Bush Radio:  You have it wrong, again. 

On Saturday, President George W. Bush said in his radio address, Good morning. Throughout the past week, Americans anxiously watched weather conditions in the Gulf Coast region. The people of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas were well prepared for Hurricane Gustav -- and the coordination between these States and the Federal government was strong.

Now, we're focusing on the relief effort. Gustav caused damage to infrastructure, forced tens of thousands into shelters, and left more than a million people without power. The Federal government is working with State and local officials to repair this damage, to help residents get back home, and to return life in the region to normal as soon as possible.

While these relief efforts have been in progress, we've also been preparing for the arrival of storms like Hanna, Ike, and others that may follow. My Administration will continue to provide assistance to those affected by violent weather throughout this hurricane season. And we will continue to work diligently to coordinate our emergency response efforts with State and local governments.

Let’s do a reality check.

Last week before the Hurricane Gustav hit Homeland Security Secretary, Michael Chertoff and FEMA’s head David Paulison gave the networking between federal, state and local governments the thumbs up.

But, back home on ranch Louisiana, everything is not so hunky-dory.

For some, it is a huge mess—no electricity, food or water and thousands waiting for a convoy of FEMA trucks that are supposed to make deliveries.

Even Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is wondering.  His frustration, while measured, is obvious.

Like using terms describing the FEMA convoy such as ““like check is in mail”.

Or, saying, “Forgive me for being skeptical but we will believe it when we see it”.

Or stating, “Hoping they do arrive as promised if they do arrive, it will be later than the day, not earlier during the day”.

But, that is the Governor’s reality or his frustration with FEMA.

Meanwhile, everyone knows that had the surge been stronger, much of New Orleans would have been water-logged.

The Bush administration has had three years to work on providing immediate assistance to those in need and to make meaningful improvements on the levees and Louisiana wetlands.    We’re a country that beat the Nazis and the Japanese in World War II in four years, rebuilt Europe with the Marshall Plan, put men on the moon with archaic computers and unfortunately, this Administration has left the New Orleans area and now much of Louisiana vulnerable and begging although the state is responsible for approximately 30 percent of the nation’s energy needs.

In President Bush’s radio address, he also talked about the US needing a comprehensive energy policy.  After touting his preparedness last week, he and his administration could certainly use some energy in making sure that the risks which were not supposed to occur, do not happen--now or in the future.  While the damage associated with Gustav hit Louisiana in a different form than anticipated, Louisiana is a continuing risk, waiting for those federal promises to be fulfilled--whether it be truck convoys full of food or an infrastructure to protect important Louisiana and US assets.  Talk is cheap.  A real hurricane protection and recovery policy would go a long way in ensuring a real energy policy where electricity would be a lot cheaper.  A state that shoulders so much of the federal energy responsibility should not be forced to wait for the trucks to arrive to help thousands of innocent citizens in need.  Nor should Louisiana wait for a necessary fortress to make certain the state and its people are able and willing to provide the United States the utilities and energy it so craves.