Rachael Straub – 9/15/05

This page was last updated on September 17, 2005.

The buck stops with Bush; Rachael Straub; Beaver County Times; September 15, 2005.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“As I watch the telecasts from Mississippi and Louisiana, I have to ask what happened to this country.

“Anywhere in the world that a disaster occurs, we’re there immediately. However, when a true disaster strikes on the home front we are unable to care for our own.

“I find this utterly unbelievable. I am appalled to be a citizen of a country where the government is to [sic] inept to care for its own countrymen.”

[RWC] Does Ms. Straub really pay attention to the news?

“While I applaud all Americans who have donated their time and money for the helpless victims of Katrina, I harshly criticize a government that can’t seem to be bothered.

“My 5-year-old son cried as he watched a little girl on TV in the Astrodome. He took some of his clothes, toys, books and a backpack because he wanted to send them to that little girl who had only the clothes on her back.”

[RWC] This would be nice if it were true. Given the rest of the obvious errors in the letter, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn this is “editorial license” taken by Ms. Straub to try to make her point.

“I’d like to know what Barbara Bush taught her son because clearly mine has done more for the victims of the Gulf Coast than hers has.

“Being president of this country is a job, one that George Bush was elected to twice. Regardless of your party affiliation, something is wrong when a week goes by and the only government response is search and rescue. FEMA has turned out to be a worldwide joke.”

[RWC] Apparently Ms. Straub’s TV went on the blink after her son watched it. I saw that because no one who watched TV could credibly make this comment.

“The bottom line is that the buck stops with President Bush, and for once, I think he should suck it up and apologize to all the victims. He and his administration are at fault any way you cut it.”

[RWC] Hmm, there’s no mention of the responsibility of local and state government. I wonder why – not.

“Besides he can’t run for office again anyway so why doesn’t he try being a man for once and do the job that my tax dollars are paying for.”

[RWC] Ah, name-calling. A true sign a person knows they don’t have a real case.