Haiti

Obama just gave a short speech telling Americans that he is mobilizing US resources to go to the aid of Haiti.

As I listened to this, I think back to the idiot George Bush during a similar disaster: the flooding of New Orleans by hurricane Katrina. Bush did nothing. His agencies were extremely slow to react. While they fumbled for days Bush "flew over" New Orleans as he returned from a California political meeting. A few days later he went down to New Orleans and slapped Michael Brown on the shoulder and said "heckova job Brownie" when in fact people were trapped on the roofs of their houses and at the Superdome and at the Convention Center for over 7 days!!!

Obama has stated that the US has rescuers and aid will be flowing into Haiti within 24 hours. The contrast between the cruel indifference of Bush and sympathy of Obama is dramatic.

What astounds me is that the American people voted in Bush as "protector" of their nation (i.e. Americans like the "tough" militaristic posture of the Republican party) when in fact Bush was a spoiled rich scion of a political family that cynically manipulated people and organizations for their own ends. He had no deep affection for or empathetic urge to assist the American people in need.

Obama may be captive to the Wall Street banks, but at least he cares for humans and is willing to push the instruments of government to aid people.

The contrast is so stark. I just can't understand why anybody voted for Republicans in the past or will continue to vote for them in the future when the constrast in behaviour is so stark.