Clinton: Government 'failed' people


Monday, September 5, 2005; Posted: 9:49 p.m. EDT (01:49 GMT)

Former President Bill Clinton spoke to CNN on Monday.

Former President Clinton cites initial failure (2:32)

Former presidents create Katrina fund (6:53)

RELATED
• Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund

HOUSTON, Texas (CNN) -- Former President Bill Clinton on Monday said the government "failed" the thousands of people who lived in coastal communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina, and said a federal investigation was warranted in due time.
"Our government failed those people in the beginning, and I take it now there is no dispute about it," Clinton told CNN. "One hundred percent of the people recognize that -- that it was a failure." (See interview -- 2:32 )

He and former President George H. W. Bush have launched the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund to help raise money for those left homeless by the storm. (Full story)

Clinton is just the latest in a long line of critics who have blasted the federal government for not moving fast enough to help people in the immediate aftermath of Katrina, which slammed into the Gulf Coast one week ago as a Category 4 hurricane.

He said that the utmost priority was saving people now -- and evaluating the mistakes in the months to come.

"We've got the departments on the ground, we've got the military on the ground, we've got a chance to do it right now, and we should do it right," he said. "And then in an appropriate time we should analyze what went wrong and why and what changes should be made."

As with the 9/11 commission charged with looking at the events leading up to and after the September 11, 2001 attacks, Clinton suggested a bipartisan Katrina commission be formed. It would investigate what went wrong and determine "what is the best structure and what are the best personnel decisions" to make in emergency management, he said.

The elder Bush echoed Clinton's sentiment, telling CNN's Larry King that he is "not satisfied" with the handling of the hurricane's aftermath.

Nonetheless, he defended his son's performance.

"What can he do? He can just go out and do what he's doing today, showing that the federal government's involved, has been involved, will continue to be involved ... He cannot listen to every critic from the editorial page of The New York Times," the elder Bush said.

Analogy

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists." "Why do you say that?" asked the customer. "Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would! be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things." The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist." "How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!" "No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside." "Ah, but barbers DO exist! " answered the barber. "What happen! s, is, people do not come to me." "Exactly!"- affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

Try Try Again...

So that seems to be a recurrent theme in my life....many ways and many times, God has been telling me try harder and try again. Finally, he bluntly put the message forth to me in exactly those words. Just when we think we are doing all that we can or that we are putting forth the best effort, I am reminded...no I'm not!

Trey went to the hospital again for dehydration. I've lost count how many times Trey and I have sat in the emergency room of Cypress-Fairbanks hospital for this issue, just to be patched up and sent back home. This time, the poor baby had a cathater....ouch.... I see this as God's message...try harder to be a better, more persistent mom. Thank goodness for this message. I rolled into the dr's office 1/2 asleep, just getting about 3 hours of sleep. I couldn't even tell you what I told the Dr. that day other than I was at the hospital w/Trey last night. I walked out with more hope this visit. He made a referral for another Neurology visit, a possible psychiatric visit and a session w/a dietician. Finally, somebody is going to listen to me about Trey.

I got hit over the head with trying harder as an individual with my life...my sis had a harsh talk with me about how sloppy my entire life is. Thank goodness...I've got a job with State Farm now. I really need to preserve it considering there are 1/4 million people living in the Astrodome who could take a test just like I did and take my job.

I really need to evaluate where I'm at. As a Christian, I've been told that I'm not doing enough. This is one area, that I know i am working on and I don't know what people expect because I'm just a baby in this area. You have to scoot before you crawl, crawl before you walk, walk before you run. i'm barely sitting up enough to scoot. I may not be able to be quote scripture or explicate books in the bible, but I know that my heart is in it and that I know where I want to go. It was once posted that I should just let myself be guided by teh Lord, and I will never be left floundering. Those words have resonated in my mind. I don't feel bad that I can't go out into the community and witness to others, but what better witness than my life, my own trials.

I've been told that if I would just listen to others that my life would be so much simpler...but I can say, I'm in shoes that not many people walk. People always say they "know" or they "understand" but they really don't. Who do you trust, who do you listen to? Ok, yeah, the obvious...listen to God...but when do you know that God is speaking to you?

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE

a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
one friend who always makes her laugh...and one who lets her cry...
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal that will makeher guests feel honored..
a feeling of control overher destiny...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...how to fall in love without losing herself...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...HOW TO QUIT A JOB,BREAK UP WITH A LOVER,AND CONFRONT A FRIEND WITHOUT RUINING THE FRIENDSHIP...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...that her childhood may not have been perfect...but its over...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...whom she can trust,whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...where to go...be it to her best friend's kitchen table... or a charming inn in thewoods...when her soul needs soothing...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...what she can and can't accomplish in a day...a month...and a year...