The What "Will Rise Again?"

Reaching new depths for senseless and too-late efforts at pseudo-compassion, George W. Bush again showed last night that he has lost touch with what it means to be a real truly compassionate human being, muchless a leader. With his own mobile floodlights, master production crew, and gall, he stood in Jackson Square, ever-reminiscent of a war the South waged to prolong slavery. And he feigned compassion even as he used symbols, heroes, and words that bring a shiver to the spines of those sensitive to lingering wounds of that era. We can hardly believe what they heard: this time the city "will rise again." Straight from the "South will rise again" slogan of Confederacy wingnuts, he used words only a jughead or bigot could love. We all want help for New Orleans. But George W. Bush is not up to the task.

We've seen his lack of compassion before. In the days before 9-11, George racked up more of his vacation record for US presidents. Eveven after being informed of the tragedy, he continued reading to school children. He could have excused himself, but he didn't. Will anyone seeing the videotape ever forget the clueless, panic-stricken look on his face? Then, he left for yet another photo-op. Before long he was wisked away, so useless Americans were left wondering throughout Sept. 11, 2001, do we have a leader? Where is he? Why didn't he act? Why did it take so long for NORAD to activate? Is anyone in charge? We learned later, Richard Clarke ran the show and the other Dick sorta led from his undisclosed location. Of course, much later, George W. Bush did his grandstand. And Americans bit, hook, line and sinker.

During Katrina, unbelievably, we lived the nightmare of a pilotless government once more. Days unfolded while George W. Bush vacationed. And, finally, he did an overflight. Long distance "compassionate conservative" rides again. Distance yourself, George W. Bush, feel their pain without feeling it. His poll numbers plummeted. And so he came back, staying long enough to reminisce of his hard-drinking days and strike a new low for inappropriateness. And off he went again. So, he came back --Handlers trying to get it right one more time. He posed with survivors, walked to nowhere for the cameras, two survivors so tightly in tow, they nearly cringed with discomfort for the phoniness of it all. It was clear he didn't really care. Poll numbers stayed in free-fall. Then the George W. Bush Production Company came back yet again. (Hint: It was already too late.) Weeks late and a country short.

In the shadow of a cathedral (must throw a bone to his theocratic Constituency even while doing his soul-less PR work) and using the words of the confederacy now applied to New Orleans, he said those words (the city "will rise again"). If he ever thought we'd believe he gives a fig about the people of New Orleans, the majority of whom are African American, we now know with absolute certainty. The answer is no. How insensitive can a man be? I am afraid we have only begun to find out.