1 person likes this